When Allen was a child in the 1940s and 1950s, his village was isolated
and depended largely on subsistence hunting and fishing, working in the
woods, and seasonal harvesting work for its survival. Passamaquoddy was
its first language, and the tribal traditions of sharing and helping one
another ensured the survival of the group. To the outside world, they
lived in poverty, but Allen remembers a life that was rich and rewarding
in many ways. He recalls the storytellers, tribal leaders, craftsmen,
basketmakers, hunters, musicians, and elders who are still his heroes,
and he explains why preserving the Passamaquoddy traditions and language
is so critical to his people's survival in modern times. Many rare
photographs illustrate this fascinating memoir.