Passamaquoddy Traditions

To help us learn about Maine Native Americans, Mr. Colson (who teaches middle school) came to our class today.  Mr. Colson is part Passamaquoddy.  He shared with us some Passamaquoddy words, showed us a basket made from sweetgrass by a master basket maker, and let us see a decorative piece (that would be worn like a tie) made from elaborate beadwork.  With the help of seventh graders Amber and Alayna, Mr. Colson also treated us to fry bread - a traditional Native American food.

Many were interested in the recipe for fry bread.  This is how Mr. Colson made it:

2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
a little sugar
a little salt
and just enough milk or water to make it "sticky" (not as thin as pancake batter)

Amber and Alayna used an electric griddle to fry the dough, but you can also use a deep fryer.
Mr. Colson says that you must use real butter on the fry bread when you eat it (not margarine!).

Mr. Colson also told us that a Passamaquoddy tradition when eating is that the oldest is served first.  So we lined up in order of age and followed the tradition!

"Woliwon", Mr. Colson, Amber, and Alayna - Thank you!