Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians explained

Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians
Native Name:Metaksonekiyak Wolastoqewiyik
Native Name Lang:pqm
Settlement Type:Indian reservation
Image Alt:Art
Etymology:Houlton/Maliseet
Joseph Houlton/He speaks slowly
Map Alt:Locator Map
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Maine
Government Type:Tribe
Governing Body:Tribal Council
Leader Title:Tribal Chief
Leader Name:Clarissa Sabattis[1]
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population Footnotes:[2]
Population As Of:2013
Population Total:869
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Demonym:Malecite
Wəlastəkwiyik
Timezone1:Eastern Time Zone
Utc Offset1:-5

The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians of Maine (HBMI) (pqm|'''Metaksonekiyak Wolastoqewiyik''' (MW))[3] is a federally recognized tribe of Maliseet, whose land is along the Meduxnekeag River in Maine, United States.[4] They are headquartered in Littleton, Maine, located in Aroostook County.

This HBMI is related to the larger Maliseet First Nations of New Brunswick, Canada.[5] The Maliseet have traditionally occupied areas of the Saint John River valley, including its tributary, the Meduxnekeag River. When Great Britain and the United States established a boundary through this area under the Jay Treaty of 1794, the Maliseet were given the right to freely cross the border with Canada, as it was within their ancestral territory.[5] The HBMI was invited to take a nonvoting seat in the Maine Legislature, starting with the 126th Legislature in 2013.

Politics

The HBMI is governed by a Tribal Chief and a six member council. The Tribal Chief is democratically elected and serves a four year term, as are the tribal councilors, whose elections are staggered.[1] As of July 1, 2023, the Tribal government consists of:

Each American Indian nation in Maine is allotted a non-voting seat in the Maine Legislature, a tradition started in 1823, and formalized in 2013. The HBMI have refused to send a delegate since 2018, due to their strained relationship with Democratic governor, Janet Mills, namely due to the latter's refusal to allot more federal funds for Indian reservations.[6] [7] However, in summer of 2023 a breakthrough was reached where the legislature passed a law that would allow tribes in Maine access to federal laws and a degree of self determination independent from the state of Maine.[8] In March 2023 a Houlton Maliseet returned to the legislature, along with three other tribes; the Passamaquoddy Tribe, Penobscot Nation, and the Mi'kmaq Nation.[9]

Starting in November 2023, the HBMI began the process of creating a Healing to Wellness Court, a restorative justice effort to reduce a repeat of criminal behavior and to engage the local community. The court is largely modeled after the one created by the Penobscot Indian Island Reservation.[10]

Economic development

The HBMI farm potatoes, barley, and clover on tribal lands. They also own a roller skating rink (Rollerama).[2]

In conjunction with the municipal government of Houlton, the HBMI were awarded $15,000,000 as part of the Foxcroft Road improvements to repair and widen the tribe's main arterial road into the city, which also acts as a border crossing with Canada.[11]

In 2023 the HBMI entered a partnership with Caesars Sportsbook and where given exclusive rights to operate mobile sports wagering in the state.[12]

Watershed restoration

The HBMI is working to restore the watershed of the Meduxnekeag River, which was damaged by logging drives, and bring back the native Atlantic salmon. The restoration aims to slow the flow of the river and cool its overheated waters, which a planner with the HBMI said are both increasing with climate change in Maine. The river lacks the structure and complexity that it used to have that allowed salmon and other fish to live in the river.[13] [14] In 2023, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians received $1.6 million in federal funds for river restoration within the Saint John River watershed.[15] Projects will address habitat needs, infrastructure, biodiversity, and "high climate risk".[16]

Culture

The Maliseet belonged to the Algonquian languages family. The people now use English as their first language. They constitute nearly six percent of the population of Houlton.

Every year the HBMI hold a "Recognition Day" celebration, commemorating the anniversary of when the tribe received federal recognition on September 9, 1980.[17]

