INDIAN ISLAND, Maine — The Penobscot Indian Nation has asked for privacy as it continues to investigate accusations of “inappropriate behavior” by a Penobscot Nation Boys & Girls Club youth member toward another youth.
“Out of respect for our youth, community and internal tribal processes, we can offer no comment on this issue,” the office of the chief and council said in a press release late Thursday afternoon in response to interview requests over the past two days.
“While we respect our relationship with the press and certainly understand the desire to get more information, we are asking that you please respect our request on this very sensitive matter and allow our government and community the opportunity without interference to resolve this issue internally.”
Meanwhile, some tribe members are calling for community meetings and asking that the tribal government take a deeper look into the operations and policies of the club.
“Just because they’re a charity doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be held accountable,” Indian Island resident Lisa Montgomery said in an interview Thursday afternoon.
Montgomery said her son was enrolled in the club but that she pulled him out three or four weeks ago after she first heard about the accusations.
The Bangor Daily News is not elaborating on the accusations, as none of the rumors regarding the incident or incidents have been confirmed.
“It has been a continual problem that they’re not properly supervised,” Montgomery said, referring to the children.
She said she didn’t believe that the alleged incident was “a problem with the tribe,” but that this sort of incident could happen at any youth group in any town if the organization doesn’t have appropriate management or oversight.
Benjamin Collings, chairman of the club’s board of directors, said Wednesday in a prepared statement that Penobscot Nation officials and police were investigating allegations of “inappropriate behavior involving a youth club member and another youth.”
“The accused youth is prohibited from attending any programs or activities” held by the club until the investigation into the accusations is complete, Collings said.
The Boys & Girls Club requires background checks of all employees and volunteers who have direct contact with the youths they serve, he added.
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services and Penobscot County district attorney’s office would neither confirm nor deny on Thursday whether they were involved in any recent investigations related to the Boys & Girls Club on Indian Island. State police did not return a voicemail Thursday afternoon asking if they were involved in the case.
The club has been shut down temporarily, but some parents on the island would like to see it shut down for good, Montgomery said. She said parents will be meeting in the coming days and that the group will take its concerns to the tribal council.
Montgomery argued that it should remain closed until members of the tribe have a chance to question the club’s board of directors and leadership. Right now, she said, she feels the club shouldn’t reopen without major changes in management and board membership.
“It is a great place,” Montgomery said of the club. “It does do a lot. If it wasn’t there, the kids would suffer.”
However, she said she believed the incident that closed the club was a result of mismanagement. Montgomery said she and other parents would call for a review — by tribal leaders or a third party — of everything from the club’s security policies to its finances.
The Penobscot Nation Boys & Girls Club is entirely funded through donations and grants in an effort to provide free activities and services to its members, according to the club’s website.
While the club’s doors are closed, Montgomery said the organization should find other programs for the children to participate in after school or when parents aren’t home to replace the Boys & Girls Club activities that no longer are available.
I’m sorry, this is going to be a very unpopular comment, but why in heck , in this day and age, aren’t they subject to the laws of the State and Federal Government?!? Handling it “internally” shouldn’t be an option. It should be fair and equal treatment for all, no matter what, regarding this story and everything else for that matter.
I will now brace myself for the impending slams that are sure to follow
I never believed in a nation within a nation either.
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Yet a compromise had to be found to stop the killing. This is it. I’m sure most of the people living within the Indian Nations of this country don’t like us squatting on their lands but like it or not they have to live with it now.
As for the story, we don’t know what the details are yet but is seems to boil down to the fact that a lot of bad things happen when children are improperly supervised. Considering the many cuts in staffing we’ve seen in our own public schools one can probably antcipate that we’ll be reading similar stories about bad (Yes even worse than you think you know now) things happening in them as well.
Well the English are still running Scotland, my dads birthplace. Meanwhile half of Russia is trying to recover their homeland. Japan, Russia, China, Philippines, Viet Nam, North and South Korea etc are all fighting over some islands each claims as their homeland. Israelis and Palestinians will never agree on who owns what and when they were first there. Over the millennia pretty much every culture has been dominated by another. Cultures evolve, it is natural. This became particularly true when the geographical features of our planet stopped being an impediment to the movement of people. I’m not a history major but I believe the American Indians were pretty much at war with each other almost constantly too. Just like any other culture, one tribe would attempt to dominate another for their economic gain. I’m not saying it is OK to overrun another culture. But apparently it IS human nature to do so and I haven’t heard of a single culture who has not dominated nor been dominated at some point in history. It’s time to get over it. We are all Americans, not nations within a nation (although the states rights people might think so), and as mainecoast4me said so well, we should all be treated equally.
