First Light (Maine land-based organizations collaborative)

What happened

First Light describes itself as a collective of non-native land-oriented organizations and agencies working to expand Wabanaki access and stewardship of land. Its website, which is shared with the Wabanaki Commission on Land and Stewardship, says First Light organizations work at the direction of the Commission. The site describes the Commission as representing five nations and working to expand Wabanaki access to, management of, and ownership of ancestral lands.

The Bangor Daily News reports that First Light brings the partners together, raises the funds and completes the logistics for each purchase, according to First Light staff member Brett Ciccotelli. The project they run together is called Tributary Land Returns. The Bangor Daily News describes it as a collaboration between the Wabanaki tribes and seven non-Indigenous organizations, planning 11 parcels, of which six were complete by July 2026.

Completed returns include about 3,400 acres near Bridgewater for the Mi'kmaq Nation (reported at about $1.9 to $2 million) and 1,327 acres in Monticello for the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. First Light also supports a fund called Wolankeyutomone kisi apaciyewik, which gives direct, unrestricted grants administered by the Commission to Wabanaki projects.

First Light is not a tribe and does not hold the returned land for itself; title goes to the tribes.

Good to know. First Light is a non-Native collective. Donors who want Wabanaki people to direct their gift may prefer the Wabanaki Commission's fund; reports put the Bridgewater purchase at $1.9 million or $2 million.

Summarized with AI assistance from 4 sources and checked against their words; not yet reviewed by historians or by the nations. Report an error