MLTN Infoline – August 13, 2020

First Light, an ongoing collaboration between the conservation community and Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Maliseet and Micmac Communities, is currently accepting commitment letters from private and public land-holding entities and entities that work closely with them to join the second cohort of their Learning Journey until September 15th. The goals of the Learning Journey are to build awareness and understanding about Indigenous land loss, to develop and practice equitable principles for Native engagement, and to create new tools to share land and resources. Another significant goal of the Learning Journey is to broaden and increase the number of groups who might be willing and able to step up to facilitate or convey access rights, to organize the repatriation of land, and to work alongside Wabanaki Tribal communities in acquiring new lands. To better understand the scope of what will be covered by this program, you can check out the Learning Journey program curriculum.

 

Per request of Wabanaki participants in First Light, members of this cohort need to demonstrate and express documented organizational commitment to the journey. The level of commitment needed to continue to make this Journey effective is high: 1) an organizational commitment letter, similar to this example, the 2) designation of 2 people from your organization (preferably one a senior staff member and the other a board member), and the 3) commitment from them that they will participate in all of the core programs throughout the year. Read more about the process of commitment here, or email  with any questions you may have.

 

This five-part, free workshop series for Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont will provide introductory level workshops to offer skill-building resources, guidance, and networking to municipalities, land trusts, and organizations interested in protecting more farmland, increasing land access for farmers, building climate resiliency, planning for agriculture, and advancing land justice. Participants will hear from local and regional experts and professionals in the field, including farmers, planners, land trusts, policy makers, scientists, and land justice advocates. Workshops will be highly interactive and limited to 30 people to facilitate networking and dialogue. 

Workshops will focus on: Supporting and Sustaining Farms, Farmers, and Farmland in your Community; Strategies and Tools for Farm Protection; Solar Siting and Farmland: Siting Options and Considerations; Strategies and Tools for Making Farmland Available to Farmers; and Tools and Resources for Supporting Black, Indigenous, and Farmers of Color in Your Community.