On May 18 and 19, 2007, in a historic first for Maine, a Sweat Lodge Ceremony took place at Bolduc Minimum Security Prison near the Maine State Prison at Bolduc.

In the weeks leading up to the 19th, Denise and Brian Altvater of the American Friends Service Committee's Wabanaki program dedicated much time to making all of the arrangements at the prison. They prepared a list of items that would need to be brought into the prison like prepared food for the feast after the ceremony. Denise worked with the Department of Corrections to get all of these things approved. Denise collected the information and had the guests approved while Brian chopped the wood, cut and prepared the poles, gathered the rocks, and assembled kindling, cedar, mats, tarps and water.

Two days before the Ceremony, Dave and Melissa Gehue traveled down from Nova Scotia. On the 18th, Dave, Melissa, Denise, Brian, Tim Shaw (Penobscot) and Jamie Bissonette were trained as volunteers at the Maine State Prison at Warren. Good spirit and cooperation filled the air at the Department of Corrections.

The day of the Sweat Lodge Ceremony, the weather was a huge barrier. It was 39 degrees and pouring rain. The ground was soaked. We arrived at the prison expecting to do all of the preparation work for the Lodge in this downpour. We were greeted by the Superintendent, who offered to reschedule if we felt the weather was too bad. We explained that we would go ahead and to our surprise, the six men who were prepared to participate in the Lodge were released to assist in the preparations.

Because Brian had prepared so carefully, keeping all the wood in water-tight plastic containers, the fire lit easily despite the heavy rain. Dave Gehue taught the men how to bend the poles and placed each pole. After the fire was lit, two of the men stepped back to look and then said, "It has been so long since we have stood by a fire, or even seen one." There were smiles all around. During the Ceremony, Denise led the women in song.

After the Ceremony, the men did not look the same and they told us they did not feel the same. We prepared fry bread, real butter (another thing the men remarked that they had not seen in a long time), fruit, and molasses cake. It was deeply appreciated. The men made coffee for us.

We left the Lodge, the altar and the stones for the men. The rest we took out. By this time it was pouring very, very hard. The prison officials never searched us, the truck, or the men. They were supportive and kind, and a few stopped by to look and ask a question or two. It was a very good day.