- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
A proposal that would have restored long-awaited sovereignty for Maine tribes was blocked this week and excluded from the $1.7 trillion 2023 Omnibus spending bill.
The proposal — introduced by 2nd District Congressman Jared Golden and backed by fellow Democratic Congresswoman Chellie Pingree — would have provided a crucial update to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980, which limits tribal authority and excludes Maine tribes from new federal laws unless specifically directed by Congress.
The state’s tribes— known collectively as the Wabanaki Nation— are currently excluded from more than 150 federal Indian Laws.
The proposed language was previously included in the House-passed spending legislation and would have allowed the Wabanaki Nation to benefit from future federal Indian law.
Sen. Angus King (I-ME) opposed the legislative language due to “serious concerns about the legislation in its current form and the unintended consequences it poses for the state of Maine,” according to a statement.
Make A Donation Here
Wabanaki leaders expressed deep disappointment in King’s opposition to the proposal, citing that tribal leaders worked closely with the senator’s office while drafting the language.
“The main reason for the legislation’s exclusion is due to strong opposition from Senator Angus King,” Chief Kirk Francis, Penobscot Nation, said in a statement. “This is unfortunate because tribal leaders had directly conferred with Senator King as the legislation was being drafted and purposefully drafted the bill narrowly to address Senator King’s concerns.
“It’s hard not to suspect that the senator’s opposition to the legislation is political in nature and not substantive. The Wabanaki bill would have been a meaningful step towards modernizing an archaic settlement act, and it would have opened doors for much-needed economic opportunities for our tribal communities and rural Maine.”
Want more Native News? Get the free daily newsletter today.
The failed proposal comes on the heels of a recently released study on the economic implications of limited tribal sovereignty in Maine.
The study, conducted by a team of researchers from the Harvard Kennedy School, concluded the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act has severely hampered economic development for the Wabanaki Nations and the surrounding non-tribal rural areas. According to the study, since 1989, per capita income among Maine tribes has grown just 9 percent, far behind the 61 percent per capita growth among the rest of Indian Country.
“Perhaps no better economic development policy costing so little money could be implemented now in the State of Maine than removing the restrictive language of MICSA. Yet Sen. King refuses to support it,” Chief Clarissa Sabattis, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, said in a statement.
This is the second failed attempt to restore the Wabanaki Nation’s sovereignty this year and was widely supported by Maine citizens. In February, the Maine joint judiciary committee heard nine hours of emotional testimony from citizens urging them to pass LD 1626, according to reporting from Tribal Business News. The bill was passed by the House and Senate; however, the legislation died after lawmakers declined to send it to Gov. Janet Mills for signing.
Despite setbacks, Chief Rena Newell of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik says the nations will continue to fight for sovereignty.
“We will not stop,” Newell said in a statement. “We will keep fighting for a brighter future because all of Maine succeeds when the Wabanaki succeeds. We applaud our friends Congressman Golden and Congresswoman Pingree for championing our effort thus far and look forward to building on our work in future Congresses.”
More Stories Like This
50 Years of Self-Determination: How a Landmark Act Empowered Tribal Sovereignty and Transformed Federal-Tribal RelationsPanel on Ethical Tribal Engagement at OU Highlights Healing, Research and Sovereignty
Groundbreaking Held for Western Navajo Pipeline Phase I – LeChee Water System Improvement Project
Navajo Citizens Voice Mixed Reactions to Trump’s Coal Executive Order at Public Hearing
Apache Stronghold Will Petition the U.S. Supreme Court Again on Monday, June 23
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
