Unsettled

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TableofContents

CoverImage 1Unsettled 2Preface 4Map 6CastofCharacters 7Prologue 10Chapter1 14Chapter2 21Chapter3 25Chapter4 30Chapter5 35Chapter6 40Chapter7 45Chapter8 49Chapter9 55Chapter10 60Chapter11 65Chapter12 70Chapter13 75Chapter14 80Chapter15 84Chapter16 92Chapter17 96Chapter18 100Chapter19 105Chapter20 109Chapter21 113Chapter22 117Chapter23 127

Chapter24 131Chapter25 136Chapter26 140Chapter27 145Chapter28 153Chapter29 158Epilogue 169About 179

Preface

UNSETTLED

“Unsettled”isanewspaperseriesthatappearedonthefrontpageofthePortlandPressHeraldandMaineSundayTelegramfor29straightdaysbetweenJune29andJuly27,2014,andanepiloguefollowingonAug.3.IttracestherecenthistoryofthePassamaquoddypeople,starting50yearsagothisspringandendinginthepresent.ItisastorythatshockedmanyinMaine.

Ibeganmyscholarlyandjournalisticcareerabroad,travelingtheworldstudyingandreportingonethnicconflict,post-imperialwars,thefoundingorrefoundingofnation-states,andthestruggletobringestablishamoreharmoniousworldinthewakeoftheColdWar.IdidnotexpecttofindmanyofthethemesIexploredintheBalkans,CentralAmericaandMicronesiarighthereinMaine,whereIwasbornandraised.

ThePassamaquoddy’sstoryisinmanywaysafamiliaroneinthewiderworld:anoppressedpeoplewinastruggleforliberationagainsttheircolonialoppressors,onlytohavetheirownleaderstaketheirplacesduringtheprotractedstruggletorebuildandrevitalizeabeleaguerednation.ForMainers–withourreflexiveinferioritycomplextowardourformercolonialmastersinMassachusetts–findingourselvesplayingtheroleoftheoppressorisadisorientingexperiencethatcan’thelpbutreframehowwethinkofourpresentdayrelationshipwithMaine’srealnativesandourpastcommitmenttothelaw.

Theseriesbeganasaconventionalinvestigativereport,aregularSundaypackageexploringaccusationsofpresent-daycorruptionatthePassamaquoddyreservations.Itquicklybecameapparentthatthecentralproblemwasanabsenceoftheruleoflaw,thetribe’sfailuretopassaconstitutionthatdefinedthepowersoftheirgovernmentandensureditwasnotabovetriballaw.Inexploringhowthisstateofaffairscametopass,Iturnedfirsttothehistoriclandclaimssettlementof1980,wherebythePassamaquoddyandPenobscotagreedtosetasidetheirclaimtotwo-thirdsofthestate,andthendeeperuntilIfoundmyselfinthemid-1960s,inaMaineIdidn’trecognizeandwhichwas,frankly,horrifying.MyeditorsatthePressHerald,CliffSchechtmanandSteveGreenlee,encouragedmetogolong:acontinuous,month-longseriallayingoutthePassamaquoddy’sincrediblestory.I’mthankfultothemfortheirsupportandencouragement;todesignersBrianRobitailleandPeterVachon,whogavetheseriesitscompellinglook;andtostaffphotographerGabeSouza,whoseremarkableimages

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illustratethisvolume.

Aquickwordonthoseimages:Eachchapterof“Unsettled”wasaccompaniedbyaphotographSouzashotusingapinholecamera,orcameraobscura,anearlyformofphotographyusingapin-sizedholeinsteadofalenstocaptureamomentintime.Thisrudimentaryformofdocumentaryphotographyyieldssoft-focusimageswithanaestheticthatblendsmodern-daysceneswiththePassamaquoddycommunity’spast.

Inresponsetotheseries,wereceivedhundredsofletters,emailsandphonecalls,almostallofthempositive,andnearlyallofthemaskingthesamequestion:Will“Unsettled”beavailableasasinglevolume?MaineTodayMedia,thePressHerald’sparentcompany,isissuingthise-bookeditioninresponse.Wehopeyouenjoyit.

Portland,Maine.LaborDay,2014.

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CastofCharacters

UNSETTLED

BrianAltvater-Lt.GovernoratPleasantPointintheearly1990sandcurrentchairofthetribe’sblueberrycompany.

ChristyAltvater-PleasantPointfatherofsixinvolvedin1965incidentwithfiveMassachusettshunters.

StephanieBailey-IndianTownshipresidentandgoodgovernmentactivist.

AnnabelleBassett-Inthemid-1960s,PleasantPointresidentandwifeofDannyBassett.

EddieBassett-CurrentPleasantPointtribalcouncilmemberandlongtimeproponentofconstitutionalreform.

DannyBassett-Inthemid-1960s,ayoungPleasantPointresidentwithapatternofviolence;husbandofAnnabelleBassett.

FrancisBrown-Inthemid-1960s,countyattorneyforWashingtonCounty,theequivalentoftoday’sDistrictAttorney.

ClaytonCleaves-CurrentPleasantPointchiefandformerlogger.

RichardCohen-Stateprosecutor,firstheadofnewcriminaldivision,andlaterattorneygeneralofMaine.

KenCurtis-GovernorofMaine,1967-1975

DeannaFrancis-In1965,ahighschoolseniorandnieceofPleasantPointgovernorGeorgeFrancis.Laterahealer,culturalandintellectualleaderofherpeople.

GeorgeFrancis-PleasantPointGovernorintheearly1960s,tribalrepresentativetothelegislaturethereafterandtirelessactivistforhispeopleagainstthestate.BrotherofPeterFrancisanduncletoDeannaFrancis.

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PeterFrancis-PleasantPointnativeandyoungerbrotherofGeorgeFrancisinvolvedin1965incidentwithfiveMassachusettshunters.

DonGellers-IdealisticattorneyforthePassamaquoddyinthemid-to-late1960sandoriginalfatherofthelandclaimseffort.

CoreyFrancisHinton–Attorney.Great-grandsonofPeterFrancis,currentlyseekingjusticeforhisfamilyandpeople.SonofRandyHinton.

RandyHinton-GrandsonofPeterFrancis,currentlyseekingjusticeforhisfamilyandpeople.FatherofCoreyFrancisHinton.

FiveHunters-FriendsfromBillerica,Massachusetts–RomoloCapobianco,WilliamRobbins,DanielFrobese,JamesEllinwood,andHughO’Neill–involvedinachilling1965incidentatPleasantPoint.

JamesLongley-GovernorofMaine,1975-1979

BobbyNewell-PromisingyoungPassamaquoddywhobecomestribalconstablein1967andlatergovernoratbothPleasantPointandIndianTownship.

WayneNewell-CurrentlytribalelderatIndianTownship;teacher,Harvardgraduate,andstalwartpromoterofthePassamaquoddylanguage.

BillyNicholas-IndianTownshipresident;variouslytribalpoliceofficer,gamewarden,councilor,governor,andlogger.BrotherAlexNicholasiscurrentlychiefofpolicethereandasecondbrother,LeslieNicholas,servesonthegoverningcouncil.

JosephNicholas-Firsttribalrepresentativetothestatelegislature.Inthemid-1960s,primarypoliticalrivaltoPleasantPointgovernorGeorgeFrancis.

JohnReed-GovernorofMaine,1959-1966.

AllenSockabasin-IndianTownshipnative.Inthemid-1970s,the“militant”younggovernorthere.

JoeSocobasin-CurrentchiefatIndianTownship.

DonaldSoctomah-Currentlythetribe’shistoricpreservationofficerandcuratorofthetribalmuseumatIndianTownship.

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JohnStevens-Seven-termgovernoratIndianTownship.

TomTureen-Tribalattorneyinthe1970sandearly1980swhospearheadedthehistoriclandclaimseffort.SummerinterntoDonGellers,1967.

WilliamWilliamson-Inthemid-1960s,acrusadingreporteratthePortlandPressHerald.

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PROLOGUE

A13,000-yearjourneyleadstoabreakingpoint

A strip of standardized, federally built homes, stand amid the forests alongPeter Dana Point Road on the Indian Township reservation, north of Princeton. The Passamaquoddy have hunted, fished and lived in eastern Maine for at least 13,000 years, but much has changed over

the past two centuries.

SAINTCROIXISLAND—Itwashere,onatinyislandnearthemouthoftheSt.CroixRiver,justsouthofCalais,thatEuropeansfirsttriedtoplantasettlementinwhatisnowNewEngland.

NoneofthemwouldhavesurvivedhaditnotbeenforthePassamaquoddy.

ThepartywasFrench,andtheysettledhereinthespringof1604,fouryearsbeforetheabortiveEnglishcolonizationattemptnearPophamBeachand16beforetheMayflowervoyage.Their79-manparty–whichincludedSamueldeChamplain,whowouldlaterfoundQuebec–believedthesix-acreislandwouldprovideprotectionfromtheIndianswhileaffordingeasyaccesstothehuntingandcrop-growinggroundsonthemainland.

Likemanywhotriedtocolonizetheseparts,theFrenchunderestimatedtheconditionsineasternMaine.Theriverfroze,preventingtheuseofboats,andthepowerfultidestoreuptheice,makingitunsafetowalkacross.Shiveringininadequatesheltersontheirtiny

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island,theisolatedFrenchbegantostarve.

ThenthePassamaquoddycame,tookpity,andgavethemacacheoffreshmeatandmedicinalplants.HalfthecolonistssurvivedthewintertofleesoutheastacrosstheBayofFundytowhatisnowAnnapolisRoyal,NovaScotia.“Itwouldbeverydifficulttoascertainthecharacterofthisregionwithoutspendingawinterinit,”Champlainconcluded.

ThePassamaquoddyknewtheregionwell.TheirancestorswerelivinginMaine13,000yearsago,whentheIceAgeendedandmeltingglaciersrevealedvasttundra,astarklandscapeofsedges,dwarfpinesandgrassesfrequentedbyherdsofcaribouandmastodons.Theirforefathershadadaptedwiththechangingenvironmentastundragavewaytoforest,mastodontomoose,cariboutodeer.Later,whentheglacialmeltfloodedanislandatthemouthoftheGulfofMaine–nowGeorgesBank–thegreattide-drivengyrekickedintolife,creatingoneofthemostfecundmarineenvironmentsintheworld.

FishandgamewouldsustainthePassamaquoddyrightupuntiloutsiderstookmuchoftheirlandandfishinggrounds.

•••

BythetimeEuropeanexplorersarrivedontheirshores,southernMaineWabanakihadsprawlingfieldsofcorn,whichwereremarkeduponbyChamplainand,later,JohnSmith.ButtheclimatewasharsherineasternMaine,thesoilsthinner,andthePassamaquoddysustainedthemselvesbyhuntingandfishing.PierreBiard,aFrenchJesuitmissionarywholivedwiththePassamaquoddyfrom1611to1614,saidtheygottheirfoodfrom“chaseandfromfishing,fortheydonottillthesoilatall”anddescribedtheirseasonalround:huntingforinlandgameinlatefallandlatewinter,feastingonspawningfishintheearlyspring,oninshorecodinMay,andspawningeelsthereafter.

Glooscap,thecreator,accordingtoWabanakilore,wasanimmortalherowhousedhispowerstoimproveandtransformtheworld.Glooscapconfrontedselfishcreaturesthattrampledonthewell-beingofothersandtaughtthatpowershouldbeusedonlyforsociallyconstructivepurposes.HeissaidtohavelefthispeoplejustbeforeChamplain’sarrival,leavingthemtofacetheirgreatestchallengealone.

RelativelyremotefromthecentersofEuropeansettlement,thePassamaquoddywereabletobettersurvivethehorrificdiseaseepidemicsthatdecimatedNewEngland’sIndiantribesfollowingEuropeancontactandtheterribleseriesofAnglo-Indianwars

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thatextinguishedmanytribesintheColonialera.

TheyalsohadtherelativelygoodfortunetohavetheirlandsclaimedbytheKingofFrance,whichheldtheeasternhalfofMaineandwhatarenowtheMaritimeprovincesuntil1763.WhileMassachusettsPuritanslookeduponIndiansassavageheathens,theFrenchregardedthemasallies,theirchiefsasvassallords.

“Wedevelopedagoodrelationship,”saystribalhistorianDonaldSoctomah.“Itwasn’tperfect–therewereafewitemswherethereweresomemisunderstandings–buttheycametobemoreallieswiththetribe.”JesuitpriestsconvertedmanytoCatholicism,anduntiltheendofthe19thcentury,French–notEnglish–wasthemostcommonsecondlanguageinthetribe.

WiththeFrenchdefeat,thePassamaquoddyfoundthemselveswithinthelesshospitableBritishEmpire.Whenthecolonistsrevolted,theysidedwiththem,respondingtoacallfromGeorgeWashingtonhimselfwhowroteaskingtheirhelpinprotectingtheEasternFrontier.Theychosethewinningside,ofcourse,butbecauseNovaScotia(ofwhichNewBrunswickwasthenapart)didnotrebel,theyfoundtheirtraditionalterritorysplitbyanewinternationalboundary.Overthenexttwocenturies,manyofthePassamaquoddyinNewBrunswickwouldmovewestacrosstheSt.Croix,thoughsome200remaininCanada.

•••

AsmoreEnglishcolonistsarrivedDownEastinthe1790s,Massachusetts(ofwhichMainewasthenapart)negotiatedatreatybywhichthetribeagreedtosurrendermostofitslandinexchangeforunimpededfishingrightsontheSt.Croix,atrustfund,andwhatarenowthereservationsatPleasantPoint(nearEastport)andIndianTownship(northofPrinceton.)

“Ithinkthemainhopeforthetribewasthattheywouldbeabletosurviveontheresources,”Soctomahsays.“Somewerestilllivingatraditionallife–fishingontheoceanorhuntingatIndianTownship.ButthenMainestartedrestrictingaccesstotheseresources.”

Bythe1890s,MainecourtshadruledthatthePassamaquoddyhadnorightstohuntontheirownlandbecausethetribe–nowlackingtheabilitytonegotiatetreaties–nolongerexistedasasovereignentity.Soonmembersofthetribewereforbiddentocuttrees,whilemanyoftheirfisheriesresourcesweredestroyedbydams,overfishing,anda

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causewayconnectingPleasantPointtoEastport,whichuntilthenhadbeenanislandtown.MuchofthePassamaquoddylandwasillegallyseized.Thetribe’strustfundwaslootedbythestate.

Amidpolitical,religious,andculturalpressures,thetribesufferedasplitinthemid-19thcentury,withonefactionmovingtothewinterhuntinggroundsatIndianTownship–“Motahkomikuk”inPassamaquoddy–andtheotherremainingatPleasantPoint,or“Sipayik.”Divisionsbetweenthetworeservations–whichoriginallyincludedtensionsoversubstitutingelectedchiefsforhereditaryonesandProtestantismforCatholicism–remaintothisday.Eachhasitsowngovernororchief,government,andcouncil,thoughthetribeislegallyandculturallyasingleentity.

Bythemid-20thcentury,stateIndianagentscontrolledtherationinganddistributionoffood,heatingfuel,medicalcare,and,byextension,muchoftriballife.Fiftyyearsagotoday,IndianshadnorighttovoteinMaineelections,norcouldtheyserveonalocaljury.Whenoneofthemwasmurdered,nobodywasheldaccountable.

Andthen,onedayinMayof1964,agroupofPassamaquoddydecidedthey’dhadenough.

Thisistheirstory.

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CHAPTERONE

AnunlikelyhandshakealtersthecourseofMaine’shistory

MAY19,1964

Traditions and trials have been a part of Indian life in Maine for as long asmembers of the Passamaquoddy tribe, like this elder at Indian Township, can remember. Their ancestors found sustenance in this corner of the world for at least 13,000 years, adapting as eastern Maine turned

from tundra to forest. They hunted and fished on land that shaped their lives, right up until outsiders came and took much of it away.

Itwasmid-MayintheeasternmostcityintheUnitedStates,anislandtownperchedontheragged,arrestinglybeautifulfringeofthecountry,separatedfromCanadaandtherestofMainebyswift-moving20-foottidesandattendantwhirlpools.Eastport’slastsnowbankshadmelted,thedaffodilshadsprungfromthesoil,andayoungattorneyfromtheBronxwasabletowalktowork.

DonGellers,28,arrivedathisofficeonWaterStreet,aformerstorefrontinalate

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19thcenturyblockkitty-cornerfromEastport’simposinggranitePostOfficebuilding,itselftestimonytothecity’spastprosperity.Thesardineplantsthatoncebroughtthecitywealthwereshadowsoftheirformerselves,someabandonedontheirpiers.Gellers,standingonthesidewalkofitsmaindrag,lookedentirelyoutofplace.

Theyounglawyerwasshortandintense,withshaggyblondhairandanexpensive-lookingtweedsuit.Hemayhavebeenpuffingonapipe,ashewouldlaterdowhensittingforanewspaperportrait.AjournalistwhocametoknowhimwelloncewrotethathisfirstimpressionofGellers“wasoneofmeetingayoung,old,friendly,tweedysheepdog,ifthatmakesanysense.”

Hissecretaryinformedhimthathewouldsoonbehavingaguest:Thegovernor,hesaid,wascomingtocall.

Thegovernor,hethought,ashesteppedintohisofficeandseatedhimselfathisbattereddesk.Itwassurroundedbyprecariouslystackedheapsoflawbooks,someproppedupwithwoodenplanks.Howcouldthegovernorbecomingtoseeme?

Whenthegovernorarrived,Gellersstillwasn’tsurewhattothink.Themanstandingbeforehimwas71,bespectacled,withsnow-whitehairandacomplexionandfeaturesthatsuggestedhewasnot,like99.4percentofpeopleinthestate,Caucasian.GellershadseenmanypicturesofJohnReed,thegovernorofMaine,sincemovingtoEastportafewmonthsearlier;thisclearlywasnothim.

“Threeofourwomenhavebeenarrestedforsittingonourownland,”themanannounced,onlyfurtheringtheyounglawyer’sconfusion.Whatdidhemean“ourwomen,”Gellerswondered,andwhatdidhemeanby“ourownland”?

Theman,GeorgeFrancis,lookedathimwithamusement.“We’reIndians!”heproclaimed.

•••

Indians?Gellersdidn’tevenknowtherewereIndiantribesinMaine,orthattheyhadtrustlandsandgovernors.Hewassonewtothearea,sofocusedonstartinghisfirstlawpractice,thathe’dsomehowmissedthepresenceofthePassamaquoddyIndianreservationatPleasantPoint,whereGeorgeFranciswasgovernorandthroughwhichalllandtraffictoandfromEastportmustpass.

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Hewasunawareoftheexistenceofasecond,largerPassamaquoddyreservation45milestothenorthwestatIndianTownship,wheretherecentarrestshadoccurred;thateachreservationhadagovernororthattogethertheywerehometo580Indians,mostlivinginpovertydireevenbythestandardsofWashingtonCounty,thepoorestinNewEngland.

Hedidn’tknowthat,asIndians,Francis’peoplecouldn’tvoteinstateelectionsorgettheirhaircutbythebarbersofPrinceton,justoverthebridgefromIndianTownship.Orthat,withrareexceptions,noIndiancouldgetajobwiththearea’sprimaryemployers,thewoolenmillinEastportandthepapermillinBaileyville.OrthatnoIndianhadeverservedonaWashingtonCountygrandjuryandthatnowhitepersonhadeverbeenconvictedforkillinganIndian,anotinfrequentoccurrencethatwasrarelyseriouslyinvestigated.

Hedidn’tknowthat70yearsearlier,statecourtshaddeniedthePassamaquoddytheirtreatyrightstohuntandfishontheirlandonthegroundsthatthetribehadnowlackedsovereigntyand,thus,didnotexist.Hedidn’tknowthatthousandsofacresoftheirtreatylandshadbeentaken,andthatIndiansweren’tevenallowedtocutwoodonthelandthatremained.Hedidn’tknowthatbecausetheIndianswereforbiddenbothoutsidejobsandaccesstotheresourcestosustainthemselves,mostweredependentonfoodandfirewoodparcelsdistributedatthewhimofthestateIndianagent,thearbitraryandmuch-fearedretiredfishinspectorHiramHall,whohadthepoweroflifeanddeathoverhiswards.

Mostcritically,youngGellerswasblissfullyunawarethatnoattorneyinWashingtonCountywaswillingtorepresentthetribeinthisoralmostanyothermatterofconsequence.Gov.Francishadalreadymadetheroundsandbeenshownthedoorbyeach.Gellers,thepeculiaryoungmanfromaway,washislaststop.AndGellersseemedperfectlywillingtohearthechief’sgrievances,oblivioustothegriefitcouldbringdownuponhisownhead.

ItwouldbeaconversationthatwouldchangethehistoryofMaine,ultimatelyempoweringitsnativepeople,andmakingGellersthetargetofastate-sponsoredconspiracythatwoulddrivehimoutofMaineandthecountry.

•••

FrancisapprisedGellersofrecenteventsatIndianTownship,whereawhitemanwasaccusedofalandgrab.TheIndians,ledbythatreservation’sgovernor,JohnStevens,

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hadmadeanappointmentwithMaineGov.ReedandearlierthatwinterhaddriventhefourhourstotheStateHouseinAugustatoseekhisadministration’sinterventionontheirbehalf.Reedkeptthemwaitingforfivehours,onlytotellthemhewasnotwillingtohelpthem.Hisattorneygeneral,FrankHancock,saidiftheydidn’tlikeit,theycouldsue.TheIndians–whocouldn’taffordahotelroomandhadeatenallofthebolognasandwichestheyhadpacked–drovehomehungryandinthedark.

Indiansonbothreservationswerefuriouswhentheyheardhowtheirdelegationhadbeentreated.“ThisisonetimealltheIndiansareinterested,”Franciswarnedstateofficials,“andwillbefightingtothefinish.”

ThemorningbeforeGov.Francis’visittoGellers’office,75Indianshaddescendedonthedisputedland,wherethewhiteownerofaclusteroftouristcabinssoughttobuildaroad.Fivemenstoodblockingtheroadsite.Agroupofwomen–includingGov.Stevens’wife–satonagravelpilemeanttoformtheroadbed.Atlunchtime,however,allbut10Indianswenthometoeat.Thepolicearrived,detainedthefivementheyfoundandarrestedthewomen,takingthemtotheCalaisjail.

Nowtheyneededalawyer.

Gellersaskedifthegovernor’speoplehadproofthattheyownedthisland.“Wehavetreaties,”Francissaid.Treaties?,Gellerswondered.Withwhom?WiththeFrenchKingdomthatonceclaimedeasternMaine?Pre-RevolutionaryBritain?Thegovernor’sanswerflooredhim.

“WithMassachusetts.”

Buthowdoyouknow?

Therewasamomentofsilence.Francisrespondedslowly:“Oh,everybodyknowsthat.”

Bytheendoftheconversation,GellersagreedtorepresentnotonlytheIndianwomenintheCalaisjail,butthetribe’sclaimstothousandsofacresandmillionsofdollarsgiventothemunderaforgotten,170-year-oldtreaty.Thetwomenshookhands,andFrancisheadedoutoftheoffice.

Anunlikely,formidablealliancehadbeenformed,onewhosereverberationswouldquicklybefeltinAugustaandeventuallytravelallthewaytothehallsoftheU.S.

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Capitol.

•••

OnonehandwasGeorgeFrancis,71,whohadgrownupatPleasantPoint,foughtintheFirstWorldWar,andearnedacollegedegreeattheCarlisleIndianIndustrialSchoolinPennsylvania.Butathomeinthe1920stheonlyworkhecouldfindwastosmuggleliquorfromCanadaacrossthebay.HemovedtoDetroit,whereheworkedattheFordMotorCo.for40years.Heretiredin1957,returnedhome,andbeganfighting,loudlyandboisterously,forhispeople.

AtatimewhenfewIndiansdaredtochallengewhiteauthorities,Franciswasinthefacesofallofthem.InshortorderhewaselectedchiefatPleasantPointandbegansendingoutafusilladeofpointedletterstostateandfederalauthoritiesofallsorts,denouncinghowthestatewashandlinghispeople’saffairs–andallthemoneythestatewascollectingfromthecontractsitdoledouttooutsideloggerstocuttheIndians’timber.State-maintainedseweragesystemsonthereservationswereoverflowing,forcingIndianTownshipresidents“todrinktheirownsewage.”ThelongtimeIndianagent,HiramHall,wasamanwith“anastyVenomtonguelikearattlesnake,”whodeniedfood,firewood,dentalcare,andevenchildren’smilkallowancestoIndianswhoquestionedhisrule;onewoman,ViolaHomanhadstarvedtodeathasaresult,Francisclaimed,whileAliceDanahadfrozentodeathforlackoffuel.Thestateclaimeditcouldn’taffordtohiresomuchasaresidentnursetoattendtotheIndians’medicalneeds,yetFrancischargeditsquanderedfundsoninflatedoil,schoolbusingandschoollunchinvoices.WhenFrancisappearedinAugustatoexaminehistribe’sfinancialaccountshewasdeniedaccessbyanassistantattorneygeneral.

“AslongasIlive,IwilltellthewholeU.S.A.theconditionandmismanagementinregardstoyourdepartmentinhandlingouraffairs,”hewrotethestatedirectorofIndianAffairs,PaulMcClay.

Inresponse,stateofficialswerequietlyworkingbehindthescenestotakeFrancisdown.DonaldBrown,supervisorofIndianAffairsatthestateHealthandWelfareDepartment,instructedIndianagentHalltowithholdfoodandotherdisbursementstoFranciswhileheworkedtowithholdthegovernor’s$4monthlysalary.Seekingapretexttocutoffotherbenefits,McClaywrotetotheFordMotorCo.askingforinformationonFrancis’pension.Thegovernor,McClaywrotehisboss,“isobviouslyasenileoldgentlemanwhoisrapidlybecomingmoreandmorebitteragainstMr.HallandeveryoneandeverythingconcernedwiththeDepartment.”

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•••

IfFranciswasbitterandangry,hisnewally,DonGellershadenoughidealismandnaiveteforthebothofthem.RaisedinabrokenfamilyintheBronxandQueens,hehadexcelledinschoolandatlawschoolpreparedalegalbriefforhisprofessorthatsoimpressedBrooklynSupremeCourtJudgeNathanSobel,hetooktheunusualstepofpraisingitinhiswrittendecisionasthebestpreparedhehadencountered.AfteraninternshipattheUnitedNations,GellersmovedtoEastportwithhishalf-Filipinowife–apainter–burningwith,ashewouldlaterputit,“aloveofjustice.”Innewspaperportraitshesmokedapipe.Afterhours,heandhisfriendssometimessmokedmarijuana.

ThecouplestuckoutinEastportlikesorethumbs.Essentiallyanislandcommunity,Eastportinthe1960swasdecidedlynotBerkeleyorGreenwichVillage.Perchedontheeasternfringeofthecountry–with20-foottidesandstaggeringviewsofanarchipelagoofCanadianislands–itwasafishingandcannerytownfallenonhardtimes.In50yearsithadlostmorethanhalfofitspopulationandmostofitsemployers,givingthetownaneerie,empty,desperatefeeling.Mostofitspeoplewereterriblypoor,exceptincomparisontothePassamaquoddyreservationsuptheroad.Thecivilrightsandcounterculturemovementswerejustbeginning,andneitherhadyetreachedtheshoresofPassamaquoddyBay.

