This meeting, originally scheduled for March 14, has been rescheduled to April 18, 2025
Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission Minutes
April 18, 2025
Randall Student Center, 134 (First Floor Conference Room)
University of Maine at Augusta
Public Live Stream Provided
Meeting was called to order at 10:20 a.m.
Members Present (In person and by Zoom):
Chair: Newell Lewey
Commissioners: Robert (Bob) Checkoway, Oshikiyol (Zeke) Crofton-Macdonald, Gordon (Nels) Kramer, Rena Newell, Robert (Bert) Polchies, Darren Ranco, and Samuel (Sam) St. John
Commissioners Absent: Joseph (Joey) Barnes
Staff Present: Jill Tompkins (Executive Director), Rachel Bell (Projects Coordinator)
Guests Present: Chief Clarissa Sabattis, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Christian J. Cotz, Deputy Secretary of State, Kimberly (Kim) Patwardhan, Assistant Attorney General, Gregory Curtis, Head, Special Collections and Projects, Fogler Library, University of Maine, Ralph Dana, Sipayik Environmental Department, Brian Altvater, Passamaquoddy Citizen and Schoodic Riverkeeper, Eric Altvater, Passamaquoddy Citizen, Laura Rose Day, Skutik River Restoration Trust, and Teresa Singh, J.D.,
Public: By audio stream
Opening: Newell Lewy offered an honoring to the Creator.
Introductions: Those in attendance in person and on video introduced themselves.
Review of Agenda and Declaration of Quorum: Quorum was not established. Commissioners reviewed the agenda and made no changes.
Approval of Minutes: Carried Over.Maine State Archives-MITSC-University of Maine Fogler Library Special Collections
Christian passed around a copy of the MOU outlining the components of a draft agreementbetween the Maine State Archives, MITSC, and the University of Maine Fogler Library Special
Collections. The proposed agreement would formalize the storage of the MITSC archives at
the Fogler Library and would facilitate their digitization to make them searchable and pub-
licly accessible. Christian and Greg were able to answer questions from the Commissioners,
but no formal motion approving the agreement could be made due to a lack of quorum.
Ralph presented a PowerPoint presentation discussing the complex history of the causeway
and its environmental and tribal community impacts. He explained the current efforts and
collaboration towards the goal of removing the causeway. Ralph shared a copy of the Passa-
maquoddy Chief and Council at Pleasant Point Resolution #3.4.2025-1, “Opening of the
Causeway to Restore Aquatic Connectivity Between the Passamaquoddy Bay and the Cob-
scook Bay.”
12:00 p.m. -- LUNCH -- 12:30 p.m.
Teresa introduced herself to the Commissioners. She shared some of her background work-
ing with indigenous organizations in Australia, which inspired her to pursue an internship
at MITSC. Teresa has been awarded a one-year fellowship, beginning in July 2025, to work
on various MITSC projects that implement the recommendations of SEA RUN.
There was a group discussion about how and when MITSC should be submitting testimony
to the Maine Legislature on bills concerning the Wabanaki nations--especially given the chal-
lenges of the Legislature’s schedule, which often moves quickly and without advance notice.
The group decided on criteria for participating in legislative activities on bills that are not
proposed on MITSC’s behalf, do not mention MITSC, or do not directly affect MITSC’s respon-
sibilities. MITSC will only act on bills that tribal leadership has communicated are a priority.
When these bills have been identified, MITSC will decide in a meeting with a full quorum
which bills the Commission should submit testimony for. The full commission will then del-
egate authority to a sub-committee or legislative committee that can meet as needed to make
any decisions that require a quick turnaround. The legislative committee will meet and re-
port back to the whole group. If the committee has questions, they can reach out to the entire
commission via email. When it comes time to submit the testimony, either the MITSC Chair
or the Executive Director will do so unless there is someone else, such as a Commissioner,
with greater expertise in the subject. Jill is willing to draft amendments to MITSC’s Bylaws
to formalize the guidelines.
Zeke and Jill provided an update on the status of tribal bills pending in the Legislature, in-
cluding LD 1474, the Wabanaki Studies bill, and LD 999, the bill submitted on behalf of MITSC
to make its employees eligible to participate in the State of Maine group health plan.
Approval of Bylaws Amendments
Carried Over.
Jill provided a financial update, including the transition from desktop QuickBooks to Quick-
Books online and the ongoing search for a new auditing firm. Chief Sabattis recommended
the firm, Chester M. Kerney of Presque Isle, based on the Band’s positive experience working
with them in the past.
Jill provided a brief update on the various grant-related projects. Due to time constraints,
Commissioners were referred to the detailed written staff reports in the materials packet for
additional information.
Next MITSC Meeting: It was decided that the May 9, 2025, meeting at the Houlton Band of
Maliseet Indians Community Center should be postponed until June 6, 2025.
Meeting adjourned at 2:00 p.m.
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