Petitions seek equal distribution of funds among tribal members
PLEASANT POINT, Maine — Passamaquoddy Tribal Governor and Chief Clayton Cleaves said Wednesday a public hearing will be held before any decision on what’s to become of the proceeds of an $11.4 million lawsuit settlement that the tribe will soon receive from the U.S. Department of the Interior.
The funds were awarded after a six-year legal battle over claims of federal mismanagement of tribal assets. After legal expenses, the tribal government is expecting to net $10.2 million.
Petitions have been circulating for months throughout the Washington County tribal communities of Indian Township and Pleasant Point, calling for a referendum that would authorize equal distribution of 100 percent of the funds to those who meet the lineage, age and residency requirements used in compiling the tribe’s official census.
The current census shows 3,475 tribal members, including 1,369 at the Indian Township reservation and 2,106 at the Pleasant Point reservation, according to the tribe’s website.
The funds at issue were recently awarded as a settlement of a lawsuit alleging asset mismanagement that was filed in 2006 by 60 tribes from throughout the United States. Among the Passamaquoddys’ assets was $13.5 million in federal funds allocated to the tribe in 1980 through the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act, which was settled for $81.5 million.
Of the total awarded in the Claims Settlement Act, $54 million was spent to buy 300,000 acres of land in northern and eastern Maine. The Passamaquoddy and Penobscot tribes split $27 million, and much of the Passamaquoddy funds were invested in gold in 1991 and 1992.
Cleaves said Wednesday that any discussion about settlement asset allocation would, at this point, be “premature.” He said he has not seen the referendum petitions and that they will not be on the agenda for a Joint Tribal Council meeting scheduled for May 30.
“There’s no definite plan now,” he said during an interview at the tribal headquarters in Pleasant Point. “Later on we’ll speak to the urgent needs of the community. We will have a public hearing about what should be done with the funds. We have a lot of urgent needs, and we have to make sure we have adequate services, especially for our elderly, so they’re not forced to eat macaroni and cheese every day.”
Cleaves said he and other tribal officials have agreed not to publicly discuss the settlement. While tribal council meetings are open to tribal members, they are closed to the public and are not subject to Maine’s open meetings or open records laws. “These are internal matters,” he said.
“It has to be a joint council decision to let [the issue] go to referendum,” said tribal member Mary Creighton, who helped circulate the petition throughout Pleasant Point. She said 247 signatures were gathered there in 10 days. An identical petition circulated in Indian Township also attracted more than 200 signatures, Creighton said.
“I expect the joint council will be really, really adamant about keeping the money and investing it,” Creighton said. “And we understand and would gladly have some of it invested, if the investment is safe. History would tell us that we should invest it ourselves.”
Take care of your own and don’t fetter it away.
fritter
Governor Cleaves, you are a good man and a respected elder. Do what is right for your people in the long run, not what is popular with them today.
Downeastlaw is right. Governor Cleaves does have the tribes best intention in mind, don’t let the Dragon Cement fiasco happen again. I remember years back when I was just a kid the tribe had given a large amount to each of its members and what happened after was unbelievable. Many tribal members petitioned for more money because they knew it was available and got it. The money should have been left to reinvest back into the tribe but wasn’t and now its gone. The other problem is that you sued for mismanagement of funds but many of Pleasant Point’s and Indian Two’s past leaders have mismanaged money have any of them been sued? I know one was later promoted to Finance Director…..
roads to hell are paved with good intentions
in fact he is so goooood, there is so much money missing from the housing authority after his administration, do you really want him to handle your money????
here is your 3,000/head handout…in addition to everyone you get already. now, let’s try working like everyone else.
This is an ignorant statement. Tribal members DO work, many VERY hard. Tribal members work just as hard as people from any other community in Maine.
Please tell me exactly what I get already? I’d like to know.
Please stop stereotyping. It makes you look ignorant.
The tribe doesn’t need a handout…they just gave out 236 elver licences like halloween candy. When does the state and federal government say “enough is enough” and make them fend for thier own (like the aboriginal claims they make)?
how is it a handout? yea there was elver licenses but then again off the reservation also. I am sure if you was part of the tribe you’d have a different point of view like anyone else
Yeah…I would have the view that the white man is to blame for everything. The government is never to be trusted. Now EVERYONE has to pay and make the tribe lazy and DEPENDENT on funds from the government.
