AUGUSTA – Chief Barry Dana of the Penobscot Nation stressed a theme of tribal sovereignty in his State of the Tribes address to the Maine Legislature on Tuesday, while making only passing reference to the Indians’ failed casino proposal.

In his speech to a joint House-Senate convention, Dana said he foresees a time when “sovereignty is no longer a statement to be feared.”

“We at times differ on our understanding of sovereignty. I stand committed in working to resolve those differences,” said Dana. “This will only work if both governments are open, trusting and able to let go of old mind-sets.”

Dana also said the tribes and state government should work collaboratively to address issues such as housing and the environment facing the Indians and their non-Indian neighbors.

“All of us, native and nonnative alike, are on a shared journey,” Dana told lawmakers.

In a reference to last fall’s Indian casino referendum campaign, Dana said he learned a lot about Maine people and their needs as he traveled across the state campaigning for the resort-casino plan.

“Mainers are proud and are hard workers and they need jobs,” Dana said, adding, “There are indeed two Maines.”

The Penobscot and Passamaquoddy tribes’ proposal to operate a $650 million casino in southern Maine, which supporters said would have created thousands of jobs, was rejected overwhelmingly by voters in November.

Despite the losing campaign, Dana said “there were things we achieved. With integrity, we educated this state as to who we are.”

“I still feel compelled to create economic opportunities for our nation and the non-natives in our surrounding communities,” he told lawmakers.

Dana said some of the Penobscots’ successful efforts include providing housing and loans to tribal members for homes, preserving tribal culture, fighting illegal drug use on the reservation and improving health care.

But he said more needs to be done in some of those areas, as well as providing “meaningful employment” for members.

The Penobscot leader did not mention the latest proposal by the Passamaquoddy Tribe and Penobscot Nation to allow them to compete for a license to operate slot machines at a Bangor harness racing track.