Native American Area
April 25, 2005
Dear Native Americans,
Enclosed is an application for the Native American area of the Common Ground Country Fair. The dates for this year's Fair are September 23, 24 & 25. Please return the application by May 16th. Please remember, a Maine Native American must make all items for sale in the Native American tent and be a registered member of one of the four federally recognized tribes in Maine: Penobscot Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, Aroostook Band of Micmacs, or the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. Vendors may not sell commercially mass-produced or plastic items. And the final reminder is that the Fair strictly prohibits raffles and smoking in tents.
In addition to providing a great sales outlet for vendors, the Native American area presents an opportunity for bridge building between native and non-native people. The majority of the public has little or no knowledge about the Native People of Maine, but Common Ground Country Fair is helping to change that. One of the ways that we can educate fairgoers about our heritage is through traditional performance art and demonstrations. We would like to increase the number of singing, dancing and drumming performances so if you, or any of your Maine Native American friends and family would like to participate, please contact Theresa Secord or Jennifer Neptune at the number below. Thanks for helping to spread the word.
Please make sure to get your application in early and send only the $5.00 application fee at this time. We will notify applicants of their status as accepted, conditionally accepted, rejected, or waitlisted.
If you have any other questions feel free to speak to one of us or call the Fair office. We look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
Theresa Secord - 827-0391
Jennifer Neptune - 827-0391
Richard Silliboy - 532-3491
Native American Arts Area Coordinators
Guidelines for Native American Area
Coordinators: Theresa Secord, Richard Silliboy, Jennifer Neptune
Purpose: Members of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance organized this area of the Fair to help preserve the basketmaking traditions of the Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot Tribes of Maine. The area also promotes other native artwork and culture such as beadwork, woodcarvings, moose hide drums, birch bark, and beaded and quill jewelry, and presents Native American drumming and singing in native Wabanaki languages. In addition to the arts, Native American area is interested in promoting Native American Businesses that utilize traditional formulas based on cultural values, adapted to modern day production and that meet the goals and objectives of MOFGA by encouraging the revival of agriculturally-based rural communities. Dancers demonstrate both traditional and newer styles of native dancing and dress. The area seeks to promote a better understanding and appreciation of Maine Native people and culture through educational displays with historical references.
- Vendors must reside in Maine and be an enrolled member of one of the four federally recognized tribes in Maine: Penobscot Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, Aroostook Band of Micmacs, or the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians.
- Native American Area Coordinators give contracts by invitation only.
- Vendors must have a contract to set up booths.
- Vendors may not share booth space without prior consent.
- Vendors may sell only items made by enrolled members of a Maine Indian Tribe. For example, Southwest Indian jewelry and beadwork, baskets, and other artwork from other tribes are not allowed.
- Raw materials for herbal preparations (teas, tinctures, salves, oils) must be a minimum of 75% organically farmed produced or ethically wild crafted. If there are no current Maine-grown sources of either vegetable oils or vinegars, the CGCF permits out-of-state sources for these ingredients for use in herbal preparations as long as they are certified organic. In the absence of a reliable source of alcohol distilled from organic grains, conventional alcohol may be used for tinctures.
- Vendors may not sell commercially mass-produced or plastic items. Prohibited items include, but are not limited to, the following: colored feathers, rabbits feet, rubber drums, spears or arrows, neck scarves, cloth headbands, flags, Minnetonka moccasins, ceramic items, plastic dolls, rhodium jewelry, and other imported or mass-produced items.
- Vendors selling educational merchandise must limit it to items directly related to the Wabanaki peoples.
- Vendors may not sell beads, basketry supplies, tools or blocks.
- Vendors may not post "discount" or "sale" signs.
- All vendors and their staff must be dressed in appropriate attire at all times.
- Vendors agree to hold the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance and the CGCF harmless from and against any liability, loss, damage, or claim including reasonable attorney's fees, caused by or arising from their appearance at the CGCF.
- The CGCF strictly prohibits heating units, burners (hot plates) and fires in the Native American Arts Area. Participants wishing to create a fire for ceremonial purposes must obtain permission from the CGCF Director, as well as a permit from the Fire Marshall.
- Smoking is prohibited in the following areas of the Fair: the Children's Area; the shuttle and wagon rides; the food preparation and service area; all buildings including barns and all tents.
Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA)
Common Ground Country Fair
PO Box 170
Unity, ME 04988
Phone: 207-568-4142
Fax: 207-568-4141
Email: cgcf@mofga.org