Archives for Indigenous Voices

Producers/hosts: Meredith DeFrancesco and Rhonda Frey

Topic: The current status of, and future of, three of the Tribal Reservations in Maine
How important is the traditional culture and language for your tribes? Are there economic development plans for the tribes? What directions and changes would you like to see for each tribe?

Guest: Chief Kirk Francis, Penobscot Nation; Chief Brenda Commander, Houlton Band of Maliseets; Chief Rick Doyle, Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point

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Producers/hosts: Rhonda Frey and Meredith DeFrancesco

Guests: The Honorable Judge Gary Growe, Chief Judge at the Penobscot Nation; The Honorable Judge Rebecca Irving, Chief Judge at the Passamaquoddy Reservations in Sipayik and Indian Township

Topic: Tribal Courts in the State of Maine

How does the tradition and culture play a role in the hearing and adjudication of these cases? What roles do the tribal courts play in criminal and civil cases? What about cases involving non-tribal members?

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Producers/hosts: Rhonda Frey and Meredith DeFrancesco

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Hosts: Rhonda Frey and Meredith DeFrancesco
Topic:
In her own words: Jean Moore, Penobscot Tribal member and mother of the late John Stephen Moore talks about the mysterious circumstances surrounding her son’s death following the 1973 AIM (American Indian Movement) incident at Wounded Knee, South Dakota
Guests: Tim Love, Penobscot Tribal Member and former Tribal Governor and member of AIM; Jean Moore, Penobscot Tribal member

Some of AIMs history
The use of FBI infiltrators to discredit and crush the AIM movement
The ambiguous responsibility and knowledge of AIM and the FBI concerning John Moore’s death and the authorities lack of follow up

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Hosts: Rhonda Frey and Meredith DeFrancesco
Topic: The Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement, focusing on the Maine Indian Tribal State Commission
An overview of the Maine Indian Land Claims and the settlement that occurred in 1980. The new tribal/state initiative to address the gray areas still at issue in the implementation of the settlement act. A discussion on the issues of alternative dispute resolution processes, the definition of “internal tribal matters”, and the parameters of tribal sovereignty vs. “municipality”.
Guests: John Diffenbacher-Krall, Executive Director of Maine Tribal State Commission; Tim Love, former Tribal Governor of the Penobscot Nation and negotiator of the Maine Indian Land Claims; John Banks, Director of Natural Resources for the Penobscot Nation and member of the Maine Indian Tribal/State Commission

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Hosts: Meredith DeFrancesco and Rhonda Frey
Guests: Denise Altivater, Chair of the Sipayik Criminal Justice Commission and a member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe; Jamie Bisonette, Director of the American Friends Service Committee’s Criminal Justice program in New England; Spiritual Elder Arnie Neptune, of the Penobscot Nation and his partner and wife Jane Neptune.
Topic: The Sipayik Criminal Justice Commission, the reasons for its formation and the conditions experienced by tribal members in jails, prisons and the judicial system
The medical neglect and other conditions prisoners are subject to
The law enforcement conduct,
The problem with drug abuse and nearly non-existent treatment, inadequate defense council and racism
How the commission is working with spiritual elders to bring in the traditions of native people into the jails
Contact info:
Denise Altwater, P.O. Box 406, Pleasant Point, Perry, ME 04667, 207-853-2317
American Friends Service Committee: fsc.org, search key word “Wabanaki”

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Hosts: Rhonda Frey and Meredith DeFrancesco
Topic: Quoddy Bay LLC Liquified Natural Gas terminal proposed for tribal land at Sipayik (Pleasant Point) Maine
Guests: Craig Francis, Tribal Attorney (Passamaquoddy); Eddie Bassett, tribal member; Hilda Lewis, council member; Deanna Francis, tribal member
What are the cultural impacts of the project?
Environmental impacts?
What is Quoddy Bay LLC’s involvement in tribal affairs?

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Hosts: Rhonda Frey and Meredith DeFrancesco
Guests: John Banks, Director of Natural Resources Department at the Penobscot Nation; Scott Hall, Manager of Environmental Services for Pennsylvania Power and Light (PPL); and Laura Rose Day, Director of the Penobscot River Restoration trust
Topic: The Penobscot River Restoration Project- Dam Removal
How will dam removal effect fish restoration in the Penobscot River?
How will dam removal effect tribal culture and fishing rights?
How can industry, state and federal agencies, environmental groups and private sector work effectively with tribes?

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