York Middle School

5th Grade students enjoyed a visit from John Bear Mitchell as part of their study of their Native American studies. He provided storytelling and an examination and explanation of a number of artifacts and items. He was engaging and knowledgeable, and students had lots of questions! John Bear Mitchell is a citizen of the Penobscot Nation from Indian Island in Maine. He presently serves at the University of Maine Orono as a Lecturer of Wabanaki Studies and Multicultural Studies and other roles at the University. For 15 years John visited schools in Maine as a Maine Touring Artist delivering an Arts in Education program, and has a background in Native storytelling. His singing and storytelling can be heard in many Maine PBS, tribal-sponsored awareness videos, independent film, HBO Lionsgate TV, and many documentaries with topics on Maine’s Native People. We look forward to welcoming him to YMS again!