This July 19 marked the 227th anniversary of the signing of the Watertown Treaty at Watertown, Mass., between the Continental Congress and the Mi’kmaq Nation, as well as other delegates from other Indian nations of the Wabanaki Confederacy.

The Indians agreed to furnish a regiment of 600 fighters to be entered into service at Boston, whereupon to await orders from Gen. George Washington. The treaty goes on to say that the Indians “shall be treated as friends and brothers” and that “the Massachusetts Bay Colony [of which Maine was a part] shall and will furnish their Truck master at Machias as soon as may be, with proper articles for the purpose of supplying the Indians of said tribes the necessities and conveniences of life.”

This treaty also contained the following statement: “that they [the colonies] are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is and ought to be dissolved, and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right to do.”

I draw attention to these historical facts because the Micmacs so valiantly gave to the colonies in order that they might free themselves from tyrannical rule. This is no different from what the Micmacs now attempt to do, to be free and independent and to establish commerce for themselves. Who will help the Aroostook band of Micmacs in their struggle for sovereignty? Are there any colonists out there who will come to our defense?

There is so much bombastic pontification of late about patriotism and the love of one’s country and freedom, yet the First Nation People who helped the 13 colonies in their struggle for sovereignty, and who continue to fight for America, are still the poorest of the poor. They still suffer from racism and continue to be looked upon as wards of either the state or federal government.

The Micmacs never relinquished their rights or their sovereignty when they were “recognized” in 1991. Apparently, they were “recognized” in 1776 as well. All they are asking for is to be treated with the same dignity, honor and fair play that they accorded to the colonists in their struggle to be free and independent. To do less would be shameful, undignified and unpatriotic.

If your children ever ask you where our present form of government came from, you may want to tell them that Benjamin Franklin “borrowed” his model for the 13 colonies from the Iroquois League of Nations, another group of true patriots.

Richard Dyer, of Monticello, is a tribal member with the Aroostook Band of Micmacs.