Akomawt Educational Initiative

10/13/2025

Happy Indigenous People's Day!

We, at Akomawt, would like to invite you to spend some time enjoying the premiere edition of a new podcast from world renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma called Our Common Nature. This episode focuses on the concert in Acadia National Park with Akomawt Co-Founder Chris Newell, fellow Wabanaki musicians and performers, and the concept of welcoming a new day with music. Enjoy the podcast and enjoy your day!

Podcast Episode · Our Common Nature · 10/08/2025 · 32m

06/29/2024

Happening now. International Festival of Arts and Ideas.

Lowe in conversation with co-founder and executive director Dr. Jason Mancini

04/18/2024

Today is great day to support Native students directly! Consider a gift to our friends the UConn Native Cultural Program and positively affect the lives of Native students today!

Native American Cultural Programs (NACP) at UConn is here to serve Native and Indigenous students. NACP welcomes all Native and Indigenous students, faculty, staff, community members and allies. NACP is here to serve our community, to help foster relationships with local tribal nations, and work tow...

10/17/2023

FREE Concert announcement!

The University of Connecticut will host the Mali Obomsawin Quintet on October 28 at the Mehden Recital Hall (UConn Storrs)

Admission is free and this event is open to the public.

Share far and wide!

10/09/2023

06/04/2023

"“Museums in the Northeast are asking these really critical questions about, what is my role going forward? Are we enabling and empowering settler-colonial ideals in the way that we steward and also interpret our Indigenous collections?” said Spears, who is an enrolled citizen of the Navajo Nation. “Museums are looking at the places they do not have Indigenous knowledge on their own boards, in their own staff, in their own hiring process. I think it’s important for institutions to recognize the really unique forms of knowledge that Indigenous educators, Indigenous curators, Indigenous leaders bring to the spaces where they come to work.”"

Outside advisers brought new perspectives to the reinstallation of the museum's permanent collection.

06/02/2023

We were proud to be asked to serve as advisors to the Portland Museum of Art reinterpretation of the second floor. The new installation is called Passages in American Art and includes multiple layers of conversation between the pieces in each space. The voices of interpretation are varied and give multifaceted perspectives on the art pieces as you make your way through the exhibit. Full of too much goodness to capture in a social media post, we highly encourage you to go and visit!

02/10/2023

This morning Akomawt co-founder joined Tracy Rector from Nia Tero and Tuscarora composer Jennifer Kreisberg to talk with WNPR's Where We Live about the short documentary Weckuwapok (The Approaching Dawn)

"Reciprocity Project" is a docu-series spotlighting Indigenous perspectives on our planet and the climate in an effort to inspire a "paradigm shift." Plus, a conversation on the Native food movement with Navajo journalist and podcaster Andi Murphy.

01/13/2023

We're proud to call ourselves collaborators with LEVER Architecture on this inspired winning design for the Portland Museum of Art expansion and unification. An amazing win for the city of Portland, Wabanaki peoples, and for architecture!

"Knowledge is the energy that occurs between us when we're in conversation."

-Wayne Newell

Portland Museum of Art has selected LEVER Architecture for its campus expansion project, which will more than double the museum’s footprint.

01/11/2023

Repost from our friends at LEVER Architecture

“In conceiving a marquee cultural project for Maine’s oldest and largest public art institution, LEVER sought to design a building that responds to what Robinson calls a ‘very specific place.’ Key to this is Akomawt Educational Initiative co-founder Chris Newell, a member of the Passamaquoddy tribe, who has provided the larger team with insight into local Wabanaki culture from the beginning of the design process. This perspective influences the visual language of the building, including a curving roofline that cradles the sun as it rises and sets over the horizon in honor of Maine’s Indigenous communities.”

LEVER Principal Chandra Robinson spoke with Architectural Record, sharing more about the LEVER team’s design concept for the Portland Museum of Art campus expansion, and the inspiration behind our proposal - read the full article:

https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/16021-lever-architecture-wins-design-competition-for-campus-expansion-of-maines-portland-museum-of-art

Simons Architectscts, Unknown Studio Landscape Architecture & Urban Design LLC, Akomawt Educational Initiative, Openbox, Once–Future Office, Atelier Ten, Studio Pacifica, Arup, Altieri Sebor Wiebor Consulting Engineers, Guy Nordenson and Associates, Thornton Tomasetti, Woodard & Curran, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, Stuart-Lynn, Opendox, Darcstudio

The proposed design of the mass-timber addition prioritizes accessibility and openness while celebrating the Pine Tree State’s lumber heritage.

01/09/2023

Big news for the Portland Museum of Art and Akomawt Educational Initiative!! Thank you to LEVER Architecture and all the other partners that came together on this game changing win for museum design!

"In conceiving a marquee cultural project for Maine’s oldest and largest public art institution, LEVER sought to design a building that responds to what Robinson calls a “very specific place.” Key to this is Akomawt Educational Initiative co-founder Chris Newell, a member of the Passamaquoddy tribe, who has provided the larger team with insight into local Wabanaki culture from the beginning of the design process. This perspective influences the visual language of the building, including a curving roofline that cradles the sun as it rises and sets over the horizon in honor of Maine’s Indigenous communities."

The proposed design of the mass timber addition prioritizes accessibility and openness while celebrating the Pine Tree State’s lumber heritage.