‘A great asset’ to Penobscot Nation, Michael Sockalexis, dies at age 60

Penobscot Nation leader Michael Sockalexis, who dedicated much of his life to American Indian issues and served as tribal representative in the Legislature, died Sunday at a Bangor hospital. He was 60.

A funeral is planned Wednesday at St. Ann’s Catholic Church on Indian Island.

“Mike’s just been such a productive member of our community for so long,” Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis said Monday. “It seemed like no matter what you did around here, Mike was involved.”

Francis remembered Sockalexis starting the Andrew Sockalexis Track Club. “I was a part of that when I was 10 or 12 years old,” Francis said.

Sockalexis devoted his life to bettering tribal communities. He served at least three terms equaling 12 years on the Penobscot Nation Tribal Council and one term as the Penobscots’ representative in the state Legislature.

Sockalexis decided not to seek re-election to the Legislature last July because of health concerns.

“We lost a tremendous resource in Mike, and it’s a real setback for our community,” Francis said.

He was involved in efforts to develop a relationship with the Venezuelan government in a bid to allow Citgo Petroleum Corp., that country’s national petroleum company, to sell discounted oil to Maine tribes.

Sockalexis was also involved in efforts to preserve the Penobscot language, and often represented the Penobscots at various events by performing traditional dances.

Francis described Sockalexis as being “very driven” and “very task oriented.”

“He was strong-willed and, again, he saw the task at hand and he addressed it,” Francis said. “It was always about the end result and it was never about personal benefit.”

Many of Sockalexis’ leadership roles were taken on for nominal pay, but “at the end of the day, the tribe was always what he had in mind,” Francis said.

Gov. John Baldacci, who worked with Sockalexis during the tribal representative’s legislative term, on Monday described Sockalexis as “very wise and a great asset to the state. He was able to bring people together and was someone who others wanted to work with. We need more people like him in public service.”

Flags are being flown at half-staff on Indian Island, and there will be no tribal meetings until after the mourning period and Wednesday’s burial at the Tribal Cemetery on Indian Island.