Support Wabanaki tribal Recognition LD 1626

I am emailing to ask you to support passage of LD 1626. This act will allow Maine’s Wabanaki tribes (Penobscot Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, and Aroostook Band of Micmacs) rights similar to all other federally recognized tribes in the U.S. In 1980, a settlement of tribal land claims explicitly excluded Maine tribes from any laws passed by Congress for the benefit of Indian tribes after that year. While more than 570 other federally recognized tribes can take advantage of the policies and services conferred by more than 150 federal laws passed since 1980, Maine tribes have been left out or forced to access them through the state’s control. Making the changes contained in LD 1626 is the just and equitable thing to do. The Wabanaki tribes deserve the rights, privileges, powers, responsibilities, and immunities ascribed to all other federally recognized Indian tribes. I urge you to vote to pass this bill into law. Thank you.