Paintings of Passamaquoddy women to be unveiled in Maine

AUGUSTA — Paintings of two Passamaquoddy women are being unveiled in the Maine State House as part of the “Americans Who Tell the Truth” project.

The portraits of Denise Altvater and Esther Attean were painted by Maine artist Robert Shetterly and will be unveiled Wednesday in the Hall of Flags.

The project promotes courageous citizenship. Both women are part of a group that pressed for a truth and reconciliation process to explore tribal experiences with the child welfare system.

In Maine, Indian children were taken from their families and placed in white foster homes at a higher rate than most other states as a result of federal policies. In 1978, the federal Indian Child Welfare Act gave Indian children more protection and recognized the importance of tribal culture.

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