AUGUSTA – The drums and dancing that signified the celebration of American Indian culture on Wabanaki Awareness Day did not drown out the calls for tribal independence and sovereignty in speeches on the State House lawn Wednesday. Wabanaki leaders pledged to work with state officials on a number of problems, as long as tribal “sovereignty” is preserved, respected and understood.

Since the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980, state and tribal leaders have clashed over control of tribal land, and the annual Wabanaki Awareness Day is an effort to develop cooperation between both sides. The Wabanaki are composed of the 5,500 members of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseets and the Aroostook Band of Micmacs.

A fire alarm failed to disrupt the celebration Wednesday and actually improved it, according to Micmac Chief William Phillips. The alarm forced evacuation from the “stuffy” Maine State Museum to the bright sun on the State House lawn, a more appropriate setting, Phillips said.

Tribal members, supporters and a few legislators formed a circle on the State House lawn where a feather was passed from speaker to speaker in a gesture of unity and shared ancestry. Speakers supported LD 291, which would add American Indian culture to the curriculum of state schools.

The Wabanaki people have considered themselves sovereign for thousands of years and it is time for the Maine residents to “listen to the voice of the Wabanaki and respect Mother Earth,” said Penobscot Gov. Barry Dana. He advised state leaders to avoid “dictating” to the tribes and to work to build consensus. The tribes have come a long way from the tar paper shacks of 20 years ago, but have further to go, he said. On that voyage the Wabanaki do not want “special rights, but our inherent rights,” Dana said.

The Wabanaki Day is a perfect opportunity to meet with state leaders, said Passamaquoddy Gov. Rick Doyle of Pleasant Point. “We offer our hand to work together to protect the environment and make this the best place on Earth,” Doyle said. Micmac Chief Phillips said the annual day should be used to “build alliances and mend ill feelings.”

The celebration was designed to educate non-Indians about what the tribes have to offer, according to Chief Brenda Commander of the Houlton Band of Maliseets, who encouraged anyone who wanted to understand the “special relationship” between the tribes and state government to read the Indian Claims Settlement Act. Indians remain a vital part of the state economy, and adding Indian culture to school curriculum would create mutual respect and understanding, she said.

Introduced as a “straight shooter,” Gov. Angus King said the state is fortunate to enjoy the history and culture of the Wabanaki, whose roots go so deeply into the ground and water. State officials “should have listened sooner” to tribal warnings about water pollution, the governor said.

King praised LD 291 as a method to develop a relationship that celebrates the distinctiveness and sovereignty – under certain circumstances – of American Indian culture. Education is the best antidote to fear and prejudice, he said.

The bill would be “tremendously important” for all children, said Donna Loring, legislative representative of the Penobscot Nation.