Elizabeth Koopman
Cockeysville, MD
These were the words spoken to me in 1994 by the president (now deceased) of the University of Maine at Machias regarding my work with the Wabanaki /Passamaquoddy peoples of Eastern Maine, (He followed these 6 words, “They better get used to it.”) This university president was a proud descendent of Indian fighters in South Dakota.. Six other words, spoken by one of my students at UMM–“They are nothing but red n*****s.” Such remnants of violent colonialism remain pervasive still today undermining yet not fully destroying thoughtful multicultural relationships..
