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-------- Original Message --------
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<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">Subject: </th>
<td>Fwd: Sovereignty issues for the Wabanaki Tribes of Maine .</td>
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<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">Date: </th>
<td>Mon, 7 Apr 2008 17:40:08 -0400</td>
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<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">From: </th>
<td><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:RickPouliot@gedakina.org">RickPouliot@gedakina.org</a> <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:rickpouliot@gedakina.org"><rickpouliot@gedakina.org></a></td>
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<th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">References: </th>
<td><002401c89003$f12f7520$2f01a8c0@D31QCC21></td>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><font class="Apple-style-span"
color="#020202"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><font class="Apple-style-span"
color="#020202"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font
class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;">Begin forwarded message:</span></font></font></div>
<font class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font
class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
</span></font></font>
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<div style="margin: 0px;"><font
style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b><font
class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font class="Apple-style-span"
face="Times New Roman" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;">From: </span></font></font></b></font><font
style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><font
class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font class="Apple-style-span"
face="Times New Roman" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;">"Reuben Phillips" <<a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:alnabe@verizon.net">alnabe@verizon.net</a>></span></font></font></font></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><font
style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b><font
class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font class="Apple-style-span"
face="Times New Roman" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;">Date: </span></font></font></b></font><font
style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><font
class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font class="Apple-style-span"
face="Times New Roman" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;">March 27, 2008 8:13:17 AM EDT</span></font></font></font></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><font class="Apple-style-span"
color="#020202" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;"><b><br class="khtml-block-placeholder">
</b></span></font></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><font
style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b><font
class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font class="Apple-style-span"
face="Times New Roman" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;">Subject: </span></font></font></b></font><font
style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b><font
class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font class="Apple-style-span"
face="Times New Roman" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;">Sovereignty issues for the Wabanaki Tribes of
Maine .</span></font></font></b></font></div>
<div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><font
class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font class="Apple-style-span"
size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br>
</span></font></font></div>
<div><font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font
class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></font></font></font></div>
<div><font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font
class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;">Native People, friends and supporters,</span></font></font></font></div>
<div><font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font
class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;">For the 28 years following the 1980 Maine
land claims settlement , the Maine tribes' sovereignty has been
undermined by narrow interpretations of the settlement agreement by the
state courts. At the center of court disputes was a Freedom of Access
Act (FOAA) suit brought against the Penobscot Nation by Great Northern
Paper Co. The courts ruled that the law applies to the tribes, ruling
that FOAA is not an "internal tribal matter" because the tribes are
basically municipalities. The tribes have maintained that they are not
municipalities and that internal tribal matters are the basic inherent
rights of tribal sovereignty. </span></font></font></font></div>
<div><font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font
class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;"> Two years ago Governor Baldacci signed an
executive order creating a Tribal/State Work Group consisting of
representatives from the tribes and members of the Maine Legislature.
Their task was</span></font></font></font><font><font
class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font class="Apple-style-span"
size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> to
study the court cases and the land claims agreement and make
recommendations to the legislature to strengthen the strained
Tribal/State relations by correcting ambiguities in the settlement
act. </span></font></font></font></div>
<div><font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font
class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;"> Three months ago, the tribes submitted a
proposal to rewrite the settlement act that would recognize and
strenghten tribal self-governance and </span></font></font></font><font><font
class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font class="Apple-style-span"
size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">eliminate
the references to "municipality and internal tribal matters". The to
present bill LD 2221 making its way through the legislature. The main
soveriegnty issue remaining in the bill is an exemption of the FOAA for
the tribes.</span></font></font></font></div>
<div><font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font
class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;"> Yesterday, the Judiciary Committee voted to
approve the language exempting the tribes from Maine's Freedom of
Access Act and to accept language that differentiates the tribes from
municipalities. The bill must be further discussed to iron out problems
with three other issues: Jurisdiction equally for the Houlton band of
Maliseets, Mediation by Maine Tribal/State Commission and Consultation
by State Agencies with the Tribes. Although the final bill must pass
the legislature, this is a big step towards changing the effects of
the court decision and validation of the tribes' assertion that this
ruling is contrary to the intent of the settlement act. This also is a
big step towards the state recognizing the tribal governments as
distinct and unique and further strengthens the government to
government relationship between the state and the tribes.</span></font></font></font></div>
<div><font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font
class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;"> The tribes are asking for your help. We
are asking all the Maine voters to contact your State Legislator and
urging them to recognize tribal self- governance and support LD 2221,
"An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Tribal/State Work
Group". </span></font></font></font></div>
<div><font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font
class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;">You can follow the bill's progress at </span></font></font><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://janus.state.me.us/legis/lawmakerweb/search.asp"><font
class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font class="Apple-style-span"