Pot-smoking,IvyLeague-educatedNewYorkersespousingcounterculturalideasweren’twelcomeinmostcircles.ParkinghiscarinfrontoftheoldWaCoDineronhisfirsttriptotown,GellersattractedtheattentionofalocalpolicemanwhodemandedtoseeGellers’license,presumablyforthe“offense”ofhavingout-of-stateplates.“ThisisanislandcommunityinMaine,andtheydon’tacceptyouifyou’refromthenexttown,”saysFrancesTomah,awhitedivorceewhomovedtoEastportfromNewYorkwithherfivechildrenin1966andwasforatimeGellers’officeassistant.“Heandhiswifehadaveryhardtimeofit.”

“AtthetimeIthoughthewasraunchy,buttherewassuchaninnocentsidetohim,”addsTomah,wholatermarriedaPassamaquoddyman.“Ibelievehereallythoughthecouldsavetheworldbyturningthemontopeaceandloveandturninggunsintoplowshares.Thedaysof‘tuneinanddropout’werethere,andhewasafirmbelieverthatoneofhismissionswastotuneintheworld.”

WilliamWilliamson,thePressHeraldreporterwhowouldcoverthejaw-droppingeventsthatsoonfollowed,putitthisway:“IprobablyknewGellersaslongandaswellasanyoneinMaine,andtheadjectivesIwouldusetodescribehimwouldinclude

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generous,inconsiderate,brilliant,foolishlystubborn,studious,recklessand,mostofall,unpredictable.”

HewantedtobegovernorofMaine,Williamsonwouldadd.“Hemighthavemadeittoo,exceptforhispersonalAchilles’heel,”hisunrigorouslyconcealeduseofmarijuana.

FrancisandGellerssettowork.Soon,eachwouldhavehisstrengthsandweaknessesputtothetestinalmosteverywayimaginable.Forthereweredarkforcesoutthere,includingmenofviolence,somequitecapableofkillingthosewhostoodintheirway.AndonenightfivesuchmenwouldwalkrightintoGeorgeFrancis’livingroom.

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CHAPTERTWO

Whitemenfromoutofstatecomehuntingforgirls

NOVEMBER14,1965

Captured in the early morning through the aperture of a pinhole camera recently, this stretch of road leads into Pleasant Point Indian Reservation, where a menacing situation developed late in 1965, when out-of-state hunters clashed with the native residents.

Whenthewhitemenarrivedathishouse,GeorgeFrancis,the72-year-oldformergovernorofthePleasantPointPassamaquoddy,wasseatedinhislivingroomchair,watchingCanadianfootballonthetelevision.Therewerefiveofthem,huntersfromBillerica,Massachusetts,ranginginagefrom23to32.Theywantedwomen.George’syoungerbrotherPeterwouldtrytogetthemtosettleforlunch.

Theytraveledinamassiveboatofacar–awhite1961Cadillacconvertible,withrecessedrearwheelsandlong,sharklikefinsontheback.TheirleaderwasWilliamRobbins,32,aformerMarinewhohadbeenaHallofFameathleteatBillericaMemorialHighSchool,wherehestartedplayingwhilestillinmiddleschool,allowinghimtowin

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anunprecedentedsixvarsityletters,arecordthatstillstands;tothisdayhehasascholarshipnamedinhishonor.

BehindthewheelwastheCadillac’sowner,25-year-oldJamesEllinwood,ahusky5-foot-11footballplayerwithaconvictionforassaultandbattery.Anotherintheparty,23-year-oldDanielFrobese,hadbeenconvictedforassaultandbatteryandintoxication.HughO’Neill,25,hadalsoplayedfootball,whileRomoloCapobianco,amarried25-year-oldfatheroftwo,had,accordingtohighschoolclassmates,aterrificsenseofhumor,“aneasygoingmanner,”andwas“afriendtoeveryone.”Yearslaterhewouldspend37daysinjailforrefusingtocleanuphisinformaljunkyardinBillerica.

Around1intheafternoon,theCadillacrolledtoastopoutsideGeorgeFrancis’meticulouslykepthouse,locatedatthecrestofahillattheedgeofthereservation.Aneighbor,George’sbrother-in-lawChristopher“Christy”Altvater,hadjustgottenoutofacarinthedriveway.ThewhitemengreetedChris.Oneevenrecognizedhim,havingmethimonaprevioushuntingtrip,althoughChristydidn’tremember.Thatwasn’tsurprising.The5-foot-2Indianhadsufferedabraininjuryfouryearsearlierwhena6-foot-1whitemanfromEastporthadclubbedhimwiththebuttofarifle.Hehadmildparalysisonhisleftside,headachesanddizzinessforwhichhewasreceivingregularin-patienttreatmentattheTogusVeteransAdministrationHospitalinAugusta.Hewas44,physicallyunthreatening,sociableandsomethingofaprankster.

ChristywenttothefrontdoorandyelledtoGeorge:“Yougotcompany!”

Georgecameoutandtalkedwiththem.“That’salltheywantedtoknow,ifIcouldgetwomenforthem,”hewouldlatertestify.“AndIsaid,‘Iain’tgotnowomenhere.’”

Thefivemen,allwearinghuntingclothes,thenaskedwheretheycouldfindbeeronaSunday.Georgetoldthem.TheyheadedbacktotheircarandpersuadedChristytoguidethem.Butbeforetheypulledoutofthedrive,George’s17-year-oldniececameoutofthehousetofetchherunclePeter’skeysfromhiscar’signition.Thegirl,DeannaFrancis,wouldlatertestifytheystaredatherasshecameandwent.

•••

Christyandthehuntersreturnedanhourandahalflaterwithasix-packandtwocasesofbeer.Ratherthanheadingontheirway,thehuntersbarged,uninvited,rightintothehouse.TheIndianswereconcernedbutworkedtocontainthesituation.

22

Christygotthemsettleddowninthekitchen,assistedbyPeter,whowasvisitingfromhishomeinConnecticut.Hewas59butlookedmucholder.“Reservationlifeinthosedayswastough,andheborethescarsofthewearandtear,”saysgrandsonRandyHinton,whowasclosetohim.“Lifehadbeenhardonhimanditshowed.”InWorldWarII,hehadservedasaSeabee–afrontlineengineer–inthebrutalPacific“island-hopping”campaign.Heandahandfulofmenfloatedfordaysonaraftaftertheirtransportwastorpedoed,catchingfishwithmakeshiftluresfashionedfromaclothandasafetypin;Peterwasoneofthefewsurvivors,afactheattributedtohis“Indian-ness,”hisgrandsonrecalls,“hisabilitytodrawdeepwithinhimselftosurvive.”

Hewaslaterfearedlostwhenhefailedtoreturnfromamoose-huntingtripearlyonewinter,onlytowalkoutofadeepEasternMaineforestinthespring,havingsurvivedaloneinhisdisabledpaneltruckthroughmonthsofstormsandsubfreezingtemperatures.

“Backthenanolderpersonlookedmucholderthantheywouldappeartoday,”Hintonadds.“I’mnotsayinghewasabrokenman,buthisbodywasusedupandlifehadtakenitstoll.Hisvisionwasfailing.Hesufferedfromtheachesandpainsofeverydaylife.”Healsowalkedwithalimp,theresultofakneeinjuryinanaccidentatthenavalyardinGroton,Connecticut,whereheworkedasamasterelectricianandfromwhichhewasabouttoretire.

•••

AsPeterandChristyentertainedthehunters,GeorgeFranciscontinuedtowatchtelevisioninthelivingroom.Inatinybedroombeyond,Deanna–wholivedwithGeorgeandhiswife–wasdoinghomeworkwithtwofellowSheadHighSchoolstudents,MaureenandSusanTomah,ages15and14.

Overthenexthourandahalf,thehuntersdrankbeerandchattedwithChristyandPeter,butitwasthegirlsthatwereontheirminds.Frobese,adark-haired,dark-complexionedroofer,slippedintothebedroomandchattedwiththegirls.Thesecondtimehecameintotheroom,Deannawouldtestify,heaskedher:“Doyouwanttomakefastmoney?”Shewentintothelivingroomandtoldheruncle.

Georgeorderedthehunterstostayoutofthebedroom,butsoonFrobesewasbackatthegirls’door,tellingthemthathewasalsoanIndian.Georgeorderedthemenoutofthehouseandthreatenedtocallthepolice.

Thehuntersclaimedtobehungry.“Inmyculture,wesharefoodandsharespaces,”

23

Hintonsays.“Thosementookadvantageofthat.”

GeorgeaskedPeterandChristytotakethemdowntotheAltvatersandsetthemontheirway.Thehuntershadconsumedthebetterpartoftwocasesofbeeroverthepasttwohours.Christyhaddrunkacoupleofbottlesofbeer.Peterhadn’thadanythingatall.

Inacoupleofhours,hewouldbelyingontheroadwithhisheadbashedin.

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CHAPTERTHREE

Asimmeringconflict,stokedbyalcohol,erupts

NOVEMBER14,1965

Violence broke out in November 1965 in the yard outside Christy Altvater’shouse, above, located just outside the Pleasant Point reservation. Two Passamaquoddy

Indians were left badly beaten, one of them fatally.

TheAltvaterhomewasonalonelystretchofroad,justoverthereservationboundary.It’sstillstanding:small,twostories,itsrearperchedatthetopofasteephillsidewithviewsofthelower-lyingpartsofthePleasantPointreservationandCobscookBaybeyond.Atthetime,thefrontdoorwasboardedshut.Abarnacrossthestreethadcollapsed,leavingapileofnail-studdedlumber.ChristyAltvaterhadn’tbeenabletoworksincehehadbeenbeatenbyawhitemanin1960,andhisfamilyofeightsurvivedondisabilitypayments.Theyowed$1,000inbacktaxesandwerebeingthreatenedwithevictionbythetownofPerry,amovebeingfoughtbytheirprobonoattorney,DonGellers.

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“Becausethehousewas200yardsoffthereservation,nobodyprotectedus,”recallsChristy’sdaughterLisa,whowas10atthetime.“Butweneverlockedourdoors.Ourhousewasalwaysopenforpeopletocomeandeat.”

AtduskonNov.14,1965,Lisa,her8-year-oldbrother,Kirk,andhermother,Rita,returnedhomewiththeiruncle,JohnNicholas,havingpickeduphischainsawfromarepairshopinDennysville.Theyweresurprisedtofindfourwhitehuntersdrinkingbeerintheirkitchen.Another,muchdrunkerhunterwasinthedownstairsbedroom“talkingaboutatomsandnuclearstuff”withChristyandPeterFrancis,whoworkedonnuclearsubmarinesattheGrotonNavyYardinConnecticutandwasvisitinghishomereservationforhuntingseason.Twodaughters,15-year-oldValerieand18-year-oldGerarda,weredoinghomeworkinanotherbedroom.

Ritalaterdescribedthesituationas“crowded”andsaidheryoungsonwasimmediatelyunhappywiththescene.

Theyhadeveryreasontobeconcerned.Thehunterstoldthemotherofsixthey“wantedtoseesomegirls.”Oneofthevisitors,JamesEllinwood–whomtheIndianchildrenwouldlaterdescribeas“thefatone”–keptinquiringaboutthewhereaboutsofRita’s16-year-olddaughter,Judy,whohe’dheardwaspretty.Hekepttryingtogoupstairstofindher.Judywasatthehouseofherboyfriend’sparentsinEastport,butnoneoftheAltvaterstoldthistothehunters.

Oneofthehunters,ahulkingex-MarinenamedWilliamRobbins,suddenlyslappedKirkseveraltimesintheface.“Gohelpyouruncle,”hecommanded.

EllinwoodstruckupaconversationwithyoungKirk,charmingthelittleboyandproposingtheygooffinhiscarto“shopforgirls,”asKirkwouldlatertestify.BeforeRitaknewwhatwashappening,hersonwasheadeduptheroadinthefrontseatofEllinwood’s’61Cadillacconvertible.

•••

Meanwhiletheatmosphereinthehousegrewtense.Fromthebedroom,drunkenDannyFrobesecouldbeheardmockingPeter,sneeringattheideathatanIndianworkedasanelectricianonnuclearsubmarines.WhenJohnNicholascameinfromsawingwoodoutside,RobbinsmadedisparagingracialremarksaboutIndians.RobbinsandanotherhunterpropositionedGerardaandValerie,askingthemtogototheirPrincetoncampwiththem.Theysaidthey“wantedcompanionship”andwereusingfoullanguage.

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“Theairwasveryheavy,fullofthespiritofominousproblems,”Ritalaterrecalledinadetailedlettertoeachofherchildren.“Iwastoouneasy.Ididnotrememberushavingaphonetocallforhelporeventhepolice.IfeltlikeIcouldhardlymove,Iwassofilledwiththespiritoffear.Ididn’tknowwhattodo.”

Petercameintothekitchenandstartedmakingdinner.“Ismellarat,”hesaidinPassamaquoddytotheAltvaters.“Don’ttrusttheseguys.Theyareuptosomething.Theykeeptryingtostarttrouble.…Getthechildrenready,andgetthemout.”HeandChristywouldstayandfeedthehunterswho,theyhoped,wouldleaveifthegirlswereoutofthehouse.

Ritagotthegirlsdressedandleftthehouseinthefamily’struck,boundforherniece’shome.“I’mgladweareoutofthathouse,”oneofthegirlstoldherastheydrovethroughthenight.“Thosemenarescary.”

Meanwhile,EllinwoodandyoungKirkwerebackatthehomeofGeorgeFrancis,whoseteenageniecewasstudyingwithtwofriends.Ellinwoodhadbargedin,imploring14-year-oldSusanTomahto“takearide”withhimandpromising,“We’llgoslow,”accordingtoherlatertestimony.Hethendemandedcoffee,andkeptsendingKirkinandoutofthebedroomwithadimeandmessagesonhisbehalf.Thehunter,Susanrecalled,offeredtwiceinthisfashiontogiveherthedimeifshewould“gooutwithhim”inhiscar.Rebuffed,EllinwoodsentKirktomakethesameofferto15-year-oldMaureenTomah,whoalsorefused.

Failinginhisattempts,Ellinwoodwentouttohiscar,toGeorge’srelief.Butafewminuteslater,KirkscurriedintothebedroomathirdtimetotellSusanhermotherwantedheratthedoor.Susanwenttothedoor.Instead,itwasEllinwoodagain.“Iwanttotakeyouforaride,”hesaid.“Iwanttotakeyououtfirst.”Sheclosedthedoor.HedroveoffwithKirk.

EllinwooddrovearoundthereservationwithKirk,tryingtoconvinceothergirlstogetintothecar.WithKirk’shelp,heeventuallypersuaded17-year-oldElsiePaultotakearide,claimingKirk’ssisterwantedtoseeher.Ayounggirlnowseatedbesidehim,EllinwoodsteeredhisCadillacbacktowardtheAltvaterhome.

•••

BackintheAltvaters’kitchen,violencebrokeout.Allsidesagreedthattheconversationturnedtomarijuanaandthatthehuntershadaskediftheycouldgetsome.

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Asaprank,ChristyofferedRobbinsanaspirin,claimingitwasa“marijuanapill.”Robbinsrefusedtotakeit.

Robbins,theformerfootballstarandMarine,wouldtestifyattrialthatChristythentoreoffhisundershirtandcameathim“likearavingmaniac,”with“eyesasbigassaucers.”ChristysaidRobbinsattackedhimsuddenlyandwithoutprovocation10minutesafterthemarijuanapillincident.BothagreedthatRobbinstackledandpunchedhishost.

Petercameintotheroomandsaidsomethingtotheeffectthattherewastobenofighting.Someofthehunterswouldlaterclaimhewaswieldingachairheldoverhisheadwhenhedidso.Ifso,itmusthavebeennotoverlyintimidating,asHughO’Neill,oneofthehunters,testifiedhewalkeduptoPeterandapologizedforthefighting.

Thefourhuntersgotupandleft,followedfirstbyPeterandthenbyChristy.Atthatverymoment,EllinwoodpulledtheCadillactoahaltintheroadwithKirkandElsieinside.

EllinwoodturnedtoElsieandsaid,“Howaboutit?,”shewouldlatertellagrandjury,presumablyapropositionto,attheleast,travelwithhimtothehunters’campinPrinceton.Bothchildrensawthreeofthehuntersontherightsideoftheroad,oppositethehouse,wherethewreckageoftheoldbarnlay.Kirksaidhesawthempickingupsomepiecesofwood.Thehuntersapproachedthecartogetin.Bothchildrenwerescaredoutoftheirwits.

Eventsunfoldedrapidlyintheminutesandsecondsthatfollowed.

ElsiePaulopenedthecardoor,scamperedbetweenthehunters,andbeganrunninguphilltowardtheFrancishome.Ellinwoodopenedhisdoorandholleredafterher.KirkslippedoutafterElsie,intendingtorunaroundthebackofthecartohishouse.

ThehunterspiledintothecarandhadtohelpaninebriatedFrobesegetinback.Kirk,roundingthecar,sawPeterFrancisapproachEllinwood,whowasstandingattheopendriver’sdoor.Thetwomenhadwords,theboylatertestified,addingthatPeterwasunarmed.Healsosawhisfatherwalkingbehindthecar;Christytestifiedhehadfounda4-footsticklyinginthedriveway,pickeditup,walkedacrosstheroadandthrewitinthebrushpilebythebarn.

Overthelong,lowtrunkoftheCaddie,KirksawEllinwoodstrikePetertwice,

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unprovoked,withwhathethoughtwasaknife.AtleastthreeoftheotherhuntersclamberedoutofthecarandchargedChristy.

Thehunterswouldlatertestifythatthetwooldermenhadcomeatthemwithclubsandthattheystruckinself-defense.Theywereunabletoexplainwhy,ifthishadbeenthecase,theydidn’tsimplydriveaway,asEllinwoodwaspoisedatthedoorandtheotherfourmenwerealreadyinthecar.

ThePressHeraldspoketotwoofthefourhunterswhoarestillalive.RomoloCapobiancoclaimednottorememberanythingabouttheincidentbecauseofhisadvancedage.Frobesesaidhewasa“blackoutdrinker”atthetimeandhadonlyfragmentarymemoriesoftheday,thecriticalminutesaroundthebeatingsnotamongthem.

Kirksawthreemen,onecarryinga“stick,”startbeatinghisfather,whocrumpledtotheground.ChristyAltvaterwouldlaterreporthavingbeenkickedandbeatenwith“morethanfists.”Hethoughthemighthavebrieflylostconsciousness.

“Stop!”Kirkscreamedatthethreemen.Ellinwoodcalledouttothemtogetbackinthecar.Theypiledintotheconvertibleanditscreechedoffintothenight.

Kirkfledintothehouseinapanic.Christystumbledafterhiminastateofshock.

Peter,59,laymotionless,facedownonthepavement.Fromthebackofhishead,ariverofbloodfloweddownthehill.Anail-studdedtwo-by-fourlayafewfeetaway,soakedinPeter’sblood.Hishairwasstucktoafreshsplinterlyingonthegroundnearby.

Mostofhisbrainhadalreadyshutdown,traumatizedbyablowsosevereitcouldhavekilledhiminstantly.Hewouldneverawaken.

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CHAPTERFOUR

Tepidresponsefromauthoritiesleavestribefurious

NOVEMBER16,1965

The headstone for Peter Francis sits in a small graveyard on the PleasantPoint reservation Down East. When his slaying in 1965 failed to result in any

murder warrants being served, it became “a turning point in … Indian lethargyand despair.”

Itwasdinnertime,andPressHeraldreporterWilliamWilliamsonwashomeinKennebunkandabouttocutintoasteakwhenthetelephonerang.Heanswered,disgruntled.

Itwasasource,DonGellers,ayoungattorneyinEastportwhohadrecentlybeenchampioningthecauseofthePassamaquoddyIndiansontheothersideofthestate.Gellerswasbreathlessandexcited.Williamsoncoldlytoldhimhe’dcallbackafterhefinishedhisdinner.

Whenhedid,hefoundhimselflisteningforasolidhourwhileGellerstoldhimthe

30

harrowingstoryofPeterFrancisbeingbeatentodeathbyfivewhitehunters48hoursearlier.HerelatedhowtheEastportpolicehadrefusedtorespondtoChristyAltvater’scallsforhelpbecausehelived1,000yardsfromEastport,andhowatownpolicemanhadtoldhimhe“didn’twanttogetinvolved,”andhowadeputysheriffhadignoredhimaltogether.

GellersrelatedhowAltvaterhadnextcalledhimforhelp,hisvoiceunrecognizableonaccountoftheswellingofhisfaceandjaw,andhowthetribalconstablehadpleadedwithhospitalstaffinEastporttodispatchanambulancetotreatFrancis,wholaydyingintheroadformorethananhourbeforehelparrived.The59-year-oldmanexpiredattheEastporthospitalthefollowingmorning.

Afterinterviewingthehunters,Gellerscontinued,CountyAttorneyFrancisBrown–theequivalentofadistrictattorneytoday–drewupfivemurderwarrants.Theywereneverserved.AnindignantGellerstoldBrownhewouldgotothepressiftheywerenotissuedby6o’clockthatevening.Theyweren’t,whichiswhyWilliamsonfoundhimselfonthephone.GellersaccusedBrownofa“deliberatefloutingofthelaw”thatwouldnothaveoccurredifthevictimswerewhite.

GellershadcalledWilliamsonbecausehehadheardhewasafearlessandcrusadingreporter,oneunafraidofchallengingauthorities.Indeed,Williamsonwouldlaterbecomeasocialworker;hisfamilyrecallshimdaringashotgun-bearingmantoshoothimashestrodeintoahousetoretrieveanendangeredchild.

Hewouldn’tdisappoint.Hisstoryranthenextday,withBrownconfirmingthewarrantshadnotbeenserved“becausewedon’tfeelwehaveenoughinformation.”Afewdayslater,WilliamsonwasatPleasantPoint,exploringwhathewouldlatercallthe“manyseeminglyincrediblequestionsaboutwhatwasgoingonupinWashingtonCounty.”

•••

BythetimeWilliamsonarrived,thehunterswerebackattheirhomesinBillerica,Massachusetts.Inexplicably,nonehadbeenchargedinChristy’sbeating.One,JamesEllinwood,facedasinglemanslaughterchargeinPeter’sdeathandhadbeenfreedonbail.

Gellers,ontheotherhand,wasbeingthreatenedwithdisbarmentforpubliclyquestioningtheauthorities.TheWashingtonCountyBarAssociationhadformeda“fact-

31

findingcommittee”todeterminewhetherGellers’commentstothePressHeraldconstituted“conductunbecomingofanattorney.”AccordingtoanaccountthatGellerslaterwrote,hisfellowlawyerssaidtheywouldcallofftheinvestigationifGellerswouldclaiminwritingthathehadbeenmisquotedinthepress.Herespondedthathewoulddonosuchthing,andthathe’d“continuetodoallIcouldtoprotectIndianlivesandpropertybecause,aslongasthosetwothingsweren’tsafe,thevalueofeveryoneelse’slifeandpropertywastherebycheapened.”(Thebarassociationultimatelybackeddown.)

IndianstoldWilliamsontheywerefuriousthatnochargeshadbeenbroughtagainstfourofthehuntersandthatnobodywasbeingchargedwithmurder.TheynotedthatsixPleasantPointPassamaquoddyhadbeenkilledovertheprevious17years–inacommunityof330–withnobodybeingheldaccountable.“IstheIndiantestimonybeingconsideredseriouslyandisthelawbeingappliedfullyinthecase?”Williamson’sarticlewouldaskontheirbehalf.“Are(they)second-classcitizens,legallyaswellassocially?”

Browntoldthereporterhedidn’tservethemurderwarrantsbecausehefelthecouldn’tprovepremeditation.Gellerspointedouthedidn’tneedto.LawenforcementhadconcludedPeterdiedfromablowwiththenail-studdedtwo-by-four,theuseofwhichconstitutedthe“maliceaforethought”underthestate’smurderstatute.Further,Gellerssaid,becausetheIndianswerebeatenbyagroup,itdidn’tmatterwhichoneshadwieldedtheclub.Andbecausethehuntershadofferedgirlsmoneyforsex,Gellersargued,theywereinvolvedinafeloniousconspiracyevenbeforethedeadlyattack.

PressedbyWilliamson,Brownalsoadmittedthathe’dgiventhehuntersaheads-up–twodaysaheadoftheircourtarraignment–astowhatchargestheywouldandwouldn’tfaceandtheamountofthebailEllinwoodwouldneedtoraise.ThisallowedtheotherfourtodrivetoBillericaandcollectthemoney,ensuringtheircompanionwouldbesprungfromjailimmediately.

Amurdercharge,Brownsaid,would“merelybewastingthetaxpayers’money.”

•••

Indianswereincensed,thoughnooneWilliamsoninterviewed“expressedanybelieftherewillbeanyconvictioninthePeterFranciscase,”hewouldwriteinabombshellfront-pagestoryintheSundayTelegramonDec.5,1965.“Infact,theyweremildlysurprisedthatanyarresthadbeenmadeonanycharge.”

Butthekilling,Williamsonwouldwriteprophetically,lookedtobe“theturningpoint

32

inapatternofIndianlethargyanddespair.”

“We’retiredofbeingtreatedlikecattleordogs,”tribalconstableRaymondMooretoldWilliamson,notingthatsomewereconsideringtakinglawenforcementintotheirownhands.“Therehavejustbeentoomanydeathsandnothingiseverdoneaboutthem.”

Inthatpre-Internetera,GellersandGeorgeFrancisworkedhardtoturnanationalspotlightonthecaseandkeepitthere.TheywroteU.S.Sen.SamErvin,aNorthCarolinaDemocrat,seekingtheinterventionoftheSenateSubcommitteeonConstitutionalRights,whichhechaired.(ErvindemandedanaccountingofthesituationfromMaine’sattorneygeneralbutultimatelydeterminedhiscommitteelackedjurisdictionbecausetheslayingtookplacejustoffthereservationandFranciswasnotengagedincivilrightsactivitieswhenittookplace.)

AlertedbyGellers,theNationalCouncilofChurches–whichrepresentedthethen-influentialmainlineProtestantdenominations–askedU.S.Sens.EdmundS.MuskieandMargaretChaseSmithofMaine,andtheJusticeDepartmenttoinvestigate.“Weareconcernedbyreportsthatfourofthefivewhitehuntersarenotbeingprosecuted,”theRev.J.OscarLee,acouncilofficial,toldtheUnitedPressInternationalnewsserviceinNewYork.“ThedenialofjusticeinMaineisasseriousasthedenialofjusticeinAlabamaorMississippi.”

AdelegationfromtheMaineCouncilofChurchesmetwithBrowninJanuaryanddeclaredtheywereunsatisfiedwiththecountyattorney’sexplanationforwhythemurderwarrantshadnotbeenissued.SoontheywereinAttorneyGeneralRichardJ.Dubord’soffice,demandingaction.Thereafter,Dubordstartedtellingreporterstherewouldlikelybe“secretindictments”broughtinthecase.

