RESTORATIVE HISTORY: Spotlighting The Untold Stories
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YCARE members have formed 2 project groups that are working to tell a fuller history of this place we call Yarmouth; a history that includes pre-settler colonial presence and spotlights the people and stories that have been excluded from our local narrative. Members of these groups are searching for answers in historical archives, listening to those most impacted, and connecting with communities across the state that continue to resist these exclusions. Together, with their diverse voices, these groups are making history and imagining a more just and inclusive future.
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YCARE Indigenous Awareness Group (YIAG) Established in 2020, this group is focused on increasing resident’s awareness of the indigenous history of this area we now call Yarmouth. Members include indigenous and non-indigenous residents of Yarmouth. We are currently celebrating:
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Federal recognition of the Wabanaki name for the first waterfall on the Royal River as Pumgustuck. YCARE spent 14 months building a coalition of local partners, seeking insight from language keepers and requesting permission from tribal leaders before sending the application for naming to the US geographic names database. Once sent, the application was approved swiftly, meaning Pumgustuck will now appear on all federal maps. YCARE thanks everyone who helped with this effort! The next step will be erecting signage in Gristmill Park to educate visitors about Pumgustuck and the importance of Indigenous place names. Please contact us if you'd like to volunteer. Read the Northern Forecaster article here.
You are also welcome to join these ongoing projects:
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The Wabanaki Awareness Project- YCARE and their many community partners have launched an ambitious 2-year project to create park signage highlighting Indigenous history and perspectives. Seven sites have been chosen and mini-teams are hard at work researching and designing the signage. Our partners include Dwayne Tomah, Yarmouth Community Services, Rotary Club, Yarmouth Parks & Lands, Royal River Conservation Trust, and the Yarmouth Historical Center, 317 Main Community Music Center. Please contact us if interested in partnering or volunteering. We currently need community organizers, project managers, researchers, writers, editors, fundraisers, graphic designers, and team-players.
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Supporting dam removal on the Royal River- YCARE supports the Royal River Ecosystem Restoration Project (Section 106 National Historic Preservation Act Coordination). They have been engaged by the US Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Archaeologist and Tribal Liaison and have gone on record as supporting the development of a Programmatic Agreement to identify, evaluate, and protect any archaeological sites uncovered by the project and mitigate to the greatest possible extent any adverse effects on any sites, in consultation with the Wabanaki Nations of Maine, Yarmouth Historical Society, and Maine State Archaeologist.
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Organizing Local Educational Events- Past events include organizing REACH Educational Programming and participating in World Fish Migration Day celebrations with the Royal River Alliance.
YCARE Group Re-centering the History of Black and Other Racially Marginalized People Many communities in New England are researching, revealing and beginning to reckon with their complicity in the slave trade and the global economy of enslavement while re-centering the stories of its racially marginalized groups. YCARE members have just begun this process. They are digging into local and state historical archives and connecting with churches and other community organizations who often have records stored away. They have also joined the collaborative research platform and learning community created by the Atlantic Black Box Project (ABB). The ABB serves as a very inspirational hub and a clearinghouse to all those who wish to support this work. We invite you to join us as we dive into our collective past and explore its full complexity.
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CRIMINAL JUSTICE: Research, Advocacy, Engagement
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In 2023, the Town Council worked with YCARE and the Police Department to envision and create a Police Service Advisory Committee (PSAC). The PSAC strives to:
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improve lines of communication between police and the public, businesses, and community stakeholders;
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to help foster a climate of transparency, collaboration, responsiveness, high levels of professionalism and the rule of law, equity, and accountability; and
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to advise the Yarmouth Police Department and Yarmouth Town Council on police policies to reflect the values of Yarmouth’s residents, businesses, and community stakeholders.
Residents, including students, are encouraged to apply here if interested in serving on this committee. One YCARE Steering Committee member currently serves on PSAC.
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PSAC discussions, research and advocacy is centered around:
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Yarmouth's Use of Force Policy- YCARE requested review of a 2021 policy and participated in a working sub-committee with Chief Gallant to make changes. As of September 2024, the policy changes are fully supported by the YPD and meet the review standards of a national organization. Whereas in 2021 the policy met only 5 of 8 criteria, the new policy now meets all 8. See www.8cantwait.org
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Yarmouth’s Underage Drinking Policy - YCARE participated in a review of the policy and supported the recommendation of Chief Gallant for its revision. The new policy allows for an option beyond zero tolerance whereby the student offender can have a summons expunged from their record by participating in and completing an approved alternative program.
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Restorative Justice- YCARE and PSAC members participated in “Help Shape Justice in Your Community,” a restorative justice program sponsored by the Cumberland County DA and recommended by Chief Gallant. One outcome of this session was learning of the importance of body cams in domestic violence situations, which allows for prosecution using this information when those who have been harmed recant. Another outcome was YCARE sponsoring a repeat of the program attended by members of the Town Council, School Committee, General Assistance program, and YCARE Steering Committee members.
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Mental Health Issues- YCARE is now participating in a PSAC subcommittee focused on addressing the mental health and well-being of YPD officers and community members with an eye on creating policies relating to crisis response and communication where currently no formalized policies exist.
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EDUCATION REFORM: Inclusive, Addressing Systemic Inequities, Naming Bias
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Current focus:
Teaching Native American history in the school system- Nearly two decades ago, Maine passed a law requiring that Native American history and culture be taught in all schools. Today many schools are still a long way from fulfilling that goal. YCARE is developing relationships within the Yarmouth school system to help create an educational focus on Wabanaki Studies. Volunteers are needed to help us build relationships and gather the resources to support teachers at all educational levels.
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Past work:
Serving on the Equity Task Force- In 2020, the School Committee authorized formation of the Equity Task Force (ETF) to promote an inclusive environment where all students may thrive; identify the systemic inequities that impact educational spaces; and propose recommendations to address all forms of institutional bias in the Yarmouth Schools pertaining to race, religion, country of origin, gender or gender identity, age, sexual orientation, disability, socio-economic status, or any other protected category or identity. In the 2021-22 school year, the ETF invited community members to participate in 4 working groups: policies and protocols, student leadership, academics and programming, and family engagement. YCARE members served on each of these working groups.
Transgender & Gender Expansive Policy- In 2022-23, the School Committee passed a Transgender & Gender Expansive Policy based on feedback from ETF and the wider community. YCARE members supported this policy by showing up to school committee meetings and submitting written testimony.
In 2023-2024, ETF goals includee two projects:
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implementation of an Equity Audit with anticipated start of August/September 2023
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developing Policy/Procedures to Address Harmful Language including N-Slur/N-Word Guidelines and currently drafting Discriminatory & Harmful Language Guidance. The plan is to implement at the start of 2023-2024 school year and include training.
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The ETF was disbanded in 2024.
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