Maine tribes hold rally after withdrawing from state Legislature


Tribal members rally in Augusta, Maine. Photo by Kevin Miller / Portland Press Herald / Twitter

The Penobscot Nation and the Passamaquoddy Tribe (Pleasant Point and Indian Township) held a rally at the state capital in Augusta, Maine, today after withdrawing their representatives from the Legislature.

Tribal leaders said their attempts to work with the state on a government-to-government basis were futile. The relationship -- while not always the most stable -- took a turn for the worse in the last couple of years amid disputes on fishing, water, jurisdiction and sovereignty issues.

“We have gone to great lengths to demonstrate good faith and cooperation, only to be lied to,” Pleasant Point Chief Fred Moore said at the rally, The Bangor Daily News reported.

“We have gotten on our knees for the last time,” added Penobscot Chief Kirk Francis, the paper reported. “From here on out, we are a self-governing organization, focused on a self-determining path.”

Rep. Wayne Mitchell was representing the Penobscot Nation and Rep. Matthew Dana II was representing the Passamaquoddy Tribe in the Legislature. They cannot vote on the House floor but can introduce bills and vote at the committee level.

The tribes have been sending representatives to Augusta since the early 1800s, the Daily News reported.

The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians will maintain its representative in the Legislature.

Get the Story:
Tribal representatives withdraw from Maine Legislature (AP 5/26)
Passamaquoddy, Penobscot tribes withdraw from Maine Legislature (The Bangor Daily News 5/26)
Tribal representatives withdraw from Legislature as tensions with LePage grow (The Portland Press Herald 5/26)
MAINE TRIBES BOLDLY DECLARE THEIR SOVEREIGNTY (Native News Online 5/26)
Tribes Pull Reps from Maine Legislature as Sovereignty Issues Come to Boil (Maine Public Broadcasting Network 5/26)
Tribal bills address jurisdiction, history State’s past hidden from view (The Quoddy Tides 5/26)
Relations between Maine's Indian Tribes & Maine's Governor (NPR 5/25)

Join the Conversation

Related Stories
Maine lawmakers won't back fishing agreements with tribes (5/15)
Bill allows Maine tribes to follow VAWA jurisdiction provisions (5/12)
Top Maine official opposes bill for fishing agreements with tribes (04/29)
Carter Cates: Maine governor doesn't want to hear from tribes (4/28)
Column: Commission takes on truth and reconciliation in Maine (4/24)
Editorial: Maine governor fails to treat sovereign tribes as equals (4/23)
Donna Loring: Being Native in Maine means living with racism (4/21)
Opinion: Penobscot Nation fights state to regain control of river (03/16)
Maulian Smith: Indian people are not your mascots or costumes (03/10)
Tribes in Maine face opposition to jurisdiction over non-Indians (02/24)
Town in Maine approves new name for road after controversy (10/08)
Opinion: Town sends wrong message with street after R-word (09/24)
Mark Chavaree: Penobscot Nation fights to save namesake river (08/20)
Report faults Maine over dealings with Passamaquoddy Tribe (07/16)
Maine asserts jurisdiction over tribal waters in case against EPA (07/09)
MPBN: State tries to place fish limits on Passamaquoddy Tribe (02/21)
Maine tribes criticize state for pulling out of fishing agreement (02/19)
Jamie Bissonette Lewey: Maine must keep promise to tribes (02/03)
Passamaquoddy Tribe makes progress on state fishing talks (01/30)
Charges dismissed against trio of Passamaquoddy fishermen (8/13)
Passamaquoddy Tribe continues to exercising fishing rights (04/30)
Letter: State mistreats fishermen from Passamaquoddy Tribe (04/17)
Passamaquoddy leaders cite threat from governor on fishing (04/02)