Who We Are

Wabanaki Alliance Officers and Board

Vice President
Richard Silliboy, Vice Chief of the Mi’kmaq Nation

Board Member
Donna Loring, Elder, Penobscot Nation

Advisory Board Members

Advisory Board Member
Clarissa Sabattis, Chief of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians

Advisory Board Member
Chief Pos Bassett, Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik

Wabanaki Alliance Staff

John Dieffenbacher-Krall (he/him) assumed the Wabanaki Alliance executive director position initially as a consultant in March 2021 and became the organization’s first full-time employee January 1, 2022.

Dieffenbacher-Krall’s consulting work with the Wabanaki Alliance overlapped with his job as the assistant director of research in the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture (now College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences) at the University of Maine. Prior to that role he held the executive director position for the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission (MITSC) for 12 ½ years. Before his stint with MITSC he served as the executive director of the Maine People’s Resource Center from July 1989 until June 2005 and during that same period worked as an organizer, associate director, executive director, and co-director of Maine People’s Alliance. John worked more than four years for the Environmental Planning Lobby (now Environmental Advocates NY) and took a leave from EPL in 1986 to work on a campaign promoting the 1986 Environmental Quality Bond Act. He began his social change career as a canvasser for NJ Public Interest Research Group.

His tribal-related volunteer service includes the Agenda Committee for the Maine Coalition for Tribal Sovereignty, Planning Committee for the Race and Sovereignty Initiative, Diocesan Representative to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 11th Session, Episcopal Church Province Indigenous Justice Network, and chair of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine Committee on Indian Relations from February 15, 2017 until March 15, 2021. 

Dieffenbacher-Krall also has served on several boards and steering committees, including the Social Justice Center in Albany, N.Y.; Maine People’s Resource Center; MaineShare; Northeast Action; and US Action.

Maulian Bryant (formally Maulian Dana) was appointed to serve as the first Tribal Ambassador by Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis in September 2017. As Ambassador, Bryant was responsible to act as a representative of the Penobscot Nation and to serve as a liaison for the Nation at the local, state and federal levels of government in order to educate and advocate for policy and laws that impact and protect the Penobscot Nation’s sovereignty, culture, natural resources and the general welfare of the Penobscot people. She has since accepted the position of Executive Director of the Wabanaki Alliance.

Prior to serving as Ambassador, Bryant served as an elected member of the Penobscot Nation Tribal Council. She grew up on Indian Island within the Penobscot Nation’s Reservation and is the daughter of former Penobscot Nation Chief Barry Dana, who served from 2000-2004. Bryant graduated from the University of Maine in Orono with a degree in political science. In 2022, Colby College presented her with an honorary doctorate for her work on equity issues and policy.

Bryant is an outspoken advocate on the issue of derogatory mascots and imagery. Her advocacy resulted in the state of Maine enacting laws that changed the annual Columbus Day in October to Indigenous Peoples Day and prohibited public schools from using derogatory mascots. Her other passion is finding ways to strengthen and expand programs that help to preserve and teach the customs and traditions of the Penobscot people. She is a loving mother to three daughters and centers them in much of her work making the state and country a safer and more equitable place for her children and all tribal people. She believes in leading with love and making progress by finding shared humanity.

Rena Newell began her job as Wabanaki Alliance Interim Associate Director on July 8, 2024.

Newell is a distinguished leader and advocate within the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik, known for her deep commitment to her community and her extensive contributions to tribal governance and education. She has held several significant positions, including serving as the Chief of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik and as the Passamaquoddy Tribal Representative to the Maine Legislature. On September 3, 2024, she was elected to the Sipayik Tribal Council.

Rena also serves on the board of the Bordertown Boys and Girls Club and is seated as a Sipayik representative to the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission.

During her tenure as Passamaquoddy Tribal Representative, Newell was instrumental in advancing legislation that secured access to clean drinking water for the Passamaquoddy at Sipayik, LD 906 An Act To Provide Passamaquoddy Tribal Members Access to Clean Drinking Water, a critical achievement that underscored her dedication to the well-being of her people. As Passamaquoddy Tribal Representative, she also prioritized including Wabanaki seats in policy/governing bodies important to Wabanaki Nations. She sponsored legislation including LD 453 An Act To Establish a Permanent Appointment of a Member of the Wabanaki Tribes to the Board of Trustees of the University of Maine System Maine, LD 342 An Act To Establish a Permanent Appointment of a Member of the Wabanaki Tribes to the Marine Resources Advisory Council, as well as LD 361 An Act to Establish a Permanent Wabanaki Appointment to the Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Advisory Council. All three of these bills became law.

Liliana Sapiel (she/they) is a citizen of the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy tribe.

Growing up on the Penobscot Reservation Liliana developed a passion for water rights and tribal sovereignty. Her passions led her to become an environmental/political activist, a public speaker on decolonization work, and a leader in youth engagement.

Liliana is currently a student at the University of Maine Orono pursuing an education in Political Science and Pre-law. During Liliana’s education at the University of Southern Maine she engaged in many efforts to uplift Indigenous voices, creating the Student Alliance of Indigenous People where the group aimed to give Native students a platform to speak their truths and safe space to practice their culture.

Liliana is committed to empowering Indigenous communities to use their voice to protect Indigenous sovereignty.