Allofthiswasfront-pagenewsacrossMaine,andthehandlingofthecaseevenmade“TheCBSEveningNews”withWalterCronkite,arguablythemostinfluentialfigureinthenewsworldatthetime.

Ithadnoeffect.InFebruary,anall-whitegrandjuryinWashingtonCountyreturnedBrown’ssinglemanslaughterindictment,onewordedsostrangelyitraisedtheeyebrowsofattorneysacrossthestate.GarthSprague,anattorneyinMachias,thecountyseat,toldWilliamsonthewordingcreated“amade-to-ordercaseforanydefenseattorney,”asitcontainedlanguageforthelesserchargeofassault.

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Nosecretindictmentseveremerged.

Ellinwoodpleadnotguilty.Theotherfourhunterswerealreadyhomefree.

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CHAPTERFIVE

‘Beatenbeforewestarted’atacontroversialtrial

MARCH1,1966

Michael-Corey Francis Hinton, a Passamaquoddy Indian living and working as a lawyer in Washington, D.C., visits the spot in eastern Maine where his great-grandfather, Peter Francis, was killed in 1965. Hinton has been lobbying the Department of Justice to reopen the case. “There will be justice done,” he says.

FromtheIndians’perspective,thetrialofMassachusettshunterJamesEllinwood,whowaschargedwithmanslaughterinthebeatingdeathofPeterFrancis,wasafarce.

Inawrittenaccountofthetrialpreparedforherchildren,RitaAltvater–whosehusband,Christy,hadbeenseverelybeatenbyseveralofthefivewhitehuntersduringtheattacks–describedahostilescene.

AstheyenteredthecourtroomattheWashingtonCountySuperiorCourtinMachias,PeterFrancis’daughter,LilaHinton,askedRitaAltvatertopointoutthehunterstoher.

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Lila,33,confrontedthem:“Soyou’rethefivehuntersthatkilledmyfather.”

“Theysaid‘yes’andsnickered,”Ritalaterrecalled.Duringarecessoneofthemwalkedbyandsaid,“AgoodIndianisadeadIndian.”Lilaburstintotears.

Onanotheroccasion,Ritarecounted,Peter’swife,Isabelle,arrivedlate.“Shestoppedbythedoorandtheushersaid,‘Sitdownorleave.’Shesaid,‘Excuseme.’Afterthisawhitewomancamein,theusherwentandgotherachair.”

“Wewerebeatenbeforewestarted,”Ritaadded.

Ellinwood,now26andtheonlyoneofthefivehunterstobeindicted,“appearedconfidentthroughoutthetrial,”thePressHeraldreportedfromthecourtroom.

Bytheseconddayofthetrial,theIndianswerealarmedatwhatCountyAttorneyFrancisBrownwasnotaskingthem,andairedtheirconcernstoWilliamWilliamson,thePressHeraldreportercoveringthetrial.

Theslainman’sniece,DeannaFrancis,now18,expressedsurprisethatshehadn’tbeenaskedtotestifythatthehuntershadofferedhermoneytoaccompanythem,asshehadbeenbeforeagrandjurythreeweeksearlier.JohnNicholas,Rita’sbrother,startedtorelatetheconversationshe’dheardattheAltvaterhome,butBrowncuthimofftoaskwhattimehethoughthe’dleftthere.

Theprosecutionalsofailedtointroduceintoevidencethesplinterthathadbrokenoffthetwo-by-four–thepresumedmurderweapon–becauseitwouldhaverequiredrecallingawitnessandwouldhavebeen“tooexpensive.”

WilliamsonreportedtheirconcernsinastoryMarch3.ThereporterwasthensummonedtotheofficesofthePressHerald’sattorney,accordingtotheIndians’legalrepresentativeatthetime,DonGellers,andorderedtowriteonlyaboutthecourtproceedingsthemselves.AlthoughhisseriesofarticlesontheNov.14,1965,killingwouldreceiveanawardfromTheAssociatedPress,Williamsonwouldsoonresignfromthepaperasaresultoftheinterference,GellersandRitaAltvaterbothlaterasserted.

“Hequitthepaperbecausetheyreallywouldn’tlethimreportwhatwashappening,”saysthereporter’sson,BarryWilliamson.“Hehadastrongsenseofinjustice,andthatcasefellrightintothepocketofthat.”

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•••

Atonepointduringthetrial,LilaHintonfoundherselffacetofacewithRomoloCapobianco,whomRitaAltvaterdescribedasbeingtheonlyhunterreticentabouttheirmisdeeds.Inalettertoherchildren,RitaclaimedCapobiancotoldtheslainman’sdaughter:“I’msorrythatallthishadtohappen.”

“Hesaidhewouldtalkwithherandtellheraboutit,butfornow…hehadtostickbythem,”Rita,whodiedin1994,wroteintheletter,whichafamilymemberunsealedandreadforthefirsttimeinlate2013,hoursbeforeallowingaPressHeraldreportertoreadit.

ReachedathishomeinBillerica,Massachusetts,recently,Capobiancowasaskedaboutthecase.Atfirst,hesaid:“Jesus,Idon’tknow.…Thatwasalongtimeago–it’sallbeenforgotten.”Hethensaidhehimselfhadforgottentheevents,andthenclaimednottorememberwhomhewashuntingwithorwhathadhappenedonaccountofhisadvancedyears.“There’ssomeoneatthedoor,”hesaidafterafewminutes.“Ihavetogo.”

Anotherhunter,DanielFrobese,saidhehadbeena“blackoutdrinker”inthosedaysandhadonlyfragmentarymemoriesoftheday.TheonlythingherememberedaboutthefinalfightoutsidetheAltvaterhomewasthathehadtriedtogetoutofthecartoretrieveoneofWilliamRobbins’loafers,andhadbeenpulledbackinbyhisfriends.

Askedif,intheaftermathofthefight,anyofhisfriendshadsaidwhodealtthefatalblowstothebackofPeterFrancis’head,Frobesesaidhestillknewtheotherthreemenwhowerestillalive–Robbinsdiedin2009–andthensaidhehadtogo.Frobesedidnotrespondtofollow-upcalls.

Ellinwood,wholivesatleastpartoftheyearinTexas,couldnotbecontacted.HughO’Neill,wholivesinsouthernNewHampshire,didnotrespondtotelephonemessages.

ChristyandRita’syoungestchild,Kirk,theonlywitnesstoEllinwood’sfightwithPeter,wasputonthestandonhisninthbirthday.FamilymemberssayhewashumiliatedformakingsyntaxerrorsinEnglish,hissecondlanguage.

ThehuntersdeniedtheypropositionedanyoneandclaimedtheyhadbeatentheIndiansinself-defense.

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Ellinwoodclaimedhemerely“stiff-armed”Peteronce,contradictingmultiplestatementshehadmadetopoliceonthenightoftheslayingthathehadpunchedthe59-year-oldatleasttwice.ThehuntersclaimedPeterandChristyhadcomeatthemwith“clubs.”

•••

TheirversionofeventscouldnotaccountforPeterFrancis’fatalwounds:bluntforceblowstothetempleandthebackofthehead,thelatterpowerfulenoughtohavedetachedanextensiveareaofhisscalpfromhisskull.Togethertheblowscausedanextensive–andfatal–brainhemorrhage.Theattendingphysicianandpathologisttestifiedthesewereconsistentwithablowfromatwo-by-four.Bruisesonhiseyeandhandsuggestedlesserblows.

Thedefensehadearliersuggestedtherehadbeenadrunkenbrawl.Thepathologist’sreportshowedPeter’sbloodalcohollevelwasvanishinglysmall,meaninghedrankverylittleorpossiblynothingatall.

DefenseattorneyFrancisDayofBangorsuggestedmaybeChristyhadhitPeterwiththetwo-by-four,eventhoughthetwowereclosefriends.

Theall-whitejuryfoundEllinwoodnotguilty.

Thecrowdjumpedupinapplause.“TheywereliterallyclappingandcheeringwhenEllinwoodandthoseguyswerefreed,”DeannarecalledinaninterviewwithfilmmakerBenLevinebeforeherdeathin2010.(Levine’sdocumentaryisstillinproduction.)“Imeanitwasjust–Imean,inhere”–shepointedtoherheart–“carryingthatalltheseyears.”

“UncleGeorgewasdevastated,”Christy’sdaughterLisaBassettrecalls.“Ourlivesweredestroyed.”

•••

ChristyAltvaterwasneverthesameafterthebeating,familymemberssay.Hehangedhimselfinhisbasementin1971.

Fortherestofhislife,KirkAltvater,Christy’sson,sufferedfrompanicattacksthatwouldleavehimdoubledover,hyperventilating.Hedevelopedastutter,andhishands

38

wouldshake.Hekilledhimselfin1979.Hewas21.

“Therehasbeennojustice,andirreparableharmhasbeendonetomyfamily,”saysPeterFrancis’27-year-oldgreat-grandson,Michael-CoreyFrancisHinton,anIndianlawattorneyatAkinGump,oneofthecountry’smostprominentlawfirms.“Thedamageisdone,andit’sstillaffectingpeople,generationsofmyfamily,theAltvaters,andothersinthecommunity.

“Thisisthefirethatburnswithinme,”hesays,addingthathisgreat-grandfather’sslayinganditsaftermathinfluencedhiscareerchoice.“Therewillbejusticedone.”

Hisfather,PeterFrancis’grandsonRandyHinton,agrees.“Thetragedyofallthisisn’tjustthemurder,it’sallthefalloutandallthecollateralinjusticeandpainandangerthatrevolvesaroundthatnight,”hesays.“Justicewasneverserved,andthoseguysgotawaywithmurder.”

Althoughitwasperhapsthemosthigh-profilecaseoftheera,thefilesforthecasewerepurgedbeforebeingtransferredfromMachiastotheMaineStateArchives.Conspicuously–andpossiblyuniquely–amongthecriminalcasesofthatera,eventheformaljudgmenthasnotsurvived.Allthatremainsarethreepiecesofpaper:tworandommotionsandtheone-pageformrecordingtheverdict.

TheU.S.DepartmentofJusticehasbeenreviewingthecase,andtheU.S.AttorneyfortheDistrictofMaine,ThomasE.DelahantyII,sayshisofficewouldlikelyneedfurtherevidenceinordertoproceed,despitetherecentdiscoveryofthelong-losttranscriptofthegrandjuryproceedingsinthecourthouseattic.Itisalsounclearifthecasewouldfallunderfederaljurisdiction,asonlysomeoftheeventsofNov.14,1965,tookplacewithintheboundariesofthePleasantPointreservation.

Backin1965,theonlylegalchampionthePassamaquoddyhadwasDonGellers,theonewhohadblownthewhistleontheFrancismurderandwhocontinuouslychallengedthestate’shandlingofthisandothercases.

Gellersdidn’tknowityet,buthewasabouttobetakenoutofthepicturehimself.

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CHAPTERSIX

Passamaquoddy’slegalchampionbecomesatarget

1964TO1966

An antique truck steers past the Custom House in Eastport early on April 30. Some leaders and residents of the nation’s easternmost city – and elsewhere in Maine – took steps to retaliate against a young attorney when he began to represent the Indians in the mid-1960s.

BythetimePeterFrancis’assailantswalkedfree,DonGellershadmadeplentyofenemies.

AfterhisfirstmeetingwithtribalGov.GeorgeFrancisinMay1964,theyoungattorneyhadthrownhimselfintorepresentingthePassamaquoddyinmattersgreatandsmall.

Withinhours,he’dmanagedtogetthechargesdroppedagainstthefourPassamaquoddywomenwho’dbeenarrestedinthe“gravelpile”protestagainstawhiteman’sseizureofreservationland,andnegotiatedatrucewherebyconstructionstopped

40

onthecontestedparcelpendinglegalrulings.Hethenforcedthepresidingjudgeinthecasetorecusehimself,aftershowinghehadsignedthepapersallowingthewhitecampownertoannextheIndians’land.

Gellers’letterstostateofficialscompelledtheLegislaturetopayforemergencyrepairstoleakingseweragesystemsonthereservation,andarewritingoflawsthathadprohibitedtribalmembersfromhuntingontheirownreservationland.BarbersinthetownofPrincetonwererequiredtoacceptIndiansaspatrons.

HehadblockedaneffortbytheTownofPerrytoevicttheAltvaterfamilyfromtheirhome.WhenadministratorsatSheadHighSchoolretaliatedbytellingtwooftheAltvaterchildrentheywouldnolongerreceivefreeschoollunches,Gellersprotestedtostateofficials,whoforcedtheschooltoreverseitself.

WhenstatepolicearrestedtwoIndiansforminoroffensesonreservationland,Gellerssuccessfullychallengedthestate’sjurisdictioninacasethatwasatonepointreviewedbySupremeCourtJusticeHugoBlack.ThefinaldecisionbytheU.S.CircuitCourtofAppeals–thesecond-highestcourtintheland–transferredauthorityovercertainmisdemeanorsbytribalmembersonreservationsfromMainetothetribesthemselves.

GellersandthegovernorsofthetworeservationsalsolaunchedaninvestigationofstateIndianagentHiramHallandfoundevidencethathehadmadehimselfthelegalguardianofnumerousIndiansandlikelypocketedpublicpensionsandbenefitstheywereowed.“TheyservedthesummonsonHiramthatdaytellinghimhehadtocometocourtthefollowingweek,”recallsJohnStevens,whowasthengovernoratIndianTownship.“Hediedthatnight.”

GellersandthechiefssuccessfullylobbiedthestatetoshiftoversightoftheIndianstoaseparateIndianAffairsDepartment,whichopenedjustmonthsbeforePeterFranciswaskilledinNovember1965.Thetopofficialswerereplacedbyabearded32-year-oldanthropologist,EdHinckley,whowishedtoincreaseIndianself-government.

GellershostedpressvisitsandorganizedeventstodrawattentiontothePassamaquoddy’splight.AtanNAACPmeetinginPortlandintheaftermathofthebrutalattacksonblackcivilrightsmarchersinSelma,Alabama,Gellers,alongwithanIndianelderandalocalminister,emphasizedtheparallelsbetweentheracialprejudiceIndiansfacedinWashingtonCountyandthatsufferedbyblacksintheAmericanSouth.

Mostsignificantly,Gellerswasconductingresearchforthetribe’slandclaimscase

41

againstthestate,whichMaineGov.JohnReedandtheAttorneyGeneral’sOfficehadalreadyrefusedtosupport.

•••

Gellersworkedoncontingency,meaninghewouldgetnothingunlesshewassuccessful.Evenso,researchingthecasewasanexpensiveundertaking.Inthefirstfewmonths,GellershadtraveledtoarchivesinBoston,NewYork,Washington,D.C.,andFredericton,NewBrunswick,togatherdocumentsthatwouldprovetheIndians’case.Inthattimehe’dspent$1,000outofpocketandexpectedtoneedanadditional$5,000overthenexttwoyears.Thispresentedaproblem,astheIndianshadnomoneyinhandandGellerswasquicklyrunningoutofhisown.

TheobvioussolutionwastheIndians’trustfund,whichcontained$60,000inproceedsfromstate-supervisedpapercompanyloggingontheirreservation,butitwascompletelycontrolledbythegovernorofMaineandhisexecutivecouncil.WhenGellersandthetribeapproachedReedforaninitialdisbursementof$3,000tocoverresearchexpenses,thegovernorflatlyrefused.

“Itistheunanimousopinionofthecouncilandtheopinionofthegovernoraswell,thatthereisnotsufficientpossibilityofbenefitfortheIndians,”thechairmanoftheexecutivecouncilwroteGeorgeFrancisthemonthbeforehisbrotherPeter’skilling,“…forittobewiseandprudentactiontocommittrustfundmoneyforthepurposesoutlinedbyMr.Gellers.”

Gellersrebuffedacounteroffertogivehimthree$1,000payments–onebefore,one“halfway,”andoneatthecompletionofhiscase–andnothingmore.Hetoldreportersitwasa“cheapeninganddegradingoffer,”“cracker-barrelbargaining”and“aniftywaytogetafinalbargainfrompeoplewhohavebeenpushedaroundsomuchalready.”

TheIndianchiefswerejustasblunt.PleasantPointGov.GeorgeFrancissaidthetrustfundwas“ourmoneyandwedemandit,”whileGov.StevenstoldReed“youshouldbegivingusahelpinghandratherthanputtinghandcuffsonus.”

Cutofffromtheironlyassets,thetribalgovernorsandtheirattorneyalsofacedincreasinglydisturbingattacks.

GellerssoonfoundhislegalserviceswerenolongerindemandamongthewhiteresidentsofEastport.“Hisbusinesswentrightdownhillafterhestartedrepresentingus,”

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Stevensrecalls.

SignsappearedonthelawninfrontofGellers’Eastporthome,denouncinghimasacommunistandworse.Atonepointswastikaswerepaintedonhiswalls–GellerswasJewish–anacthesaidwascommittedbyalocalpublicofficial,whomhelaterconfrontedovertheincident.AnotherEastporttownfatheropenedhishandtoshowGellers’clerktwobullets,sayingonewasforGellers,theotherforGeorgeFrancis.

PolicebeganharassingGellersandthetribalgovernors,subjectingthemtoregulartrafficstops.“Iwouldn’tgoanywherewithoutbeingstopped,andIimaginetheywaswatchingallofus,”Stevenssays,notinghewouldbestoppedtwiceonhis14-milecommutetoworkinBaileyville.“Christ,whenDonwouldcomepickusup,they’dstophiminCalais,they’dstophiminWoodland.They’dtakehimbacktothecourthousetryingtofindoutwhathewasupto.Wouldn’tchargehim,they’djustlethimgo.Butittookhimthreehourstogetuphere.”

•••

StateofficialscutofffoodandmedicinetomembersofFrancis’andStevens’families,whowouldfindwindowsbrokenattheirhomesandcartiresslashed.

Frightened,manyIndianssignedpetitionscallingforGeorgeFrancistoberemovedasgovernorandsubmittedthemtostateofficials,ledbyFrancis’politicalrival,JosephNicholas,anapologistforthestatewhomsomeIndiansdismissedtoreportersasan“UncleTomahawk.”Nicholas,thenthetribe’snon-votingrepresentativetothestateLegislature,triedtohaveGellersremovedalso.WashingtonCountyofficialsapparentlyapproved:AfewmonthslaterhebecamethefirstIndianeverallowedtoserveonajurythere.

“IwaslikeJoeNicholasatfirst–thoughtitwasawasteoftimefightingthestateforfoodandstuff,thatwe’dnevergetanywhere,andwe’dhurtpeoplesincetheyhadcontrolofalltheresourcescomingintothereservation,”Stevenssays.“Icamearound,butIshouldhavebeenfightingalongside(George)allalong.”

Justbeforehisbrother’smurder,GeorgeFrancislosthisre-electionbid,dealingatemporarysetbacktothePassamaquoddy’sburgeoningcivilrightsmovement.

Gellersandhiswifewerelivinghandtomouth.Hisofficeassistant,FrancesTomah,discoveredonedaythatmostofthefoodcontainersintheirpantrywerecompletely

43

empty,retainedtohidetheirworseningsituation.Unabletoaffordoil,theyheatedtherambling,32-roomhomeatMiddleandWaterstreetsentirelyandonlyhalf-successfullywithwood.

SusanGellers,unabletotakethestrain,leftherhusband.

Gellerscontinuedsmokingmarijuanabutwastakingfewerpainstoconcealthisillegalhabit,seeminglyoblivioustotheforcesseekingtotakehimdown.

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CHAPTERSEVEN

ThePassamaquoddy’slandclaimcasetakesshape

1967

A stand of trees is captured by a pinhole camera at Indian Township in eastern Maine. A 1794 treaty with Massachusetts deeded thousands of acres to the Passamaquoddy people. This treaty would serve as the foundation of the land claims case Don Gellers was building.

Despitedistractions,financialuncertaintyandofficialharassment,DonGellerswasbuildingacompellinglandclaimscaseforhisPassamaquoddyclients.

Intheirfirstmeetinginthespringof1964,PleasantPointtribalGov.GeorgeFrancishadtoldhimthateveryoneknewaboutthetribe’srightsunderacritical1794treaty,includingownershipofatrustfundandvasttractsofsubsequentlystolenland.Infact,outsideofthetribe,thesehadbeenentirelyforgotten.

TheIndiansthemselveshaddiscoveredthetreatyjustfiveyearsearlierinthepossessionofLouiseSockabasin,great-aunttoIndianTownshipGov.JohnStevens’

45

wife,lovinglywrappedinacenturies-oldenvelopewovenfromsweetgrassandtuckedunceremoniouslyintoatrunk.WhenStevensfirstopenedandreadit,hesayshescreamedwithsurprise.

Thetreatyhadbeennegotiatedin1794withMassachusetts,whichcontrolledMaineatthetime,andunderitthePassamaquoddyhadsurrenderedtheirancestrallandsinexchangeforperpetualownershipof15islandsintheSt.CroixRiver,twoinBigLake,10acresatPleasantPoint,andtheentiretyofwhatcametobecalledIndianTownship,23,000acresofforest,streamsandlakesinwhatwouldlaterbeeasternWashingtonCountythatthetribehadusedaswinterhuntinggroundssincetimeimmemorial.

RecognizingtheIndianswouldnotbeabletosustainthemselvesentirelyonthisreducedlandbase,theywerealsogivenatrustfund–$37,471in1822,or$147millionifithadjustbeenlefttocompoundinterestthrough1964.

GellersdiscoveredthatwhenMainebecameastatein1820,itreceivedthistrustfundand395,000acresofdeededlandmeanttoprovidefortheIndians.

UndertheseparationagreementwithMassachusetts,notonlywasMainerequiredtoupholdthe1794treatyobligations,buttheywerewrittenintothenewstate’sconstitution.TheywerefoundwithinArticleX,Section5,andremainedinforce.

However,learningwhatthoseobligationswerewasn’teasy.

That’sbecausein1875thepeopleofMaineratifiedaconstitutionalamendmentforbiddingthisarticletoeverbepublished.Thatamendmentisstillineffect:OpenanycopyoftheMaineConstitutiontoArticleX,Section7,whichproclaimsSection5will“remaininforce”but“shallhereafterbeomittedinanyprintedcopies.”Exactlywhythiswasdoneremainsunclear.

•••

Iftheconstitutionalcommissionerswhoproposedthechangeintendedtoensurethestate’sobligationswereforgotten,itwaseffective.RatherthanprotectingtheIndians’trustlands,thestateauthorizedsometractstobefloodedbydams,otherstobeannexedforthelayingoutofRoute1inIndianTownshipandRoute190atPleasantPoint,andthousandsmoreacrestransferredtowhiteowners.InnocasewascompensationgiventotheIndians.Inall,atleast10,000acreshadbeenstolen,amongthemthesmallplotwherethegravelpileprotesthadtakenplacein1964.

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Mainecourtshadignoredthetribe’streatyrights,rubber-stampingtheannexationoftheirlandsbypowerfullandownerssuchasWilliamBingham(forwhomthemountainisnamed)and,intheinfamous1892caseofStatevs.Newell,rulingthetribenolongerexisted.

“ThoughtheseIndiansarestillspokenofasthe‘PassamaquoddyTribe’andperhapsconsiderthemselvesatribe,theyhaveformanyyearsbeenwithoutatribalorganizationinanypoliticalsense,”thecourtruled.“Theycannotmakewarorpeace,cannotmaketreaties,cannotmakelaws,cannotpunishcrime(or)administerciviljusticeamongthemselves.”

Inotherwords,havingdeniedthetribethesesovereignpowers,thestatewasnowusingtheabsenceofthesepowersasgroundstodenythemnotonlytheirtreatyrightsbuttherightsothertribeswerebythenenjoyingunderfederallaw.

Gellersalsodiscoveredthatnobodywasabletoprovideanaccountingofjustwhathadhappenedtothetrustfundaccountsortothemillionsinstate-organizedtimbersalesthatshouldhavebeenheldonbehalfofthePassamaquoddywho,afterall,ownedthetrees.Muchofthisrevenue–whichbelongedtothePassamaquoddyandnooneelse–hadapparentlybeendivertedintothestate’sGeneralFund.Inotherwords,thestatehadsimplytakenit.

•••

Asforthe1794treaty,ithadindeedbeenforgotten,andstateofficialswerepubliclydismissingitsvalidity.Privately,however,Gov.JohnReed’sadministrationwasnervous.

AftertheIndianshadvisitedReed,apprisinghimofthe1794treaty,stateofficialsquietlywrotetheircounterpartsinMassachusettsandWashington,D.C.,askingwhethertheyknewanythingaboutit.Nobodydid.

JustdaysafterGellersstartedrepresentingthetribe,stateofficialsbecamefearfulhemighttrytosecurefederalrecognitionforthetribe.ThecommissioneroftheU.S.BureauofIndianAffairsreassuredthemthat“ourresearchhasrevealednothingtosubstantiateabeliefthatanyfederalcontroloverorfinancialresponsibilityforthePassamaquoddyIndianshaseverexisted.”

Unabletocarrytheexpenseofthecasehimself,GellershadturnedtotheIndian

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RightsAssociation,aPhiladelphia-basedsocialactivistgroupdedicatedtohelpingtribalpeople.Afterreviewinghisearlyresearchfindings,thegroupagreedtofinancepartofhisexpenses,althoughGellersreceivednofeestosupporthimself.

Aroundthistime,JosephNicholaspubliclyaccusedGellersof“exploitingtheIndiansforpersonalgain.”Gellersresponded:“IfIexperienceagreatdealmorepersonalgainofthissort,Ijustmaystarve.”

Bythelatewinterof1967,Gellers’marriagehadcollapsed,justashislandcasewascomingtogether.Hetoutedthelattertoreportersasaneffortto“redress146yearsoffiscalmisdealings”byMaine.

Short-staffed,heaskedtheLawStudentsCivilRightsResearchCouncilforasummerintern.Afewmonthslater,ayounglawstudentandhisgirlfriendpulledintothedrivewayinfrontofGellers’ramblingEastporthome.

Theinterngotoutofthecarandknockedonthedoor.HisnamewasTomTureen.

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CHAPTEREIGHT

Againstpolice,incourt,tribe’sstuckonlosingside

SEPTEMBER3,1967

An image created with a pinhole camera shows the shoreline off Pleasant Point in Down East Maine. Late in the summer of 1967, a routine traffic stop on the causeway leading to the reservation escalated into a violent conflict between Indians and the police.

Itstartedasaroutinetrafficstop.

MaineStateTrooperArloLundwasdrivingsouththroughthePleasantPointIndianreservationinhiscruiserat1inthemorning,accompaniedbya24-year-oldtribalconstablenamedBobbyNewell.AstheyexitedthereservationandstartedacrossthecausewaytoEastport,aconvertiblewithMassachusettsplatesandamissingtaillightpassedthemgoingintheoppositedirection.

RelationsbetweenIndiansandlawenforcementhadlongbeenstrained,becauseof

49

whatsheriffsandpoliceofficersbothwouldandwouldnotdo.

