WHEREAS, the State of Maine has long been a haven for writers, musicians, painters, sculptors, poets, dancers, folk artists, culinary artists, and creative thinkers of all kinds; and

WHEREAS, Maine enjoys a worldwide reputation for the quality, quantity, and variety of its cultural community; and

WHEREAS, Maine features a broad and significant array of historic and architecturally significant structures; and

WHEREAS, Maine and the world benefit economically, intellectually, and emotionally because of the existence, practices, and contributions of our cultural community; and

WHEREAS, Maine’s culture today includes the contributions and resilience of the Wabanaki tribes who first hunted, farmed, fished and occupied much of the land that we call our home; and

WHEREAS, Maine appreciates the heightened quality of life that results from a vibrant cultural community; and

WHEREAS, in accordance with 1 MRSA § 118, the State designates the week containing Statehood Day, March 15th, as Maine Cultural Heritage Week;

NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Janet T. Mills, Governor of the great State of Maine, do hereby proclaim the week of March 9-15, 2025 as

Maine Cultural Heritage Week

and I encourage all Maine citizens to observe and appreciate the richness of our cultural community and the many gains we receive thereby.

In testimony whereof, I have caused the Great Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed GIVEN under my hand at Augusta this twenty sixth day of February Two Thousand Twenty-Five