James Eric Francis Sr.

TRIBAL AFFILIATION: Penobscot Nation

PANEL: Centering Wabanaki Voices in America's 250th

BIOGRAPHY
James Eric Francis Sr. serves as the Director of Cultural and Historic Preservation, Tribal Historian, and Chair of the Penobscot Tribal Rights and Resource Protection Board for the Penobscot Nation. As a historian, he explores the relationship between Maine Native Americans and the land. Before his current roles, James contributed to the Wabanaki Studies Commission, assisting with the implementation of Maine’s Native American Studies Law in schools. He co-produced the documentary *Invisible*, which highlights the racism faced by Native Americans in Maine and the Canadian Maritimes. James is a member of the Abbe Museum’s Board of Trustees and Abbe Council, and he is a co-founder and Chair of Local Context, an initiative dedicated to supporting Indigenous communities in managing their cultural heritage and intellectual property. Additionally, he serves on the UMaine Hudson Museum Advisory Board and chairs the Maine Archives Board. James is also a visual artist, working as a historian, photographer, filmmaker, painter, and graphic artist.