Tribe looks to build on positive action with a stronger Maliseet-State relationship
HOULTON, Maine — The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians celebrated another step in their long struggle to have surrounding governments recognize their inherent sovereignty with the seating of Maliseet citizen David Slagger of Kenduskeag as the first Maliseet Tribal Representative to serve in the Maine House of Representatives. Representative Slagger took his seat in the House Chamber while escorted by the Sergeant-At-Arms followed by an official welcome from House Speaker Robert Nutting.
The Maliseet Tribe is the third of Maine’s four tribes to have a representative serving in the state Legislature. The Penobscots and Passamaquoddies are already represented; the Micmacs are not. The Maliseets were authorized to send a representative to the Legislature in 2010. Their tribes select Indian representatives. The representatives participate in the Legislature but may not vote. Their districts are also represented by voting legislators.
“Our people are elated and proud to have David Slagger assume the position of Tribal Representative along with the Passamaquoddy and Penobscot Representatives who have served since the 19th Century. Today’s seating of a Maliseet Tribal Representative represents another positive step toward creating a stronger relationship between the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and the state of Maine. We honor our ancestors who made countless sacrifices to advance our Tribe to the position it holds today. We also thank our fellow Wabanaki Tribes, the Maine Legislature, and the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission for helping to make this happen,” stated Chief Brenda Commander.
Rep. Emily Cain, D-Orono, the House Democratic leader, welcomed Slagger to the state Legislature.
“I was pleased to witness this historic day for the Maliseet Tribe and for all Maine people,” said Cain. “I’ve known David for years through his hard work as a doctoral candidate at the University of Maine. He brings an important perspective to Augusta and will serve the Maliseet people well.”
Before contact with Europeans, the Maliseets occupied much of what is now considered the eastern border of the U.S. and Canada. Today the Maliseets’ principal land holdings lie in Littleton and Houlton with some smaller holdings in other portions of southern Aroostook County. The Maliseets gained recognition as a federally recognized tribe in 1980 as part of the Maine Indian Claims settlement.
The establishment of a Maliseet Tribal Representative position is consistent with the 2008 Tribal-State Work Group (TSWG) recommendation to “amend the law to achieve jurisdictional parity for all Tribes.” Other recent steps to implement this recommendation include the creation of seats for the Maliseets within the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission and the establishment of a Maliseet Tribal Court. Substantial work remains to amend other sections of the Maine Implementing Act to fulfill the TSWG recommendation.
