Penobscot Nation

Rena Newell, the current tribal representative for the Passamaquoddy at Pleasant Point, will become the new chief. Chief Kirk Francis was elected to a sixth term as the Penobscot Nation's top leader, and Chief William Nicholas will return for a fourth term at the Passamaquoddy tribe at Indian Township.

The Mills administration says it wants Congress to defer action on a bill from Rep. Jared Golden, and instead give the state time to negotiate its own compromise with Maine tribes.

The program brought together musicians and storytellers of Wabanaki, Congolese, and Puerto Rican heritage.

In this week's Pulse: The status of the tribal sovereignty bill and its political implications.

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined the Penobscot Indian Nation's appeal in its fight with Maine over ownership and regulation of the tribe’s namesake river.

The bill would allow the Penobscot Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians to enjoy most of the rights, power and privileges afforded to more than 500 other tribes nationwide under federal law.

The House approved the proposal 81-53 despite opposition from Hollywood Casino in Bangor and lawmakers who philosophically oppose the expansion of gaming in the state.

The Maine House gave initial approval Thursday to a bill to overhaul the fraught relationship between state government and tribal nations in the state. But supporters fell well short of the margin they would need to overcome a potential veto from Gov. Janet Mills.

Tribal leaders and their many supporters regard 2022 as a potential make-or-break year to dramatically re-write a 1980 agreement that they say has severely harmed their communities.

The court case pits the tribe against the state of Maine and upstream business interests over the rights to regulate water quality and fishing in the river.