I am neither lazy or dependent on funds from the government. Every person in my family works, all of my tribal friends work, some have two or three jobs.
I’d be more concerned about the welfare abuse taking place in every other community in Maine. There are more people in my coastal town who have been on the government dole for generations.
Tribal members get to double dip. EBT card plus GA: food and personal. (not to mention the GA for between 400-500 dollars for rent for places like the cabins)
You also fail to mention that the very funds that employ anyone who works for Tribal Government, Housing, Health Center and what have you are provided by the US government through Taxpayer money. Cut those incomes (subsidies) for any reason and suddenly you find that those departments are not self sustaining. (unless they are grants)
It is NOT about concern for welfare abuse in the other communities of Maine but more in the abuse in general. You are minimalizing a specific community’s own plight by comparing it to a larger entity.
People in my town double dip. They get EBT cards and ask for GA. It happens in every Maine community. Please provide evidence that tribal members get GA for $400-500 a month.
Many tribal members work off the reservation. My job is off reservation as several of my family members. I do have some family members who work at the schools but they also have a four-year teaching degree.
You make claims but have no evidence or proof to back up your claims. You just want to stereotype members of the tribe and degrade them rather than acknowledge how far that they have come in just the past thirty years. They have come so far in such a short time.
yeah theres some members in the tribal office that double dips….it gives alot of the innocent people a bad name. Theres ones that passes out the food orders that buys them even for the GA office!!!! hands them out just to buy them for their own house hold.
Coming so far in such a short time is the direct
result of a quick fix- money, land and general sense of a “victory”
when, in fact, the Tribe lost far more than it gained. Since that time
nearly every gain has taken a few steps back through greed, entitlements to
oneself, family and friends (nepotism), and a “use once and throw
away” mentality. Look at the new million dollar transfer
station: a 2×6 shell made of 50 year advantec sheathing: tall and narrow not to
mention lacking the capability to compact trash. Was the “old” transfer
station dismantled from its pristine form to be reused elsewhere? No.
Waste. More proof? Bingo. More? Cranberry bogs that sit
unmaintained. How about the loss of Native American tuition waivers with Native American Scholarships? So much is being lost.
Stereotype? LOL, seriously. Degrade? These short fixes are so much like a drug addiction that its scary. Speaking of, amidst the awe and general sense of great success why hasn’t the drug dealing been dealt with? Tackle the social problems which influence jobs as well as the next generation of True Natives. Everyone knows about it. I’ll tell you why: income and need which keeps people hooked on power. This holds back most while allowing the privileged to reap what others have sown.
LAZY? how so?? we work….. ever blueberry rake…have you even done that? not once was that mention us natives blame the so called white man in the paper. remember when you point a finger you got 4 fingers pointing back at yourself!!!!!
If you read the story you will see that it is not a “handout” but instead the monies stem from the federal government’s mismanagement over tribal assets. The original land claims money was a settlement for broken treaties. Neither is a handout.
Many tribal members are now college educated and have jobs.
I could say the same about my community that I live in off reservation. There is a large percent of them that need to get off the government teat and fend themselves instead of abusing the system as they have done for generations.
lol
it will never b enough i am so sick of hearing poor poor me they cant even manage to run the wab it lol that was opend about 10 times lol and they steal from eachother and just get another grant over and over to open it they get all there licnces 4 free just like scallops erchins and lobster hell they even help them get there boat and gear lol i know alot of ppl out there that have them go on there boat so that they can use there licnce lol cause the boat owners cant get a licnce and they cant even show up every day lol and the licnces were a lottery for anyone that is not an indian i have lived here my whole life and i cant get one
I hear ya bro…I hear ya.
