AUBURN – Audience members will be introduced to the story of a young man living the life of an American Indian in the early 19th century when Nancy Lecompte speaks Tuesday, Feb. 27, as part of the Androscoggin Historical Society’s 2006-07 lecture series.

Her lecture, titled “The Life of John W. Johnson – A White Boy Raised by Abenaki in the Early 1800s,” will begin at 7 p.m. at the Androscoggin County Building.

Lecompte is with the organization NeDoBa, which means “friends” in Abenaki.

Johnson was born in Maine in 1829 and disappeared from his family home at age 4. He was found and raised by American Indians and became an Indian basketmaker, doctor and entertainer, traveling around the Northeast countryside in the time leading up to the Civil War. As a young man, he learned his true identity and was reunited with his family. Shortly after, he recorded his story for future generations. For decades, his story has been overlooked by historians as romantic fiction. Lecompte will share Johnson’s story and how research has shown it to be a true story.

An Abenaki display will be set up in the museum prior to the presentation and will be available for viewing for several weeks. Lecompte has provided two large display boards with photos and text concerning traveling American Indian medicine shows in the Northeast, with specifics on the Kiowa Medicine Show and the Kickapoo Indian Medicine Show.

Also shown will be two other display boards prepared by Lecompte: one titled “Basket Makers & Rail Roads – Indians in 19th Century Maine,” and the other featuring photos and text on general topics concerning Abenaki history, with a timeline from the late 1500s to the present.

The public is welcome to view the display boards, as well as the historical society’s permanent Native American exhibit. Admission is free. The museum is wheelchair accessible.