Update: Click HERE to read MUUSAN's resolution in support of Wabanaki Sovereignty as we begin the 131st Legislative Session
Stand with Wabanaki
As Unitarian Universalists, we acknowledge that the land we now call Maine -- the land on which our churches are built -- is the ancestral land of the Wabanaki Tribes. But land acknowledgements must be more than mere ritual acts. As UU’s we are called to work actively on de-colonizing our institutions, to examine the painful history of tribal-state relations in Maine, and to commit ourselves to become anti-racists and allies to the tribes.
In the 130th Legislature....
MUUSAN Supports LD 1626 - Tribal Sovereignty - in the Maine Legislature
A bill was pending before the Legislature that would recognize and restore to Maine’s tribes the same rights, powers, and status of other federally recognized Indian tribes. Our UU commitment to affirming and promoting the inherent worth and dignity of all people and justice, equity, and compassion in human relations, calls us to advocate for enactment of this legislation.
All four of MUUSAN’s issue groups recognize the overarching importance of this bill and are working together to support LD 1626. In doing so, MUUSAN recognizes and defers to the wisdom and experience of Maine’s tribal leaders and strives to follow the course of action recommended by the Wabanaki Alliance. MUUSAN is one of over 80 Maine organizations in its coalition of allies for this purpose.
In the 130th Legislature....
MUUSAN Supports LD 1626 - Tribal Sovereignty - in the Maine Legislature
A bill was pending before the Legislature that would recognize and restore to Maine’s tribes the same rights, powers, and status of other federally recognized Indian tribes. Our UU commitment to affirming and promoting the inherent worth and dignity of all people and justice, equity, and compassion in human relations, calls us to advocate for enactment of this legislation.
All four of MUUSAN’s issue groups recognize the overarching importance of this bill and are working together to support LD 1626. In doing so, MUUSAN recognizes and defers to the wisdom and experience of Maine’s tribal leaders and strives to follow the course of action recommended by the Wabanaki Alliance. MUUSAN is one of over 80 Maine organizations in its coalition of allies for this purpose.
Background
Maine’s four remaining tribes (Penobscot Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, Aroostook Band of Micmac and Houlton Band of Maliseet) lost their right to self-govern in a settlement in 1980, the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act (MICSA) and its accompanying state law, the Maine Implementing Act (MIA). The State of Maine assumed jurisdiction over the tribes, treating them as simply the equivalent of municipalities. The settlement acts severely limited the tribes’ rights and blocked access to federal programs that have extended benefits to the 570 other Federally Recognized Tribes.
After almost 40 years of conflict and litigation between the State of Maine and the Tribes over the correct interpretation of the settlement acts’ provisions, the Maine Legislature formed a bipartisan Task Force in 2019 that examined problems with the settlement acts and made consensus recommendations for amendments. This resulted in proposed legislation to implement these recommendations, pending now as LD 1626 “An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act.” The bill had a hearing in the spring of 2021 but was held over because of its complexity.
You can follow the progress of the bill at the Legislature, including amendments, committee hearings, work sessions, and past testimony using the menu on the left side of this bill summary page.
Read the full text of LD 1626 here (Note: the final four pages summarize what the bill would accomplish)
Maine’s four remaining tribes (Penobscot Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, Aroostook Band of Micmac and Houlton Band of Maliseet) lost their right to self-govern in a settlement in 1980, the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act (MICSA) and its accompanying state law, the Maine Implementing Act (MIA). The State of Maine assumed jurisdiction over the tribes, treating them as simply the equivalent of municipalities. The settlement acts severely limited the tribes’ rights and blocked access to federal programs that have extended benefits to the 570 other Federally Recognized Tribes.
After almost 40 years of conflict and litigation between the State of Maine and the Tribes over the correct interpretation of the settlement acts’ provisions, the Maine Legislature formed a bipartisan Task Force in 2019 that examined problems with the settlement acts and made consensus recommendations for amendments. This resulted in proposed legislation to implement these recommendations, pending now as LD 1626 “An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act.” The bill had a hearing in the spring of 2021 but was held over because of its complexity.
You can follow the progress of the bill at the Legislature, including amendments, committee hearings, work sessions, and past testimony using the menu on the left side of this bill summary page.
Read the full text of LD 1626 here (Note: the final four pages summarize what the bill would accomplish)
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What You Can Do
There are a number of actions you can take to Stand with the Wabanaki and support LD 1626. In addition to the MUUSAN action steps outlined below, the Wabanaki Alliance has put together a comprehensive tool kit that gives all the information you need to support LD 1626, including extremely helpful FAQs and talking points. You can access the Wabanaki Alliance's toolkit here. This excellent toolkit is distinct from the MUUSAN steps and you are welcome to use both! Here are the most important actions you can take. PLEASE, let MUUSAN know what action you are taking by clicking on the I'M TAKING ACTION link, also at right, so we know how many UU voices have been heard! Submit Testimony to the Judiciary Committee LD 1626 is pending before the Judiciary Committee, which must first vote on it before it passes out to the full Legislature. The Committee will hold a public hearing beginning on February 15th, and testimony will be accepted in written or spoken form. You can watch the hearing on YouTube.
Contact your State Legislators Urge your Legislators to support LD 1626 when it comes up for a vote.
The public needs to hear from faith-based organizations and churches why supporting this legislation is a moral-ethical issue. Keep it short (250 words), relate a personal story, and use powerful language.
Contact the Governor and ask her to sign LD1626 when it comes to her desk. Governor Mills has indicated that she is opposed to this bill and may veto it. She needs to hear from large groups of Mainers why signing this bill is the right thing to do.
Share on Social Media Amplify the message by sharing posts from Wabanaki Alliance.
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