“Localpolicewereprettyroughonnativepeople,”recallsNewell,whohadbecomeaconstabletohelphispeople.“They’dshowupwithoutwarrantsoranything,dragsomeoneoutandthrowtheminjail,anditwouldtakealongtimetogetthemout.”

Apartfromunarmed,nonuniformedandessentiallyunpaidconstableslikeNewell,theIndianshadnopublicsafetypersonneloftheirown.Callsforhelp–tothepolice,thesheriff,thefiredepartment,orambulanceservices–wereoftenignored,astheyhadbeenthenightPeterFranciswaskilled.

“Mostofthetime,iftherewereafireonthereservation,thathousewouldjustburntotheground,andanambulancewouldtakeahalf-hourormoretoshowup,soifyouwerehavingaheartattackyoumightaswellwriteitoff,”saysNewell,who,likeothersofhisgeneration,grewupinahousethatlackedrunningwater,atelephoneorelectricappliances.“AlotofIndianpeoplewouldn’tevenreportacrime,becausetheyknewnothingwouldbecomeofit.”

Asconstable,Newellhadseenpoliceabuseup-close.“I’dbringsomebodyI’darrestedtotheEastportjail,andtheywouldbeinperfectshapeandcooperating,andwhenIgottocourt,theguywouldhavebeenbeatenup,”herecalls.“I’daskwhathappened,andhewouldsay,‘Nothing.’”SuchepisodeswerewearingonNewell,andhe’dsoonresignhispostasaresultofhisdisillusionment.

Newell’sinformalpartner,TrooperLund,wasdifferent,arecentarrivaltoWashingtonCountywhoshowednoprejudicetowardthetribe.Insteadoftreatingtheconstableswithcontempt,LundinvitedNewelltotagalongonhispatrolsandtohavecoffeewithhimandotherofficersinEastport.NewelltaughthimPassamaquoddyphrases,andLundwaspleasedtobeinvitedtoIndianhomestosocialize.

LunddidaU-turnonthecauseway,turnedonhislights,andpulledthecaroveratthereservationendofthecauseway.Hewentuptotalktothedriver,EdwardBassett,aPleasantPointnativeonhiswaybacktohisjobinMassachusetts.

Newell,sittinginthecruiser,sawaVolkswagenBeetlepullupbehindhim.OutsteppedEdward’shotheadedbrother,DannyBassett,amuscularformerArmyparatrooperwithaviolentpastandanevenmoreviolentfuture.InthecarwasDanny’smuch-abusedwife,Annabelle,hisbrotherVictor,twomalefriends,andDeannaFrancis,theformertribalgovernor’snieceandoneofthegirlstheMassachusettshuntershad

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allegedlypropositionedforsex,whowasnow19.They’dbeendrinkingattheRedRanchRoadhousejustdowntheroad.Dannywasitchingforafight.

NewellorderedDannytogetbackinhiscar.Danny,accordingtoNewell,jumpedhim.TheotheroccupantsoftheVWpiledout,andoneofthewomensaidinPassamaquoddy:“Don’thithim;he’sanIndian.Hittheotherguy;hitthewhiteman!”

Soon,LundandNewellwereengagedinaprolongedmeleeinwhichthetrooperwasbackflippedintoaguardrailandthecruiser’sradiomicrophonewasnearlytornout.Theyheldtheirown–assistedbyEdwardBassett,whophysicallyrestrainedhisbrother–untilDannyandhiscompanionsspedoffintheVolkswagen.

•••

Thisincidentwouldnothavebecomethecenterofstatewidemediaattentionifnotfortheeventsthatfollowedthatrainynight.

Around2a.m.,abouthalfanhourafterthefight,adozenofficers–statepolice,deputysheriffsandgamewardens–descendedonthereservation,breakingintoatleastfourhomesandbeatingIndians.

IndianwitnesseslatertestifiedthatDeannaFrancis,afreshmanattheUniversityofMaine,waskickedinthelowerabdomen,andthatAnnabelleBassettwasbeatenonthelegsandarmswithabillyclubbyLund.

(Lund,whoisretiredandlivinginNorthCarolina,didnotrespondtoaninterviewrequest.)

ThetwowomensaidDeannahadbeenslappedandshovedandhadherclothestornbyastatetrooperattheMachiasjailthenextday.

LundhimselfadmitteddraggingVictorBassettoutofacarbyhisshirt,atwhichpointanotherofficerclubbedthesuspectontheforeheadwithanightstick,causingconsiderablebleeding.

Newellsawseveralofficerspinanothersuspect,DavidHoman,againstthesideofahouse,demandingtoknowwhereDannyBassettwas.WhenHomansaidhedidn’tknow,Newellheardaseriesof“bumpsandwhacks”comingfromthescrum,afterwhichHomansaidDannywasatChristyAltvater’shome.

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Around3a.m.,amotorcadepulledupoutsideAltvater’shouse,oneofthecarsidlingoverthespotwherePeterFrancishadbeenbeatentodeath22monthsearlier.Thepoliceenteredunannouncedandwithoutawarrant,searchingforDanny.Insteadtheyfoundawhitehouseguest,RobertS.Howe,aninstructoratthePolandSpringJobCorps,whomtheyawakenedrudely.

“Theyshinedaflashlightinmyface,said,‘No,it’snothim’andleft,”recallsHowe,whowouldlaterserveasalegislatorandexecutivedirectoroftheMaineCivilLibertiesUnion.“Ifollowedthemoutintherain,andIyelled:‘Whatisgoingon?’Andatroopercameinandsaid,‘ShutuporI’llbustyou.’Thenhejustwalkedoff.Icouldn’tbelieveit.”

Thefollowingday,whenLundandNewellarrestedDeannaFrancis,HowerodewithhertotheMachiasjail,wherehesayshewitnessedastatetroopergrabandthrowheragainstastonewall,tearingherblouse.

Withindays,HowereportedtheincidentstothenewgovernorofMaine,KennethCurtis,whoorderedaninvestigation.Shortlythereafter,HowewasfiredbytheJobCorpsaftersomeonefromtheAttorneyGeneral’sOfficeplacedacalltoJobCorpsDirectorRobertLake.LakeconfirmedtoreportersthatthecallerhadlinkedHoweandtheIndiancasebutthendenieditadaylater.

•••

DonGellersrepresentedDannyBassettandtheothersixIndianswhohadbeeninvolvedintheinitialmelee,allofwhomwerechargedwithobstructinglawenforcement.Fourfacedanadditionalchargeofassaultingapoliceofficer.

Onthedayoftheirfirstcourtappearance,GellersdiscoveredoneofhisclientsbeinginterrogatedbyNewell,Lundandtheactingcountyattorney,ElbridgeDavis.Davis,Homanlatertestified,demandedtoknow“whatDonGellerstoldmetosayincourt.”GellersdenouncedthemoveasaviolationofHoman’srightsandtheAmericanBarAssociation’sCanonsofEthics.ThejudgedeniedhismotionforadismissalofchargesagainstHoman.

Thesubsequentlegalproceedingswerebizarre.Theinitialjudgerecusedhimselfwithoutexplanationinthemidstofthetrial.Hisreplacement,JudgeIanMacInnesofBangor,foundfourofthesevendefendantsguiltyofvariouscharges,butinannouncinghisverdictsaidhewas“verydisturbed”aboutthesideissuesinthecase,whichwere

52

“probablymoreimportantthantheactualcasebeforeme.”Heurged“aforthrightinvestigation”ofthepoliceactions.

Afewdayslater,agrandjuryissuednewindictmentsagainsttheIndians,includingaconspiracychargeMacInneshadthrownout.DeannaFrancis,whohadjustbeenfoundinnocentofassault,waschargedwithaggravatedassault.Sheandtwootherswhohadbeenfoundinnocentofobstructionwereonceagainchargedwithobstruction.

Gellersprotestedthatthesemovesamountedtodoublejeopardy;hewasoverruled.HismotiontohavetheproceedingsmovedtoCumberlandCountywasdenied.

WhentheAttorneyGeneral’sOfficeputforthlistsofpotentialjurors,notasingleonewasIndian.Gellerssuccessfullychallengedthelist,whichwasreissuedwithsomeIndiannames.Anall-whitejurywasnonethelessselectedfromit.

Beforethenewtrialstarted,allsevenIndianswerearrestedonadditional,secretindictments.GellersprotestedthatsinceallsevenIndianshadappearedvoluntarilyinthepast,therewasnopossiblereasontohavethemarrested.

Throughitall,nochargeswerefiledagainstthepolicefortheiractionsthatnight.TheywouldbeformallyclearedofanywrongdoinginFebruary1969byaWashingtonCountygrandjury.Newspapereditorialsdenouncedtheprocess,butStatePoliceChiefParkerHennesseyannouncedhewas“verypleased”withtheresults.

•••

Gellersplannedavigorousdefenseandappealsmotionsforhissevenclients.Buthewouldneverseethecasethrough.

Rumorshadbeenswirlingthatwinterthatthepolicewereouttogethim.EveryoneexceptGellershimselfseemedtoknowaboutit.

BobbyNewellhearditfromdeputysheriffsinEastport.BangorDailyNewsreporterJohnDaywastoldofitbysheriffsinOldTown.RumorsevenreachedGellers’internfromtheprevioussummer,TomTureeninWashington,D.C.,whosayshetelephonedtowarnhisformerboss.

“TherewasnoquestionthatthestatepolicewereouttogetGellersbecausehewasa‘badactor,’a‘criminaldruguseranddealer’–allthosejustificationstheyusedto

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rationalizewhattheyweredoing,”recallsDanielG.Lilley,whowastheassistantattorneygeneralwhoprosecutedseveralphasesofthecaseagainstDannyBassettandtheotherIndians.

Gellers,Lilleyrecalls,wasaneasyguytohate,particularlyamongthelaw-and-orderconservativesofthatcontentiousera.HerecallsGellersarrivinglatetocourtbeforeJudgeThomasDelahanty,aformeragentinJ.EdgarHoover’sFBI,whomadelifehardondefendants.“He’dshowupdisheveled,hesmelledbadandlookedlikehe’dsleptinabarn.Heworedirtywhiteshirtswithlousyties,”herecalls.“Hewasobviouslysmart,buthewantedtodieoneveryhill.EverythingwasgoingtogototheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStates.”

Delahantywasclearlyannoyedwiththeattorney.“Gellerswouldshowuplate,anditalmostseemedlikehewasdoingittopissthejudgeoff,”Lilleyrecalls.“Hewasjustperfect,straightoutofcentralcasting.”

Thestatepolice,Lilleyrecalls,werecowboys.“IrodeuptoCalaiswithsomeofthemontheAirlineRoad,andtheywouldstopandgetboozeandseegirlfriends.Theywereontopoftheworld,anditwasquiteaneye-openerforayounglawyer,”hecontinues.“Anditwasjustusversusthem,andtheywerefightingtheIndianwarsalloveragain.Itwasdiscriminationatitsworst.”

“Themotivationsofpeoplehigherupthanmewerealittleskewedfromwhattheyshouldhavebeen,”hesays.

HyMayerson,aPhiladelphiaattorneywholaterrepresentedGellers,saystheyounglawyerdefinitelyrubbedmanythewrongway.“Youhavethisindividualwhotalksasifhe’sdeliveringsermonsfromtheMount,andtheproblemwassometimeshewas,andatthesametimehewasdoingithewassmokingalotofweed,”hesays.“Butmostofallhewasjustpompous.Andbrilliant.Sohewasathorninthesideofthosewhosay,‘DoasIsayoryou’redead.’”

Then,inthemidstofitall,wordgotaroundthatGellerswasabouttomakehismostprovocativemoveyetonbehalfofthePassamaquoddy.Hislandclaimscasewasabouttobefiled.

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CHAPTERNINE

‘AllthePassamaquoddywantiswhatbelongstothem’

MARCH8,1968

A dirt road leads into the woods in Indian Township, one of two Passamaquoddy reservations in Washington County. After years of research, an attorney representing the tribe in the mid-1960s believed he had found the way forward in a potentially historic land claims case against the state.

Afterfiveyearsofresearch,DonGellersfelthehadcrackedthePassamaquoddy’slandclaimscase.Thestate,hebelieved,owedthetribeinexcessof$150millionandtitletotensofthousandsofacresoflandillegallyappropriatedfromtheirtreatylandsontheeasternbranchoftheSt.CroixRiver.

Nowhewasreadytofileit.

HebelievedthefactsshowedthatMainehadfailedtoliveuptoitsobligationsunderthe1794treaty,whichhadbeenexplicitlypassedontoMainewhenthestateregainedits

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independencefromMassachusettsin1820.Thetrustfund–worthperhaps$150million– hadbeenmismanagedandlooted,andnowcontainedonly$70,000.SwathsoftheIndians’landhadbeengivenillegallytowhitesettlers.

Gellers’briefwoulddemandfullcompensationforthesebreachesofcontract,areimbursementoftheirtrustfund“andallaccruedandaccumulatedincome”andareturnofstolenland.(Hiscontractwiththetribegavehima10percentcontingencyfee,soifsuccessfulhestoodtocollect$15million.)

Therewasoneconsiderableobstacle,however:Maine,almostaloneamongthestates,refusedtoallowitselftobesued.ButGellersbelievedhe’dfoundawayaroundtheproblem.

HewouldservehissuitontheCommonwealthofMassachusetts–whichhadnosuchprohibition–forfailingtoupholdthe1794treaty.Massachusetts,presumably,wouldthensueMaineasanaggrievedsovereign.

Thestrategy,whichfocusedonmoneymorethanland,hadtheaddedattractionofthreateningonlyahandfulofpropertyowners.“Therearefourwhitefamiliessquattingontheland,andtheIndiansarewillingtoletthemstay,”GellerstoldtheBostonHerald.

“AllthePassamaquoddywantiswhatbelongstothem,nomore.”

•••

Theresearchhadbeenexhausting,ahuntfordocumentarytreasureslostinarchivesscatteredfromthecapitaloftheUnitedStatestothecapitalofNewBrunswick.TheIndianRightsAssociationgrants–about$7,000ayear–hadkepttheprojectgoing,buthewaslivinghandtomouth,drivingaChevyhe’dpurchasedfor$150.

Hiswifehadlefthimalmostayearbefore,andhestartedinvitinghiscounterculturefriendstocrashandsmokedopeatthe32-roomEastporthomethathousedhisofficeandsprawlinglibrary.

Hehadtakenupwithoneofhisclients,AnnabelleBassett,theestrangedwifeofDannyBassett,perhapsthemostphysicallyimposinganddangerousIndianoneitherreservation.Bassett,Gellerslaterwrote,hadbeatenhiswife“viciouslyandconstantly,eventothepointofhospitalization.”Bassettknewtheyintendedtomarryoncethedivorcewentthrough.“Hesaidtome,‘Iwilldestroyyouandeveryoneassociatedwith

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you,’”Gellersrecalled.

TomTureen,whohadworkedonthelandclaimscaseasaninterninthesummerof1967,foundGellersbrilliantbutdisturbing.Inthe1990s,hetoldauthorNeilRoldethatGellershadbythenfallenintoaself-imposeddecline,wasdeepintodrugs,andwas“asweirdandpervertedanddemonicasanyoneI’veevermet.”

Today,Tureendeclinestoelaborate,excepttosay:“Hewas–howshouldwesay–averyimperfectperson.”

Otherswhoknewhimhadalessvisceralreaction.FormerIndianTownshipGov.JohnStevensremembershimas“averykindandgentleman,”and“arealfriend.”WilliamWilliamson,aPressHeraldreporter,cametocounthimasafriendafterleavingthepaper.“Beingwithhimwasoftenexasperating,sometimesdownrightaggravating,butnever,neverdull,”helaterrecalled.“Hehadahighdegreeofpersonalmagnetism,andIthoughthewasawitty,intelligentandthoroughlydecentfellow.”

Hewas,however,loathedbymany,denouncedas“thatIndianlawyer”andaccused,asWilliamsonrecalled,“ofjustabouteverythingfromdopepeddlingtomiscegenationtoadvocatingtheviolentoverthrowofthegovernment.”

“YouwouldrunthegauntletgoingintoDon’shousesometimes,becausetheywouldputupplacardssaying‘GetoutofEastport’orthrowthingsatthehouse,”recallshisofficeassistantatthetime,FrancesTomah,whosaystherewerealwaysalotofhangers-onatthehouse,whichhadbecomeasortof“openhouseforafree-floatingsetofNewYorkers.”

“Hewasallbusinessduringtheday,butIthinktheyprobablysataroundandsmokedpotanddiscussedhowtheworldshouldwork,”sheadds.“Tomwassuperstraightandsqueakyclean,andnotatallapartofthatscene.”

Gellers,shethinksinretrospect,wasstrugglingtobeaccepted.“Hereallywaslookingforahomeland,andhethoughthemighthavefounditwiththePassamaquoddy.”

•••

Stateandlocalofficialswerestillhoundinghim.ThecommissionerofthenewIndianAffairsDepartment,EdHinckley,triedtopersuadetheIndianRightsAssociationtocut

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offitscrucialfinancialsupport,insinuatingtheattorneywassquanderingmoneybetterspentonotherpurposes.

Hinckleyhadconvincedtwooftheassociation’sboardmembersthata“statelawyer”shouldbehandlingthecase,apparentlyunawarethatthetribehadsoughtandbeenrefusedjustsuchrepresentation.Hevisitedtheassociation’sheadquartersinPhiladelphiabearingalettersignedbyJosephNicholas,theleaderofthetribe’snon-confrontationalfaction,andadozenotherIndians,callingforGellerstoberemovedastribalcounsel.Thetribalgovernment,however,reasserteditsfaithintheattorney.

“IthinkthestateispressuringHinckleybecauseitdoesn’twantourcasetogotocourt,”IndianTownshipGov.JohnStevenstoldthePressHeraldwhenHinckley’seffortbecamepublic.“Ithinkthiswholebusinessisjusttofoulitup.”

Inlate1966,HinckleyandhisnewIndianagent,ArnoldDavis,approachedformercountyattorneyFrancisBrownaboutapossiblegrandjuryinvestigationofGellersinconnection,Davislaterclaimed.TheproposedinvestigationwastofocusonGellers’actionsduringhisstruggleswiththeIndianAffairsDepartment,butitisunclearexactlywhattheirallegationswere.

Meanwhile,StevensandformerPleasantPointGov.GeorgeFrancis–nowthetribe’srepresentativetotheLegislature–chargedDaviswascontinuingmanyofthepracticesthatmadehispredecessor,HiramHall,soreviled.Davis,a58-year-oldformerforestrywarden,eventoldPressHeraldreporterWilliamWilliamsonhehaddeepadmirationforHallandhopedhecoulddo“halfasgoodajob”ashehad.

TheIndians,Davisadded,“gettoomuchnow”andshouldbeassimilatedintowhitesociety.“They’relikeratsinabarrelaslongasthey’reoutthereonthereservations,livingonwelfare.”

DavisalsoclaimedhehadproofthatsomeofthevolunteersworkingonthereservationswithVISTA–orVolunteersinServicetoAmerica,thedomesticversionofthePeaceCorps–werehomosexuals.Pressedforevidenceinregardstooneoftheaccused,heclaimedhecould“telljustbylookingathim.”

Daviswasultimatelysackedformakingcommentslikethesetothepress,butpubliclyheblamedGellers–whohadorganizedapetitiondriveagainsthim–forhisfiring.

ThepolicecontinuedtopullGellersover,apparentlyhopingtofindhiminpossession

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ofmarijuana.HeandJohnStevensbegantosuspectthepolicehadtappedhisphone,anassertionStevenssaystheytestedbygivingoutwordofwheretheattorneywassupposedlyabouttogo.Thepolicewereawaitinghimthere.

Throughobstaclespersonalandpolitical,Gellerstrudgedon.AndonMay8,1968,hedrovetoPortland,pickedupreporterWilliamWilliamson,anddrovetotheSuffolkCountyCourthouseinBostontofilePassamaquoddyTribevs.Massachusetts.

WhenhereturnedhometoEastport,thepolicewerewaitingforhim.

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CHAPTERTEN

TheEastportsting:Tribe’sattorneycomeshometocuffs

MARCH10,1968

A woman walks past the Eastport house that Don Gellers called home whenhe represented the Passamaquoddys in the 1960s. Gellers was arrested here in1968, right after filing a $150 million land claims suit for the tribe, on charges of

“constructive possession” of marijuana cigarettes.

HavingfiledthePassamaquoddy’sunprecedentedlandclaimssuitagainstMassachusettsandbyextensionMaine,thetribe’sattorneyDonGellersreturnedhometoEastport,arrivingtheeveningofMarch10.

Inside,heexpectedtofindhiscurrenthouseguest,AlCox,perhapstheonlyblackmaninWashingtonCounty,whoserentalhome’sfurnacehadfailedduringthewinter.

ButalongsideCoxinthelivingroom,toweringoverGellers,wasDannyBassett–whoseestrangedwifehadlefthimandwasintendingtomarryGellers–aswellasaman

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he’dneverseenbefore.DannyintroducedthemanasLarryBurke,aBoston-basedgangsteraffiliatedwiththenotoriousanddeadlyPatriarcacrimefamily.

“That’swhatgreetedmewhenIcamehome,”Gellersrecalls.“Whoknowshowlongthey’dbeeninthehouseandwhatthey’dbeendoing.”

Infact,they’dbeencomingandgoingoutofthehouseforseveraldays,allegedlyterrorizingCox.AccordingtoGellers,Bassettwashavingsexwithagirlfriendinhisbed.

ThepurportedMafiososaidhehadatrafficsummonsheneededadviceon.Bassettdroppedominouslythatthewiseguyhadonceshotamaninaparkinglotonlittleprovocation.BassettalsowantedGellerstogivehimmarijuanaandsometravelmoneytotakeatriptoNewBrunswick.Gellerstookhimtohisofficeandwrotehimacheckfor$100.TheytalkedaboutthesituationwithAnnabelleandthepoliceassaultcaseagainstbothoftheBassetts,whomGellerswasdefendingincourt.

BassettlatersaidGellersrolledhimsevenmarijuanacigarettes;Gellerssaysthatwhileheusedmarijuana,hedidn’thaveanyinthehousethatday.

BassettandBurkeleftaboutmidnight,buttheywerebackthenextafternoon,againseekingdope.TheywouldclaimGellersturnedtoCoxandsaid“rollDannysixcigarettes.”GellerswenttohisofficetoplaceacalltotheAttorneyGeneral’sOfficeinconnectionwiththepoliceassaultcase.

Meanwhile,thetwovisitorswouldclaim,Coxwentupstairsandreturnedwithsixjoints.Bassettlitoneup.

TheMafioso–inrealitystatepoliceDetectiveW.LawrenceHall–chargedintoGellers’office,pointingagun,andplacedhimunderarrest.Hall,wavinghisgunaround,radioedtoasquadofstatepoliceofficerswaitingnearbysaying,accordingtoGellers,“You’dbettercomein.Thesituation’sfallingapart.”DannyBassettburstintotheofficeaheadofthem,grinningandsmokinghisjoint.“Noonebotheredhimaboutit,”Gellersnoted.

(Hall,now80,recallshavinghisgunoutduringthearrest,butsayshedoesn’trememberBassettsmokingajoint.Hallwaseagertobehelpful,buthismemoriesoftheGellersinvestigationarefragmentaryasaresultoffourstrokes.)

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•••

GellerscalledPressHeraldreporterWilliamWilliamsonrightthenandthereaftersomehowconvincingHallhehadtherighttodoso.Thereporterrecalled“analmostincoherentconversation”duringwhichthedistraughtattorneyyelledatthearrestingofficertostoppointinghisgunathim.“Isn’ttheresomethingyoucando?”Gellerskeptrepeating.

“ForaslongasIknewhim,Gellershadanobsessiveanddistortedbeliefinthepowerofthepress,”Williamsonwouldrecall.“Thistimewasnodifferent.”

GellersandCoxwerehandcuffedanddraggedintowaitingcruisers.AtacommandpostsetupinaCalaishoteltooverseetheoperation,AssistantAttorneyGeneralJohnKellygotthewordthatthearresthadgonedown.HewaswaitingatthecourthousewhenGellerswasdraggedin.AlsoatthecommandpostforthisroutinepotbustwereatleastfivepolicemenincludingthecommandingofficeroftheStatePolice’sBureauofStateIdentification,Lt.EmeryR.Jordan,andLt.CharlesR.Bruton,whowasappointedheadoftheBureauofCriminalInvestigationshortlythereafter.

SinceHallhadn’tseenGellersinpossessionofmarijuana,theattorneywouldultimatelybechargedwith“constructivepossession,”basedonthepolicedetective’sallegationthatCoxhadgottenthesixjointsfromthepocketofGellers’jacket.

Today,Hallsayshewouldneverhaveplantedevidence,butthatBassettandotherIndianshewasworkingwithontheoperationhadaccesstothehouseforseveraldays,andwerevisitingitwithouthissupervision.Healsoagreesthatitisunusualtohavecommittedsuchextensiveresources–includingwhathesayswereseveralweeksofhistimeembeddedwithBassett–tomakeaminormarijuanabust.

“Theyjustsaid,‘getthisguyoutofhere,’theydidn’treallysaywhy,”Hallrecallsofhisordersfromhissuperiors.“Ithadtodowithdrugs,butitwasjustmarijuana.Imeantoday,whoeventhinksaboutit?”

PossessionofsuchasmallquantityofpothassincebeendecriminalizedandcanbelegallypurchasedinMaineformedicalpurposes.Evenin1968,Mainelawmakershaddecidedthatpossessionshouldn’tbeafelonyandhadmadeitamisdemeanoroffenseearlierthatlegislativesession.

Buttherewasacatch.Thenewlawwassubjecttolegalchallenges,socourtscould

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technicallycontinuetoconvictpeopleundertheoutgoingfelonystatute.Gellers,tohisshock,foundhimselffacingtwotofouryearsinprisonandautomaticdisbarment.

•••

LettersfoundbythePressHeraldattheMaineStateArchivesrevealtheextraordinaryeffortstakenbystateprosecutorstoensureGellersfacedfelonychargesastheypreparedthecasefortrial.

Alarmedthatsomemarijuanaoffenderswerebeingchargedunderthemisdemeanorstatute,theAttorneyGeneral’sOfficeorderedallcountyattorneystoprosecuteundertheoldfelonylaw.AttorneyGeneralJamesErwinmetwithChiefJusticeRobertWilliamsontodiscussthe“apparentmisconductbyDistrictCourtJudges”whoobservedthenewer,morelenientlaw.

Takingnochances,prosecutionofGellers’routinemarijuanacasewasconductedbytheheadofthecriminaldivisionoftheAttorneyGeneral’sOffice,RichardCohen,assistedbyKelly,bothofwhomdrovetoMachiasforthatpurpose.

Tonobody’ssurprise,aWashingtonCountyjuryfoundhimguiltythefollowingMarch.

AtfinalsentencinginMay1969,JudgeWilliamSilsbysoundedapologetic.“IhavegivenyoutheminimumsentencethatIcouldimposeunderthelawasitiswritteninthestatutesofthisstate,”hesaid.“Ifyouragehadbeenyounger,IwouldnothavebeenobligedtosendyoutoStatePrison”insteadofthemen’sreformatory.“Ihavenootherchoice.”