Sources

Further reading

External links

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tribal Government . Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians . Littleton, Maine . October 4, 2024 . October 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241004050116/https://maliseets.net/tribal-government/ . live.
  2. Web site: Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians – Tribal Program, Region 1: New England . . March 20, 2012 . October 4, 2024 . December 2, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131202223122/http://www.epa.gov/region1/govt/tribes/houltonmaliseet.html . dead.
  3. Web site: Metaksonekiyak – Peskotomuhkati-Wolastoqey Language Portal . Passamaquoddy-Maliseet Portal . Language Keepers . Rockland, Maine . October 4, 2024 . October 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241004051136/https://pmportal.org/dictionary/metaksonekiyak . live.
  4. Book: Pritzker, Barry M. . A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples . November 9, 2000 . . New York . 9-780-195-13897-9 . 42683042 . 428 . October 4, 2024 . October 4, 2024 . https://archive.today/20241004052942/https://archive.org/details/nativeamericanen0000prit/mode/1up . live.
  5. Web site: HBMI Homepage . Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians . Littleton, Maine . October 4, 2024 . October 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241004050119/https://maliseets.net/ . live.
  6. News: Kobin . Billy . Maine tribal chiefs may meet with Janet Mills after major disagreements . October 9, 2023 . . Bangor, Maine . October 4, 2024 . October 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241004054353/https://www.bangordailynews.com/2023/10/09/politics/maine-tribal-chiefs-may-meet-janet-mills-n6hjn1me0n/ . live.
  7. News: Villeneuve . Marina . Only 1 tribal representative bound for Maine State House . December 8, 2018 . . Portland, Maine . October 4, 2024 . October 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241004054628/https://www.pressherald.com/2018/12/08/just-1-tribal-official-bound-for-augusta/ . live.
  8. News: Cover . Susan . Despite continued opposition from the Mills administration, Maine committee passes bill to give Wabanaki Nations access to federal laws . June 15, 2023 . . . October 4, 2024 . October 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241004054949/https://spectrumlocalnews.com/me/maine/politics/2023/06/15/maine-committee-passes-bill-to-give-wabanaki-nations-access-to-federal-laws . live.
  9. News: Miller . Kevin . Andrews . Caitlin . Wabanaki leaders address Maine Legislature for first time in two decades . March 16, 2023 . . October 4, 2024 . October 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241004055445/https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2023-03-16/watch-wabanaki-leaders-address-maine-legislature-for-first-time-in-two-decades . live.
  10. News: . Tribal Wellness Court will soon be a reality for HBMI . October 31, 2023 . The County . Bangor Publishing Company . October 4, 2024 . October 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241004055943/https://thecounty.me/2023/10/31/houlton/tribal-wellness-court-will-soon-be-a-reality-for-hbmi/ . live.
  11. News: Phalen Tomaselli . Kathleen . Houlton approves $15M road project agreement with Maliseets . October 24, 2023 . . Bangor, Maine . October 4, 2024 . October 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241004060240/https://www.bangordailynews.com/2023/10/24/aroostook/houlton-maliseets-foxcroft-road-construction-xoasq1i29i/ . live.
  12. News: Phalen Tomaselli . Kathleen . Maliseet chief: Mobile sports wagering promises an economic boost for Maine tribes . May 17, 2023 . . Bangor, Maine . October 4, 2024 . October 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241004060438/https://www.bangordailynews.com/2023/05/17/aroostook/maine-tribes-mobile-sports-wagering/ . live.
  13. News: Carpenter . Murray . A tribe is restoring a northern Maine river so that it'll be cooler and more hospitable to salmon . September 20, 2022 . . October 4, 2024 . October 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241004060810/https://www.mainepublic.org/environment-and-outdoors/2022-09-20/a-tribe-is-restoring-a-northern-maine-river-so-that-itll-be-cooler-and-more-hospitable-to-salmon . live.
  14. Web site: The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians . EPA's Notification of Consultation and Coordination on Potential Revisions to the Federal Water Quality Standards Regulations to Protect Tribal Reserved Rights . . 2016–2021 . 7–10 . October 4, 2024 . October 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241004074903/https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-09/HBMI-Tribal-comments.pdf . PDF . live.
  15. News: Carpenter . Murray . Maine tribes get federal funds for habitat restoration . November 14, 2023 . . October 4, 2024 . October 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241004060935/https://www.mainepublic.org/environment-and-outdoors/2023-11-14/maine-tribes-get-federal-funds-for-habitat-restoration . live.
  16. Maine Won't Wait, 2023 Annual Progress Report . December 1, 2023 . Maine Climate Council . October 4, 2024 . October 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241004061102/https://www.maine.gov/future/sites/maine.gov.future/files/2023-12/2023_MWW%20Progress%20Report.pdf . PDF . live.
  17. News: Phalen Tomaselli . Kathleen . Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians to hold annual gathering Sept. 9 . September 5, 2023 . The County . Bangor Publishing Company . October 4, 2024 . October 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241004061913/https://thecounty.me/2023/09/05/news/houlton-band-of-maliseet-indians-to-hold-annual-gathering-sept-9/ . live.

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