The members of Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends (Quakers) have a deep concern for the sovereignty of the Wabanaki people of Maine.

Our commitment to social justice and equality are central to our beliefs and to our support of the civil rights of Maine’s Native people. Sovereignty was taken from Maine’s tribes by the 1980 Land Claims Settlement Implementation Act, essentially reducing their rights to those of municipalities.

Passage of “An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act” (LD 1626) would restore sovereignty to the four federally recognized tribes in Maine, allowing them to be treated by the United States government, and the state of Maine, the same way as the other 570 federally recognized tribes.

Passage of this bill would benefit everyone in Maine because when the Maine tribes prosper, we will all benefit. We strongly urge Gov. Janet Mills and the Legislature to support full passage of LD 1626.

Bob Eaton, Durham Friends Meeting clerk, on behalf of Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends