Staff Writer
HOULTON — Light a candle and enjoy the peaceful sound of drums as the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians join together with the community to celebrate Domestic Violence Awareness. 
Photo by Jaime Cleary
REMEMBER — Houlton youth Katelyn Wiggins throws a daisy from the Gateway Crossing pedestrian bridge during the vigil’s “Remember My Name” ceremony.
On Thursday, Oct. 25, Main Street in front of the Blue Moon Gallery will be temporarily closed for opening ceremonies. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. Maliseet Tribal Chief Brenda Commander will open with remarks followed by a traditional ceremony led by Imelda Perley, drumming by the Maliseet women’s drum group — the Four Winds, candle-lighting ceremony, candle walk to the Meduxenkeag River for a ceremonial offering to the river that once sustained the Maliseets; followed by refreshments inside the Blue Moon Gallery.
“We are going to walk down to the bridge and give an offering to the river because as you know Meduxneakeg means ‘river of the Maliseets,’” explained Jane Root.
Root has been running the Maliseet Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program and encourages everyone to attend their 10th annual candlelight vigil.
This year’s vigil is the first year that it has been held downtown. The Blue Moon Gallery has been hosting a special display, which has been created by the Maliseets in recognition of those affected by domestic violence.
The “Shawl Stories” officially opened at the Blue Moon Gallery on Oct. 5 and will run through November. Each shawl has been created by members of the native community; with each shawl color representing a facet of domestic violence. The exhibit is called “Ksuwoson Akonutamakonol: Shawl Stories.” The shawls are placed in a scene evocative of a Native American sweat lodge. Birch poles and cedar boughs, representing the earth, line the walls, water flows from a fountain, ribbons in the colors of the medicine wheel (red, black, white and yellow) and a dream catcher move in the air currents, while stones glow. The voices of survivors and victims whisper and shout from shawls that line the walls. Each shawl’s color denotes someone who was abused — verbally, sexually, emotionally or murdered.
Ksuwosun Akonutomakonol: Shawl Stories will be on display through Nov. 24, at the Blue Moon Gallery, 66 Main Street, Houlton. Normal business hours are: Tuesday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
