New River Fine Art

In June 2021, the Passamaquoddy Tribe in Maine were able to buy back Kuwesuwi Monihq, or Pine Island in a private sale. This island was stolen from the Passamaquoddy Tribe in 1820 when Maine officially changed the islands name and (il)legally voided the 1794 treaty that granted this land to the tribe. As of 2021, the Passamaquoddy had not set foot on the island, which was held in private hands, for over 160 years. The island was considered sacred lands and contained many Native American burial grounds and ceremonial sites. This acquisition of the Kuwesuwi Monihq island is part of a greater conversation of Native American appropriations and an international “buy-back” movement by the surviving generations of Native American Tribes across the world.

Ink, Chalk, Graphite on Paper.

22x30x3 in