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We found the recent opinion columns by Donna Loring, and Evan Richert and Roger Milliken addressing LD 785 to be compelling.
Both the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission and the Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act, have spent years studying the issue of Wabanaki sovereignty and its relationship to the 1980 Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act. These groups have repeatedly recommended that the Maine Indian Tribes be granted the same sovereignty status enjoyed by more than 570 tribes across the country.
LD 785 was designed to do just that. Unfortunately, the bill is being amended to deal with a narrower set of issues affecting tribal economic and tax benefits. Just as in past legislatures, the issue of sovereignty is being pushed into the future.
Please encourage the Legislature and Gov. Janet Mills to make the right decision: Sovereignty for the Maine tribes. And support from our congressional delegation, especially Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King, wouldn’t hurt!
Ray “Bucky” Owen
Jeff Owen
Orono