The lives of Penobscots

The Penobscots have lived along the Penobscot River for 14,000 years. The last few hundred years of alien occupation is only a drop in the proverbial bucket. Doubtless the Penobscots will continue to live along the Penobscot River for another 14,000 years after the foreigners have gone their way.

During this short period of our mutual acquaintance, we’ve shared things. The newcomers introduced diseases unheard of here, and later on, introduced expensive medicines to treat the symptoms (but not cure the diseases, no money in that). In return, they were introduced to our form of government upon which the United States system today is based.

It was with this sort of give and take that the tribe entered into an arena of settlement in the latter part of the 20th century; at stake was more than half the state of Maine.

What was not at stake, what can never be at stake for any aboriginal people anywhere, was our inherent sovereignty. The identity of the Penobscot is derived from where we have lived for millennia. When you ask one who he or she is, the response is, “I am from the place where the river widens, where the white rocks are.” That is what Penobscot means in our language.

There can be no carving in a tree, drawing in the mud or ink upon paper that can override such an essential truth. As far as land goes, an agreement was reached. As far as anything else, each item must be re-examined for veracity, verisimilitude, and perfidy.

With experience comes wisdom; with time, a working relationship.

One thing is obvious and it is this: Such a reckoning will be happening, and it will be happening soon.

Iabasis

Old Town