LITTELTON, Maine – The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians have recently added several new employees to its staff to better serve the tribal community.
Stephen Wotton has been named as manager of Wilderness Pines Campground; Sequoyah Foster has been selected as an assistant teacher for the Maliseet Head Start program; Tiffany Smith has been named Maliseet Nation Healing to Wellness Court clerk; CarrieAnn Michaud has been selected as court case manager; and Stacy Austin has joined the Health Center as a medical coder.
Wotton takes over the tribe’s Wilderness Pines Campground, replacing George and Heidi Hurteau, who stepped down after several years back in November, 2023. “I have been a patron of Wilderness Pines for many years,” Wotton said.
Located on 125 acres surrounded by a majestic red pine forest, the campground is near Conroy Lake. Wilderness Pines features nine log cabins; 26 recreational vehicle sites with water, electrical and sewer; and numerous tent sites, each equipped with a fire pit.
The Houlton Band of Maliseets purchased the campground in 2006 and changed its name to Wilderness Pines Campground. Since then, the Maliseets have invested heavily in the property, adding a main lodge and outdoor swimming pool about 10 years ago and more recently expanding the number of cabins available to rent. A new restaurant was also opened at the lodge in January.
Smith and Michaud are leading the tribe’s newest venture – the Maliseet Nation Healing to Wellness Tribal Court. The goal of the program is to improve the outcomes of tribal members with substance abuse and/or mental health issues by developing a holistic, comprehensive program model that is specific to the treatment needs of each program participant regardless of the number or type of underlying or co-occurring issues.
Its goal is to reduce recidivism of criminal behavior among Healing to Wellness Court participants and to engage the community at-large in the healing-to-wellness process through education and awareness of the benefits of utilizing the approach of a Wellness Court.
Smith has been with HBMI for 5.5 years. Prior to becoming the Maliseet Nation Healing to Wellness Court clerk, she worked as a medical coder and data entry clerk for the Maliseet Health and Wellness Center.
Michaud, as case manager for the Maliseet Nation Healing to Wellness Court, manages a caseload of individuals participating in the Maliseet Nation Healing to Wellness Court in accordance with tribal law, policies and procedures, and best practices.
Prior to joining HBMI, Michaud spent two years working for the Department of Health and Human Services pretrial division at the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office and spent four years in the U.S. Navy as a diesel mechanic.
Foster fills a vacancy at the Maliseet Head Start program, working with some of the tribe’s youngest children. Foster has a two-year degree in early childhood education and plans to continue her studies in the future. She also spent one year working for Madigan Estates.
“I am very excited to be working with the kids here at the Maliseet Head Start program,” Foster said.
Austin is rejoining the tribe as a medical coder. She previously worked for HBMI as a Purchased and Referred Care administrator and also worked with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine. She has been a certified medical coding and billing specialist since 2015.
