Passamaquoddy Indigenous History
The first known inhabitants of Campobello were the Passamaquoddy people, who would come to the island, which they called A-bah-guiet, at the beginning of each summer to fish for scallops, sea urchins and haddock. Then, at the beginning of autumn, they would return to the Maine and New Brunswick mainland. This seasonal pattern continued until the early 1800s.

Samuel de Champlain and his crew discovered the island while exploring present-day Canada and named it the Port of Shells. Champlain had planned to found a colony in the Bay of Fundy, but instead founded Quebec City in 1608. Still, in 1607 the Port of Shells appeared on French maps, and a few French families settled on the island. Relations between the French and the Passamaquoddy remained generally friendly. The island became a British colony in 1713 as a result of the Treaty of Utrecht, which settled a dispute between France and England.

The Tomah Joseph collection is a beautiful example of local artifacts, still firmly rooted in Indigenous Passamaquoddy culture, while adapting to the shifting needs of the twentieth century.

Tomah Joseph (1837-1914)
Tomah Joseph was born in the Passamaquoddy Indian Township Reservation in eastern Maine. On September 20, 1883, he was chosen as one of three governors of the Indian Village at Peter Dana Point. He held that position until 1887 but continued to be involved in the affairs of his tribe long after his official appointment.

Tomah Joseph was an artist, guide and craftsman who sold his wares throughout eastern Maine and to the summer residents of Campobello Island. His main craft included birchbark items such as canoes, one of which he made for the Roosevelt family. It is said that he taught young Franklin Delano Roosevelt how to canoe. Tomah Joseph illustrated many of his tribes’ origin stories on the birch bark items he created and often used an owl as his trademark. He also worked as a canoe guide and together with other Passamaquoddy performed Indian dances for non-native spectators.

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