size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">h</span></font></font></a><a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://janus.state.me.us/legis/lawmaker"><font
class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font class="Apple-style-span"
size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">ttp://janus.state.me.us/legis/lawmaker</span></font></font></a><font
class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font class="Apple-style-span"
size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">web/search.asp</span></font></font></font></div>
<div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font
class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></font></font></div>
<div><font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font
class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;">To listen on line to the scheduled work
sessions of the Judiciary Committee: (none are scheduled at this time)</span></font></font></font></div>
<div><font><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://janus.state.me.us/legis/audio/judiciary_cmte.html"><font
class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font class="Apple-style-span"
size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">http://janus.state.me.us/legis/audio/judiciary_cmte.html</span></font></font></a></font></div>
<div><font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font
class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;"> Thank you, </span></font></font></font></div>
<div><font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font
class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;">Butch Phillips, Jim Sappeir,Tribal/State Work
Group, (representing Penobscot Nation)<br>
</span></font></font></font><font><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:alnabe@verizon.net"><font class="Apple-style-span"
color="#020202"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">alnabe@verizon.net</span></font></font></a><font
class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font class="Apple-style-span"
size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br>
</span></font></font></font></div>
</blockquote>
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class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;"><br class="khtml-block-placeholder">
</span></font></font></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><b><font class="Apple-style-span"
color="#020202"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">Maine's Obama moment</span></font></font></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:Opinion@TimesRecord.Com"><i><font class="Apple-style-span"
color="#020202"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">Opinion@TimesRecord.Com</span></font></font></i></a><font
class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font class="Apple-style-span"
size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></font></font><font
class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font class="Apple-style-span"
size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">04/01/2008</span></font></font><font
class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font class="Apple-style-span"
size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">
(Times Record, Brunswick Maine)</span></font></font></div>
<p style="margin: 0px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font
class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></font></font></p>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font
class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;">LD 2221, An Act to Implement the
Recommendations of the Tribal-State Work Group, presents Maine with an
opportunity to make a transcendent statement on race, similar to what
presidential candidate Barack Obama did with his March 18 speech.<br>
<br>
The bill seeks to clarify issues left vague or unfinished when the
Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act was signed in 1980. More
importantly, it holds potential to draw state and tribal leaders out of
their deeply dug trenches to engage in serious conversations about
unresolved differences that have lurked in the shadows since long
before the 1980 agreement was signed.<br>
<br>
Passing LD 2221 would redefine the dialogue between state government
and Maine's indigenous peoples. In addition to taking a first step
toward rebuilding trust between tribal and state leaders, it would push
both parties beyond age-old impasses based on stereotypes and
discussions that focus inordinately on gambling. Enacting LD 2221 would
create an environment designed to foster collaborative consideration of
the cultural factors that have long divided the state's rule-makers
from its native population.<br>
<br>
Conversely, rejecting or delaying LD 2221 would do lasting damage to an
already frayed relationship. The tribes would perceive a "no" vote as
yet another disrespectful act of "white paternalism," a polite term for
oppression based on race.<br>
<br>
Opponents' chief complaint against LD 2221 is that it affirms the
tribes' exemption from the Maine Freedom of Access Act. During
legislative hearings on that aspect of the legislation, the bill's
detractors — including the Maine Press Association, of which this
newspaper is a member — argued, persuasively, that the Freedom of
Access Act protects the public's interest by ensuring accountability
and honest government.<br>
<br>
Therein lies the problem. History brims with evidence that state and
federal governments have been far less than honest in past dealings
with Maine's tribes. State access laws have been used in previous
negotiations to undermine Passamaquoddy and Penobscot bargaining
positions. That historical context cannot be discounted based on the
hope that trying to force Native American nations to comply with state
laws will somehow promote future accountability or open governance.<br>
<br>
Likewise, legislators must acknowledge the tribes' long-held claim to
"inherent sovereignty," which spurs Native American leaders to insist
that the state's freedom-of-information law applies to internal tribal
deliberations no more so than it opens the books of Canada to Mainers.
The same sovereignty rationale buttresses the tribes' opposition to
Maine court decisions that equate tribal governments to municipalities.<br>
<br>
As legislators consider LD 2221 later this week, they will hear
arguments that the bill would "limit existing law as to transparency in
government," as Sen. David Hastings, R-Fryeburg, argued during a
Judiciary Committee hearing last week. Such arguments, however
well-intentioned they might be, ignore the tribal perspective.<br>
<br>
A "yes" vote will foster trust, honesty and respect between the tribes
and state government. In the long run, a renewal of good faith between
those two entities represents a far greater public benefit than could
be derived by attempting to compel Maine's Native American nations to
comply with a state law that they don't recognize.</span></font></font></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font
class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;">Butch</span></font></font></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:alnabe@verizon.net"><font class="Apple-style-span"
color="#020202"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">alnabe@verizon.net</span></font></font></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font
class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></font></font></div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div><font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font
class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></font></font></font></div>
<div><font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#020202"><font
class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span"
style="font-size: 16px;"> If we listen to the songs of the water and<br>
the whispers on the wind, we will feel the<br>
heart beat of Mother Earth and all creation<br>
will continue to breathe.</span></font></font></font></div>
<font>
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style="font-size: 16px;"></span></font></font></blockquote>
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