The area today called Maine is the ancestral land of the Wabanaki. MCAN affirms the inherent sovereignty of the Wabanaki and commits to supporting these Nations and their allies in the ongoing struggle towards recognition of their inherent sovereignty. We honor Wabanaki communities, their ancestors, and their histories, including those of the Abenaki, Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot Nations and of all Native communities who have lived here for thousands of years.

 

We believe in the importance of meeting the harms of history head on. These harms include the intentional mass killing, forced displacement, and destruction of language, culture, food systems, and ecosystem as tools of genocide against the Wabanaki Nations. We also acknowledge that words alone will not undo the ongoing harms against Tribal nations. Instead, these words are a first step towards action, towards reconciliation which we recognize as we work for climate justice. We recognize that climate justice means advocating alongside and centering Wabanaki voices. We recognize the ways in which many harmful and destructive values introduced to this continent hundreds of years ago still remain. We see the greed and entitlement of the few still resulting in domination and control over others. We see a failure to engage in shared decisions resulting in ongoing destruction of local environments, habitats, and food systems. But, guided and inspired by the values of interconnectedness and reciprocity still held in Wabanaki communities today, we are working towards a different future.

 

It is our responsibility to the land and water itself, and to all beings who dwell here, to change unfair and unjust systems. We must all join together to forge a world that fosters human flourishing and a liveable planet for future generations.