GATHER 2023

Ambassador Maulian Dana was appointed by Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis in September 2017. As Ambassador, Ms. Dana is responsible to act as a representative of the Penobscot Nation and to serve as a liaison for the Nation at the local, state and federal levels of government in order to educate and advocate for policy and laws that impact and protect the Penobscot Nation’s sovereignty, culture, natural resources and the general welfare of the Penobscot people.

Prior to serving as Ambassador, Ms. Dana served as an elected member of the Penobscot Nation Tribal Council. Ambassador Dana grew up on Indian Island within the Penobscot Nation’s Reservation and is the daughter of former Penobscot Nation Chief Barry Dana, who served from 2000-2004. Ambassador Dana graduated from the University of Maine in Orono with a degree in political science. Prior to being elected to Tribal Council, she was the Human Resources Director for the Penobscot Indian Nation Enterprises (PINE). Before that, she worked at the Penobscot Nation Cultural & Historic Preservation Department and as a substitute school teacher at the Nation’s school. She is also the proud and loving mother of two daughters.

Ambassador Dana is an outspoken advocate on the issue of derogatory mascots and imagery. Her advocacy resulted in the State of Maine recently enacting a law to change the annual Columbus Day in October to Indigenous Peoples Day, and prohibit public schools from using derogatory mascots. In the years leading up to the Maine Legislature taking action, Ambassador Dana represented the Penobscot Nation in the effort to have the Skowhegan High School drop their “Indian” mascot.

Her other passion is finding ways to strengthen and expand programs that help to preserve and teach the customs and traditions of the Penobscot people.