“We are most aggrieved that the River Presumpscot is dammed up so that the passage of fish, which is our food, is obstructed, and what Col. Westbrook did promise about two years ago that he would leave a place open in the dam and that the fish should have free passages up said river into the pond in proper season, but he has not done so, and we are therefore deprived of our proper food…” – Polin, Sagamore (chief) of the Presumpscot River, 1739

I recently attended a very moving documentary film titled “Banished,” by Marco Williams. It focused on three communities. Through interviews and historical documentation, it traced how African-American families and communities were driven from their own lands by intimidation and violence. This land subsequently was transferred to white ownership and over many years transferred ownership to those that had no connection or even knowledge of the initial vanquishing. The film discussed how this has affected families that had lost their familial land and the communities from which they were driven.

The film and the ensuing discussion, went on to discuss the issue of reparations and if they should be made and if so by whom and how. Clearly, as in the case of one family farm from which the family members were forcefully driven and has now become a very affluent Atlanta suburb, the monetary loss was significant. There was however the suggestion that reparations have a dimension beyond the monetary. A powerful statement can be offered by a community through a public recognition that their lives have been advantaged over others due to certain historical occurrences and simply that that history has occurred.

I had to ask myself how this pertains to my own life. To some degree we have, even in Maine had a history of African American banishment. However, it did force me to recognize that we in Windham too had such a history. It was, as it was across our country, concerning our American Indians. All of our lives as we know them now have been affected by the banishment of the native families that once lived, fished, hunted and raised families along the Presumpscot River. These people that had lived here for generations prior to European settlement had effectively been starved off of their lands.

The families of the Presumpscot, led by Chief Polin, attempted to gain the enforcement of established treaties through legal channels to allow them to maintain their ability to fish and hunt. However, the needs of the American Indians were in stark conflict with the ambitions of the growing number of settlements. Treaties hence were not recognized or enforced and in the end it resulted in violent conflict.

Chief Polin and other American Indians were defending the fundamental survival of their people. In this effort, Polin was killed and subsequently his families forever left their beloved Presumpscot River and their lands. Stephen Manchester, who shot the chief, was also fighting on behalf of his people. They were of different cultures, and had conflicting needs, ambitions and beliefs.

In hindsight we may see that it could and should have been different. We do though live, and have gained, many benefits due to this historic incident. I personally, wonder what our world and community would look like had those first families of the Presumpscot been valued, and in these hundred years since, we had lived in mutual harmony with understanding and respect.

Years upon years have passed and nothing can be done to change a path established so long ago. We can however offer a sense of balanced recognition within our community. I would suggest that as we have named one of our schools after Stephen Manchester, we do the same for Chief Polin and his people. This would offer a catalyst for greater recognition of Windham history and pay homage to one of the great Windham leaders.

This is a story that is too often repeated throughout human existence. Naming a school for Chief Polin would encourage a greater awareness and understanding and perhaps, in a small way, raise our collective consciousness of these issues and detour them from them occurring in the future.

Michael Shaughnessy is a Windham resident whose own heritage is rooted in the Irish Diaspora, caused by the English occupation of the mid 1800s, He would like to hear your thoughts at michaeljshaughnessy@verizon.net.