The McGillicuddy Humanities Center and the Bangor Public Library present

“Mary and Molly: In the Spirit of the Ancestors, a Birthday to Remember”

A One Act play by Donna M. Loring

PRODUCED BY THE MCGILLICUDDY HUMANITIES CENTER DIRECTED BY WILLIAM S. YELLOW ROBE, JR.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16

2:00 – 4:00 PM

Minsky Lecture Hall, Bangor Public Library

No tickets necessary. Free and open to the public

About the play:

Mary finds a letter from her mother in an old trunk in her mother’s attic, addressed to her “to be opened on her 21st birthday.” With the help of her ancestors like Molly Molasses, will Mary embrace her full heritage and the part of her that she never knew existed, or will she choose to keep one hidden?

The play’s author, Donna M. Loring,  and director, William S. Yellow Robe, Jr., will be available for a Q & A following the play.

This production is funded in part by a grant from the Maine Bicentennial Commission.

About the author:

Donna M. Loring is an author, broadcaster, and Senior Adviser on Tribal Affairs to Janet Mills, the governor of Maine.

Donna also is producer and host of Wabanaki Windows on WERU. Click here to access the archived radio shows.

Donna grew up on Indian Island and graduated from the University of Maine at Orono with a B.A. in political science. She is a Vietnam veteran. Her professional background is in law enforcement, and she is a graduate of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. Donna was the first woman police academy graduate to become police chief in the state of Maine and served as the police chief for the Penobscot Nation during the 1980s. She was also appointed aide de camp to then-governor Angus King and was adviser to the governor on women veterans’ affairs.

Donna was Penobscot Tribal Representative to the Maine State Legislature from 1999 to 2007. Among her many legislative accomplishments, she authored and sponsored LD 291 “An Act to Require Teaching Maine Native American History and Culture in Maine’s Schools.” Governor Angus King signed the Act into law on June 14th 2001. The law is changing the way Maine views its history. Donna’s book, In the Shadow of the Eagle (Tilbury House, 2008) chronicles her experiences as the tribal representative to the State Legislature.

Among Donna’s many accomplishments are these awards:

• Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from the University of Maine 2017

• Alumni Career Award University of Maine 2017

• Deborah Morton Award from the University of New England 2011

• Donna M. Loring Lecture Series established at the University of New England

• 2009 Maine Community Foundation Service Recognition Award 2002-2009

• Aide de Camp to Governor Angus King rank of Honorary Colonel 1999

• Maryann Hartmann Award from the University of Maine 1999