Good comment.
Charity = Corruption.
stupid = stupid
What on the Island isn’t payed for with donations and grants?
Yes… and it’s such a Utopia, isn’t it? Villas and Lamborghinis. Million dollar houses. Take a drive through there sometime and say that again.
Every city and town in Maine receives some sort of federal and state funding!!
What happens on the Island stays on the Island???????????
Though the tribe lost a lot of its sovereign authority with the land claims settlement in the 80s it continues to maintain sovereignty and jurisdiction for internal tribal matters. The incident occurred on the island and involved tribal members and its a private and internal matter. I believe tribal authorities are dealing with the issue in a cultural sensitive way that outside agencies would not be able to do. Historically outside State and Federal agencies have inflicted far greater transgressions and abuses to tribal communities.
As for the other general inquiries about the operation of the Boys and Girls Club that is a totally different matter. The club operates apart from the tribe and is not under specific tribal authority.
I imagine that a victim of sexual assault doesn’t give a damn about your ‘culural sensitive’ comment. If you feel guilt over being of European decent, that’s your problem.
@johnday:disqus Ummmmm………….I grew up on Indian Island and am a tribal member. If it were my child I most definitely would not want State or Federal officials involved. Our community members were the ones who reported this to our elected government. Read up on the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission if you want to educate yourself.
http://www.mainetribaltrc.org/history.html
Then don’t call the State Police when there is a stand off if they can handle everything themselves!
Of course you would not want State or Federal officials involved, they might dig stuff out that you would not want to hear or see.
Should I only be judged by my friends and neighbors if I end up on the wrong side of the law? No, it’s a jury of my peers, but not segregated by race, and it shouldn’t be segregated. Here’s where my non-PC side comes out again, ….. it seems that it is sovreignty by convenience, stay out of our business, but keep the funding and special programs coming.
No one is advocating that justice not been served and legal punishment administered. What is being exercised is an inherent authority as a tribe to govern ourselves. This authority has been overridden in the past to the detriment of Native children.
This is a law enforcement issue.
And the Penobscot Nation has law enforcement.
There are Maine State laws that apply’s here and they are American citizens.
Really?
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Ah yes, the race card being played yet once again.
Again, these sorts of discussion forums demonstrate how LITTLE state folks know about their own history and dealings; there are legitimate answers to all questions posed regarding the tribal and state relationship, as well as the tribe’s relationship with the feds, but the history is long and complex, and those who don’t have a clue should be the ones who take on the responsibility to learn their own history! Learn what your history before spewwing forth ignorant and ill-informed comments. Only perpetuates stereotypes and makes you look not so bright.
I am well aware of the history Molly and am not ignorant and ill informed, but thanks for your kind words. From the defensive stand you took, I would guess that my comment hit a little close to home. Perhaps you should heed your own advice and think before you post. I am all for pride in your heritage and customs, but because of my heritage I don’t feel that I am entitled to more than you are, or vice versa. I would say that my comment is ANTI stereotype as I think that we should all be treated equally, you obviously disagree and that is okay. We are all entitled to our opinions.
I would argue that if they are living on the reservation and are participating in the culture of their sovereign nation, then handling it internally IS a jury of their peers. Those may not be my peers, but they are theirs.
You are a good advocate for the tribe, they should hire you to be a culturally sensitive advocate.
Only D&E crimes, (misdemeanors) involving tribal members can be handled at Tribal Court
you non-indians squatted on this soil. brought diseases and your half assed capitalist views to us, and then yurn your eybrow up to the indian when we dont want to live like you. please remeber that your house, houses, businesses, and imediate family all reside on indian land. your false sense of security beacause “you” pay your taxes dosn’t hide the fact that you, and your family stole your american dreams from us. so if we want to keep our personal lives out of the bangor daily, i think there should be a understanding. or do you want take a little more dignity from my people and i.
I didn’t squat anywhere. My ancestors came from France and colonized an uninhabited island between what is now Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. But for 5 generations we have lived here in Maine and put our hearts and talents into this State. Are we wrong for living here? Does an act of a few people almost 250 years ago mandate life long discord between us all? I am proud to be a Mainer, and prouder still to be an American. And I am proud to have life long friends that are American Indian. We need to all love each other, regardless of our histories.
How many true Native Americans are there now?Talk about the fox guarding the hen house. The State should move in a gather all the necessary data. This is incredible! Of course you would not want State or Federal officials involved, they might dig stuff out that you would not want to hear or see.Ah yes, the race card being played yet once again.I never believed in a nation within a nation either.What on the Island isn’t payed for with donations and grants?Yet a compromise had to be found to stop the killing. This is it. I’m sure most of the people living within the Indian Nations of this country don’t like us squatting on their lands but like it or not they have to live with it now.
these were all pasted from above. who is trying to divide who. obviously we have a problem here, otherwise people wouldnt talk this way about indian island. by the way we are thankful for the grants and donations, and the “complimentary” hunting and fishing license. its the least people can do for genocide and cultural warfare. Im interested to hear if any white people ever had grandparents forced to go to boarding school, or assimilate or die? Americans, and Mainers are all in denial about this countrys great history. Thank god my great grandparents learned how to assimilate, otherwise i may not be here to read through these peoples b.s. and false ideas of REAL indians. For once i would love to see a positive article about indians. we do all kinds of great things. I am a basketmaker, woodworker, and i a guide. non of which was taught to me by a non-indian. in fact my teachers were Real Indians in a Really screwed up world around them. Amazing we are still here.
To speak to your point about non indians having to assimilate. My great grandparents and grandfather were “Franco-American” and suffered the same injustice here in Maine, albeit at a later time, and different severity. They spoke French and had accents and differing societal views having come from an island society where culture was very different from the mainland, let alone the language barrier.
They wouldn’t allow my grandfather to speak French. They would punish him and his 13 siblings if they heard them speaking it. They wouldn’t let the children drink wine with their meals because the schools heard about it and made a fuss. They lived in cloistered areas because they could share their similar past and didn’t have to be constantly alert for neighbors that harbored ill will against them. They had strict curfews because they didn’t want my grandfather out past dark because some of the townsfolk resented my great grandparents working there and having a job that a non “frog” could have. And yes, they were called names and poked fun at.
This isn’t something that only one group of people, or one culture has endured in this, or any other country. Humans as a race have the ability to show immense kindness, love and compassion, but can also show the worst there is to offer.
People on here comment because it’s anonymous. At least, for one glimpse at a time, we can see their true soul. And sometimes it is a sad thing to behold.
Of course not every culture was systematically killed on their own land here. Everyone one else were brought here. Not justifying any racial discrimination but we lost our homeland and way of life. we were invaded! thats the difference here.
Wouldn’t your people be better off if you joined the nation of the US?
Yes, there are things wrong with OUR society, but so to are there many of the same things wrong within YOUR society.
Segregation, whether imposed on you by others or self imposed is not a good thing and only keeps you from enjoying the benefits of our greater society, along with the ills of our society.
How many true Native Americans are there now? Even your elders are as much of a mixed breed as the majority of our country. We are a nation of mutts. I suppose for the time being a majority of them whites, predominantly we are not racists and have little animosity toward others because of nation of origin, race, religion, color gender and even “Gender Identity” for the most part.
There are those that try to divide and subdivide us into little groups and then pit those groups against each other for some kind of political gain. But for the most part we are a pretty decent lot. join us and maybe we can help each other.
im a real indian. my dad is a real indian. my daughters and step son are real indians. my to be wife and her family are real indians. i know that most non natives use this arguement of who is really indian all the time to cover the fact that…hey we came here from some place far away and did some pretty horrible things to the native people as well as the land. But what you dont have in you that we have is Indian Blood. You most definately do not share the same values or history that we have. i mean come on. if a bunch of muslims came to america, turned you all muslim against your will, and took your life and made it just like their’s you wouldnt carry some resentment towards them? my mother is white. i love her to death. but she has never once question my brother or father, or my right to live soveirnly or traditianlly. also she has never told us we werent real indians. so where do you get off calling my elders non indian. sounds like the people, or qoute friends of natives really just cant wait to see the indian dissappear otherwise you wouldnt lean on a quote you have no right to make. I know the real story. not his-story. you will never win this arguement with me any way. i will never be silenced from telling my story. my name in sooooo old it goes back to the first jesuit preist naming my ancestors. so dont ever, assume we indians arent real. you arent real with yourself
Please I meant no insult. I was pointing out that you have at least some European blood, just as I have some native American blood, MicMac I have been told and way back. I certainly would not make any claims to that fact.
