LEWISTON — The Great Falls Forum will take place Friday, March 20, with a presentation on Wabanaki history.

John Bear Mitchell will present “Maine Indians, Wabanaki Peoples — our Past and Present Stories.” The program will take place from noon to 1 p.m. in Callahan Hall at the Lewiston Public Library.

Mitchell is Wabanaki Center Outreach and Student Development coordinator, University of Maine System Native American waiver coordinator and University of Maine Lecturer in Wabanaki Studies.

He is a member of the Penobscot Nation on Indian Island and is employed by the University of Maine where he teaches courses in Wabanaki history and multicultural diversity. Before taking his position at Orono, he was the Native Studies teacher at the Indian Island School.

In 2001, Mitchell was appointed by the Penobscot Tribal Council as a member of the Wabanaki Education Commission, a group established by the Maine State Legislature to develop a Wabanaki studies curriculum for all Maine schools. Since that time, he has served on numerous museum and educational boards across the state and as a consultant and a participant in the PBS series “Colonial House.”

Mitchell is an accomplished Native American storyteller and for many years served as an Arts in Education Touring Artist, visiting Maine schools to present stories and songs of the Wabanaki peoples. His Great Falls Forum presentation will focus on Wabanaki history, culture and storytelling traditions.

Admission is free to all forum events and no reservations are required. Bring a bag lunch; coffee, tea and bottled water will be available at the library.

The Great Falls Forum is co-sponsored by the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce, Bates College, Lewiston Public Library and the Sun Journal. The Lewiston Public Library is at 200 Lisbon St.

More information on Thursday’s lecture or other upcoming events in the Great Falls Forum series is available by contacting the library at 513-3135 or www.LPLonline.org.

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