Here at the League of Women Voters of Maine, racial justice is one of our key priorities. That's why we're standing with the Wabanaki Alliance and their call to submit testimony for LD 1626, a tribal sovereignty bill.
The League supports this bill, because defending sovereignty is defending democracy. Now the public hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, February 15 at 9:00 AM. The Wabanaki Alliance has a goal of 500 submissions for written testimony. Can you help them reach that goal?
You can choose to submit your testimony and deliver it during the public hearing, or submit written testimony only. Here's how you can help:
Step 1: Submit written testimony — Check out the Wabanaki Alliance's guide to writing testimony. They walk you through the process and provide guidance. *Be sure to submit your testimony before the hearing on Tuesday, February 15.
Step 2: Contact your representatives — Send an email, letting them know you have submitted testimony and urge them to support LD 1626. We've set up a quick and easy form that will look up your legislators and send the email for you.
Despite their inherent sovereignty, tribes in Maine have historically been excluded from both true sovereign status and equal voting rights with other Mainers. Maine was one of the last states to comply with the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act, which conferred U.S. citizenship on all Native Americans born within the territorial limits of the country. Native American voters did not have equal voting rights in Maine until the 1960s.
Now is the time to restore the inherent right of the Wabanaki tribes in Maine to self-govern within their respective territories in accordance with the same federal laws that generally govern tribal lands elsewhere in the United States.