John Bear Mitchell

Dynamic educator with a strong background in Native American Studies at the University of Maine, specializing in curriculum development and teacher training. Proven track record in creating impactful programs, such as the Dawnland Micro Credential. Committed to fostering cultural competence and enhancing educational leadership within diverse communities.

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology Architectural School, Advising on Cultural Relevance with Senior projects, 2019-2022
• Simons Architects, Cultural Advisor for Redesign and Inclusion of Maine Tribal Considerations in Landscape for Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, 2021-2022

• University of Rhode Island, 2003, Communication of Indigenous Knowledge Through Stories
• EPSCoR, 2022, Wabanaki Ways of Knowing

• Treaties with American Indians: An Encyclopedia of Rights, Conflicts, and Sovereignty, Micha Pawling, ABC, LCIO, Volume lll, 2008
• Wabanaki Wigwams: Traditional Knowledge Through Mathematics, Tod Shockey, Winds of Change: American Indian Educations Magazine, 2009
• Penobscot Ways of Knowing: An Ethnomathematics Approach, Tod Shockey
• An Ethnomathematics approach toward understanding a Penobscot hemispherical lodge, Tod Shockey, Horizontes; Matematica, Cultura E Praticas Pedagogicas, 2006
• Etuaptmumk, Etic & Emic of a Penobscot Hemispherical Lodge, The Ohio State University Mathematics Education Roundtable, 03/01/16, T.L. Shockey, J.B. Mitchell
• Spatial Reasoning: A Comparison Between the Construction of a Native American Hand Drum and Surgical Geometry, T.L. Shockey, J.B. Mitchell, 05/01/16
• Dawnland – University of Maine Micro-Credential in Wabanaki Studies, Badge Creator and content Specialist, 01/01/22

• Project Wigwam, Director and designer, An entire working pre-contact, Wabanaki Village built on the Penobscot Reservation with the assistance of 30 Wabanaki youth in six weeks., 1992
• Wabanaki Structures, Director, Directed and built a working village. Reproduced 4 traditional Wigwams (houses) on the property of the Damariscotta River Associations property., 2005

• American Indian Institute, Bozeman Montana, Youth Director, 01/01/92, 01/01/20
• American Indian Institute, Executive Vice-Chair, 01/01/20, Present
• Wabanaki Youth Build Program, Planning committee member and education consultant, 01/01/02, 01/01/06
• Abbe Museum, Board of Cooperators, 01/01/03, Present
• State of Maine Citizens Review Committee for Dept. of Heath and Human Services, Member, 01/01/08, 01/01/12
• Wilson Center for Religious studies, Board of Directors, 01/01/20, Present
• Land Peace Foundation, Center for Wabanaki Traditional Studies, Executive Vice-Chair, 01/01/19, Present
• US Commission of Civil Rights, State of Maine Representative, 01/01/07, Present
• State of Maine Department of Education Maine Indian History Commission, Penobscot representative, 01/01/01, 01/01/08
• State of Maine Department of Education Maine Indian History Commission, Penobscot representative, 01/01/19, Present
• State of Maine Learning Results Revision Committee, Member, 01/01/07, 01/01/08, Maine Indian Studies, 01/01/11, 01/01/12, Maine Indian Studies, 01/01/18, 01/01/19, Maine Indian Studies

• Wabanaki Afterlife, The Afterlife Survey, Milliken, Adams Media, 12/01/11
• Espun and Grandfather, Trickster, Native American Tales – A Graphic Collection, Matt Dembicki, Fulcrum Books, 2010
• Senier Siobhan. Dawnland Voices, An Anthology of Indigenous Writing From New England. Ulnerbeh and his Canoe, Nebraska Press, 01/01/14
• History of Native American Programs at The University of Maine, University of Maine Press, 04/01/22
• Art, Ecology, and the Resilience of a Maine Island, The Monhegan Wildlands. Wabanaki Homelands – A Tribal Fisherman’s Tale, Rizzoli Electa, 12/01/24
• Becoming Modern, The University of Maine, 1865 – 2015. A Short History of Native American Programs at the University of Maine, Neuman, Pawling, Ranco, 2023