Maine officials apologized to the Penobscot Nation for entering the reservation and conducting inspections of buses without notice.

On September 10, the state Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit inspected nine buses on the Indian Island reservation and issued four summonses and eight warnings. Tribal leaders characterized the event as a raid.

“I think it was a slap in the face to tribal sovereignty,” Chief Kirk Francis told The Bangor Daily News.

The state promised to work with the tribe on law enforcement and protocol issues.

Get the Story:
State apologizes to Penobscot Nation for Indian Island bingo bus inspections (The Bangor Daily News 9/22)

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MPBN: Penobscot Nation upset about state inspection of buses (9/15)