The principal tribe of the famous Abnaki Indian confederacy of Maine, and the only one still keeping its name, territory and tribal identity, is the Penobscot, who can be found in the Moosehead region to this day.

The Abnaki Confederacy, to which the Penobscot belonged, consisted of a number of small tribes of Algonquin linguistic stock, covering the greater part of the present state of Maine, and closely connected linguistically and politcally with the Pennacook of the Merrimac region to the south and with the Maliseet or Etchemin of the St. John River Valley to the north, and more remotely with the Micmac of eastern New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

The article also features a photograph of Chief Needahbeh (Roland Nelson of Greenville) in full regalia. "Needahbeh" means "Good Friend" in the Penobscot language. The photograph, received in 2002 from Gail Maynard of Rockwood, is one of many of local Native Americans in the Moosehead Historical Museum archives.

Other articles in the fall issue of "Insight" includes information about a collection of pre-1900 photographs of Greenville received from a Connecticut donor (one illustrated is a rare view of July 4 celebrations in Greenville Village in 1899), and a history of two antique sleigh beds received this summer from Rev. Walter Simmons of Portland. The beds were used at the Squaw Mountain Inn prior to the fire of 1968.

"Insight" is one of several benefits of Moosehead Historical Museum membership, which is $10 a year for individuals or $25 a year for families. To join and receive the latest issue of the journal, contact the Moosehead Historical Museum, P.O. Box 1116, Greenville, ME 04441-1116, or call (207) 695-2909. The Carriage House office is open year-round from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday for reading and research.