Back to: Henry David Thoreau

S1E3
Joe Polis Teaches Thoreau the Penobscot View of Nature
March 31, 2026
Throughout his life, Thoreau had been fascinated by Indigenous culture. As he and a friend set out on another excursion to Maine, he hires Joe Polis as a guide. Polis is a Penobscot leader, and throughout the trip, he teaches Thoreau about the Penobscot culture, language and way of life. Thoreau leaves Maine with a deeper appreciation for what it means to live in your native ground.
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