Public Hearing on Tribal Sovereignty Monday, February 15

On Monday, February 15 at 9am, the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on LD 1626, which would give Maine tribes the same rights as the other 570 federally recognized tribes in 49 states over a range of matters including taxing authority, land use, natural resources, criminal justice and more. After an extensive review process that involved multiple meetings of our Legislative & Political committee, the Maine AFL-CIO’s executive board voted last year to endorse the measure that would restore tribal sovereignty for Maine’s four indigenous tribes — Penobscot, Passmaquoddy, Houlton Band of Maliseet and Aroostook Band of Micmacs. 

Federal legislation ensures tribes have inherent rights to govern themselves. However, under Maine law, the Wabanaki tribes are excluded from those rights and protections guaranteed by Federal Indian Law. The Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980 also currently restricts the tribes from purchasing much of their formally dispossessed land. 151 federal laws benefiting Indian Country have been passed that the tribes in Maine have not benefited from because the law.

“We view the need to update the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980 as similar to the need to update a contract for a group of workers and their employer. Agreements need to be updated so that they work for all parties involved,” said Adam Goode, Legislative and Political Director of the Maine AFL-CIO, last year in testimony. “We stand by our tribal neighbors because we know that Maine tribes do not enjoy the same rights, privileges, powers and immunities as other federally recognized tribes. Union members enjoy democracy in the workplace, where every worker has a voice. Our support of this bill is based on extending that principle, so all of our neighbors can enjoy the right to have their voices heard.”

If you are interested in submitting written testimony or testifying contact adam@maineaflcio.org