Portland Ovations is convening a panel discussion on the history of immigration in Maine on January 18th at the Maine Historical Society in Portland, and I’m pleased to be taking part. It kicks off at 1pm and is free and open to the public.
Here’s the description from Portland Ovations:
When we talk about immigration to Maine, we start with white settler-colonialism. What has been the impact of immigration on Maine’s land and people from the first French explorers in 1604 to the present? What are the drivers of recent immigration movements, and how does each new wave shift Maine’s economy and culture? What specific challenges do Maine’s environment and population pose for new arrivals; and how do we support Maine’s first peoples?
**PANELISTS**
– Tilly Laskey, Curator of ‘Holding Up The Sky’ and Native art and culture specialist at, Maine Historical Society
– Alain Nahimana, Executive Director, The Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center
– Maulian Dana, Tribal Ambassador, Penobscot Nation
– Colin Woodard, Journalist, Author of American Nations and The Lobster Coast
– Moderator, Linda Nelson, Deputy Director, Portland Ovations and Bowdoin College graduate in American Studies.
COLIN WOODARD is a New York Times bestselling author, historian and award-winning journalist. He is the author of seven books that have been translated into a dozen foreign languages and inspired an NBC television drama. He is currently Director of Nationhood Lab at the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Affairs at Salve Regina University. As State and National Affairs Writer at Maine's Portland Press Herald, he won a 2012 George Polk Award and was a finalist for a 2016 Pulitzer Prize. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico, The Economist, Smithsonian and dozens of other major publications.