Wabanaki Windows Special 7/20/23: Part 2 – Tribal Issues Update 131st Legislative Session LD 2004 Governor’s Veto Letter

Producer/Host: Donna Loring
Other credits: Technical assistance for the show was provided by Joel Mann, WERU Orland Maine.
Music for the show was from the CD Dream Walk by Rolfe Richter

Wabanaki Windows is a monthly show featuring topics of interest from a Wabanaki perspective.

This month: This show covers the Tribal response to the Governor’s Legislative Veto Letter for LD 2004 “An Act to Restore Access to Federal Laws Beneficial to the Wabanaki Nations”. There is confusion as to why the Governor would refuse to support the Wabanaki Tribes in their quest for equality with the other 570 Tribes in Indian Country and why she would be against the Wabanaki Tribes having the same access to Federal funds. The Governor wrote a 6-page veto letter to the Maine Legislature with her explanation of why she was vetoing the bill. This show features a detailed Tribal response to that letter and the intended or unintended consequences of the language and flawed reasoning used in the letter.

Guest/s:
Chief Kirk Francis and Ambassador Maulian Bryant of the Penobscot Nation
Attorney Corey Hinton of Drummond and Woodson, a member of the Passamaquoddy Nation

FMI:
Governor Mills Veto Letter

About the host:
Donna M Loring is a Penobscot Indian Nation Tribal Elder, and former Council Member. She represented the Penobscot Nation in the State Legislature for over a decade. She is a former Senior Advisor on Tribal Affairs to Governor Mills. She is the author of “In The Shadow of The Eagle A Tribal Representative In Maine”. Donna has an Annual lecture series in her name at the University of New England that addresses Social Justice and Human Rights issues. In 2017 She received an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Humane Letters from the University of Maine Orono and was given the Alumni Service Award. It is the most prestigious recognition given by the University of Maine Alumni Association. It is presented Annually to a University of Maine graduate whose life’s work is marked by outstanding achievements in professional, business, civic and/or Public service areas. Donna received a second Honorary Doctorate from Thomas College in May of 2022