Hewasgivenatwo-tofour-yearsentence.

Gellerspostedbailandthenwasdeclaredindigentbythecourt.

Bythistime,DannyBassetthadpleadedguiltyinthepolicestopassaultcase.Hehadbeengivenasuspendedsentenceandreleasedwithoutsomuchasafine.AsGellerswaspreparingtheappealofhisownchargesinthesummerof1969,BassettgotintoaquarrelwithunarmedtribalconstablePercyMooreandshotandkilledhimwithabolt-actionrifle.Thestateprosecutor–noneotherthanRichardCohen–agreedtohisrequesttohavehismurdertrialconductedwithoutajury.

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Thejudgefoundhiminnocentbyreasonofself-defense.ManyonthereservationsbelievedBassettgotawaywithbothcrimesaspartofadealhehadmadewithprosecutorstohelpthemgetridofGellers.

“Thetribewasinshockbecauseherewehadsomebodywhowaslegallygoingtoprotectourrightsandthestatejusttakeshimout,”saystribalhistorianDonaldSoctomah.“Peoplewereprettynervous–whatweretheygoingtodonext,attackus?Theywerethelawandcoulddoanythingtheywant.”

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CHAPTERELEVEN

Evidenceemerges,lendingcredencetoconspiracy

1969

A fallen leaf, captured by a pinhole camera, appears almost animal-like on aroad through Peter Dana Point in Indian Township. In the late 1960s, the tribe’sattorney, Don Gellers, was appealing his conviction on the drug charge that had

gotten him disbarred.

DonGellersandhissupportersbelievedhewasbeingframedinaconspiracyinvolvingthepolice,thecourts,theAttorneyGeneral’sOfficeandtheIndianwhoseestrangedwifehehadbecomeinvolvedwith,allwiththeaimofretiringthePassamaquoddy’shatedandeffectivedefender.

Theevidencesuggeststheywerecorrect.

AprominentBostontriallawyer,HarveySilverglate,sooncameforwardwitharemarkablestory:OnApril18,1968–justamonthafterGellers’arrest–hehadhad

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cocktailsinaBangorrestaurantwithAssistantAttorneyGeneralJohnKelly,whobraggedtohimthat“thepowersthatbeinthisstate”weregoingtotakedownGellerswiththemarijuanachargebecausehewasa“troublemaker”whowas“stirringuptheIndians”andthey“wantedtogethimofftheIndiansuit.”TheywereusingDannyBassett,anIndianwhosewifewasromanticallyinvolvedwiththeyoungattorney,tohelpthemgettheirman.

SilverglatelatertestifiedthatKellyhadtoldhimthattheAG’sofficehadbeenworkingwithDannysothathe“wouldhavehisrevenge”andthat“ultimately,iftheycouldconvictGellersofamarijuanachargeoranydrugcharge,theywouldproceedtodisbarhimandgethimoutofthecase.”

“(Kelly)saidDannywasgoingtobetheinstrumentalityingettingtoGellers,”Silverglatetoldthecourt.“Itookittomeanitwasasetup.”

Silverglate,whobecameaprominentandhighlyrespectedcivillibertieslawyer,stillrecallsthescene46yearslater.“TheprosecutorwastalkingaboutgettingGellers,anditwasobvioustometheywerelookingtowintheIndiansuitbydisablingthelawyer,”saysSilverglate,whocametoMainetogivetestimonyinGellers’hearingforanewtrial.“It’snotunprecedentedthatprosecutorswouldgoafterthelawyerwhowasgivingthemaggravation.”

SilverglatehimselffeltvulnerablecomingtoMainetotestifyagainsttheauthorities.“Idon’tthinktheywereveryhappyabouthavingmetestify,andIwassureGellerswouldn’tbethelasttoberetaliatedagainstfortakingonanunpopularcause,”saysSilverglate,whoseclientshaveincludedLeonaHelmsley,MichaelMilken,andtheChurchofScientology.“That’swhy,assoonasItestified,Igotthehelloutoftown.”

AfederalprisonerinOhio,ScottWorkman,latersentGellers’formerintern,TomTureen,asignedaffidavit,sayinghehadbeenreleasedfromtheHancockCountyJailinSeptember1967afteragreeingwithastatetroopertoplaytheroleofthePatriarcagangsterintheforthcomingsting.

“Sgt.JoeMcCarthycamedownintothebasementandcalledmetothesideandtoldmethatanattorneybythenameofGellerswasatroublemakerwhowasstirringuptheIndiansdownthere,andthattheyweregoingtogethim,”Workmanwrote.IfWorkmanwould“poseasarunawaygunman”fromthePatriarcafamilyandhelpstatepoliceDetectiveW.LawrenceHall“inplantingmarijuanainGellers’home,”thenthechargesagainsthimwouldbedismissedwiththehelpofAssistantAttorneyGeneralKelly.

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Workmansaidheagreedandhischargesweredropped.Heclaimedhelaterreceivedwordthat“thedealisoff,”theimplicationbeingthattheauthoritieshadallegedlydecidedtohaveoneoftheirowndetectivesplaytheroleinstead.

•••

KellytestifedincourtthatherememberedhavingcocktailswithSilverglateinApril1968,buthadnorecollectionofdiscussingtheGellerscasewithhim.Today,KellysayshehasnomemoryofbeinginvolvedineithertherestaurantconversationnortheallegeddealwithWorkman,butheadmitstheAttorneyGeneral’sOfficebehaviorshouldraiseeyebrows.“Iwasafreshmanattorneyandmoreofagoferman,sotheyweren’tbringingmeintoanyhigh-levelconversations,”saysKelly,whonowpracticeslawinPortland.“Idorecallbeingtakenabackatthepoliceactionandtheprosecutionlevelandtheirattitudetowardmarijuana,whichwhenyoulookbackfromtheperspectiveoftodaywaslaughable.”

“Obviouslytheywereverymotivated(togetGellers),”headds.“Thefactsspeakforthemselves.”

Further,in1968,EdHinckleywassackedascommissionerofthestate’snewIndianAffairsDepartmentforrefusingtocuthisexpenditures.Gov.KennethCurtis–animportantallyoftheIndians–appointedformerPassamaquoddytribalGov.JohnStevenstoreplacehim.Beforestartingwork,StevensrecallsCurtisaskinghimiftherewasanythinghewantedtoknow.“Isaid,‘Yes,Iwanttoknow:DidyouplantthatstuffonDonGellers?,’”Stevensrecalls.“Iftheyplantedit,Ican’ttrustthestatepolice.”

Thereafter,Stevenssays,hewasinvitedtothegovernor’soffice.There,Hall,thepolicedetectivewho’dposedastheMafioso,reluctantlyadmittedtohaving“putallthosecigarettesalloverthehouseandinsideDonGellers’suitpockets.”Curtis,Stevenssaid,wasapologetic.Hallwasnot.“Theydidn’twanttobeexposedhowtheyoperate.”

ReachedathisFloridahome,formerGov.Curtissaidhecouldn’trecallthemeetingbutdidn’tdenyitmighthaveoccurred.Hallalsodidn’trecallthemeeting,butsaiditcouldhavehappened,ashehadknownCurtis,whowasafellowMaineMaritimeAcademyalumnus;Hallsaidhewouldneverhaveplantedevidencehimself,butcouldn’tvouchforDannyBassettandotherIndianswhohadunsupervisedaccesstoGellers’homeforseveraldaysduringtheoperation.

Yearslater,BangorDailyNewsreporterJohnDaywrotethatinthemonthsbeforethe

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sting“therewerepersistentrumorsinlawenforcementcirclesaboutastatepoliceinvestigationofGellers.”OnreturningfromameetinginAugustainFebruary1968,OldTownpoliceChiefOtisN.LaBreetoldDaythat“theboysintheAttorneyGeneral’sOfficewerebustingtheirtailstonailalawyerupinEastportondrugchargesbecausehewas‘stirringuptheIndians’,”accordingtooneofDay’spublishedaccounts,whichappearedin1980.

“Ifeltatthetimetheywerereallygunningfor(Gellers)becausehewasanunpopularguy,”saysretiredattorneyCushmanAnthony,oneoftheonlylawyersinMainewhowaswillingtorepresentGellersonappeal.“Theyweretryingtogetridofagrainofsandintheoyster.”

•••

GellersbelievestheconspiracyextendedallthewaytoCurtis’office,becausehesaysheoverheardAssistantAttorneyGeneralRichardCohenplacingaphonecallthereimmediatelyafterGellers’conviction.Thisseemsunlikely,however,asthegovernorandAttorneyGeneralJamesErwinwerepoliticalrivals;indeedErwin,aconservative“lawandorder”Republican,ranagainstCurtisinthenextelection.

“ItwasveryquestionableastowhetherornotGellerswasguilty,”formerGov.Curtisrecalls,addinghisownrelationshipwiththeAttorneyGeneral’sOfficewas“basicallyuncooperative.”

“IthinkGellerswassocontroversialtocertainsegmentsofthepopulationthattheytriedtoentraphim,”Curtissays.

Inanotherstrangeincidentafewdaysafterthesting,Gellers’friendandco-defendantAlCox–freeonbail–steppedoutofGellers’housetoallegedlydiscoverDannyBassettandhisnephewAnthony“Pluto”Stanleyslashingtheupholsteryintheattorney’scarandpouringsugarintothegastank.WhenGellerstriedtopresscharges,hesaystheAttorneyGeneral’sOfficesentDetectiveHall–whowasbasedinYorkCounty–toactasa“specialinvestigator”onthecomplaint.StanleyadmittedheandBassettwereguilty–Gellerssays–butHallrefusedtobelievehissignedaffidavitandthecourtinCalaisrefusedtoissueacomplaint.(Halltodaysayshedoesn’trecalltheincident.)

Thatlawenforcementwasworkingtogetridofanunpopularattorneyseemedclear.Theeventsthatfollowedwouldalsoputthecourtsinanunfavorablelight.

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CHAPTERTWELVE

Tribe’sattorneytriestoappeal,buthurdlesprovetoohigh

MARCH1969TOMAY1971

A pinhole camera captures vegetation growing from a basketball court at thePassamaquoddy’s Pleasant Point reservation in Washington County. Forty yearsago, the tribe’s attorney, Don Gellers, faced an uphill fight as he tried to appeal

his drug conviction.

DonGellerstriedtoappealhisconvictionbutwasturneddownonatechnicality.

Basedonnewevidencethathewasbeingpersecutedforpoliticalreasons,thePassamaquoddy’slawyersoughtanewtrialonthechargesthathehadsixmarijuanacigarettesinhishouse.Butasthemotionwasbeingpreparedinthefallof1970,hisattorneydied,greatlyhobblingtheeffort.

Destitute,Gellersturnedtohisformerintern,TomTureen,whohadreturnedtoeasternWashingtonCountyasanattorneyforPineTreeLegalAssistance,anonprofitthatprovidedfreelegalrepresentationtopoorpeople.

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Tureen,25,hadfalleninlovewiththeareaduringhisinternshipwithGellersinthesummerof1967.Heandhisfuturewife,SusanAlbright,hadlivedinGellers’wife’semptypaintingstudioononeoftheheadlandslookingoverthesea.TheBeatles’recentlyreleasedalbum,“Sgt.Pepper’sLonelyHeartsClubBand,”wasspinningontheturntable.AtatimewhenmanywhiteAmericansassumedthereweren’tanyIndiansleftontheEastCoast,Tureenfoundhimselfamongapeoplewhonotonlyretainedtheirlanguagebut,insomepockets,didn’tspeakEnglishatall.

“Itwasveryremote,thesettingwasdramatic,andthewrongsagainstthetribeweresoobvious,”Tureenrecalls.“Ihadgoneuptherethinkingitwouldn’tbeanythingmorethanasummerinternship,butthepullwassostrongIendedupspending35yearsworkingwiththem.…Itwasatransformativeexperienceforme.”

Afterward,TureenreturnedtoGeorgeWashingtonUniversityLawSchool.HegraduatedinJune1969and,withtheencouragementofformerIndianTownshipGov.JohnStevens,movedtoCalaistoworkforPineTreeLegal.HesoonbecameinterestedinGellers’landclaimscase,whichhadstalledwhilehisformerbosstriedtofighthispot-bustconvictions.

BythetimeGellersreachedouttohimindesperation,Tureenwasbeginningtodigintothecase,informedbyhisknowledgeofthetreatiesanddocumentsGellershadpainstakinglyassembledoverthepreviousfiveyears.Hestarteddevelopinganalternativetheoryofthelandclaimscase.

GellersandTureenputtogetherthefirstnewtrialmotion,basedonBostonattorneyHarveySilverglate’sclaimthatanassistantattorneygeneralhadadmittedthathisofficewasinvolvedinasetupthatresultedinthedrugchargesagainstGellers,andonnewtestimonyfromtribalmembers.

Tureen’ssignedappealtothecourtpraisedGellersas“thelonelegalchampionofthecivilrightsofthestate’smostpersecutedminority,theIndians”andsaidhisrepresentationofthemhad“arousedthedispleasureoftheAttorneyGeneral’sOffice,”whichhadsoughttopreventhislandclaimslawsuit“fromeverbeingheardincourt,andtostopthedefendantfromgivingfurtherlegalassistancetotheIndians.”TheAG’sofficehad“subjectedthedefendanttoterroristicmeasuresneveremployedonanyoneelseinordertoelicithimtogetmarijuana”includingsendingatwo-manteamtointimidatehimwiththesuggestionofviolence.

Ithadallbeendone,Tureenwrote,“solelyoutofmaliciouspoliticalmotive.”

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•••

ButaccordingtoGellersandanotherattorney,TureensuddenlyabandonedhisclientjusthoursbeforethecrucialhearingforanewtrialattheappealscourtinEllsworth.(Tureensayshedoesn’trecallthishappening.)

PhiladelphiaattorneyHyMayersonsayshewasintheroomwhenithappened.HehadbeensenttoMainebytheNationalLawyersGuild,whichwasextremelyconcernedaboutthewaythestatewashandlingthecriminalcase,toexpresstheirreservationsthroughanamicuscuriaeor“friendofthecourt”brief.

Tureen,asMayersonandGellersbothrecall,wasdetachedduringthemeeting,hisattentionfocusedonalawreviewarticlehewaspreparingonhisnewtheoryonthelandclaims.TheysaidhewouldoccasionallyaskGellerssomequestionaboutthetreaties.“Hewasn’trepresentinghisclient.Hewaswithdrawingandpayingnoattentiontothemomentoushearingthatwastakingplacethenextday,”recallsMayerson,nowaprominentclass-actionattorneyinPennsylvania.“Hesaid,‘Youtakecareofit,Mayerson!’”

“IthoughtIwasgoinguptorepresenttheNationalLawyersGuildinitsstrategicposition–thatevenifthemarijuanahadbelongedtoGellers,ithadnoharmfuleffect–andsuddenlyIfindmyselfdefendingalawyerinacriminalhearingbecauseTureenwouldn’tdoit,”hesays.

Atthehearingthenextday,Mayersonwroteinaswornaffidavit,“Tureenwhiledawaythehours,sittingnexttome,proofreadingthataforementionedlaw-reviewarticledraft,andnotvolunteeringtosayordoanythingintheday’sproceedings,forhisclient.”

Gellersfeltcompletelyblindsided:“Thebetrayalwassosuddenandshocking,”hesays.“IthoughtTomandIwerefriends.Heappearedwithmeontelevision,andwehadthishistoryofhavingdonesomanythingstogetherwherehewasatrustedperson.”

Aroundthistime,theembattledattorneywaslodgingatthehomeofthenow-retiredPressHeraldreporterWilliamWilliamson,wholaterrememberedGellers’phonecallstoTureen,inwhichhepleadedwithhimtoserveashiscounselonhisfinalappeals.“Tureenrefused,andGellerslaunchedintoaverbaltiradeagainsthisformerfriendthatwasbeyondanythingIhaveeverheard,”Williamsonwouldlaterwrite.

WhetherTureenhadsimplybecomeconsumedanddistractedbyhislandclaims

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researchorrathersawadvantageinabandoninghisformerboss’slegaldefenseisunknown.

Mayersonbelievesthelatter.“Itwasplottedanddiabolical,”hesays.

Inaninterview,Tureenwasaskedabouttheseepisodes,andfirstsaidhewasn’talawyeryet,sohecouldn’thaverepresentedGellers.Whenhismemorywasrefreshedwithcitationsfromcourtpapersdocumentinghisroleandthetimeframeoftheevents,hesaidhedidn’trememberthedetails,butbelievedhisemployer,PineTreeLegalAssistance,hadpulledhimoffthecase.

DonaldFontaine,then-presidentofPineTree,saidthatmayhavebeenso,astherehadbeenachangeinpolicyaroundthattimebytheprogram’sfunder,thefederalOfficeofEconomicOpportunity,forbiddingitslawyersfromhandlingcriminalcases.“Itwouldn’thavehadanythingtodowiththefactitwasGellers,”hesaid.“Wewouldhavebeendelightedtorepresenthim,butIsuspectthatwasprobablythescenario.”

•••

Regardless,Tureen’ssuddenwithdrawalleftGellerswithoutproperlegalrepresentation,forcinghimtocross-examinewitnesseshimself.Itmaynothavemattered,however,asJudgeWilliamS.Silsby–thesamejudgewhohadearlierfoundhimguilty–appeareddeadsetagainsthiscase.ThestateonceagainwasrepresentedbyAssistantAttorneyGeneralRichardCohen.

SilsbyrefusedtoletthePassamaquoddyAnthony“Pluto”StanleytestifytoanythingconcerningthevandalismepisodehewitnessedinvolvingGellers’carandstatepoliceDetectiveW.LawrenceHall’sallegedinterventiontopreventchargesfrombeingfiledintheincident.Gellerswantedtointroducetheseincidentsasevidenceofaconspiracy,withthestateauthoritiesallegedlywillingtocoverupaninformant’scrimeswhiletheattorneywasfightingforhisfreedom.AccordingtoGellers,thejudgealsorefusedtoletStanleytestifythatDannyBassett–whobythenhadkilledIndianConstablePercyMoore–hadtoldhimthatheintendedtokillGellersaswell.

GellerssaysformertribalGov.GeorgeFranciscametotestifythatBassetthadbeatenhiswife,Annabelle,tothepointwheresheneededhospitalization,andthatBassetthadtoldhimhehadframedGellersandgottenawaywithmurderasthepayoff.Franciswasnotallowedtotestify.

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JohnSockabasincametotestifythatBassettandHallhadpliedhimwithliquoronthereservationtogethimtoleadthemintoGellers’homewithoutpermissionwhiletheyoungattorneywasinBostonfilingtheIndians’potentiallyepiclandclaimslawsuit.Again,JudgeSilsbyrefusedtoallowhimtotakethestand.

Gellerswasn’tallowedtoaskHallwhohaddispatchedhimtoinvestigatethevandalismoftheattorney’scar,ortoaskAssistantAttorneyGeneralJohnKellyifitwastruetheyhaddiscretiontoprosecutemarijuanaasamisdemeanor.“Immaterial,”Silsbysaidineachcase.

Bizarrely,SilsbyrefusedtoalloweithertheNationalLawyersGuildortheAmericanCivilLibertiesUniontoappearbeforehimasfriendsofthecourtinthecase,sayingtheylacked“legitimateinterests.”

SilsbyrejectedGellers’motionforanewtrialearlythefollowingmonth,May1971.

AccordingtoGellers,hemetwithAssistantAttorneyGeneralCohenafewdayslaterandinformedhimheplannedtoemigratetoIsrael,thoughheintendedtocontinuetoassistintheprosecutionofhislandclaimscase.Cohen,hesays,didnotobjectandwasprovidedhisaddress.

Hecontinuedtofighthisconvictionforanothertwoyears,appealingtoMaine’shighestforum,theMaineSupremeJudicialCourt.HisfinalappealwasrejectedonFeb.20,1973.

FewinMainewouldeverhearfromhimagain.

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CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

Convictgoes,filesstay,andlandclaimscaseadvances

FEBRUARY1971TOMAY1976

An “open” flag flies above a storefront in Eastport, not far from where thePassamaquoddy’s attorney Don Gellers had his office in the early 1960s, beforehis former legal intern, Tom Tureen, took over as the tribe’s representative in the

Indian land claims lawsuit.

Inthewinterof1971,TomTureendevelopedhisowntheoryofthePassamaquoddy’slandclaimscase,theonethatwouldmakelegalhistoryandtransformthestatusandprospectsofthetribe.

Byhisaccount–laidoutinanexhaustive1982articleinTheNewYorkerbyPaulBrodeur–TureenfoundhimselfwonderingwhythePassamaquoddyandotherEasterntribesdidn’tbenefitfromthefullrangeofassistanceofferedtotheirWesterncounterpartsbytheBureauofIndianAffairs,orBIA,anagencyoftheU.S.DepartmentoftheInterior.

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Hesoonfoundhimselfscrutinizingtherootlaw,theIndianNon-IntercourseActof1790,passedbytheFirstCongresstoprotectIndiansfromlandgrabbers.Thelaw–whichrequiredCongressionalapprovalforanysaleofIndianland–createdthetrustrelationshipbetweentheU.S.governmentandtheIndiansuponwhichBIAassistanceandawholerangeofotherprivilegesgrew.ButtheNon-IntercourseActhadalwaysbeenunderstoodnottoapplytostatessuchasMainethathadevolvedoutoftheoriginalThirteenColonies.

Thatwinter,Tureenhassaid,hebecameconvincedthatthelawactuallyshouldhaveappliedinMaineandotherpartsoftheThirteenColonies,andthereforeMainehadnolegalbasistohavebeentreatingthePassamaquoddyaswardsofthestateortotaketheirland.TheU.S.government,inturn,hadfailedtoupholdthisfederallawandshouldnowbeproddedtosueMaineonthetribe’sbehalf.ThiskeyinsightwasthefoundationstoneofTureen’smomentouscase,anditwasfirstlaidoutinthelawjournalarticlehehadallegedlybeenresearchinginthehearingroomduringDonGellers’efforttohavehisdrugconvictionoverturned.

“ThefederalgovernmenthasneversurrendereditspowerovertheMainetribes,”Tureenandco-authorFrancisO’Toole,aUniversityofMainelawstudent,concludedintheirMaineLawReviewarticle,publishedinthespringof1971.“Thatpowermustberesurrectedandthemanywrongsmustberemedied.”

Thearticledidn’tsaysoexplicitly,butoneofthewrongstranslatedintoapotentialIndianclaimtohalfthestateofMaine,sinceCongresshadallegedlyneverapprovedthepost-1790transfersoftheirancestralhomelands.

Aroundthetimethearticlecameout,GellerscalledameetingwithhisPassamaquoddyclientstodiscusshowhewasgoingtoproceedwiththeircase,giventhathehadbeenconvictedofknowingthewhereaboutsofsixmarijuanacigarettesandwouldbemovingtoIsrael.Themeeting,heldMay12,1971,atthetribe’snewcommunityhallatIndianTownship,wouldbethelasttimeGellerswouldseehisclients.

•••

GellershadflowntoMainefromPhiladelphiawiththeattorneyhehadrecruitedtotaketheleadonthecase,StephenFeldman;hisownattorney,HyMayerson;and“threeboxesoffilesanddocumentsfromtheland(claims)case…incaseanyonewantedtoaskanyquestionsaboutthework.”

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Hiscontractwiththetribe,acopyofwhichthePressHeraldhasobtained,allowedhimtoassociatewithotherattorneysathisexpenseininvestigating,formulatingandrepresentingthetribe’sclaims“againsttheUnitedStates,andtheStatesofMaineandMassachusetts.”Hewouldgetnothingunlesshewon,atwhichpointhewouldreceiveafeenottoexceed10percent,plusanyuncompensatedexpenses.

Gellerslaterrecalledhisproposal:“IwouldcontinuetodirectthecasefrommynewlocationinIsrael”andFeldmanwouldcontinuetoprosecutethetribe’slandclaims,boththeonehehadfiledagainstMassachusettsandasecond“hugeacreageclaim”againstthefederalgovernmentthathesaidwasstillindevelopment.Noneofitwouldhappen.

AccordingtoGellers,Tureenappearedatthemeetingandarguedthetribeshouldbreakthecontract.Tureensayshedoesnotrecallthemeeting.

Triballeaderswere,understandably,noncommittal.Gellers,nowaconvictedfelonandlikelytobedisbarred,wasproposingtoremaintheirchiefcounselwhileresidinginIsraeltoavoidservinghistwo-tofour-yearsentenceattheMaineStatePrisoninThomaston.Theysaidtheywouldlethimknowtheirdecisionwithintheweek.

GellersandMayersonthenwalkedovertothetabletoretrievethethreecartonsofdocuments.“TomTureenmovedinfrontofme,andstoodthere,sothatI’dhavetoshovehimoutofthewaytotakethem,”Gellerslaterrecalled,anaccountcorroboratedbyMayerson.Tribalmemberstoldthelawyerstoleavethemawaitingtheirfinaldecision.

“Donwasmyman.Ihiredhim,andIhadtofirehim,anditwastheworstthingIeverdid,”saysJohnStevens,whowasIndianTownship’sgovernoratthetime.“Butweknewhewouldnevergiveituptoanotherattorney.”

Stevenssaysthepapersbelongedtothetribe,becausetheyhadbeencollectedonitsbehalfundertheIndianRightsAssociationgrants.“Allthatinformationhehadcollectedwasours,”hesays.“Sowewentintohishouse,gotthestuff,andstartedanewoffice.”

TureensayshedoesnotrecalltheincidentandnotesthatGellers’researchhadlittlerelevancetothecasehewouldpursue.“Hedidn’tcareaboutanythingthefederalgovernmentdid,”hesays.“HewasconcernedwiththeactionsofMassachusetts.”

•••

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Tureen’sstrategydivergedfromGellers’,whosesuitagainstMassachusettswoulddieonthevine.“Tactically,hemissedthebigclaimandtheleveragethatcamefromthat,”Tureensays,addingthatGellers’theorywasvulnerablebecauseithadnobodyofstate-levelcaselawtobuildupon.“WiththefederalNon-IntercourseAct,youhadthecornerstoneoffederalIndianlaw,anestablishedbodyofprecedent.”

Tureen,fearfulthat,inhiswords,“anindividualattorneyiscomparativelyeasytopickoff,”movedtosetupalegalphalanx.HepersuadedtheNativeAmericanRightsFundtoactasco-counseland,later,toputTureenonsalary.HebroughttwoyoungattorneystoCalaistoworkfull-timeonthecaseandgotoneofthecountry’sbiggestlawfirms,Hogan&Hartson,tohelphimprobono.

InNovember1971,histeammadeahorrifyingdiscovery.Congress,in1966,hadquietlypassedalawthatwouldforeverextinguishallIndianterritorialclaimsagainstthefederalgovernmentthatwerenotraisedincourtbyJuly18,1972.Suddenly,Tureennotonlyhadtogethiscomplexandprovocativecaseintocourt,buthehadtodosoineightmonths.

