Go directly to jail, do not collect sovereignty...

FEBRUARY 7, 2001

Three tribal leaders in Maine go to federal court this week in an attempt to protect their sovereignty in the middle of a debate over water quality.

The Governors of the Penobscot Nation, the Passamaquoddy Indian Township, and the Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Tribe say they are ready to go to jail to protect documents they consider private. But three Maine paper companies want the documents because they relate to the tribe's request to have the federal government, not the state, control the water quality of water near their reservations.

A federal court hearing is scheduled on Friday in Boston, Massachusetts. A Maine State Supreme Court one will occur next week.

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Maine tribal leaders risk jail in pollution dispute (AP 2/7)