On Nov. 9, a state judge came within inches of jailing the Passamaquoddy and Penobscot governors on contempt charges. The scene played out within the contex of an ongoing fight by the tribes to protect the health of their ancient homelands, the St. Croix and Penobscot rivers.

The tribes have always had aboriginal or treaty-reserved rights to the fish in these rivers. Since the early 1800s they have repeatedly pleaded with the state and federal governments to protect this vital resource.

Despite this, dams and pollution have destroyed the once magnificent salmon, shad, alewife and sturgeon fisheries; the remaining resident fish are contaminated with dioxin and are inedible. Where were the courts of Maine during this particular act of massive and long-standing contempt?

Skip Lisle

Stockton Springs