Penobscot Nation

What happened

The Penobscot Nation's official website states that the mission of its government is to work with the Tribal Council and administration to protect Penobscot people, culture and territory by the wise exercise of its sovereign powers, to promote prosperity, and to preserve cultural values. Its Department of Natural Resources runs fish and wildlife licensing, forestry, water-quality and other programs, and the Nation publishes materials on Penobscot waters.

In October 2020 Maine Public reported that the Elliotsville Foundation returned a 735-acre parcel of the Penobscots' ancestral territory to the Nation, west of the Pleasant River near Brownville. The Nation's Natural Resources Director John Banks called it sacred ground because it provides sustenance for many tribal families. The foundation's Lucas St. Clair said the land is surrounded by Penobscot land. MaineBiz quotes Chief Kirk Francis thanking the foundation for "this generous restoration of land stewardship," which leaves unclear whether title passed or a stewardship arrangement was made.

A larger return was in progress. Tribal Business News reported in November 2023 that the Trust for Public Land had bought more than 31,000 acres in the Katahdin region with the aim of returning it to the Penobscot Nation, and quoted the Nation's natural resources director on the value of access to the national monument. Reports do not say whether that return is complete.

The Nation's own pages do not describe either return.

Good to know. A tribal government, not a place to donate. Sources call the 2020 transfer both a "return" and a "restoration of land stewardship"; the 31,000-acre return was planned; reports do not say it is complete.

Summarized with AI assistance from 4 sources and checked against their words; not yet reviewed by historians or by the nations. Report an error