For around a hundred and fifty years in this country, Native tribes have been legally considered nations within a nation. But in Maine, the situation is more complicated. Maine has restricted the rights of the tribes within its borders more than any other state.
And the amazing thing is, the tribes in Maine agreed to this. And pretty recently. 40 years ago, they signed a deal and surrendered a huge amount of power in exchange for money and land.
Right now the tribes in Maine are fighting for new laws that would restore their powers of sovereignty. And Maine state politicians and town officials are trying to stop them.
Produced by the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies. Brought to you in part by Bangor Savings Bank.
All content for Sovereign is the property of Salt Institute for Documentary Studies and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
For around a hundred and fifty years in this country, Native tribes have been legally considered nations within a nation. But in Maine, the situation is more complicated. Maine has restricted the rights of the tribes within its borders more than any other state.
And the amazing thing is, the tribes in Maine agreed to this. And pretty recently. 40 years ago, they signed a deal and surrendered a huge amount of power in exchange for money and land.
Right now the tribes in Maine are fighting for new laws that would restore their powers of sovereignty. And Maine state politicians and town officials are trying to stop them.
Produced by the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies. Brought to you in part by Bangor Savings Bank.
Sovereignty is the right of a people to govern themselves and make their own decisions. The tribes in Maine have always said they are inherently sovereign. But the powers of sovereignty, like the ability to make and enforce laws, can be taken away. The tribes in Maine have way fewer powers of sovereignty than an average tribal nation in the US.
Brought to you in part by Bangor Savings Bank.
Over the next four episodes, we’ll visit those tribes and hear their stories. The Passamaquoddy, the Penobscot, the Houlton Band of Maliseets and the Aroostook Band of Micmacs.
But in this episode we’re focusing on the Passamaquoddy. And specifically, the Passamaquoddy reservation at Pleasant Point.
Sovereign
For around a hundred and fifty years in this country, Native tribes have been legally considered nations within a nation. But in Maine, the situation is more complicated. Maine has restricted the rights of the tribes within its borders more than any other state.
And the amazing thing is, the tribes in Maine agreed to this. And pretty recently. 40 years ago, they signed a deal and surrendered a huge amount of power in exchange for money and land.
Right now the tribes in Maine are fighting for new laws that would restore their powers of sovereignty. And Maine state politicians and town officials are trying to stop them.
Produced by the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies. Brought to you in part by Bangor Savings Bank.
