Francis Mitchell, ex-Penobscot chief, dies

INDIAN ISLAND – Described by those who knew him as honest, sincere and genuine, former Penobscot Nation Chief Francis Mitchell died Wednesday at a Bangor hospital after enduring a battle with cancer. He was 64.

Tribal offices on the island were closed Friday in memory of the former leader.

“He was always looking out for the welfare of the tribe,” Chief Jim Sappier said Friday.

The two grew up on Indian Island together and used to go hunting, fishing, and berry and apple picking.

“We did all those things together,” Sappier said. “I’ve known Francis all my life.”

After finishing high school, Mitchell went on to serve in the Marines from 1958 to 1963. When he retired from the military, Mitchell became an ironworker and was a member of the Local No. 496 union.

Highly involved in tribal politics, Mitchell served as chief in 1988 and 1996, and was on the Tribal Council for several years. The tribal leader was ousted by voters almost halfway through his two-year term in September 1989.

At the time, Mitchell told a Bangor Daily News reporter that it was his “agenda of reform that sparked the current political infighting.”

Despite the late 1980s controversy, Mitchell served a second term as chief in 1996.

“He was always trying to build consensus,” Tim Love, former Penobscot Nation chief and economic adviser to the tribe, said Friday. “He always wanted to hear everybody’s opinion, and that was one of his strengths. When he made a decision, it was done with being educated about where everybody was coming from.”

Love said he grew up knowing Mitchell and considered him to be very honest and forthright.

“You could have a good discussion with him, and you always knew where he stood, and he always expected the same from you,” Love said.

Mitchell served on the Tribal Council in the 1980s when Love was chief.

“He was older than me, and I always knew Francis was a real nice guy who was a hunter,” Love said. “He used to be quite the hunter.”

Sappier also had fond memories of his boyhood days with Mitchell and told a story about one afternoon when the two went swimming.

“He ran down and dove in the river, and apparently there was a log there,” Sappier said. “He came up out of the water and he said something was wrong.”

Mitchell then walked about a mile back to his house and his parents took him to the hospital in Bangor.

“He broke his neck,” Sappier said, adding that he felt his friend and adviser had lived somewhat of a “charmed” life.

Tribal leaders past and present get together about every three to four months to talk about issues facing the tribe, the chief said.

Mitchell “was always looking out for the welfare of the tribe, and he’s no nonsense,” Sappier said. “He really was an adviser for me.”

Mitchell is survived by his wife of 40 years, Edwina, and was a family man who was dedicated to his wife, children, and the tribe, according to Sappier.

“When you’re born and raised on the island, I think you always look out for the welfare of the tribe no matter who you are,” Sappier said. “On the island, it’s like tribe comes first.

“The tribe, then family, and you commit yourself to it, and Francis did.”