NaivelytrustingtheBureauofIndianAffairswouldwanttohelpthetribe,Tureenappealedtotheagency’scommissioner,LouisBruce,tofilesuitontheirbehalf.BIAofficialssaidtheywereconsideringthematter,butinrealityweresittingontheball,apparentlyintendingtorunouttheclock.

InMay,TureentraveledtoAugustaandWashington,D.C.,begging–andreceiving–theassistanceofGov.KennethCurtis,Sens.MargaretChaseSmithandEdmundMuskie,andCongressmenBillHathawayandPeterKyros.TheyeachmadestatementsorwroteletterstoSecretaryoftheInteriorRogersMorton,andSen.SmithwenttoPresidentRichardNixonurgingthattheIndiansbeallowedtheirdayincourt,buttheBIAtooknoaction.

IfTureendidn’tfilehissuitwithinafewweeks,theentirelandclaimscasewouldbemoot.Andthatpossibility,Hogan&HartsonattorneyStuartRossrealized,mightinitselfgetthemintocourt.

OnJune2,1972–withjust46daysleft–Tureen’steamfiledsuitagainstSecretaryMortonatthefederalcourthouseinPortland,askingajudgetoorderthefederalgovernmenttoimmediatelyfilesuitagainstMaineforunlawfullyappropriatingthePassamaquoddy’slands.Thejudgeagreed,andshortlythereaftertheUnitedStatesfiledtwo$150millionlawsuitsagainstMaine,firstonbehalfofthePassamaquoddyand,a

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daybeforethedeadline,forMaine’sothermajorIndiantribe,thePenobscots.Theclockhadbeenstopped.

Strangely,nobodyinMainepaiditanyattention.Through1973and1974,thetribe’ssuit–Passamaquodddyv.Morton–waslitigatedcalmly,outsidetheburninggazeofthemedia.Nordidthepresstakemuchnoticeinearly1975,whenU.S.DistrictCourtJudgeEdwardGignouxruledinthetwotribes’favor,reversingthe180-yearassumptionthatEasternIndiansdidnothaveatrustrelationshipwiththefederalgovernment.NordidtheywakeupwhentheFirstCircuitCourtofAppealsupheldGignoux’sdecisionattheendoftheyear,orevenwhenitbecamethelawofthelandonMarch22,1976,whenthedeadlinetoappealtotheU.S.SupremeCourtexpired.

EvenwhenTureenflewtoAugusta–hehadboughthisownsingle-engineCessnabynow–stateofficialsdidnottakehisoffertonegotiateasettlementseriously.GreatNorthernPaper,whichowned2millionacresintheclaimsarea,toldhimtheydidn’tseehowitaffectedthem.AttorneyGeneralJosephBrennan,aDemocratwitheyesontheBlaineHouse,wasalsouninterestedinnegotiations.

Gov.JimLongley,thefiery,unpredictableindependentwho’dtakenofficein1975,scoffedattheattorneyandhistribalclients.Theclaim,hetoldTureen,wasn’taseriousproposition.

Withinmonths,everyonewouldchangetheirtune,andLongleywouldbeattheU.S.Capitol,screamingatthestate’shighest-rankingelectedofficialsatthetopofhislungs.

Thelandclaimsstrugglewasunderway.

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CHAPTERFOURTEEN

Triberesistsinjustices,inandoutofcourtsettings

1968TO1976

Just off Route 1 in Indian Township, this gravel pile, now a grass-covered mound, is where a group of Passamaquoddy sat in protest in 1964 to stop a white man from building a road on reservation land. The arrests that followed brought members of the tribe and Don Gellers together.

Outsidethecourtrooms,thePassamaquoddyhadalsobeenfightingforcontroloftheirlandanddestiny.

InspiredbytheRev.MartinLutherKingJr.andtheongoingcampaignforcivilrightsintheSouth–andfuriousoverthelackofjusticeinthe1965killingofPeterFrancisandthe1967incidentsofpolicebrutality–increasingnumbersoftribalmembershadcomearoundtoformerPleasantPointGov.GeorgeFrancis’moreconfrontationalperspective.Thingshadtochange,andIndianshadtotakedirect,nonviolentactiontoforceMaine’speopletoagree.

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Inthefinalmonthsbeforehisassassination,Kinghadbeenorganizingacivildisobediencecampaign–“nonviolent,butmilitant,andasdramatic,asdislocative,asdisruptive,asattention-gettingasthe(1967)riots,withoutdestroyingproperty”–foreconomicjusticeandhumanrightsforpoorAmericans,regardlessofbackground.

GeorgeFrancis–nowthetribe’snonvotingrepresentativetothestateLegislature–joinedtheeffort,thePoorPeople’sCampaign,whichwastoculminateinamarchonWashingtoninJune1968.DespiteKing’sApril4assassinationinMemphiswhileorganizingtheevent,themarchwentforwardasplanned.

Francis,age75,wasamongthe3,000whocampedoutintentsinashantytownontheNationalMallinWashingtonknownasResurrectionCity.“Ihavetwoproblems:oneiswhiskeyandanotherismilk,”hetoldSen.EdmundMuskie’sSubcommitteeonIntergovernmentalRelations.

Maine’sDepartmentofIndianAffairshadcutoffdeliveriesofmilktochildrenbecauseofbudgetproblems,heexplained,“andallhospitalandmedicalcarehasbeentakenaway,exceptforemergencies.”Meanwhile,hiscomplaintsthatIndiansweresellingtheirstatefoodparcelstobuywhiskeywerefallingondeafears.

Hispeople’strustfund,hetoldthepress,wasbeingimproperlyheldbythestate,whichrefusedtoevenpassalongtheearnedinteresttothetribe.

•••

Shortlythereafter,backatIndianTownship,40tribalmemberssatdowninfrontoftheskiddersandloggingtrucksofapartyofQuebecoiscontractorscuttingtreesonthereservationforGeorgia-Pacific.TheactioncameonJuly4,1968,oneweekaftertheIndianshadorderedthepapercompanytoremoveitsharvestingequipmentfromtheirtownship,allegingtheiroperationsweredoingirreparabledamagetothetimber,whichboththecompanyandthetribeclaimed.

IndianTownshipGov.JohnStevensdemandedthecompany–whichheretoforehadhiredonlywhites–adoptall-Indiancrews,astheywouldbeunlikelytolooktheotherwaywhenabusivecuttingpracticesoccurred.“Theyareusingbulldozersandscrapingthelandbarren,”StevenstoldthePressHerald.“Therewon’tbeathinggrowingtherefor200yearsifweletthemcontinuetheirpresenttactics.”

TheIndians“hadamerrypicnicinthewoodsastheirwayofprotesting,”theMaine

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Timesreportedfromthereservation.“Thedemonstrationwasnotonlynonviolent,itwasgay.”

Fourdayslater,Georgia-Pacificbackeddown,agreeingtotrainandhireIndiancrews,torepairdamagecausedtodate,andtoturnoverallcuttingoperationstothetribewithin15years.

Thefollowingsummer,thetribealsoforcedstateofficialstodistributemilkandprescriptionmedicinesbysettinguparoadblockonU.SRoute1inIndianTownship,whichhadbeenconstructeddecadesearlierwithoutcompensationorpermission.Carswerechargeda$1toll,trucks$2,foranhourormorebeforepolicearrived,theproceedstobeusedtobuythemilkandmedicine.

“Someofthosetouristswouldhandusahandfulofdollarbillsandsay,‘Yeah,give‘emhell,’”Stevensrecallswithalaugh.“Wecollectedafewhundreddollarsinafewminutesthere.”

•••

Injustafewshortyears,thetribehadralliedbehindforcefulleaderslikeGeorgeFrancis,whowerewillingtobraveretaliationfromstateofficialstodemandwhathadbeentakenfromthem.

FrancisdiedinNovember1971,justamonthbeforeTomTureenpresentedhisaggressivetheoryofthelandclaimscasetohispeople.Hewas78.

Othertribesweretakingaforcefulapproach,inspiredbytheAmericanIndianMovement,whichoccupiedtheheadquartersofthefederalBureauofIndianAffairsin1971and,in1973,becameinvolvedinanarmed71-daystandoffinWoundedKnee,SouthDakota,siteofan1890massacreofatleast150LakotaSiouxbyU.S.troops.Afteramonthoflargelysympatheticmediacoverage,federalauthoritiesbannedthepressfrominterviewingtheIndians.

Passamaquoddyactivismreflectedthemoremilitantmood.

InMarch1967,tribalmembersblockedRoute190,whichwasblastedthroughthePleasantPointreservationinthe1950s,insolidaritywiththeWoundedKneeSioux.Theyburnedrubbertires.CouncilmemberRalphDanaandtwootherssufferedminorinjurieswhen25-year-oldBasilPottleofEastportstruckthemwhileacceleratingthrough

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theroadblock.SheadHighSchoolsentstudentshomeearlybecauseofrumorsofincidentsattheschool,where20ofthe50studentswerePassamaquoddy.

In1972,IndianTownshipvoterselectedanaggressiveyoungchief,AllenSockabasin,whotookaconfrontationalattitudetowardstateofficials,alarmingsomeinthetribe.Sockabasin,28,whoworehishairlonginthetraditionalfashionofhispeople,subsequentlydemandedthestatevacateagroupofForestryDepartmentbuildingsthathadbeenconstructedonthereservation.HeshockedmanybywalkingoutofameetingwithGov.JimLongley,whobackeddownafterSockabasinoccupiedthebuildings.

ThereafterSockabasinfiredthereservation’spolicechiefforallegedlyintimidatingunarmedIndianswitha12-gaugeshotgun.Hehaltedconstructionofa$2.2millionfederallyfundedhousingprojectonthebeliefthatIndianworkersatthesitewerebeingpaidfarlessthannon-Indiansandnotbeingprovidedprofessionnaltrainingaspreviouslyagreed;thetribalcounciloverruledhim.

Thenextmonth,July1976,somebodyfiredtworifleshotsathismobilehome,narrowlymissinghisbedroomwindowandcausingSockabasintoseekpoliceprotectionfromthestate.AgunmanalsofiredintothehomeofStateTrooperRobertDesjardin,wholivednearIndianTownship.

Sockabasinlostre-electiontotheveteranJohnStevensinSeptember1976,buthismostpowerfulcontributiontotheIndians’landclaimswasyettocome.InApril1977,hewasaccusedofsettingfiretothereservation’selementaryschool.Hedenieditandclaimedthathisrival,JohnStevenshadframedhim.

“Therewereseveralofusataparty,andsomebodysetfireattheschool,andwhenthepolicearrived,JohnStevenssaid,‘Arresthim!’”Sockabasinsays.“Andthepolicesaid,‘Forwhat?’Buttheydidit.Andatthetrialthewitness–oneofhissupporters–saidshedidn’tactuallyseemedoit,thoughshesaidshehadthatnight.”

Indefendinghimself,however,Sockabasinwouldtransformthelegallandscapeofhispeople.

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CHAPTERFIFTEEN

Bombshells,compromisesgreetanunfoldingcrisis

1976TO1980

A Passamaquoddy Indian pauses in contemplation at the edge of Long Lake on Peter Dana Point in Indian Township recently. Stakes were high for Maine’s tribes and the state alike in the developments that preceded the historic Indian land claims settlement.

Finally,thedaycamewhenMaine’spoliticalleaders,thepressandthepublicrealizedtheIndians’landclaimwasreal.ItwasMonday,Sept.27,1976,thedaythetownofMillinocketdiscovereditcouldnotfloata$1millionsewerbondbecauseofthelawsuit.Withinhours,thestatetreasurerdiscoveredasimilarfatewouldbefallbondsplannedbysevenschooldistricts,sixtownsandtwohospitalgroups–with$27millionintotalatstake.

TheBostonlawfirmRopes&Gray–legaladvisertomostofthenation’sbondmarkets–warnedthatthetribes’claimsastherightfulownersofhugeswathsof

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northernandeasternMainecouldrenderallofthesebondsworthless.Withuncertaintyovertitlewithinthevastclaimarea,residentialmortgagesandpropertysaleswerealsoupintheair.

SuddenlyeveryonewastakingtheIndians’casesseriously.

EarlythatWednesdaymorning,Gov.JimLongley–thefierypopulist–calledTomTureen,screaming.

“Hewasabsolutelylivid,andsaidhewasgoingtoWashingtontofixthis,”Tureenrecalls.Thegovernorhadaradicalfixinmind:changingfederallawtoensuretheIndianswouldnevergettheirdayincourt.Hehadgonefromdismissingthesuitasajoketodemandingasuspensionoftheruleoflaw.

“Thiswasarealconstitutionalcrisishewasprecipitating,becauseinaconstitutionaldemocracy,youdon’tdealwithagroupofpeoplewhoarepoorandpowerlessandwinadecisionincourtbyaskingCongresstowriteanewlaw,”Tureensays.“Howdoyouexpectpeopletohaverespectforthelawif,whenitbenefitssomeoneyoudidn’texpectitto,youchangeit?”

TureenjumpedoutofbedinCalais,racedtohisplaneattheairfieldinSt.Stephen,NewBrunswick,andtookoffforWashingtonNationalAirport.Somewhereoutaheadofhim,astate-owned,eight-seatPiperNavajowasheadedinthesamedirection,carryingthefuriousgovernor.Enroute,TureenmanagedtolearnviaradiothatLongleyhadcalledameetingwithMaine’scongressionaldelegationintheU.S.Capitol.

Backthen,securityinWashingtonwasn’twasitistoday.VisitorscouldjuststrollintotheCapitolbuilding,andTureenwanderedthehallsunaccompaniedtryingtofindthemeetingroom.“Iwasunannounced,butitdidn’tmatter,becauseLongleywasscreamingsoloudlyIcouldheareverythinghewassayingthroughthedoorinthehall,”Tureensays.“Hewasawildguy.”

Congress,LongleytoldSens.EdmundMuskieandBillHathawayandReps.WilliamCohenandDaveEmery,shouldpassaresolutionorderingthefederalcourtsnottohearthetribes’cases.

“Itdidn’ttakeanyofusverylongtorealizethatwhetherthiswasreasonableorunreasonableorrightorwrongorjustorunjust,thefactwasthatatremendousamountofeconomicdamagewouldbedonetothestateiftheissuewasn’tresolvedonewayor

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another,”Emeryrecalls.“Wedidn’twanttosetupasituationwherethestategovernmentandGov.LongleyandAttorneyGeneralJoeBrennanwouldbeononesideandthesefourguyssenttoWashingtonwereontheother.”

Cohendraftedtheresolution,whichwasbackedbytheentiredelegation,despitethefactthatMuskieandHathawayhadpreviouslylobbiedthefederalgovernmenttogivethePassamaquoddytheirdayincourt.

“Longleywasaproblemforthem,becausehewasverypopularandhadcreatedthisfirestorm,”Tureensays.“Heputtheminaverytoughspot.”

Fortunatelyforthetribes,Congressadjournedwithouttakinguptheresolution.EveryonereturnedtoMaineforanawkwardwinterofrecriminationandworry.

Longleywasapolarizingfigure,comparableinsomewaystoMaine’scurrentGov.PaulLePage.Hewoninathree-wayrace,with60.3percentoftheelectoratevotingforhisrivals.Hecalledstatelegislators“pimps,”promptingnationalmediaattention.Hestayeduplateintothenightwritingvenomous,punctuation-lessletterstohisopponents.“He’sjustaboutdividedthestateduringhisfirst70daysinoffice,”BangorDailyNewsStateHouseBureauChiefJohnDaywroteinMarch1975.“Peopleeitherlikehim,ortheythinkhe’sAttilatheHun.”

ForthePassamaquoddy,Longleywasthelatter.“HegotontelevisionandthankedthepeopleofMainefornotresortingtoviolence–butnobodyhadbeentalkingaboutviolence,”saysTureen,whostartedgettingdeaththreatsbytelephone.“Thetribehadbeensayingallalongthatthiswasacaseforsettlement,thatcouldberesolvedbynegotiation…andLongleysawtheclaimsasawaytocreateaneedforhisleadership,bytellingpeopletheyhadsomethingtofearandthathewastheonetoprotectthem.”

“Itwassimpledemagoguery,”headds.“Anditworked.Hecouldhavebeenelectedemperorforlifeatsomepointsinthere.”

BobbyNewell,whowouldserveonthetribalnegotiatingteam,remembersgettingaknockonhisdooratPleasantPoint,afour-hourdrivefromAugusta,shortlyafterbeingquoteddisparagingLongleyinthepapers.There,onhisdoorstep,wasthegovernorhimself.“Hewasn’tyelling,buthewasextremelyagitated,”Newellrecalls.“Isaid,‘Listen,youmaybethegovernorofMaine,butthisismyhouse!’”

•••

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Thatwinter,thePassamaquoddyandPenobscotmadeanumberofgoodwillconcessions,includingapledgenottoseektofineorseizelandfromsmalllandownersintheclaimsarea;theircasewouldseekdamagesfromthefederalgovernmentandtargetlandheldbythestateorthepapercompanies.Maine’scongressionaldelegationrespondedbyintroducingbillstoextinguishtheIndians’claimsandlimitthedamagestheycouldcollect.

“Thebasicbilltheyproposedsaid‘Nevermindtheirrights,’”recallsWayneNewell,whoservedonthetribalcouncilatthetime.“Themajoritywasjustgoingtowipeawaytheircrimes.”

Then,todefusethesituation,theWhiteHousegotinvolved.Monthsofproposalsandcounterproposalsfollowed,withnegotiatingteamsfromthestateandthetribesrejectingeach.Buteveryonehadampleincentivetokeeptalkingbecausesendingsuchanexplosivecasetotrialcarriedstaggeringrisks.

TheIndianshadreasontofearthat,ifpushedtothewall,MainemightgetCongresstoextinguishtheirclaimorthecourtswouldbowtopublicopinion.“Thecasecouldneverbelitigatedbecauseasapracticalmatteritwasfartoocomplex,”saystheheadofthestate’snegotiatingteam,JohnPaterson,whowasdeputyattorneygeneral.“Thetribesandtheirlawyers…knewthey’dbegoingtotheSupremeCourtandsaying,‘Upholdthis1790lawandevict350,000peoplefromtheirland.’Therewastremendousriskinthat(because)judgesreadnewspaperstoo.”

Ontheotherhand,ifthepartieswenttotrial,thestateteamfearedtitles,mortgagesandnewbondflotationscouldbefrozenacrosstwo-thirdsofthestateforfiveorsixyears.AttorneyGeneralRichardCohen–whotookofficein1979–wouldlatertelltheLegislaturethesewouldbe“potentiallycatastrophicconsequences”evenifthestateultimatelyprevailedincourt.

“Given…therisksofthepeopleofthisstatelosingasubstantialamountofland,thepossibilityofthestateanditscitizensbeingrequiredtopaymillionsintrespassdamages,IconcludedthatIhadadutytolookforareasonablesettlement,”headded.Thestate’scentralgoal:tomakethefederalgovernmentpayallthecostsofwhateversettlementwasnegotiated.

Meanwhile,theatmospherewasturninguglier.Indianchildrenwereharassedatschools.Therewererunsongunsatsportinggoodsstores.OnestatelegislatortoldWhiteHousenegotiators“someoneshouldgetagunandshootthosebastards.”Astate

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senatorsaidhewasgoingto“investheavilyinWinchestersandRemingtons.”

EstherAttean,10yearsoldatthetime,rememberswaitingforchurchnearthebaseofthePleasantPointcauseway,watchinga16-year-oldPenobscotgirlwalkacrossthespan.AtruckdrivenbythreewhiteguysfromEastportswervedtoknockheroffthecauseway,breakingherlegs.“Theyjustdeliberatelyhither,andthepolicenevercameandnobodywasprosecuted,”sherecalls.“Buttherewasalotofviolencelikethatthen.”

•••

PierreRedmond,anactivistfromMadison,arguedagainstnegotiationonthegroundsthattheIndians’suitpresentednothreatbecauseavictorycouldneverbeenforced.“WilltherebeanyarmyofUnitedStatesmarshalswhichwilldescenduponthehomeowners,farmersandwoodsmenofeasternMaine?Willtheybearmed?”heaskedintestimonybeforeCongress.“Willpeoplebeinjuredandpossiblykilledifthereisresistancetothiscourtorder?…DoesanyoneinMaineseriouslyadvancetheargumentthatthecourtswoulddosuchathing?”

Sen.Hathaway,whohadtakenamoderateapproachinthenegotiations,wastakentotaskinthe1978Senatecampaignbyhischallenger,Rep.BillCohen,anoutspokenopponentoftheclaim.CohenrananadaccusingHathawayofbreakingMaineinhalf,withanimageofthestatecrackinglikeanegg.CohenwouldcrushtheincumbentinNovember.

Then,twolegalbombshellsscaredthepartiesintooneanother’sarms.

Thefirst,bizarrelyenough,involvedformerChiefAllenSockabasinallegedlyburningdownhisreservation’sschoolinApril1977.SockabasinandanotherIndianhadbeenconvictedofarsonbyaWashingtonCountycourtbuttheyappealedonthegroundsthatIndianTownshipwas“IndianCountry”underthefederalIndianNon-IntercourseActof1790andthereforethestatehadnocriminaljurisdiction.

InJuly1978,tothehorrorofstateofficials,Maine’shighestcourtunanimouslysidedwiththedefendants.Mainecriminal,environmental,business,hunting,fishingandincometaxlawssuddenlynolongerappliedontribalreservations.

Thestatecametothetable.Termswerenegotiated.Thefederalgovernmenthadagreedtopay.

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Thenin1979theU.S.SupremeCourthandeddownadecisioninthecaseWilsonv.Omaha,whichputintoquestionthecentralpillarofTureen’sentirecase.The1790Non-IntercourseAct,thejusticesruled,appliedonlyin“IndianCountry,”whichdidnotincludeland“withinanystate,”suggestingthenation’shighestcourtmightoverturntheSockabasincaseandanylandclaimscasewonbytribesintheoriginalColonies.

“WewereintheverylaststagesofnegotiationandsuddenlytherewastheriskthattheSupremeCourtmightagreetoreviewtheSockabasincase,”Tureenrecalls.“Ifwelostthat,thetribessuddenlywouldnothavefederaljurisdictionortheprotectionsoffederalIndianlaws.…Thewholethingmightgoaway.”

TureensayshemanagedtoplantastoryinTheWashingtonPostsayingasettlementhadbeenreached,whichappearedtheverymorningtheSupremeCourtjusticeswereconferencingtodecidewhethertotakeuptheSockabaincase.“Wedidthatquitepurposefullysothatthecourtwouldbelievethiswasnolongeracriticalcasetotake,”herecalls.“Theydidn’t.”

•••

Theyhaddodgedabullet,butTureenknewthetwotribes’prospectsiftheywenttotrialhadbeengreatlycompromised,asthenation’shighestcourtmightwelloverturntheirclaimsonappeal.RonaldReagan–anopponentofthelandclaims–alsoappearedlikelytodefeatPresidentJimmyCarterinthe1980election,whichincreasedthepressuretogetasettlementthroughCongressbeforeachangeinadministrations.

“TheywerereadingthetealeavesofReagannotbeingsympathetictoanappropriationofmillionsofdollarstosomeunknowntribesinMaine,”Paterson,thenthestate’sdeputyattorneygeneral,says.“Togetitdone,theyrealizedtheyhadtomakepeacewiththestateofMaine.”

Thefederalgovernmentwouldbefundingthesettlement,butMaineneverthelessdemandedthetribesmakeamajorcompromiseinregardstotheirsovereignpowers.

Gov.Longley’spositionhadalwaysbeenclear:thattheIndianscouldneverbeallowedtohave“astatewithinastate,”andthiswasembracedbyAttorneyGeneralBrennan,whosucceededhimasgovernorinJanuary1979.“ThatwasallLongley,”saysTureen,whobelievesthejurisdictionalissuewouldn’totherwisehavecomeup.

“WecouldneverhaveanationwithinanationinMaine,”Brennan’scounsel,David

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Flanagan,toldlawmakers.“Sucharesultwouldnotonlybeunworkableinastateoursize,butitwouldalsopromoteracialandethnichostilityandresentmenttotheultimatedetrimentofourpeople.”

Paterson,whodraftedthefinalstate-levelsettlementbill,saysthishadbecome“anuncompromisingpointofprincipleforthestate.”

“Weweren’tgoingtogetintoasituationwherewehadapatchworkoflandwherethetribescoulddoanythingtheywanted,especiallysincesomuchofMainewasunorganizedterritory,blankslatessubjecttoallsortsofchange,”herecalls.

Thepriceofasettlementwassteep.Unlikeotherfederallyrecognizedtribesacrossthecountry,Maine’sIndiansweretobesubjecttovirtuallyallstatelaws.Insteadofsovereignreservations,theywouldbegiventhepowersofmunicipalities–torunschoolsandpolicedepartments,toenactzoning,buildroads,andreceivestatemunicipalaid.Theywouldbeentitledtogoverntheirinternalaffairs,andtosetuptribalcourtstoruleonminoroffensesbetweentribalmembersontriballand,butwouldpaystatetaxesandacceptstateenvironmental,laborandgamblingregulations.

Thedeal,Flanaganwouldtestify,involved“nosignificantcompromiseofthestate’ssovereigntyatall.Whatwehavecreatediscertainlynotanationwithinanationbutrathertwonewmunicipalitieswithinthestate.”

•••

Itwasanenormouscompromise,andonethePassamaquoddyhavesecond-guessedeversince.

“ThecoreprovisionsoffederalIndianlawarethere–liketheabilitytoexcludenon-Indiansinyourmidstfromvoting–makingasystemtohelpensurethesurvivalofthetribesasaseparatepeople,”Tureensays.“Butitwasdefinitelyacompromise.Itwasaclearchoice,andthestakeswereveryhigh.”

AfinalagreementwasreachedonMarch4,1980,underwhichthePassamaquoddy,thePenobscots,andtheHoultonBandofMaliseetswouldsplit$81.5million.Astheirshare,thePassamaquoddywouldreceivea$13.5milliontrustfundand$26.8milliontoacquireland.

“Onoursidewehaddishwashersandhousewives,andontheirsidetheyhadpeople

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whohadbeenlawyersforathousandyears,”recallsBobbyNewell,amemberoftheMainetribes’four-personnegotiatingteam.“Theendresultwasremarkablegivenhowoutgunnedwewere.Wemadeadeal.”

Thetribalnegotiatingteamsunderstoodtheessenceofthecompromiseatthetime,butmostoftheirconstituentsdidnot.

Tribalmemberswereaskedtoapprovethesettlementinhastilycalledreferendumvotes.ThePassamaquoddyvotewasheldwithlessthanaweek’snotice;tribalcourtsrefusedrequestsforadelay,leadingtheWashington,D.C.-basedIndianLawResourceCentertodeclarethatitwasn’t“afairorproperreferendumwhatsoever.”

“Thisproposedsettlementdealhasbeenthrustuponthesepeopleinsuchhastethattheyhavenotbeenabletomakeaninformed,reasoneddecision,”thegrouptoldCongress.

“Weweregiventheagreementwithafewhours’noticeandtherewasnoconsultationorinformationdistributedinanywaysothatthepeoplecouldmakeaninformeddecision,”saysPleasantPointresidentVeraFrancis,whohadjustreachedvotingagein1980.“Ivotedno,becauseyoujustdon’tsignontosomethingwithoutknowingallthedetails.”

