 |
| Malaga Island descendants gather at Maine State Museum exhibit |
"The Maine State Museum is the repository of your things; it tells your stories, the good and the bad." J.R. Phillips, Maine State Museum Director
With this shorthand of the Maine State Museum's mission, director J.R. Phillips began the ceremonial opening of "Malaga Island, Fragmented Lives" yesterday. "(Malaga's story) had an unhappy ending," Phillips nodded to the crowd of Malaga Island descendants gathered in the exhibit gallery, "but it wasn't the end of the story, really, because all of you are here."
 |
| Governor LePage meets descendant Marnie Voter at exhibit |
"It took courage to do it, putting something on exhibit that's bad," said Malaga descendant Charmagne Tripp, referring to the forced eviction of island residents in 1912. Tripp traveled from Connecticut to visit the exhibit and speak at the ceremony. "The thing that stood out most to me was the loss of (our ancestors') opportunity, what could have transpired - land ownership, education, business. It was a great loss." But Ms. Tripp's remarks turned upbeat when she announced an initiative to found a scholarship fund for Malaga Island descendants, one that would be managed by the Maine Community Foundation.
 |
| Malaga artifacts excavated by Univ. Southern Maine archaeologists |
One of those listening closely to Tripp was Governor Paul LePage. The governor entered the exhibit early, closely examined the historic documents and artifacts, and mingled with descendants. Pointing to one of the Malaga Island photographs, he said, "That house there looks better than what I grew up in."
 |
| One of the beautifully-conserved Malaga artifacts on display |
Phillips reminded exhibit attendees of Governor LePage's experience growing up below the poverty line when he invited LePage to the podium. Becoming the second Maine governor to issue an apology (
Baldacci being the first), LePage said "To the descendants, I say we apologize for this hardship we caused you. We did similar things to
Native Americans. And the largest
KKK rally occurred in Maine against French Catholics." The Governor called up and embraced a descendant, praising her for her college studies. LePage then surprised the audience by announcing that he would introduce legislation in the next season to help support the Malaga scholarship initiative with State funding. "It's up to all of you," he cautioned, "to contact your representatives and get their support."
In the tight-budget world we inhabit, we're always asked "what does
success look like?" I consider a culture history project successful when
it brings people together, encourages them to see the world in a new
way, and creates the possibility for an alternative future. By that
measure, and more, both newly-opened museum exhibit "
Malaga Island, Fragment Lives" and the prior documentary project "
Malaga Island: A Story Best Left Untold" have set the standard.
For additional information about Malaga Island, see:
No comments:
Post a Comment