HOULTON, Maine — For 16 years, Jane Root has been the champion of domestic violence and sexual assault awareness for the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians.
Hers was the voice that spoke for those who were too afraid or too ashamed to speak out against abusers.
Now Root will have the opportunity to speak for an even larger group as she has taken a new position within the state, bringing her message of zero tolerance for abuse to a wider audience.
Root left her position at the helm of the Maliseet Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocacy Center at the end of April to take on her new role as executive director of the new Wabanaki Women’s Coalition. In this position, she will be providing technical assistance and training to all five of the Wabanaki Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocacy Centers in Maine. Those five include the Micmacs, Maliseets, two Passamaquoddy communities and Penobscot tribes.
“This is a brand new position,” she said. “We had to go through the whole process of becoming a new non-profit entity. It is very exciting.”
Root began working in the field of women’s support in 1989 when she joined the Battered Womens’ Project in Presque Isle. She spent nine years with that group before creating the domestic violence program for the HBMI.
“When I first started (at HBMI) we had a little office inside the health department,” Root said. “We scrounged around and found a desk and a computer, and that’s where we started.”
For 10 years, Root was a staff of one, manning the 24-hour hotline, helping people who were in abusive relationships. In 2008, a shelter was opened on tribal land and transitional housing was created to assist those in need.
“It became a full array of services similar to the Hope and Justice program,” she explained.
Suzie Finck, the director of transitional housing, is replacing Root at the HBMI. Because of this new role, Root decided to relocate to the Midcoast, residing in Lincolnville.
“I knew I was going to leave eventually, it just happened a little quicker than I thought,” she said. “I spent two days just crying (when thinking about leaving). It’s exciting what I will be doing, but the decision to leave HBMI was very difficult for me. I do feel good about the person who will be taking over for me, so I know the program will be in good hands.”
In moving south, Root will be closer to her three adult children and grandchildren and will also be closer to Augusta, where she will have greater access to tribal community office.
“I want to make sure the native voice is actively heard,” she said.
Building the HBMI program from nothing to the level it is today is her proudest accomplishment.
“We were the first native-specific shelter in New England,” she said. “In 2013, the Micmacs opened a shelter and there are plans for the Passamaquoddy tribe to open one too.”
Root said she owed much of her program’s success to HBMI Tribal Chief Brenda Commander.
“Our program started in her first term as chief,” Root said. “I have seen other programs come and go. Without her (Commander’s) constant support of the program and speaking out on behalf of it, I don’t think we would be here today.”
Her loss to the greater Houlton area will be felt.
“Jane is the embodiment of a true professional dedicated to the cause of preventing sexual assault and domestic violence,” said Houlton Police Chief/Interim Town Manager Butch Asselin. “Jane is truly an inspiration. I remember working closely with her on a grant to establish a task force dedicated to education, prevention and awareness on domestic violence and sexual assault. Without Jane’s guidance and leadership, the concept of a county task force may still be just an idea. Jane is a remarkable woman. I will truly miss her and wish her well on her new endeavor.”
This new endeavor will be a daunting challenge, Root admits.
“The purpose of this new position is to help all of our tribes with issues such as law enforcement, the court system, health care and social services,” she said. “We will be doing a lot of cross-training for the five tribes.”
