Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Restoring Dawnland Dispatch Series. In this series, we want to share with readers the insight and spirit of the Peskotomuhkati people, not as a historical artefact, but as a present force working now to return health to our region. It is 2025 and the Peskotomuhkati are doing wonderful things.

What is a dispatch? When we use the word ‘dispatch’, we do so intentionally to highlight the challenges and opportunities facing our region. The meaning resonates with ‘dispatches from the front’, or ‘I’m dispatching a messenger to you now’. A dispatch is a story–a communication–about what is happening, somewhere, right now. It concerns matters which are urgent and fast moving, and which require (and enable) quick responses that can change the course of events. Dispatches are about matters about which it would be good to know before they are over and decided.

The Peskotomuhkati (Besgo-Tow-Muh-Gati) have cared for this region for 14,000 years, and are still working today to bring back a thriving ecosystem to be helpful and useful to all who live here, including non-humans. We live with the environment, and we are the environment. Did you know the Peskotomuhkati run the first hybrid fishing vessel in Canada? Did you know they are bringing back the fish to the Bay? Did you know they advocate for your health and wellbeing, just because you live in their homeland?

The longest standing name for this region is Peskotomuhkatikuk (Besgo-Tow-Muh-Gati-Guk). It is wonderful to be exposed to this incredibly beautiful language as a foundational, if currently hidden, part of our regional cultural heritage. The territory of Peskotomuhkaikuk extends along the ocean from the Narraguagus River region (SW) to the Pt Lepreau area in New Brunswick (SE), from Harvey (NE) to Spednic Lake, to the Lincoln region (NW), and down the Narraguagus to the sea, forming a long rectangle. Did you know it is also called Dawnland? Wouldn’t you like to live in Dawnland?

It is urgent that this work of restoration becomes a popular work–a movement–amongst all people who live here, in Peskotomuhkatikuk.

People and organizations often ask what they can do to help Peskotomuhkati efforts in restoring this territory as a place of abundance for all. There are so many amazing people with skills and passions for restoration that are looking for direction from Indigenous leaders. It is hard to keep up with only individual conversations. So, in order to start to connect our paths and our actions with the Peskotomuhkati vision, this series aims to blend the Zine format with the village crier dispatch–to help the reader navigate their own involvement and contributions to our region.

There is a great wealth in the ancient and current Peskotomuhkati vision: a healthy and restored Passamaquoddy Bay is the foundation and wellspring for a healthy and restored region. Healthy in every sense of the word: environmental, economic, social, spiritual, community.

Samaqan (Sa-Mog-Win)--the Peskotomuhkati word for water–connects us all socially, environmentally, economically, and spiritually, and the Nation asks all of us to join with them, following their lead, to become people of action. We hope that these dispatches enable readers to time their actions with the rhythms of the Peskotomuhkati, and begin to see restoration efforts as a collaboration of friendship.

If we want the fish back in the Bay, we need to be guided by Peskotomuhkati voices today. If we want a better economy, better mental health, better relations with each other and with our own families, then we need to listen to the people who have lived here for 14,000 years. Let’s restore balance. Wicuhkemine means ‘help us’ - restoring Dawnland requires everyone’s support.

“Wicuhkemine: ‘Water Back’” is a collection of important quotes, stories, and thoughts from Peskotomuhkati members and Elders, spoken by them in 2024. With the help and insight of William ‘Eric’ Altvater, Peskotomuhkati tribal member, these conversations spurred the work of Dani Deonarine, formed the heart of the 2024 studies of Bethany Pohl, and inspired the creation of this dispatch series by Joel Mason (all 3 non-Indigenous researchers for the Peskotomuhkati Nation). Key to all of this was the generosity of Elders and community members of the Peskotomuhkati, as well as some non-Indigenous researchers, who gave their time and knowledge about the Bay to these conversations.