Maine governor, Wabanaki Nations reach limited agreement on sovereignty bills

The Wabanaki Nations reached an agreement with Maine Gov. Janet Mills on amended bills that narrow earlier proposals aimed at expanding tribal sovereignty, according to Maine Morning Star. The measures include additional tax exemptions for tribal members and the creation of a task force to assess tribal access to federal laws. The changes come after broader efforts to restore self-governance were set aside, with the issue expected to continue under the next administration.

The Wabanaki Nations — the Penobscot Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and Mi’kmaq Nation — supported the amended versions while noting they do not address long-term sovereignty goals, according to Maine Morning Star. The tax proposal would expand income and sales tax exemptions, while the task force will study how tribes can access federal laws. Tribal leaders said the measures provide incremental progress but leave broader recognition of sovereignty unresolved.