Join Blue Hill Heritage Trust and our guest speaker Dwayne Tomah, a Passamaquoddy language keeper, as part of our Wabanaki Speaker Series on Nov 7th for Dwayne’s presentation “Passamaquoddy Language Keeper.”
He will share stories and songs recorded on wax cylinders in 1890 by anthropologist Jesse Walter Fewkes, which have recently been digitized by the Library of Congress.
Dwayne will share how he is transcribing these culturally important recordings. He will discuss the connection between language and land, and how the revitalization of language connects tribal members to their ancestors.
Dwayne is the director and curator of the Sipayik Museum and teacher of the Passamaquoddy language and culture. Dwayne is the youngest fluent speaker of the Passamaquoddy tribe and has served on the tribal council.
His life has been dedicated to working on language and culture preservation. He has edited the Passamaquoddy dictionary and worked to create a Passamaquoddy language app. He shares native legends through song and dance. He also has worked with Animal Planet on a segment called “Winged Creatures”, highlighting the history of the thunderbird.
Dwayne is currently working with the Library of Congress on translating the Passamaquoddy wax cylinders. He has also been involved in repatriation and the Land Back movement and shares historical truth regarding the Doctrine of Discovery from an Indigenous perspective.
