James Eric Francis Sr., Penobscot Nation Tribal Historian and Director of the Nation's Culture and Historic Preservation Department, will speak  in Belfast Thursday, Nov 17 at 7 pm at Waterfall Arts, addressing Henry David Thoreau's visits to Maine and his Penobscot guides on the Wabanaki Trail.   Thoreau made trips to Maine in 1846, 1853 and 1857, each of which followed ancient Wabanaki canoe routes through vast, primitive wilderness. He climbed high on “Ktaadn” in 1846, visited Chesuncook Lake with Penobscot guide Joe Attean in 1853, and reached distant Eagle Lake in the Allagash with Penobcot guide Joe Polis in 1857 before returning to Indian Island via the East Branch of the Penobscot River.

Francis' talk is co-sponsored by Unity College's Center for Environmental Arts and Humanities, and the Sheepscot Wellspring Land Alliance.  This event is free and open to the public; donations accepted.

The talk is in conjunction with Meditations on Thoreau, a photography exhibit in the Clifford Gallery.   Japanese master photographer Koichiro Kurita specializes in now antique photographic processes, current in the 1850's, to record the natural world as it might have been seen by Thoreau.  Kurita is embarking on a 3-year journey, making images as he follows in the footsteps of Thoreau through New England, the midwest, and Canada.

James Francis on left, Thoreau on Right