enlarge Courtesy Maine Humanities Council

Allen Sockabasin reads from “Thanks to the Animals,” which he hopes will help Passamaquoddies connect to their culture.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: A children’s reading program for ages 6-13 with Passamaquoddy native Allen Sockabasin

WHEN: 11 a.m. Saturday

WHERE: Blue Hill Public Library, 5 Parker Point Road, Blue Hill

ADMISSION is free. For details, call 374-5515.

SOCKABASIN’S books are available through Tilbury House Publishing, www.tilburyhouse.com

Passing along the traditions of his people while finding ways to respect other cultures has become a life work for Passamaquoddy native Allen Sockabasin. And literacy plays a large role in interpreting those ideals.

Born and raised in a Passamaquoddy village at Peter Dana Point, Sockabasin, 65, is a musician, author and former tribal chief who talks about his ethnic roots in a “native folk style” that includes oral histories, song and dance.

Sockabasin will speak Saturday as part of Blue Hill Public Library’s summer reading program. He’ll read from his  book, “Thanks to the Animals,” both in English and Passamaquoddy. He’ll also teach participants, ages 6-13, a few Passamaquoddy words, songs and traditional dances.

“I heard him speak at a conference at the University of Maine at Orono,” said Pat Horton, the library’s youth services director. “He feels that he needs to share these stories and language of his people because it’s critical to the survival of their culture.”

“Thanks to the Animals” is a children’s book that tells the tale of a Native American child named Zoo Zap (which means Joseph) who gets lost along the way to native wintering grounds and is cared for by forest creatures until his father comes to rescue him. It’s a theme that reflects Sockabasin’s life and desires: having known the ways of a native community, getting lost along the way, being aided by others and restored to his family.

Sockabasin said he’s seen his people drift away from their ethnic ways. But rather than shun the English language and ways that have brought about that change, he uses it as a teaching tool.

“Our language was not a written language; it’s passed down (through the generations) orally,” said Sockabasin, 65. “I didn’t learn to speak English until age 12 and didn’t read and write it until I was age 27. In my village, education wasn’t the priority. We were taught life survival skills – to be able to hunt, fish and grow our own food.”

One of 11 children, Sockabasin was raised in a Passamaquoddy village of 200 people. His mother’s death forced him to help support the family at age 12. At first, he hauled 35-gallon barrels of trash for 25 cents each and then went into construction.

He attended college but was discouraged by his experiences with racism. That only fueled his desire to effectively communicate with others. “When you don’t read and write there’s an extra stigma and shame that goes with it.”

Today, Sockabasin works for Wabanaki Mental Health Association of Bangor as an educator and counselor working with HIV and AIDS programs. “I serve native people who have issues such as homelessness, drug addiction and abuse and mental health issues.

Most of the kids are disconnected from their communities,” said Sockabasin. “I work to reconnect them, teaching the tribal language, stories, music, basketry, hand carving and how to stand up tall and (be proud of their heritage). The traditional way has almost disappeared, most of it lost because the language is lost. That’s why I work hard and am an activist to restore our culture. Right now, I’m writing a dictionary of the Passamaquoddy language based on phonetics.”

Staff Writer Deborah Sayer can be contacted at 791-6308 or at: dsayer@pressherald.com