UNION — Union Elementary School Principal Dr. Clint Rankin has announced that the school will host John Bear Mitchell, a renowned citizen of the Penobscot Nation, University of Maine Wabanaki Center Outreach and Student Development Coordinator, for a day of immersive cultural education on Wednesday, May 27.  Additionally, John Bear Mitchell  serves as a  Lecturer of Wabanaki and multicultural studies at the University of Maine. 

The upcoming visit is the cornerstone of a school-wide Wabanaki Studies initiative spearheaded by the leadership of Kindergarten teacher Kristi Todd. The program is made possible through the support of the William Pullen Fund, a local trust dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities for the youth of Union.

“Bringing a speaker of John Bear Mitchell’s caliber to Union Elementary is a significant opportunity for our school community, and we are deeply grateful to Kristi Todd for her vision and the William Pullen Fund for making this a reality,” said Rankin, in a news release. “This visit allows our students to connect with Wabanaki culture through authentic storytelling and song. It’s about more than just history; it’s about giving our students a contemporary and meaningful understanding of the People of the Dawnland.”

The visit serves as a culminating event for students who have been deep-diving into specific Wabanaki curricula across all grade levels:

• Critical Inquiry (fifth and sixth grade): Students are building comprehensive timelines and studying how history can change depending on the author, specifically analyzing how Wabanaki people were historically portrayed incorrectly in textbooks.
• Historical Focus (fourth grade): Students are focusing on Wabanaki life and culture as it existed 500 years ago.
• Foundational Learning (Pre-K–third grade): Younger students are being introduced to the culture through traditional Abenaki Stories and state-aligned MOOSE Modules that focus on indigenous worldviews.

The initiative was sparked when Todd discovered Mitchell’s “Wabanaki Voices” presentation online.

“I really enjoyed listening to his storytelling and songs, and I knew his voice would be the perfect bridge for our students' classroom work,” said Todd. “Having John Bear here to share his living culture makes these lessons personal and unforgettable.”

Mitchell, a speaker and cultural consultant for major media projects, including the HBO series “IT: Welcome to Derry”, will bring these lessons to life through traditional drumming, singing, and storytelling.

His visit reinforces Union Elementary’s commitment to providing a rich, inclusive educational environment that prepares students to be informed and empathetic global citizens.

About Union Elementary School:

Serving the community of Union, Union Elementary is part of Regional School Union 40 and focuses on creating meaningful, community-based learning opportunities for all students. Under the leadership of Rankin, the school strives to inspire students to achieve life-long success, the release said.