ThePassamaquoddyapprovedthedealnearlyunanimously,andthePenobscotsbyawidemargin.Statelegislatorsendorsedtheagreementafewweekslater,withCongresspassingmatchingfederallegislationinSeptember.

OnOct.10,1980,PresidentCartersignedtheMaineIndianClaimsSettlementActintolaw,usheringMaine’sIndiansintoapromisingbuthazardousnewepoch.

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CHAPTERSIXTEEN

Bigquestionlooms:‘Wherewouldwegofromhere?’

1980TO1982

This Indian heirloom, depicting a man at “the end of the trail,” was given toVictoria Boston, a Passamaquoddy, after her father died in 2006. The

populations on the tribe’s two reservations grew sharply in the wake of the landclaims settlement of 1980.

TherewerehighhopesforthelandsettlementamongthePassamaquoddyinthetwoyearsthatfollowedthehistoricWhiteHousesigning.

Itwasaperiodwhentheinkwasdryingandtheadministrativemachinerytofacilitatethemultimillion-dollartransferswasbeingsetup.Thetribeshadgivenupaclaimtotwo-thirdsofMaineinexchangeforwhatwerecomparativelymodestcashsettlements.

Formanywhohadgrownupinhomeswithoutrunningwateroradequatemeals,therewasanexpectationofsuddenwealth.“Thisclaimhadbeengoingonforsolong,andthe

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wholetimepeopleweretalkingabouthowtheywouldonedayberichwhentheclaimwasfinallysettled,”recallsAllenSockabasin,whowasgovernoratIndianTownshipwhenthetribewonfederalrecognitionin1976.“Mydad,myAuntLouise,theyalldiedthinkingtheyweregoingtoberich.”

SockabasinremembersbeingshockedtolearnfromTureenthattheywouldhavetoborrowmoneyfromthefederalgovernmenttobuildalong-anticipatedmedicalclinic.“Allthemoneywastiedup,”hesays.“Hedidn’ttellusthatwouldbethesituation.”

Indeed,manywererealizingthatthetribe’squestfordignity,prosperityandself-determinationwasjustbeginning.“Amajorityofpeoplethoughtitwasgoingtobealongroadahead,”recallstribalhistorianDonaldSoctomah.“Wegotthissettled,butwherewouldwegofromhere?”

Newspaperaccountsfromtheerahighlightedaturtle-and-harecontrastbetweenthePenobscots–whowereeagertobuyuplandandinvestinprojectswiththeirshareofthesettlement–andthePassamaquoddy,whohadamoreconservativewait-and-seeapproach.

JosephHartleyNicholas,the66-year-oldchiefatPleasantPointinthisera,outlinedhisviewstoUnitedPressInternationalinthefallof1980.“ThebasicgoalforthemanagementofthemoneyandlandwewillbegettingwillbetopreserveourIndianculture,ourIndiangenes,”hesaid.“Ifwedon’t,we’llbeabsorbedbyourwhiteneighbors.”

Thetragedyofhispeople,thechiefcontinued,wasthattheyhadbeenmadewardsofthestate,forcedintodependencybywhites,andleftwithnopathtoescape.“Insteadofgivingmoney,thestateshouldhavegivenlandandtaughtskillsinanimalhusbandry,agriculture,counseling,”headded.“Anyphilosophy,anyprogramnotdesignedtohelpapeoplebecomeself-reliantisnogood.”

•••

Theworstthingthatcouldhappen,Nicholasthought,wastosimplydisbursethe$13.5milliontrustfundtheyweretoreceiveamongtheirnearly3,000members.HepointedtoOregon’sKlamathtribe,whichin1961hadwona$71.3millionsettlementthatpaidthethen-enormoussumof$43,000toeachofthetribe’s1,660members.Fouryearslater,aUniversityofOregonstudyfound,aquarteroftherecipientshadlostorspentitall.

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“Moneydistributedlikethatwouldprobablybetheruinofmanyinlessthanfiveyears,”headded.

Illustratingthetribe’sconservatism:InDecember1980,justafterthelandclaimsweresettled,thePleasantPointreservationentertainedpurchasingtheEastportWaterCo.–thelocalwaterutility–fromaPhiladelphiacompanyfor$2.9million.Althoughmorethanhalfthecostswouldbecoveredbyafederalgrant,tribalmembersrejectedtheplaninareferendum,110to29.

QuizzedagainbyTheBostonGlobethefollowingsummer–whenMerrillLynchadviserswereliterallyfêtingPenobscotleaderswithcaviar–NicholassaidhehadspurnedWallStreetadvances.“Wewaitedhundredsofyearsforthissettlement,”hesaid.“Weareinnohurrytospendit.”

“Theproblemwiththisgenerationistheywantsomethingfornothing,”hesaidofthoseinthetribewhowantedtodisbursethemoneytomembers.“Theyhaveseenhardtimes,buttheyaregreedynowandtooshortsighted.”

Ultimately,bothtribeswouldtakeChiefNicholas’approach.Astheirattorney,TomTureen,saidatthetime:“There’sasensethatthetribesareapermanentfixture,thatthedecisionstheymakeareforfuturegenerationsaswellasthemselves.Theonlywaytoguaranteethatistoholdtheassetstogether.”

•••

It’softenpointedoutthatwhilethePassamaquoddywerepoor,sotoowerethepeopleofWashingtonCounty,whichistodaythestate’spoorest.ButareportbythestateofMainecompiledin1976–justbeforethetribebegantoreceivefederalservicesasaresultofthehistoricPassamaquoddyv.Mortoncourtcase–showshowhugethegapstillwas.

Atthetime,WashingtonCountyresidentshadanannualpercapitaincomeof$2,069.ThefigureforthePassamaquoddyreservationswas$700.

Thecounty’sunemploymentratewasadaunting9.1percent.UnemploymentatPleasantPointwasat90percent;atIndianTownshipitwas95percent.

Thecounty’shighschooldropoutratewas5.1percent.PleasantPoint’swas56percent,andIndianTownship’swas98percent,accordingtothereport.

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Butwiththelandclaimssettlement,thereservations’population–just700in1976–wasrapidlygrowing,jumpingto972in1980and1,189in1990.Overalltribalmembershiprollsgrewevenfaster,asmanywiththerequisiteone-quarterbloodlinesuddenlysawadvantageinidentifyingwiththetribe.

Inashortperiodoftime,twosmall,close-knitcommunitiesnearlydoubledinsize,andthetribe’sofficialpopulationhadreachedsome3,000.Thismadethecommunitiesalittlelesscohesive–butmorevibrant–thanthey’dbeenbefore.

“Alotofpeoplecamebackbecausetherewashopeandpeoplesawthattheymightbeabletohaveworkandadecentlife,”saysBoYerxa,anon-PassamaquoddywhowastribalhealthplanneratIndianTownshipduringtheinfluxoftheearly’80sandhelpedsetuptheclinicthere.“Ithinkmostpeoplewerepleasedtohaverelativesback,tohaveafullerschool,andthosesortsofthings.”

Theywouldneedtodrawonalltheirresourcesintheyearsahead,fortheroadwastoindeedbeabumpyone.

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CHAPTERSEVENTEEN

TheIndians’trustedadvisercapitalizesonhisrole

1983TO1990

The Passamaquoddy Wild Blueberry Co. in Columbia Falls on Route 1 in Down East Maine was among the investments made by tribe in the years after the land claims settlement of 1980. Attorney Tom Tureen’s firms brokered a series of investments that drew national media attention.

AfterwinningtheMainetribes’landclaimscase,TomTureenbecameacelebrityinIndiancountry.His1975victoryinPassamaquoddyv.Morton–whichextendedthepossibilityoffederalrecognitiontotribesupanddowntheEasternSeaboard–madehimthego-toattorneyfortribesseekingtofollowthePassamaquoddy’splaybook.Timemagazinecalleditthe“mostcelebratedIndianvictorysinceLittleBigHorn.”

By1980,TureenhadalreadybeenassociatedwithlawsuitsinvolvingmorethanadozentribesinsixEasternstates,includingatinygroupofIndiansinruralsoutheasternConnecticutcallingthemselvestheMashantucketPequots.Althoughthelastinhabitant

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oftheir214-acrereservationhaddiedyearsbefore,thePequotswould,withTureen’shelp,becomeamongthewealthiesttribesinNorthAmerica.

Through1981and1982,Tureenandhislawpartner,BarryMargolin,helpedthePequotsnegotiatealandclaimssettlementoftheirown,bywhichthe50-membertribereceived$900,000tobuyanother800acres.AsinMaine,thePequotsagreedtobesubjecttostatecivilandcriminallawbut–critically,itwouldturnout–notregulatoryauthority.

Shortlythereafter,TureenandMargolinsuccessfullychallengedConnecticut’sattempttostopthePequotsfromopeningahigh-stakesbingohall.WithTureen’slegalhelpandaninvestmentbyMalaysianbillionaireLimKokThay,thehallwouldbecomeFoxwoods,acasinothattodayhas6,300slotmachines,10,000employees,and6.7millionsquarefeetofhotel,recreationandgamblingspace–anarealargerthanthePentagon.Bythe1990sthemembersofthePequottribe–evenunemployedteenagers–werecollecting$100,000ayearinpercapitadisbursements.

In1983–whenthePequots’bingohallwasstillintheplanningstages–TureenshiftedhisfocusfromhelpingtribeswinrecognitionandlandclaimsundertheIndianNon-IntercourseActtohelpingtribesmakeinvestmentsintheirfuture.WhilekeepinghislawpartnershipwithMargolin,Tureenfoundedanewentity,TribalAssetsManagement,withaformerPrincetonclassmate,DanielZilkha.

Betweenthetwofirms,TureenhadbecometheMainetribes’near-exclusivebusinessrepresentative.Thelawfirmbrokeredtensofmillionsofdollarsoflandandrealestatepurchases,whilePortland-basedTribalAssetsManagementhelpedidentify,negotiateandmanagepurchasesofcompaniesandotherassets.

Tureen’stenurewouldprovepolarizing.SomePassamaquoddy–includingveteranIndianTownshipGov.JohnStevens–sayheadvisedthetribewellindifficultcircumstances.Others,however,questionhisbusinessdealingswiththetribe.

“Hejustbefriendedtriballeadersastheycameintooffice,andhealwaysmadesurethathehadaquorumofpeoplewhowouldapproveofhisdirection,sohecouldshapeoureconomics,”saysformerIndianTownshipChiefAllenSockabasin,alongtimecriticofTureen.“Hewasfriendlytome,soIthoughthewasmyfriend,buthereallybamboozledus.”

BrianAltvater,whowaslieutenantgovernoratPleasantPointintheearly1990s,

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agrees.“TherewasalmostlikeacodependencybetweenTomTureenandthePassamaquoddytribe,”hesays.“Hefeltallhehadtodowastosellwhateverheneededtothetribalelders,wineanddinethem,andhehaditmade.”

Healsohadthetrustandgratitudeofmanyinthetribe,havingwonthemfederalrecognitionandthelandsettlement,saystribalhistorianandformerlegislativerepresentativeDonaldSoctomah.“Ithinkheshouldhavemaybeadvisedus,butshouldn’thavebeenourfinancialagent,”hesays.“Thatseemedtometobeaconflict.”

•••

Conflictornot,Tureen’sfirmsbrokeredaseriesofinvestmentdealsthatdrewnationalmediaattention.HehelpedbrokerthepurchaseoftwoRocklandradiostations,alittle-knownmapcompanycalledDeLormeandablueberryfarmnearColumbiaFalls.Hehelpedthemusetheirmunicipalpowerstofloatabond,raisingthecapitaltobuyThomaston-basedDragonCement,oneoftheonlycementcompaniesinNewEngland.

Onthewhole,thePassamaquoddy’sinvestmentspaidoff.

Their$2.2millioninvestmentinthe3,000-acreblueberryfarmreportedlypaidforitselfin18monthsandtodaygeneratesaround$2millionannuallyforthetribe.

ThetribepurchasedDragonCementfor$2millionandassumed$23millioninloans,butfiveyearslatertheysolditfor$80million,asumpaidoutovertwodecades,whichhelpedbalancebudgets.ThedealwasconsideredsosuccessfulitbecameaHarvardBusinessSchoolcasestudy.

TheymadelessmoneyonDeLorme,whichtheypurchasedfor$700,000andsoldfor$2million.Withinafewyearsthecompanywasworthmanytimesthat.Asimilar-sizedinvestmentinaPortlandparkinggaragefailedwhentheventurewentbankrupt.

Thentherewastheso-calledscrubberaffair.WhenthetribesoldDragon,theykeptownershipofapatentforanewairscrubbertechnologydevelopedbyoneofthecompany’semployees.Proponentssaidthescrubbercouldremove95percentofsulfurdioxideemissionsatcementplants,and,intheprocess,producedavaluablecomponentoffertilizer.

“Tureentoldmethatwithinthenexttwoyearsthetribewasgoingtorealize$300millioninprofitsfromthescrubber,”Altvaterrecalls.

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Thetribeinvested$2millioninitsdevelopment,andthefederalgovernmentanother$11million.Theventureneverborefruit.TherewasdisagreementatthetimeastowhetherTureenwasatfaultforbeingoverlyoptimisticaboutthestateofthetechnology.

Overall,Tureenestimatedthetribehadnettedmorethan$80millionfromtheinvestmentsrecommendedbyhisfirmby2003,aresulthedescribedatthetimeas“spectacular.”Thelieutentantgovernorinthatyear–JosephSocobasin,whoiscurrentlygovernor–concurred:“BasicallythesentimentisthatTomdidverywellforus.”

•••

Bycontrast,thePenobscotsdidpoorly,breakingevenbyTureen’saccount.A$5millionpurchaseofmobilehomemanufacturerSchiaviHomesendedinbankruptcyandamillion-dollarloss.PenobscotGov.FrancisMitchellfiredTureenin1990,onlytobeoustedhimselfinhisre-electionbid.

“Istayedonafterthelandclaimagreementtohelpthemfulfillitandmakesomethingofit,”Tureensays,expressingdisappointmentthatsomequestionhisefficacy.“Theprocesswasremarkable,andI’mveryproudofallthosethingsthatwedid.”

Inbothtribes’transactions,Tureenmadeoutwell.Accordingtopressaccounts,hisfirmearned$400,000ontheSchiaviHomesdealandmillionsonDragon.Byhisaccount,TribalAssetsManagementreceivedaretainerof$120,000,plus5percentofprofits,butsourceswithinthetribesaythatwhenhislawfirm’scutsaretakenintoaccount,thefeeswerehigher,with11percentawidelycitedfigure.(Tureenhasnotedthatmoneymanagerstypicallycharge20percent.)

“Itoldhim,‘Youhavethebestofallworlds,’”AltvaterrecallstellingTureenaftertheparkinggaragebankruptcy.“Wetakealltherisks,andifsomethinghappensweabsorbit,butyoustillgetpaid.”

Tureen’svariousventuresacrossthecountrymadehimawealthyman.In1998,TureenandhiswifepurchasedwhatwasthenMaine’smostexpensivehome.Stonecroft,listedat$5.75million,wasdesignedbyJohnCalvinStevensandincluded31acres,ahalf-mileofoceanfrontage,apool,andaguesthouseandcarriagehouseinFalmouthForeside.

Butintheprecedingyears,thetribe’sownhousewasgettingoutoforder.

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CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

Landclaimssettlementbearsapowerfulcurse

1983TO1986

A Passamaquoddy elder and a member of the joint tribal council sifts through stacks of petitions at Pleasant Point. in an unexpected development, an exception clause in the land claims settlement led to some uncertainty about which laws should apply to Maine tribes.

Asthesettlementmoneybegancominginandinvestmentswerebeingmade,tribalmembersstartedbecomingawareofanunexpectedbutextremelyseriousimplicationofthelandclaimsdeal.

Until1976,whenattorneyTomTureenwonthemfederalrecognition,thePassamaquoddywereentirelysubjecttostatejurisdictioninvirtuallyallmatters:criminalandcivillaw,laborandenvironmentalregulation,taxationandelectorallaw.Theywereexploited–officiallytermed“imbeciles”andwardsofthestate–anddeniedconstitutionalrightssuchastherighttovote,butwhentribalattorneyDonGellersor

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tribalgovernorGeorgeFrancishadfoughtfortribalmembers’rights,theyknewwhatbodyoflawsweresupposedtoapply,andwhichonesthestateorfederalgovernmentwereviolating.

From1976to1980,thePassamaquoddy’slegalstatuswasalsoclear:Itwasafederallyrecognizedtribe,subjecttothesamelegalframeworkaslong-before-recognizedWesterntribessuchastheNavajoorLakotaSioux.Assuch,theywerenotsubjecttothelawsortaxesofthestateofMaine,andthefederalgovernmenthadsoleauthorityoverfelony-levelcrimeontheirreservations.TribalmemberscouldcountontheprotectionsenshrinedintheIndianCivilRightsAct,a1968lawthatextendedtothemmostoftheguaranteesintheBillofRights–amongthemfreedomofspeech,dueprocess,protectionfromunreasonablesearchandseizure,equalprotectionforallmembersbeforethelaw–providingprotectionagainstanywould-betyrantsintribalgovernment.

ButwiththesigningoftheMaineIndianClaimsSettlementActinOctober1980,thoseone-timelegalcertaintieswentoutthewindow,layingthegroundworkformischief.

Underthesettlement,Mainetribesagreedtoauniqueand,asitturnsout,dangerouslyambiguousjurisdictionalarrangement.Underpressure,theyagreedtobesubjecttothelawsandjurisdictionofMaine,exceptfor“internaltribalmatters”andhuntingandcertainfishingrightsontribalterritory.

Whatisandisnotan“internaltribalmatter”hasremaineduncertaineversince.DostatepublicrecordslawsapplytotheMainetribes,whichreceivestateandfederalgrantsandfunds?Doesthetribehavetorevealitsbudgettoitsmembers,asothergovernmentalentitiesinMainemust?Dostatelaborlawsapplytotribalentitiesemployingtribalmembersontriballand?DoesthestateConstitutionapplytotribalmemberslivingonthereservations?Whistleblowerstatutes?Anti-nepotismrules?Lawsrequiringtheholdingofopenandhonestelections?

Nobodyknewexactly.Theonlywaytofindoutwastotakeaspecificmattertocourt– if,thatis,thecourtwouldevenhearthecase.

Probethematterfurtheranditgetsmoreominous.

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Asaresultoftheagreement,nofederalIndianlaw–whetherpassedbeforeorafter1980–isapplicablewithinMaineifit“affectsorpre-emptsthecivil,criminal,orregulatoryjurisdictionoftheStateofMaine”unlessCongressexplicitlyspecifiesitistoapplytotheMainetribes.Maine’sattorneysgeneral–includingthecurrentone,JanetMills–haveemphasizedthispointeversince.

ThisraisesthepossibilitythatMaineIndianslivingonreservationsmaynothavetheprotectionsoftheIndianCivilRightsAct.Inanythingdeemedan“internaltribalmatter”onthesereservations,theBillofRightsmaynotapply,leavingindividualsvulnerabletounscrupuloustribalofficials.

Addtothatalonglistoffederallaws–theViolenceAgainstWomenAct,theTribalLawandOrderAct,theIndianGamingRegulatoryAct–thatdon’tspecificallymentiontheMainetribes,andthecomplicationsonlygrow.

“IthinktheMaineLandClaimsSettlementActisoneofthemostproblematicagreementsouttherebecauseofthisgrayareathatexistsinsomanyareas,”saysStephenBrimley,aconsultantonIndianjusticeissueswhorecentlyservedasdirectorofthePenobscottribe’sjudicialsystem.“It’sadocumentthatinmymindhascreatedmoreproblemsthanitsolved.”

Makingmattersworse:Anythingthatcametobedeemedan“internaltribalmatter”wasplungedintoanascentsysteminwhichthenormalchecksandbalancesonpowerhadyettobeconstructed.

Tribalmemberssoondiscoveredthatiftheyhadagrievanceagainstatribalgovernor,officialorcouncildecision,theyineffecthadnoreliablewaytoseekjustice.

ThePassamaquoddylearnedthiswellinthesummerof1986.

•••

Traditionally,allmembersofthePassamaquoddytribehadtherighttovoteintribalelections,regardlessofwhethertheylivedinEastportorBangororDetroit,Michigan,orrightonthereservations,apracticethathadalsobeenencodedintheMainelawsthatgovernedtribalelectionsandgovernmentpriortofederalrecognitionin1976.

ButatatribalcaucuselectionheldAug.5,1986–normallyaroutineaffairtonarrowthefieldofcandidatesfortribalcouncilandgovernor–thetribalgovernmentasked

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memberstovoteonwhethertodisenfranchisealltribalmembersnotlivinginWashingtonCounty.Sinceonehadtovoteinperson,fewoftheaffectedtribalmemberscastballots,eventhoughtheyconstitutedaboutathirdoftheelectorate.

Themeasurealsobannedanyonewhohadn’tlivedonreservationforatleasttwoyearsfromrunningorholdingoffice.Thisdisqualified,amongotherpeople,thesittinggovernoratPleasantPoint,CliveDore.

Proponentsoftheirdisenfranchisementarguedthatthe“off-reservationvote”hadbeenabused.“Relativesandfriendsofcandidateshavebeenshippedinbythecarloadduringtribalelections,fromasfarawayasNewYorkandtheCanadianprovinces,tosupportcandidatesandissuestheyknewnothingabout,andtheconsequencesofwhichwouldbefeltonlyonthereservation,”tribalmemberRogerGabrielRitterwrotetheBangorDailyNewsatthetime.

Ifso,however,itwasstillunclearwhyatribalmemberinMachiasorCherryfieldwouldbemoreversedinreservationissuesthanoneinSt.Stephen,NewBrunswick,justovertheborderfrombothreservations.

“WehavealotofPassamaquoddylivinginSt.StephenandSt.Andrewswhohavebeenfamilyforalongtime,”saysBobbyNewell,whobecamechiefatIndianTownshipinthatcontentiouselectionyear.“I’vegonebackandforthonthisissueinthepast,butnowIthinktheyshouldhaveasayinwhathappenshere,becausetheyshouldhaveasayinwhathappensinthelandandinlawsthatpertaintoeveryPassamaquoddy.Afterall,onedaytheymayretirehere.”

Theproceedingswerechaotic.“Thecaucuswasacarnivalorcircus,noisywithmanysideshows,”anunnamedtribalcouncilmembertoldtheBangorDailyNewsshortlythereafter.“Orderdidnotprevail.”Whenthedustsettled,themeasurehadbeenapproved.

•••

ThemovewasunprecedentedforaMainetribe.Aroundthistime,thePenobscotsrejectedasimilarprovisionandtothisdayallownonresidentmemberstovote,sincetheresources,settlementfundsandtribalgovernmentbelongtoallmembers.“It’sbeenthatwaysinceaslongasIcanremember,”saysWayneMitchell,thePenobscot’scurrentrepresentativetotheMaineIndianTribal-StateCommission.

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ThePassamaquoddy’sdecisionwasextremelycontroversial,asitmayhaveviolatedtheIndianCivilRightsAct,whichguaranteesequalprotection–presumablytoincludevotingrights–toalltribalmembers.FormerChiefAllenSockabasinandGailDana,bothofwhomwerelivinginPenobscotCountyatthetime,wereshockedwhentheywereturnedawayfromthevotingboothsatthegeneralelectionthatSeptember.

“IwasbornPassamaquoddy,grewupatIndianTownship,wasgovernorthereandservedonthecouncil,andsuddenlyIwasdisenfranchisedbecauseIwaslivinginBangor,”Sockabasinsays.“Theyjusttookawaymyrighttovotejustlikethat!”

IntherestofMaine,theUnitedStatesandmostofIndiancountry,thesolutionwouldhavebeenobvious:Challengetheconstitutionalityoftheactincourt.

Butthetribehadnoconstitution,andthat,asSockabasinandDanawereabouttolearn,wouldmakechallengingthegovernment’sactionseffectivelyimpossible.

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CHAPTERNINETEEN

Forsomeintribe,norighttovote,nowheretoturn

SEPTEMBER1986TOJUNE1987

The Pleasant Point reservation is captured in the aperture of a pinhole camera. A legal challenge resulted after an unusual Passamaquoddy caucus initiative in 1986 left many members of the tribe stripped of their right to vote on tribal matters.

Asaresultofanunusual1986tribalcaucusinitiative,hundredsofPassamaquoddyhadtheirrighttovoteintribalelectionstakenawaybecausetheylivedoutsideWashingtonCounty.

APassamaquoddylivinginSteuben–anhour-and-40-minutedrivefromPleasantPoint–couldvoteforofficethere,whereasifheorshelivedinequidistantAurora,hecouldnot,simplybecauseitwasovertheWashingtonCountyline.

ItappearedtorepresentaclearviolationoftheequalprotectionclauseoftheU.S.

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ConstitutionandtheIndianCivilRightsAct.HadthePassamaquoddyremainedunderfederaljurisdictionorunfetteredstatejurisdictionorifthetribehadpassedaconstitutionofitsown,thedisenfranchisedIndianswouldhavehadnotroublehavingtheircaseheard.

Butasaresultofthe1980landclaimssettlement,judicialreviewof“internaltribalmatters”suchasthisapparentlyfellintonobody’sjurisdictionatall.

FormerIndianTownshipGov.AllenSockabasinandanothernonresidenttribalmember,GailDana,triedtochallengetheirdisenfranchisementinthetribalcourt,abodysetuppreciselytohearcasesinvolvinginternaltribalissues.Orsotheythought.

Theyfiledtheircomplaint,allegingviolationsoftheequalprotectionclauseofthefederalIndianCivilRightsActandtraditionaltribalpractice,andseekingarestrainingordertopreventtheSept.2,1986,electionfromgoingforward.

AccordingtoSockabasin,thetribalcourtproceedingswereafarce.Inthemidstofthecourthearing,herecallsTribalJudgeJohnRomeicallingarecess.Asthecourthadtheirbreak,TomTureen,theattorneywhohadrepresentedthePassamaquoddyandPenobscotsinthelandclaimssettlement,convenedajointtribalcouncilmeetinginthenextroom.There,Sockabasinsays,Tureenadvisedthecounciltopassanordinanceforbiddingthecourtfromrulingonelectoralmatters.

“Tureencamebackinandadvisedthejudgeonwhathadbeendone,”Sockabasinrecalls.“Rightinthemiddleofthecourtproceedingstheychangedthelaw.”(Tureensayshehasnorecollectionoftheseevents;JudgeRomeididnotrespondtoaninterviewrequest.)

Attheendoftheproceedings,Romeiruledthetribalcourtsdidnothavejurisdiction,asthetribalcouncilhadnotgiventhemsuchpower.

•••

TheplaintiffsappealedthedecisiontothePenobscots’tribalcourt,whichservesastheappealscourtforthePassamaquoddy(andviceversa).AppellatejudgeAndrewM.Mead–whoisnowajusticeontheMaineSupremeJudicialCourt–issuedasoberingdecisiononJune3,1987.

