As a mother, when I noticed my older child lording over my younger child and trying to control his every move, I had to apologize if anything I had done had led her to believe that she should disrespect his personal sovereignty.
Ironically, here in Maine, it is the older cultures who are being lorded over by the comparatively recent culture of Maine state government. The state is now dragging its feet, trying to maintain control over how the Wabanaki federally recognized tribes relate to the federal government.
But much has happened worldwide since the paternalistic 1980 Claims Settlement Act. Indigenous nations all over the country are experiencing enhanced economic development through federal programs. And internationally, since 2007, we have a U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which declares that the whole world benefits when Indigenous people are given control of their governments, societies and territories.
Why would Maine want to lag behind the rest of the country with respect to human rights, respect and development? The state’s position is out of step with the commonsense of the majority of Mainers.
Luckily, the House speaker has introduced L.D. 2004, legislation to remove Claims-Not-Quite-Settled-Act barriers. Let’s pass this as fast as we can. It benefits the state as a whole while addressing an injustice toward the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Mikmaq and Maliseet. In recognizing Native nations as the First Mainers, Mother cultures who have the right of self-government, we begin to live in right relation to our elder brothers and sisters.
Grace Nichols
Portland
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