Maine tribal panel reviews current projects

The Maine Indian Tribal State Commission was updated Wednesday on several projects and issues currently on the plates of Maine’s four tribes and the state, but no action was taken because Passamaquoddy representatives were absent.

“It’s our practice not to vote when a participating group is not present,” MITSC Chairman Paul Bisulca said Wednesday.

The major topics of discussion included:

. The Tribal State Work Group’s progress on developing potential changes to the state’s Land Claims Settlement Act. The group is six weeks from its deadline to render a report, and the group’s Nov. 2 meeting has been canceled, mainly because other issues have taken precedence until after the Nov. 6 statewide referendum that includes a question on whether to allow the Passamaquoddy Tribe to operate a racino in Washington County.

“I don’t think we’re going to make that [deadline],” Bisulca said Wednesday.

It’s likely the work group will ask for an extension, or file a place-holder bill during the coming legislative session to keep the project moving forward.

The commission’s involvement in potential changes to the Land Claims Act is informal, but the group will review the proposed changes before the document goes to the state.

. Prospective plans and issues for the commission also were discussed, and members have been asked to review the proposal drafted by MITSC Executive Director John Dieffenbacher-Krall and provide feedback at the next meeting.

. Progress on the proposal for a tribal college also was discussed, and those working on the initiative said they still are waiting to hear from State Education Commissioner Susan Gendron to receive a full-time coordinator to move the project forward.

“We’ve gotten as far as we could go,” Bisulca said.

The project remains “fragmented” according to Penobscot Tribal Councilor and former chief James Sappier, making it difficult to forge ahead without the leadership of a single person.