New Report Makes Moral & Economic Case for Returning Land to Wabanaki Nations
A report released last month by the Maine Center for Economic Policy argues that Maine’s future prosperity is inseparable from justice for the Wabanaki Nations. The report highlights how centuries of land seizures, denial of sovereignty, and broken partnerships have not only harmed the Wabanaki but also held back rural Maine’s economy.
The report concludes that correcting these injustices is both a moral obligation and an economic opportunity. States that respect tribal sovereignty have seen stronger growth, healthier communities, and more resilient rural economies. By contrast, the Wabanaki Nations — and their surrounding communities — continue to lag because of outdated restrictions in Maine’s state and federal Settlement Acts.
“Maine’s history with the Wabanaki Nations is not ancient history. It’s a living injustice that continues to shape our economy and our politics today,” says MECEP President and CEO Garrett Martin. “Maine, and Massachusetts before us, illegally took millions of acres of tribal land, profited from it for generations, and then contributed nothing when the 1980 settlement was signed. Multiple task forces, commissions, and independent reviews affirm that the agreement has proven deeply flawed, preventing the Wabanaki from exercising their inherent sovereignty while letting the state maintain control. The path forward is clear: return land, repair trust, and reform the laws that have kept the Wabanaki from full self-determination. It’s time for Maine and Congress to uphold their commitments and finally deliver on the promise of justice.”
Key findings include:
• Maine has profited from centuries of Wabanaki land dispossession through land sales, natural resource extraction, and recreation revenues — creating a clear obligation for the state to support land return.
• Wabanaki-led development projects already demonstrate potential for job creation, cultural revitalization, and environmental stewardship.
• Other tribes across the country provide successful models, from renewable energy projects to sustainable forestry, that Maine could emulate.
• Returning public lands to Wabanaki stewardship would both honor history and enhance Maine’s economy by combining Indigenous caretaking traditions with state and federal resources.
The report outlines a set of state and federal policy recommendations:
• Modernize the Settlement Acts to align Wabanaki rights with all other federally recognized tribes
• Remove barriers to land acquisition and create new kinds of easements
• Investigate new opportunities for public land return
• Establish dedicated funding streams for land acquisition
• Reform the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission
The full report is available at http://mecep.org/sovereignty-starts-here