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News Article A step in the right direction Written by Jim McCarthy, Editorial Page Editor from Times Record With a stroke of his pen on Wednesday, Gov. John Baldacci signed an executive order to promote “effective communication” between the Maine state government and the Native American tribes who live in Maine. In doing so, he took a major step toward improving the state’s relationship with Maine’s Wabanaki peoples — the Penobscot Nation, the Passamaquoddy tribes of Indian Township and Pleasant Point, the Houlton Band of Maliseets and the Aroostook Band of Micmacs. His executive order directs every state agency to develop and implement policies that: — Promote effective two-way communication between that agency and Maine’s tribes. — Promote positive government-to-government relations between the state and tribes. — Enable the tribes “to provide meaningful and timely input into the development of legislation, rules and policies proposed by an agency on matters that significantly or uniquely affect those tribes.” — Encourage similar communication efforts by the tribes. Given the tribes’ oft-expressed frustration that state government sometimes seemed oblivious to their perspectives and concerns, Baldacci’s executive order represents a tacit acknowledgment that those complaints have some validity. It also addresses head-on a problem cited earlier this year by Paul Bisulca, when he stepped down as chairman of the Maine-Indian Tribal State Commission. Bisulca, a Penobscot Indian who was the first Native American to lead the commission since its creation in 1980, complained that the tribes often felt the state wasn’t listening to their concerns. He openly wondered then what purpose was being served by MITSC if serious recommendations to address ongoing problems within the 1980 Maine Implementing Act — such as those made by the 2007 Tribal-State Work Group created by an earlier executive order of Gov. Baldacci — were simply gathering dust in the Legislature’s reference library. Among the unresolved issues are whether Maine’s tribes are subject to the state’s right-to-know law and whether funding for MITSC should be subject to unilateral legislative action. Both involve confronting the crux issue of tribal sovereignty: What the tribes believe was agreed to when they signed the 1980 Maine Indian Land Claims Act vs. what the state historically has believed it agreed to. The significance of Baldacci’s executive order, obviously, will be borne out in time. But it certainly signals a serious effort is being made to treat Maine’s Wabanaki tribes with respect as equal partners who deserve to have a voice in matters affecting the tribes and their members. Of equal importance to the directives within his executive order is Baldacci’s affirmation of the state’s commitment “to ensuring an effective, social, economic and legal relationship between the Native American tribes and the state.” Baldacci correctly points out — and gives credit to tribal representatives in the Legislature, as well as tribal and legislative leaders, for keeping this idea at the forefront — that Maine has much to gain by working more closely with the tribes. The preamble to his executive order ends with this accurate and hopeful assertion: “There are numerous unexplored opportunities and possibilities for the state and tribes to pursue mutual programs and policies in a collaborative partnership to enhance and preserve natural resources for the betterment of communities and citizens in Maine.” That’s an immensely worthy goal. To get there, it will take all of us being open to each other, learning from each other and helping each other. letters@timesrecord.com

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