Birds of Wabanaki Land

Oct 12, 2026 - Dec 31, 2026, 12:00 am, at Erickson Fields

A series of 16 watercolors of native birds with the phonetic pronunciation of their names in the Penobscot language will be on display along Erickson Fields’ 1.4-mile story trail this fall.

Artist’s bio: Carol Dana is a Penobscot (Pαnawάhpskewi buh-nah-wopp-skuh-wee) language carrier. She has dedicated the past 50 years to preserving and teaching the Penobscot Language. In 1981, Carol began working as a research assistant to Dr. Frank T. Seibert, who devised a written system for the Penobscot Language and began recording the remaining speakers in the community. Carol assisted Dr. Seibert in the creation of the Penobscot Dictionary. In 2001 Carol began working for the Penobscot Nation Cultural and Historic Preservation Department where she used her skills as a language master to teach and continue learning the language. After 21 years of service, Carol retired from the Penobscot Nation Cultural and Historic Preservation Department and remains active in teaching the language to many community members of all ages. In 2010 at the Algonquian Language Conference, Carol was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedication to the Penobscot language.

In addition to being a language carrier, Carol is a talented artist evident in her watercolor paintings of birds displayed at Erickson Fields.

Other highlights: Carol Dana’s series of bird paintings was first displayed along the Erickson Fields Trail in 2017.