BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 23, 2022
In Maine, while the Wabanaki tribes have federal recognition, they do not enjoy the same type of sovereignty as other federally recognized tribes across the country. That is due to the unique laws that govern the relationship between the tribes in Maine and the state: the federal Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act (MICSA) and the corresponding state implementing act. It’s now evident to many that constraints like these within MICSA have served as a roadblock to the Wabanaki tribes being able to realize greater prosperity and autonomy. I pass no judgment on the intent behind those who negotiated MICSA, but, as the times change, so should we. Federally recognized tribal sovereignty should not be withheld from Maine’s tribal communities. ~ Kevin Hancock, CEO of Hancock Lumber Company and a past member of the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission