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The members of the SURE (Standing Up for Racial Equity) Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor urge a yes vote on Question 6, which will assure transparency in government by requiring the printing of the full Maine constitution. When Maine stopped printing the full version of the constitution more than 100 years ago, one of the missing sections included language about Maine’s original treaty obligations to the Wabanaki Tribes. Leaving out this section inhibits a complete understanding of the history, commitments, and obligations the government made to the Wabanaki people and impacts the ability to form meaningful relationships between tribal and state governments and our people.
As people of faith, we believe in honoring the inherent worth and dignity of all people, and printing treaty obligations honors the Wabanaki by being accurate about our true history and making explicit the importance of our relationship. We urge a yes vote on Question 6.
Joan Ellis
Ann Hartman
SURE Members
Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor
Bangor