Post by blackcrowheart on Jul 3, 2008 13:08:39 GMT -5
Tribal decree stresses sovereignty
June 28, 2008
bangornews.com/news/t/city.aspx?articleid=166412&zoneid=176
<http://bangornews.com/news/t/city.aspx?articleid=166412&zoneid=176>
INDIAN ISLAND, Maine - The chiefs of more than 40 tribes from across
Canada and New England attending a conference here this week passed a
resolution stressing their right to self-governance.
In addition to exploring cultural options and economic development
opportunities, tribal leaders met at the Wabanaki Confederacy Conference
to discuss issues such as sovereignty, environmental and sustenance
rights, and indigenous rights in general.
The most significant resolution passed dealt with tribal sovereignty and
the right to self-govern. The four-page resolution appeals to the United
Nations arm that deals with indigenous rights and reaches out to the
U.S. Department of the Interior and the Canadian government, holding
them responsible for trust responsibilities.
"There were a lot of tribes facing the same issues," said Chief Kirk
Francis of the Penobscot Nation, which hosted the event.
The Penobscots' decision to sever their relationship with the state came
after Gov. John Baldacci vetoed a bill that would have allowed the tribe
to operate 100 slot machines at its high-stakes bingo facility at Indian
Island. The Legislature failed to overturn Baldacci's decision and
Francis said at the time that it was "the last nail in the coffin" for
tribal officials.
The resolution passed at the Wabanaki Conference recognizes and supports
the U.N. Declaration of Indigenous Rights, including that of
self-governance, which the United States and Canada previously voted
against.
The National Council of American Indians and United South and Eastern
Tribes Inc. already support the Penobscots in their attempt to achieve
true sovereignty and self-governance.
The Wabanaki Confederacy is an alliance of the Penobscots,
Passamaquoddys, Micmacs and Maliseets, but other tribes were invited to
attend the conference which began with ceremonies last weekend. The
confederacy allowed the member tribes to negotiate with Europeans, share
their cultures with one another, and address issues in a unified manner.
A second resolution passed at the conference dealt with repatriation of
tribal members' remains.
"A big concern this week was about tribal members' remains being held by
state entities," Francis said.
Although the resolutions aren't laws, Francis said he hopes they send a
strong message to political leaders that the tribes are united.
"Resolutions are great," he said. "What happens is the strength of these
resolutions really is in the follow through."
The Wabanaki Confederacy Conference officially ended Friday, and was to
be followed by the Penobscot Nation's first annual pow-wow over the
weekend.
June 28, 2008
bangornews.com/news/t/city.aspx?articleid=166412&zoneid=176
<http://bangornews.com/news/t/city.aspx?articleid=166412&zoneid=176>
INDIAN ISLAND, Maine - The chiefs of more than 40 tribes from across
Canada and New England attending a conference here this week passed a
resolution stressing their right to self-governance.
In addition to exploring cultural options and economic development
opportunities, tribal leaders met at the Wabanaki Confederacy Conference
to discuss issues such as sovereignty, environmental and sustenance
rights, and indigenous rights in general.
The most significant resolution passed dealt with tribal sovereignty and
the right to self-govern. The four-page resolution appeals to the United
Nations arm that deals with indigenous rights and reaches out to the
U.S. Department of the Interior and the Canadian government, holding
them responsible for trust responsibilities.
"There were a lot of tribes facing the same issues," said Chief Kirk
Francis of the Penobscot Nation, which hosted the event.
The Penobscots' decision to sever their relationship with the state came
after Gov. John Baldacci vetoed a bill that would have allowed the tribe
to operate 100 slot machines at its high-stakes bingo facility at Indian
Island. The Legislature failed to overturn Baldacci's decision and
Francis said at the time that it was "the last nail in the coffin" for
tribal officials.
The resolution passed at the Wabanaki Conference recognizes and supports
the U.N. Declaration of Indigenous Rights, including that of
self-governance, which the United States and Canada previously voted
against.
The National Council of American Indians and United South and Eastern
Tribes Inc. already support the Penobscots in their attempt to achieve
true sovereignty and self-governance.
The Wabanaki Confederacy is an alliance of the Penobscots,
Passamaquoddys, Micmacs and Maliseets, but other tribes were invited to
attend the conference which began with ceremonies last weekend. The
confederacy allowed the member tribes to negotiate with Europeans, share
their cultures with one another, and address issues in a unified manner.
A second resolution passed at the conference dealt with repatriation of
tribal members' remains.
"A big concern this week was about tribal members' remains being held by
state entities," Francis said.
Although the resolutions aren't laws, Francis said he hopes they send a
strong message to political leaders that the tribes are united.
"Resolutions are great," he said. "What happens is the strength of these
resolutions really is in the follow through."
The Wabanaki Confederacy Conference officially ended Friday, and was to
be followed by the Penobscot Nation's first annual pow-wow over the
weekend.