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A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 13 april 2022
Maine lawmakers taking up thorny issue of tribal sovereignty

By DAVID SHARP nomic development.
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — That's one of the reasons
Tribes in Maine gave up why Maine's Democratic
some of their rights to the governor has not warmed
state when they settled to the sovereignty bill. If it's
their land claims more than approved, she might veto
40 years ago. it.
They want to change that A spokesperson said the
agreement so they can en- governor is committed to
joy the same self-governing improving drinking water
rights as the other Native quality by working with the
Americans. local water district, Pas-
The Passamaquoddy, Pe- samaquoddy Tribe, and
nobscot, Maliseet and the federal government.
Mi'kmaq view legislative But Mills didn't appreciate
debate this week, ahead one tribal leader's sugges-
of the midterm elections, tion that she was offering
as their best opportunity "beads and trinkets" instead
for establishing rights to self of substantive proposals.
determination. "The governor is focused on
The proposed changes bringing people together
come against a backdrop to solve problems, not trad-
of President Joe Biden's Protesters concerned with tribal sovereignty laws gather at the State House, Monday, April 11, ing insults at press confer-
administration seeking to 2022, in Augusta, Maine. ences," spokesperson Lind-
ensure that tribes are con- Associated Press say Crete said.
sulted early when it comes Despite the governor's op-
to policies or actions that votes in the state Legisla- later this week. samaquoddy people at position, the tribes still see
impact them. It also has ture that began Tuesday. On Monday, about 300 Sipayik, it is poison," Dana this as their best chance,
sought ways for the federal One of the bills would tribal members and sup- said. potentially for some time,
government and tribes to amend the land claims act porters gathered at the For the tribes, it has been a to get the bills passed be-
co-manage federal land to ensure that tribes have State House and marched long, frustrating battle since cause they have the sup-
that is part of tribes' ances- control over their land to the home of Gov. Janet they traded some rights to port of Democratic leader-
tral homeland. that's comparable to other Mills, who's opposed some the state under an $81.5 ship.
But unlike the hundreds of tribes in the U.S. Of the 574 aspects of both proposals. million settlement that was With the midterms com-
tribal reservations across federally recognized tribes One of the speakers, signed by President Jimmy ing up, Republicans could
the United States, the Pas- in the country, about 325 19-year-old Passamaquod- Carter in 1980. The settle- take control of one or both
samaquoddy's and Penob- have reservation land. The dy Noela Altvater, told the ment can be changed, but Democratically controlled
scot's three reservations in Legislature has not voted crowd that clean drinking only with the agreement chambers in the State
Maine are governed like on that bill. water is available virtually of both the state and the House, along with the gov-
municipalities and bound Another bill would ensure everywhere in Maine — ex- tribes. ernorship, hampering ef-
by state laws under the the Passamaquoddy Tribe cept on the Pleasant Point That settlement for the Pas- forts to press forward with
Maine Indian Claims Settle- at Pleasant Point can regu- reservation where she's samaquoddy, Penobscot the proposals.
ment Act of 1980. late its own drinking water, grown up. and Maliseet, along with Maggie Dana said the
In Maine, the larger Pas- drilling wells on land owned "Our community has been a 1991 agreement for the tribes have been educat-
samaquoddy and Penob- by the tribe, for example, stripped and kept from this Mi'kmaq, all federally rec- ing lawmakers and creat-
scot tribes operate their and working with the U.S. basic need for our entire ognized, put the Maine ing alliances, and they're
own police departments Environmental Protection existence," she said. tribes on a different foot- hopeful for change.
and health clinics but don't Agency instead of being Chief Maggie Dana of the ing from tribes elsewhere It's time for the state to live
have full autonomy over bound by state regulatory Passamaquoddy Tribe at across the country. up to its motto Dirigo, which
matters on their land. The agencies. Pleasant Point, also known In Maine, opponents fear is Latin for "I lead," instead
state and tribes have butt- That bill overwhelmingly as Sipayik, put it in stark unintended consequenc- of being last to expand the
ed heads on environmen- passed, 103-35, in the ini- terms. es, like tribes flexing their rights of Native Americans
tal, fish and wildlife rules. tial House vote on Tuesday. "Our culture is clear — wa- muscle on environmental, to the same rights enjoyed
Change could come with The Senate will take it up ter is life. And for the Pas- fish and wildlife, and eco- by others, Dana said.q

Pastors sue AME Church over missing retirement funds

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Pas- land and Virginia filed the have been unable to get "Many Class member — in- and Reuben Boyd allege
tors have filed at least three lawsuits against the oldest access to their money. cluding Plaintiff Reverend that between $80 million
federal lawsuits in recent historically Black denomi- The lawsuit filed by the Flor- Jackson — are retired and and $90 million was unac-
weeks against the Afri- nation in the U.S. late last ida pastor, the Rev. Charles have suddenly learned that counted for by either 2020
can Methodist Episcopal month. They are seeking Jackson in Orlando, alleges resources they relied on to or 2021.
Church along with several class-action status on be- the church and its related support themselves, to de- The church's retirement
subsidiaries and financial half of thousands of other financial institutions were pend on in times of bad fund chair "invested Plan
firms the church used, al- AME pastors and church of- negligent and breached health, and to simply en- assets in imprudent, ex-
leging tens of millions of ficials throughout the coun- their fiduciary responsibili- joy during retirement, have traordinarily risky invest-
dollars from a pension fund try who lost money through ties. Jackson is seeking a been stolen from them by ments that ultimately lost
were mismanaged and the pension fund. jury trial and punitive dam- people they trusted," the nearly $100 million of Plan
missing. The pastors, who were re- ages in the complaint filed lawsuit said. participants' retirement
The retired and current quired to participate in the in federal court in Tennes- In their lawsuit filed in Virgin- savings," the Maryland law-
pastors in Florida, Mary- retirement plan, said they see. ia, the Revs. Derrell Wade suit said.q