Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission

Members of Maine's native tribes on Monday pushed for changes to the 1980 Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act. Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis, shown speaking at a hearing in 2017, said, “This is a document that we are now four decades into, with enough of a history and a track record to know that this was a failed experiment.” In the front row are Chief Brenda Commander, Houlton Band of Maliseets; Chief Edward Peter-Paul, Aroostook Band of Micmacs; Chief William Nicholas, Indian Township Passamaquoddy reservation; and Chief Ralph Dana, Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy reservation.