KENNEBEC JOURNAL • July 21, 2021
For millennia, the Kennebec River was the nucleus of Wabanaki food systems and trade. After 300 years of American industry and development, it has become unsustainable for our people and aquatic relatives alike. The future of Atlantic salmon and several other sea-run fish hinges on restoring the Kennebec. Today, Atlantic salmon are on the brink of extinction in this watershed because of four antiquated dams, all owned by Canadian-based energy giant Brookfield. A dozen other once-abundant fish species are also unable to reach their historic spawning and rearing habitats along the Kennebec and its tributaries. We have an opportunity to stand for the fish now, and it may be our last. While removing dams is one step to restorative justice for fish, cleaning up the mess humans make of these waterways will require Wabanaki leadership. ~ Mali Obomsawin, Lubec