I urge all Mainers to support LD 1626 to fix longstanding problems with the Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act.

The tribes in Maine are simply asking to be treated like the other 570 federally recognized tribes in the U.S. Nothing more, nothing less. The tribes are merely asking to be able to determine their communities’ futures. They should have that right on their native lands without the state of Maine obstructing them.

When the 1980 Settlement Act was negotiated, the state took advantage of tremendous political pressure and pushed to treat the tribes like municipalities rather than tribal nations. One result is that Tribes in Maine have not benefited from more than 150 federal laws passed since 1980.

Please ask your legislators and Gov. Mills to support LD 1626.

Bryan Wentzell
Portland