BANGOR — Bangor nonprofit Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness is bringing a Wabanaki Youth and Cultural Center to the heart of downtown Bangor.
“The center is a place for learning and connecting,” said Lisa Sockabasin, Co-CEO of Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness. “In a world that seems to be increasingly divisive, what we know as indigenous people is where there’s great division, we must work on that reconnection, and that’s what this center is all about.”
The center on Central Street will have a rock-climbing wall inspired by Mount Katahdin, an indoor forest, an epoxy floor installation of the Penobscot River and more.
“What we’re really focused on is creating a place where people can come explore Wabanaki territory indoors, learn about that territory from Wabanaki values and perspectives, and then hopefully going to visit these beautiful places,” said Sockabasin. “Such as Mount Katahdin, the Penobscot River — and not just visit them but also understand our responsibilities to these beautiful areas.”
The effort has been underway for the past two years and is expected to open sometime before the end of 2025 with a few exhibits in place.
“When we open an exhibit, the rest of the space may not be completed,” said Sockabasin. “But we are going to welcome the community to experience the journey.”
Sockabasin said they’re still figuring out the total project cost and some of the larger features may not be ready until 2026.
“So, before the end of 2025 we certainly will have exhibits to share. But the grand plan, the forest we’re created indoors, the mountain that’s being created, we’re looking into 2026.”
Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness will be launching a fundraising campaign later this summer to support the project, but you can donate any time at wabanakiphw.org.
“This is a space for connection across cultures, as well as learning and engaging in the values of Wabanaki people, and those values center on love and the protection of Mother Earth and connect us to our responsibilities,” said Sockabasin. “So, this center is really a comprehensive place where communities and people can connect across generations.”
To learn more about the project, visit wabanakiycc.org.