AUGUSTA, Maine — Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, has appointed Sen. Mike Carpenter, D-Houlton, to serve as co-chair of the State of Maine Legislative Task Force on Indian-State Relations.
“I am grateful to be a part of this important task force and recognize that we need to all work together in order to achieve the best outcome,” said Sen. Carpenter.
The task force includes chiefs from Maine native tribes, legislators and representatives of Gov. Janet Mills’ administration. The task force will review the Indian Land Claims Settlement Act that tribal chiefs and the state agreed to almost 40 years ago. Specifically, the task force will work on improving relations and continuing discussions on issues that the state and tribal communities have disagreed upon in the past.
Sen. Carpenter represents Southern Aroostook County and Northern Penobscot County, which includes the Houlton Band of Maliseets and the Aroostook Band of Micmacs.
The Task Force on Indian-State Relations met for the first time this week and intends to have some recommendations as a starting point for by the beginning of the second legislative session of the 129th Legislature that begins in January.
