ORONO — The University of Maine will hold an open house from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, March 31, at the newly opened Wabanaki Center in Dunn Hall.

The center opened last summer. It offers support services and programs to Indian students, is an educational and research institute and ties the university and Indian communities.

“The Indian communities of Maine have resided within its borders for 11,000 years, but very little attention has been paid to their contributions and the cultural significance their people have on the daily life of the state,” said Ted Mitchell, director of the center. “The Wabanaki Center seeks to change that through its program of research and cultural presentations.”

The center reflects the program’s focus on the major tribes of Maine, Quebec and the Maritime Provinces, their cultural similarities and the university’s desire to look beyond national boundaries.

Mitchell is the former associate dean of student services responsible for Indian programs and minority services, and has been associated with Indian students for more than 20 years. He is an Indian Island resident and holds a master’s degree in educational counseling from the University of Maine.