Sad comments.
ok seriously how does that work they cant even manage to run a store the wab in perry maine was opend about 6 or 7 times that i can remeber when is it enough how is it the goverment always owes them something it is crazy they get free food prety much free houseing and oil and medical any licnce they want just like the elvers licnces they were all so greedy and complaining that they decided they would give out 200 more licnces to the indians thats rediculous and i cant even get when if u were a white person u have to get put into a lawtery and there was only so many gave out i have lived here in downeast maine my whole life and i cant get a licnce how does that work i am not a rasist person but when is enough
yes i do pitty them cause they have to deal with the bullshit that we have grown up around like we did with the tribes just gettin hand outs
Tribal Government has by no means had the best track record with investing tribal funds. Passamaquoddy Housing, Inc; The Wabanaki Mall; Passamaquoddy Bingo; Indian Township Super Market; Pleasant Point Super Market; Indian Township Saw Mill Enterprise; Rockland Radio Stations and a parking garage in Portland were all failed investments. (I’m sure I missed one or two) Is it any wonder tribal members have little confidence in their Government’s ability to use funds wisely? Many members are in debt because the tribal government has failed to create enough jobs. A few favored members are blessed with rediculously high salaries, when others can not even get a decent job. If there is no outcry from the tribal community, the majority of this windfall could go the way of the failed enterprises mentioned above. The people must demand to have a say in this through a referendum—one person, one vote.
Not to mention the recent Elver controversy where those who have well-paying jobs choose to scoop up their own Elver licenses so naturally they can prosper while not considering if the 70 percent unemployed have their chance to work for their money.
I’d like an elver license…or ANY garsh darn licence!
Abuse of welfare is rapant whether on the reservation or off, not just by tribal members. More lazy non indian people running around than indian in Maine. I think the welfare system overall is broke and needs a major overhaul. In reference to this article though I think just giving everyone money is probably not the best use of funds.
The Tribe does not have to justify itself to anyone but their Tribal members & their families. That being said, I am compelled to respond, based upon the ignorant comments preceding this. For those of u who have preconceived notions about the incomes & homes of those that reside on the reservation, most of what has been stated is false. The average household on Pleasant Point has very little income. Also if u pay 20-30 years for your home on the reserve, u will never be able to sell it to anyone but another Tribal member. The value of your home is zilch. If u do look to another Tribal member to purchase your home, most would be unable to do so. It is easy for me to understand why their is jealousy, and misinformation about all the “freebies” and supposed wealth the Tribe has. Washington County is a poor county, and poverty is apparent to anyone who has ever visited there. The appearance of new homes and apartments being built probably do anger many who would like the same. What isn’t being considered is the fact that multiple generations have been overcrowded for past decades. Many of those who live in these homes & apartments are non-natives who are married to, living with, or affiliated in some way with the Tribe, so the housing is not being occupied by just Tribal members. As far as General Assistance goes, most do not qualify if they reside with another family member, which many do because they have no income or due to a lack of housing available. Also those that may qualify for it will go without rather than be subject to degrading treatment by the G.A. nazi. Whenever there is a job advertised there are many, many applicants. Also, many of us do have college degrees, which have been obtained by working while attending school. While I agree with economic development, there is mistrust based upon past business ventures that have failed. This is not unlike the mistrust that others have in their political leaders. While I do not have all the answers, please know one thing, whether or not I voted for 1, all or none of the Tribal leaders, I support all of them because they were voted in by the people. OK, I guess I have said more than enough for now. I am not going to debate or argue with anyone. I speak for myself only. However, at another time I would be glad to discuss Hollywood Slots that the state, and people of Maine sanction, while denying the Tribes the same right.
I love Sheri M. SHE is tough as nails, and doesn’t put up with any crap. The tribe needs more like her!
I am an off reservation indian,along with most of my family.Yes I get a free lobster license for 25 traps I am cetainly not going to get rich on that.All I have seen on here are people complaining about the indian people not working,and living off welfare.That is far from the truth.In any communitythere are people that depend on the staet some are abusing the system,while othes truely need it to get back on their feet.The goverment has been lying and abusing the indians forever.They came took out landsand stuck our ancestors on a small plot of land called a reservation and left us to die.We are a strong peoplewe over came.As far as the money I think each and e very person on the census should vote where the money should go.Tribal goverment like to play Monopoly with tribal money,my opinion and alot of others think a 100% of the money should be split between all tribal members on the census.We might as well have it and spend it on things we need and want.I know it would give me money to help family members who arent on the census.We can make poor judgements on how to spend our own money,we can’t do any worse then they have.