Shell mounds—rich in clam and oyster shells, animal bones, tools, and pottery—reveal the long-term, year-round presence and sophisticated stewardship of marine resources by Wabanaki people. A 1993 underwater discovery of oyster shells, dating back 9,000 years, supports evidence of ancient coastal living when sea levels were lower. Today, while warming waters are enabling the return of oysters, rising waters and storms threaten the integrity of cultural heritage sites. Preserving shell mounds and the Wabanaki knowledge they hold offers vital lessons for sustainable living in a changing world. Join Catherine Schmitt as she journeys through thousands of years of dynamic coastal transformation and enduring human presence. Through the lens of ancient shell mounds, she explores the sophisticated foodways, seasonal movements, and environmental stewardship of Wabanaki people, past and present. This program is based on the 2025 Chebacco article Gifts from Former Shores. This program is a collaboration between the MDI Historical Society and the Northeast Harbor Library. Catherine Schmitt is a science communication specialist with Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, and previously served as a science writer and communications director for Maine Sea Grant at the University of Maine. She is the author of the books Historic Acadia National Park, The President’s Salmon, and A Coastal Companion: A Year in the Gulf of Maine from Cape Cod to Canada, as well as articles and essays for varied publications. She lives in Bangor.