Covering Indian Country Blog

…And a quick explanation of Maine’s tribal representation

This is just a quick explanation of Maine’s tribal representation system, in case there was any confusion – or interest – arising from Thursday’s morning session about Indian education.

Maine is the only state to allow tribes – in this case its two largest tribes – to send representatives to the state legislature. While tribal members have won legislative seats in other states, Maine is the only state to guarantee them a seat by allowing those tribes (whose reservations also lie within legislative districts) to choose what amounts to an extra representative to the State House.

Because of issues of proportional representation, those two Indian delegates cannot vote on the House floor. However, they can vote in committee and sponsor legislation.

Back to the subject of education, it was a tribal representative who submitted the bill to require the teaching of Indian (specifically Wabanaki) culture and history in all grades K-12. The law took effect in September 2004.

However, it might be worth noting that Maine was the last state to allow Indians to vote in state elections.

-- Jeff Tuttle, Bangor (Maine) Daily News

Posted on 03.11.05 at 4:00 AM by Victor Merina