10/12/2026
Freeport is located on the lands of the Abenaki people, part of the Wabanaki Confederacy. For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples lived on and cared for this land long before European settlers arrived. Indigenous communities, including members of the Wabanaki Confederacy, continue to live in southern Maine and maintain enduring connections to their ancestral homelands.
Beginning in the early 1600s, European colonization brought profound changes to the region, including disease, conflict, and displacement. Decades of warfare between Indigenous nations and European settlers reshaped the land and the lives of the people who called it home. Following the French and Indian War, English settlement expanded northward from Massachusetts, and Freeport was officially established in 1789. (Source: Freeport Historical Society)
As we recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we acknowledge the history of colonization and the injustices experienced by the Indigenous peoples whose ancestral lands we now call home. Today is an opportunity to reflect on this history, honor those who came before us, and deepen our appreciation for the land we share.
If you have Indigenous Peoples’ Day off, take advantage of the beautiful weather to explore the trails and complete your Trail Challenge Passport! As you explore Freeport’s trails, take a moment to observe the nature around you and reflect on the Indigenous peoples who have lived on, cared for, and continue to maintain deep connections to this land we know today as Freeport.
May this day inspire us to learn from the past, appreciate the natural world around us, and honor the relationships between Indigenous peoples and their ancestral homelands.
