The Committee on Indian Relations of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine views with concern the recent precedent setting court action in which Justice Robert Crowley held Govs. Barry Dana of the Penobscot Nation, Richard Doyle of the Pleasant Point Reservation and Richard Stevens of the Indian Township Reservation in contempt of court.

This is the first ever such action of intrusion into the internal affairs of the tribes anywhere and we regret that it has happened. We don’t want our state government to violate the sovereignty of the Indian nations in Maine.

The issue is now pending before the Supreme Court of Maine. We hope the issue can be settled to honor and protect the sovereignty of the Indian nations.

Why is it that the paper companies brought this suit in an effort to avoid supervision of licensing by the federal Environmental Protection Agency? The EPA has a trust responsibility for the tribes that the state government does not have.

Roger S. Smith

Episcopal Diocese of Maine

Portland