Certainly if someone were to force something on me I would, and have done so, resent it. But my English blood does not resent how the British monarchy knocked my family around, nor my French blood, or German and probably Portugese, and possibly Mexican, though that last is pure conjecture. But none of that happened to me, it happened generations ago.
All that aside, what has holding on to that resentment done for you personally, and your people generally. Nothing, you feel worse about yourself and your people.
I don’t even pretend to know you, your people ofr your circumstances, but wouldn’t you be better off trying to be the most that you can be?
Again I am not trying to insult anyone.
Of course it will be done internally, wouldn’t have it any other way, things might come out that would not look good.
Talk about the fox guarding the hen house. The State should move in a gather all the necessary data. This is incredible!
I would think that the Indians are likely to treat theri own children better than the outside legal system does. We area nation of laws, or so we claim, andthe Indians have legal jurisdiction over their own people on their own land. I woud suggest that those that are so upset should read a great deal more history of how we have treated the first people before mouthing off. Thee wereanestimated 12 million Indians in the Continetal United States as Europeans came to America and less than 1 million by 1900. That would make Herr Hitler proud. It is not only what has been done to them in the past, our government has cheated them out of billions of dollars earned off the resoruces on the tribal lands. That money held for them just disappeared. Our government made certain promises as they took Indian land andnot once have we ever honored a treaty made with the Indians.
Yes a lot of nasty things have happened. However you are misinformed in some respects and exaggerate others. For instance, I believe the vast majority of American Indians actually died from European diseases, not the business end of a rifle or knife, so the Herr Hitler comment is really out of line. This was also true in South America. The Spaniards decimated the indigenous peoples not with weapons, but with diseases that the S. American Indians had never encountered. As for being dominated by a foreign power, please read my response above to StillRelaxin.
WatchdogME,
Curious what figures do you work from as to how many killed by disease and how many killed otherwise? Plus how is it better to be killed off by disease? Not even that was always accidental. Very early in our history we learned the little trick of giving Indians blankets from small pox victims. We Americans constantly try to write off this matter of genocide. It was just as wrong for us to do it as it was for Herr Hitler. It is just as important to acknowledge the dark side of our history as it is to acknowledge the nice bright side of our history, because it is what makes us what we are as a nation. Every evil that we freely accuse others of doing, we have also done in our history. I am sorry that our history does not agree with the American myth most choose to believe. By the way do you know what groups of people in our country has the largest percentage of military veterans in the United States for its size. Yes, American Indians. Some of them helping us fight our wars even before the American Revolution. No I have not exaggerated anything, just paid attention to the parts of history most American choose to ignore. History by definition is the story of the people. Which people? Why the ones that are telling the story, of course. History is constantly being rewritten every generation to justify where the people are today. In Texas, one state over from me, they are about to write Thomas Jefferson right out of their school history books.
Let’s get off the kick on race or should I say racism. The fact of the matter is that an individual was assaulted. My question is why wasn’t something done earlier? Why didn’t the Director of this organization do something when it happened? Why doesn’t she repond to the media? Why is the Boys and Girls group still have her as a Director? A good Director would have met with all of the parents that have children there and possibly all of the community to acknowledge this assault and ensure the community that they are doing an investigation and that the program will be closed unitl they get their findings? How this even happened is beyond me and the Director would be gone!!
You all went off on a tangent that has nothing to do with the story! Internal, private matter or not, if it was my child, i would be pissed if BDN was trying to air my business! The point is, this has to do with under aged children, period! Not race, or your racism! The police, tribal or not are not a liberty to talk about crimes that involve children! I’m sick of “YOU” people using our issues as a forum for your racism! Shut up already and YOU get over it! Tell me what benefit is it to these children if “We” join you! These kids are all victims! Whom don’t need to re-victimized! It shouldn’t of happened, period!