Migrant Students Page for the Maine Legislature

Four Migrant Education Program students, Tony Dana, Nakeisha Nicholas, and Valerie Socobasin, all from Indian Township and Petak Dana from Pleasant Point travelled to Augusta on January 31, 2013 for the opportunity to serve as Honorary Pages in the Maine State House of Representatives. The trip was arranged by Mano en Mano through the office of Madonna Soctomah, the Passamaquoddy Representative to the Maine Legislature.

The Honorary Page program involves students in the House of Representatives’ important business of debating and voting on legislation. House rules insists legislators remain at their desks when in session, so to communicate without disrupting the debates or votes, legislators send written messages back and forth.

Pages wait by a lighted directory that calls them to a legislator’s desk where they receive the message that they then deliver. The students received a standing ovation when they were recognized by the House Speaker, and were kept very busy throughout the morning session.

These students, along with the 8^th Grade classes from Indian Township and Beatrice Rafferty Schools, then toured the State House, enjoyed lunch, and toured the Maine State Museum before returning home.

 

 

Photo 1: Valerie Socobasin getting directions from Representative Madonna Soctomah. Nakeisha Nicholas is on the left, waiting her turn. The gentleman to Madonna’s left is Henry John Bear, the Maliseet Tribe’s first Maine Legislator.