“ThePassamaquoddyTribalCourtisnotaconstitutionalcourt.Ithasnoexistence

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separateandapartfromthegovernmentofthePassamaquoddytribe,”hewrote.“Accordingly,thecourt…canexercisenopowersbeyondthoseauthorizedbythetribe.Indeed,thetribecouldextinguishthecourtatanytimebyappropriatelegislation.”

Meadsaidhewas“awareofnolegislation,resolutionorcouncilactionwhichwouldauthorizeittoentertainanactionagainstthetribeitself.…Assuch,atribalmembermaynotseekredressfortribal(government)actionbeforetheTribalCourt.”

Translation:absentaconstitutionmakingitaseparatebranchofgovernment,thetribalcourtdidnothavethepowertojudgetheactionsofthetribalgovernmentand,infact,servedatitsmercy.(Meaddidnotrespondtoaninterviewrequest.)

An“internaltribalmatter,”SockabasinandDanahadjustdiscovered,isonenotsubjecttojudicialreview.

Wouldthefederalcourtshaveheardhiscase?WouldtheyhavedeterminedwhethertheIndianCivilRightsActappliestoMainetribes?AllenSockabasinwasultimatelyunabletofindout.

Lackingthefundstopursuethecaseinfederalcourt–andunsureifitwouldevenbeheard–Sockabasinwasforcedtoabandonhisefforts.

AnyPassamaquoddywholivesoutsideofWashingtonCountystillcannotvoteintribalelectionstoday.

•••

Oneclearpoliticaleffectoftheban,manyinthetribesay,isthattheportionofthetribalelectorateleastlikelytobebeholdentogovernmentofficialsfortheirlivelihoodshadjustlosttheirsayinwhothoseofficialswouldbe.

“Theyhandpeoplemoneyandexpecttheirsupportorgivethemcontractjobsfortheirsupport,andthat’showtheykeepcontrolofpeopleinthecommunity,”saystribalmemberIraGilbertofIndianTownship.

Regardlessofthevirtuesofdisenfranchisement,theincidentforeshadowedwhatwouldbecomethetribe’sgreatestliability,theAchilles’heelthathashobbleditsabilitytobuildaprosperousfutureforitspeople:thelackofaconstitutionthatwouldestablishthefundamentallawsofthetribeandthefoundationsoftheruleoflawininternaltribal

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matters.

Traditionaltribalstructures,SockabasintoldtheMaineTimesinthefallof1986,wereinadequatetocopewiththeadministrationoftensofmillionsofdollarsofgrants,corporateassets,andtrustfundinvestmentssecuredasaresultoffederalrecognitionandthelandclaimssettlement.

Buteffortstoapproveaconstitutiontorectifythematterhadfailed,SockabasintoldtheMaineTimes,“becausetheconstitutionwouldhavemadetheentireleadershipaccountable.FromwhatIgather,nobodywantstobeaccountable.Butwe’rejustdealingwithtoomuchmoneynottobeheldaccountable.”

Hiswordswouldproveprophetic.

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CHAPTERTWENTY

Withnoconstitution,‘acommunity…withoutrules’

1986TO1993

St. Ann Church, in the village of Peter Dana Point in Indian Township, stands under a gray sky recently. Repeated attempts to enact a tribal constitution – a document that would have provided a legal foundation for the Passamaquoddy –failed.

TherewasneveranydoubtthatthePassamaquoddyneededaconstitution.

Suchadocumentwouldestablishthefundamentallawoftheirland,andidentifyboththepowersofelectedofficialsandthemechanismtoensuretheyadheredtotriballaw.Thoughitwasabundantlyclearfromtheoutsetthatonewasneeded,gettingitenactedwouldproveacomplicatedandformidablechallenge,onethatremainsunfinishedtothisday.

Withtribalcouncilapproval,attorneyTomTureenhaddevelopedadraftconstitution

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in1983supportedbya$100,000grantfromthefederalBureauofIndianAffairs.Itwasneverenacted.

Eachtimethedocumentwasputupforapprovalinthe1980s,itwaspassedbyvotersatPleasantPointbutdefeatedbythoseatIndianTownship.

TheMaineTimesreportedfromthereservationsinJanuary1987thatthedefeatwasduetooppositiontotwoprovisionsinthedocument.Onewasaclauseallowingtribalmembersconvictedof“illegallysellingdrugsandalcohol”onthereservationstobebanishedforbetweensixmonths(forafirstoffense)tolife(forathirdone.)Theotherwasaprovisionbanningconvictedfelonsfromholdingelectivetribaloffice.

“Theelementwhoopposeditisinofficeonthereservationtoday,”chargedJohnStevens,whohadbeennarrowlydefeatedinthe1986electionforIndianTownshipgovernorby43-year-oldBobbyNewell,theformertribalconstable-turned-politician.“They’llneverpassitthewayitiswiththosetwoarticles.”

OthersblamedTureen.“Hecamedownhereandhewonthelandclaims,butTomhasbeencarriedawaywithhisbig-leagueobligations,andhehasleftthegovernmentnakedoneachreservation,”councilmemberRalphDana,PleasantPoint’smostsuccessfulbusinessman,toldtheMaineTimesinlate1986.“Hehasforgottenaboutthelittlepeoplehere.Intheabsenceofaconstitution,thetribalgovernmentandTomTureenhavefreewheeled.Thecommunityisleftwithoutrules.There’snoaccountability.”

Tureenhadasolidcountertothisargument,however.“Ispenthundredsofhoursworkingontheconstitutionwiththem,”TureentoldtheTimes.“Itwentouttovoteseveraltimesandwasdefeated.Howisthatmyfault?”

Manytribalmemberspersistedintryingtogetaconstitutionenacted,rightlyseeingthatwithoutoneitwouldbeimpossibletoenforcetriballawontribalofficials.“NowthetribemembersareatthemercyoftheJointTribalCouncil,”RogerRitterofIndianTownshiptoldtheBangorDailyNewsin1990.“Theycanbuttheydon’thavetohonorpetitionsorholdpublichearingsonordinances.Wedon’thaveanyguidelinestobalancethepowerbetweenthepeopleandthegovernment.”

AlbertaCleavesofIndianTownshipadded:“Weneeded(aconstitution)rightafterwewentthroughthelandclaims,asawayofkeepingourelectedofficialsaccountabletotheirpeople.”

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•••

InJanuary1989,constitutionalproponentscirculatedpetitionsonbothreservationscallingonthetribalgovernorstoaddresstheissue.Hundredsoftribalmemberssignedthem.ThatJuly,thegoverningcouncilappointedasix-membercommitteetodevelopadraft.Theyheldpublichearingsatbothreservationsintheearlymonthsof1990,gatheredconcerns,incorporatedthemindraftsover23oftheirownworkshopmeetingsandpresentedtheresultstotheJointTribalCouncil.

TheJointTribalCouncil–consistingofthegoverningcouncils,governors,andlieutenantgovernorsofbothreservations–wasandistheoreticallythesupremeexecutivebodyofthetribe.Afterathree-monthdelay–itsmeetingswererepeatedlycanceledbecauseIndianTownshipofficialskeptfailingtoshowupforthem–thebodyapprovedthedraftandscheduledatribe-widepublicreferendumforJuly10,1990,toapproveorrejecttheconstitution.

VoterscametothepollsJuly10.AtPleasantPoint,thedraftpassedonceagain.AtIndianTownship,however,tribalmembersfoundthepollsclosedandlocked.

Gov.BobbyNewellhadcanceledthevoteatthelastminute,suddenlyclaimingthat“therearethingsinitthatwedon’tunderstand”andthatneededtobeexaminedinfurtherworkshops.HisauthoritytocancelareferendumcalledbytheJointTribalCouncilwasunclear;but,becausethetribehadnoconstitution,therewasnowaytochallengeit.

EdBassett,oneofPleasantPoint’srepresentativesontheconstitutionalcommittee,wasflabbergastedbyNewell’saction.“Heknewtheprocessallalong(and)…wasverysupportiveofthewholething,”hetoldtheBangorDailyNews.“Now,allofasudden,hedoesnothaveenoughinformation?Ireallythinkitisasmokescreen.”

Newell’sprimarypoliticalrival,formertribalGov.JohnStevens,agreed.“Ithinkthisisasaddayfortheconstitution,”hetoldareporter,“andanevensadderdayforthePassamaquoddytribe.”

•••

Amidtheoutrage,Gov.NewellinformedhiscounterpartatPleasantPointthathisreservationwouldvoteAug.20ontheconstitution“ascurrentlydrafted,andagreetobeboundbythetworeservations.”

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ButNewellcanceledtheAug.20voteaswellanddeclaredhewasoverseeingrevisionstothedraftbeforeresidentsofhisreservationwouldbeallowedtojudgeit.ApublicworkshopwasheldSept.2,withalivelydiscussionofissuessurroundingtherightsofnon-nativewidowsandwidowerswhentheirnativespousesdied.

OnSept.4–thesamedayasthegubernatorialelectionbetweenNewellandStevens–IndianTownshipandPleasantPointvotersapprovedentirelydifferentversionsoftheconstitution,thereforeneitherhadconstitutionalstanding.Eachreservationadopteditsownversionasmunicipalbylaws–thoughtheyareoftenignored–andtheJointTribalCouncilcontinuedtooperateinavacuum.

NewelltoldtheBangorDailyNewsthattheIndianTownshipdraft“restrictedtheJointCouncilfromhavingsomuchpowerandwegavethatpowerbacktothepeople.”

Inreality,thelast-minutechangesgaveNewellgreaterpowerandhispeopleless.HegavehisofficethenovelabilitytovetoanyactionoftheJointCouncil,amovethatcouldbeoverturnedonlybyaunanimousvoteofthelatterbody.Citizens’referendumsandvotestorecallagovernorwouldrequiretwo-thirdsvotesforpassage,insteadofsimplemajoritiesastheoriginaldraftread.Arecalledofficialcouldalsorunforthesameofficeintheverynextelectioninsteadofhavingtosititout.

“Idon’trecallexactlywhathappened,butIknowthatalotoftimesintheJointCouncilwewouldhavealotofdebatesandcontroversyastowhateachreservationwantedwiththeconstitution,”Newellsaystoday.“Wemadethedecisionbasedoncircumstancesthatwerehappeningatthetime.”

Bassettdescribestheeventsofthatlatesummerasaconstitutionalcrisisonseverallevels.“Itwascrazywhatwentdown.WenevercontemplatedthatsomebodywoulddefytheJointCounciltothatpoint,”hesays.“Nobodyknewwhattodo.”

“Iguessthatwastribalpoliticsatitslowestpoint,asfaraspeopleabusingtheirpower,”headds.

ButonSept.4BobbyNewellhadalsowonre-election.Thelowestebbwasyettocome.

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CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE

Asreservation’sruleoflawerodes,abusesthrive

1978TO1993

A boarded-up building belies the difficult life on Peter Dana Point in Indian Township. Governing without a tribal constitution in the years following the Indian land claims settlement of 1980 put the Passamaquoddy in a risky spot, even with their own leadership.

Withtheconstitutionstillborn,thetribalcourtsoutofthepictureandoutsideauthoritiesnotwishingtointrudeoninternaltribalmatters,thestagewassetforseriousabuse.

Itwasthesaddesttwistoffate.Straightthroughthe1960s,thePassamaquoddypeoplehadbeengrosslytreated–withindividualsdeniedthevoteandwantonlykilled,theiralliesjailedontrumped-upcharges,theirpropertyandresourcestakenaway–allbecausetheylivedwithoutthelegalrightsandlawenforcementprotectionsmostMainerstookforgranted.Now,amidtheirhard-fought,David-and-GoliathvictoryoverthestateofMaineandthefederalgovernment,theywereslippingintoanotherlegal

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breach,thisonefirsttornbythestatebutmadefarwiderbytheactionsoftheirownleaders.

Forrank-and-filemembersofthetribe,theruleoflawhadbeguntoslip.

BobbyNewell,themanperhapsmostresponsibleforthisstateofaffairs,hadalreadybeentouchedbyaccusationsofimpropriety.

Newellhadgrownupdirtpooranddidn’tbegintolearnEnglishuntilelementaryschool.Still,hebecameoneofthefewPassamaquoddyofhisgenerationtoattendcollege.Asayoungman,hehadmadeanimpressiononMaine’sfirstcommissionerofIndianAffairs,EdHinckley,whosawinhimthecharisma,confidenceandintellecttobeagreatleader,andHinckleyhelpedhimbecomethefirstMaineIndiantoattendtheformerHaskellInstitute,theIndiancollegeinKansasnowknownasHaskellIndianNationsUniversity.Heattendedthestatepoliceacademyand,inhisearly20s,hadashortstintasaPleasantPointtribalconstable,resigningafterbeingsweptupintheepic1967policebrutalitycase,wherestatetroopersstoodaccusedofbargingintohomesandbeatingtheIndianinhabitants.

Duringthe1970s,NewellbecameactiveinpoliticsatPleasantPoint,servingonthegoverningcouncilandasdirectorofthereservationhousingauthority,throughwhichfederalhousinggrantsflowed.Asthelandclaimssettlementreacheditsfinalstages,hewasnamedtothefour-personnegotiatingteam,andinthefallof1978hewaselectedgovernor.

•••

Athisinauguration,NewellpledgedtoincreaseIndianself-sufficiencybyencouragingsmallbusiness,educationalattainment,andgreateradministrationofIndianservicesbythetribeitself.Twoyearslater–evenasthehistoriclandclaimssettlementwasbeingfinalized–hisconstituentscirculatedapetitiondemandinghisrecall.Newell,itsaid,“wasremissinkeepingthetribeinformedofhowfederalfundsandprogramswerebeingadministered.”

Newellresigned,andtribalofficialschosenottocallforanoutsideinvestigationofhisallegedmisdoings.(Hesaystodaythatatthatstage“wedidn’thaveanymoneytomismanage…onlyafewfundedprograms,andtheywerevery,veryinadequatelyfunded.”)ThreemonthslaterPresidentJimmyCartersignedthelandsettlementactintolaw,divertingattentiontothefuture.

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Shortlythereafter,Newelllefthiswifeandfivekids,hesays,andmovedtoIndianTownshiptolivewithhisgirlfriend,whomhelatermarried.Hetookuplogging.

D.GordonMott,aprofessionalforesterwhohadworkedinthewoodssince1946,washiredbythetribein1982todevelopaforestryplan.Herememberswellencountering6-foot-2Newellononeofhisfirstdaysatwork,shortlyaftertheloggerhadbeenforcedtostopcuttingaparcelofprimespruceforwhichheallegedlydidnothavetheproperpermissions.

“Thisgreatfellowcameinthedoorwithaterrible,terribledarkscowlonhisfaceandtoweredrightover(mycolleague)andgrowledathim:‘OK,you’veputmeoutofwork.Youhavetofindaplacetocut,’”Mottrecalls.“ItoldhimIdidseeastandofbalsamfironRoute1thathadbeenhitbyastormbutwasstillsalvageable.”

Atthetime,balsamfirwastheworkhorsespecies,usuallytargetedforcutting,whilethemorevaluablespruceandpinewereallowedtomature.Butwhentheydrovetothestand,Newellaskedifhecouldcutoneofthetreesdown.“Soheandhispartner,ClaytonCleaves,gotoutandgottheirchainsawandtookthefattestfirtheyhadthereandknockeditdown,”Mottrecalls.“AndBobbykneltdownandstartedsmellingthestump.Isaid:‘Bobby,whatareyoudoing?’”

Newell’sresponserevealedthedegreetowhichtheloggerhadbeentargetingonlythehighest-valuespeciesintheforest:.“I’lltellyouthetruth,”Mottrecallshimanswering.“I’vebeenaloggerfor20years,andI’vecutspruceandpinebutI’venevercutafir.”

•••

Inatestamenttohisself-assuranceandcharisma,Newell–arecenttransplantfromarivalreservation–ranagainstveteranIndianTownshipleaderJohnStevensin1986andwon.HissisterMollyJeanetteNeptunewaselectedlieutenantgovernor.ThiswasdespitealetterfromthefederalDepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopmentsurfacinginthefinalweeksofthecampaignthatcomplainedthatNewell–whosatonthetribe’shousingauthorityboard–hadnotmadeaHUDrentalpaymentonhisownresidenceinnearlythreeyearsandhadallegedlybeeninvolvedinillegalself-dealing:winningcontractstorepairhousingauthorityproperties.

Thetribalcouncil,possiblyconcernedabouthowhemightoverseehisowncuttingoftreesontriballands,passedaspecialordinanceforcinghimtogiveuphislogginglicense.Still,thingswouldnotgosmoothlyinthewoods–andmanyothersectors–

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underhistwo-termadministration.

OneofNewell’sfirstactswastoshutterthetribe’schildwelfareoffice,wherethedirector,formerGov.AllenSockabasin,haduncovereddozensofcasesofallegedchildabuseandincest.Accordingtopressreports,17caseshadbeenpreparedforaWashingtonCountygrandjuryandmorethan70caseswereunderinvestigation.

Officestaffhadbeenfurloughedearlierintheyearduetoatemporaryfundinggap,butshortlyafterNewelltookoffice,thetribalcouncilmadetheclosurepermanentandattemptedtoseizeallofitsinvestigativerecords.“Manymembersoftribalgovernmentwereunderinvestigation,”childwelfareinvestigatorandformerCalaispoliceOfficerEdNadeautoldtheBangorDailyNews.“After(Newell)wasselectedgovernor,thewholechildwelfareprogramwasthrownoutthewindow.”

Noneofthechildabusecasesmadeittocourt.

“Itwashard,”Sockabasinsaystoday.“It’sasmallcommunity,andyoufindyourselfinvestigatingpeopleyou’rerelatedto.”

NewelltoldareporterthatSockabasinhadreceivedpoorevaluationsfromtheBIAandwasusinghispositionin“avindictivefashion”to“goafterhispoliticalenemies.”

SockabasinwroteletterscriticalofNewellinthetribalnewsletter,KeqLeyu(whichmeans“What’sgoingon?”);Newellshutthepublicationdown.SockabasinledpetitiondrivestohaveNewellandhissisterrecalled,toinstitutetwo-yeartermsforallelectedofficials,andtorestorethevotetotribalmemberslivingoutsideWashingtonCounty.Noneofhiseffortssucceeded.

Newellwasre-electedin1990.Thenthingsbegan,onceagain,tocomeapartforhim.

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CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO

Theperilsofplacingtrust‘inthehandsofthefew’

1993TO2005

A pinhole camera captures a dog chained to a trailer on Passamaquoddy tribal land recently. For many people on the reservations, the way that leaders managed the tribe’s newfound wealth after the land claims settlement of 1980 left a legacy of disenchantment.

ForthePassamaquoddy,theprimarylegacyofthehistoric1980landclaimssettlementwastheirpurchaseofmorethan100,000acresofforestlands.

Thetribeboughttheland,includinglargetractsnearJackmaninwesternMaineandanotherineasternPenobscotCounty,frompapercompanies.Likeothertribaltrustland,theforestsandthetreescutfromthembelongtothetribalmemberscollectivelyand,intheory,shouldbeasourceofconsiderable–andrenewable–incomeforthem.

Indeed,thefederalBureauofIndianAffairsischargedwithoverseeingthe

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exploitationoftheforeststoensurethisimportantsharedresourceisn’tstolenorsquandered.Intheory,thebureaucandemandchangesandshutdownforestryactivitiesifthingsgoawry.

InearlyJanuary1993,thebureaudidexactlythat,suspendingalltimbersalesbecauseofinadequateoversight,recordkeepingandconflictsofinterest.

Dayslater,D.GordonMott,whomonthsbeforehadbeenrehiredtohelpmanageforestryoperations,wroteIndianTownshipGov.BobbyNewelladetailedmemooutliningcriticalshortcomings,allofthemstemmingfrompotentialconflictsofinterest,inadequatechecksandbalances,andalackofpoliticalindependenceforforestrymanagers.Ifdecisionmakershadcloseconnectionswithparticularloggers,hewrote,theforestswouldbetheworseforthemischiefthatwouldensue.

“Itismyviewthatseriousproblemscandevelopifadministrationofaprogramthatisresponsibleforanassetliketheforestthatisofvitalinteresttobothcommunitiesandalltribalmembersisplacedinthehandsofthefew,”Mottwrote.“Theblueberryharvestcannotbeexceeded,buttheexploitationanddegradationofthepastdecadeintheforestcancontinuebecauseitisnotanannualcrop.Intheenditsvaluewillbelost.”

Tribalauthoritieswereallowingloggerstorunamokintheirpeople’sforest.“Whathadhappenedwasthatthetriballoggershadgrowninnumbersand…werebeingaccommodatedregularlyandmorethansufficiently,”Mottrecallstoday.“Theywereaccommodatedtoanextentthatlookedlikeitwasbeyondthecapacityoftheresourcetosustainthemforthelongterm.”

ButthesolutionnegotiatedwiththeBureauofIndianAffairssidesteppedmanyoftheseissues.Oversightofthetribe’sforestrysectorwastransferredfromthegovernorofIndianTownshiptotheJointTribalCouncil,whereNewell,hissisterandalliedcouncilorsweremembers.

“TheBIAwastryingtopromotetribalindependenceandtribalassumptionofauthority,”Mottnotes.“Thesethingsconspiredsothatalltheactorswereworkingintheirindividualinterestandnotintheinterestoftheresourceasawhole.”

Loggingresumed,buttheproblemswouldonlygrow.

•••

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ByFebruary1993–notevenamonthafterweatheringacrisisovermismanagementofforests–Newell’sadministrationwasinjeopardyyetagain.

Newell,whohadbeenforcedoutofhispreviousgovernorshipatPleasantPointbyacitizens’petitionandhadblockedeffortstoratifyaconstitutionthatwouldhavelimitedhispowers,facedanewpetitiondrive.

Thistime,tribalmemberswerecallingforaninvestigationintothelegalityofhisadministration’sfinancialtransactions,andasuspensionofhisadministrativeauthority.Thegovernor,theyfeared,wasmismanagingthereservation’smoney.

Heagreedtorelinquishmanyofhispowers,whilethereservation’sgoverningcouncildemandedalistofallexpendituresoverthepreviousfivemonthsandacopyofthemostrecentaudit.Newellannouncedthathemightnotrunforathirdterm,andwasconsideringgoingtolawschoolandbecomingajudge.

Bizarrely,however,Newellwasappointedinterimadministrator,essentiallystandinginforhimself.Tensionsonthereservationreachedaboilingpoint.

InearlyMarch,severaltribalmembersseizedcontroloftheIndianTownshipgovernmentheadquartersafterameetingoftheJointTribalCouncil,protestingNewell’scontinuedpresence.FormerGov.JohnStevens–Newell’slongtimerival–andfourothercouncilorsjoinedthem.Lateatnight,Newellcameinsideandmetwiththegroup,agreeingtoscheduleandabidebyaMarch11recallreferendumvote.

Newelllost,andStevensbecamegovernor.Hisadministrationclaimedtohaveinherited$3millionindebt.AskedbyareporterwhetherIndianTownshipwasbroke,justadecadeafterthelandclaimsmoneyhadbeentransferred,Stevensresponded:“Badlybent.”

TodayNewelldefendshissecondstintastribalgovernor,whichfulfilledcampaignpromisestoputpeopletoworkbyhiringtribalmemberstogovernmentpositionsandmakinginvestmentsinbusinessesonthereservation,ratherthaninRocklandorThomaston.

Whilegovernor,Newellbroughtseveralsmallmanufacturingoperationstothereservation,andoversawtheconstructionofa$1millionrecreationcenterwithabowlingalleyandOlympic-sizeswimmingpool.Noneoftheprojectswouldlast.“Icreatednineentitiesandtheycouldn’tkeepthemup,soonebyonetheygotsetaside,”

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hesaystoday.“Isawthemfillthepoolwithgravel,becausetheysaiditwastooexpensivetokeepup.”

Atbothreservations,tribalgovernmententeredaneraofinstability.

•••

Ontakingoffice,Stevenspromisedtopushthroughatribe-wideconstitution.Instead,hebecametangledinafederalinvestigationinvolvingallegationsofsexualharassmentmadebyfemaletribalemployees.“TheywantedmetobeconvictedtohaveafelonyasasexoffendersoIwouldn’tbeabletorun(forpublicoffice),”Stevensrecalls.“Theyhadthislonglistofnames,andthewomenthatwereonthere,notoneofthemsaid,‘Johndidrapeme.’”

Stevenswasclearedofthechargesbutlostthe1998electionbyathree-votemargintohisnephew,RichardStevens,andwouldneveragainbegovernor.Ayearlater,RichardStevensfacedarecallpetitionofhisownoverallegationsoffavoritisminpromotionsandlayoffs.Thepetitionwasthrownoutonatechnicality–someofthesignatorieshadfailedtofillinthedate.ThreeoftheactivistsbehindthepetitiontookoverIndianTownshipheadquartersafewweekslaterbutwerearrestedwithinhours.

NorwerethingssmoothatPleasantPoint.InApril1995,20youngprotestersseizedthatreservation’snewtribalofficebuilding,whichhadbeencompletedbyappropriating$900,000previouslyearmarkedtoconstructayouthcenter.A72-hourstandoffensued,withpolicefrombothreservations,thePenobscotNation,Eastportandthecountysheriff’sofficesurroundingthebuilding.Thegovernor,CliveDore,survivedtwopetitionstoremovehimfromofficeandarecallvote.

Hisunderlyingproblem,supporterssaidatthetime,wasthatmanyinthetribewereunabletofacethefactthatmuchoftheirmoneyhadbeenspentandtheywerenowlivingbeyondtheirmeans.

“WhenIcame(inasgovernor)in1991,everyonewashollering,‘Whereisourmoney?’”Doretoldreportersin1995.“Duringthatperiod,alotoffaithingovernmentwaslost,andIamstilldealingwiththattoday.

Thetribehadspentmostofitsliquidcapitalinthedecadefollowingthe1980landclaimssettlement.Thebulkofthetribe’ssettlement–$32.5million–wasreservedforlandacquisition,andmosthadbeenspentforthatpurpose.The$12.5milliontrustfund

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remainedjustthat,withtheinterestpaidouttotribalmemberseachyear.

The$32millionprofitfromthewindfallsaleoftheDragonCementplanthadalsobeenspent,Doresaid,with$19millionbeingdistributedoverseveralyearstothetribe’s3,000membersand$13millionexpendedontribalgovernmentexpenses.

“We’vetakenmillionsfromtheprincipaltokeeppeoplehappy,”bykeepingannualpaymentstomembersatanartificiallyinflated$2,000perperson,tribalcouncilorRalphDanaobservedintheearly1990s.“We’vecreatedamonster.”

DoresaidhehadbeenforcedtoappropriatetheyouthcentermoneytocompletethePleasantPointheadquartersbuildingbecausethetribecouldnotgetaconstructionloanduetocreditproblemsoriginatingatIndianTownship.

TribalattorneyTomTureen,whonegotiatedthelandclaimssettlementandguidedmanyofthetribe’ssubsequentinvestments,movedonin1992.“Afterweranoutofmoney,”currenttribalcouncilorEdBassettJr.noteswryly.

DoreresignedinMarch1996andacceptedacompensationpackage,includingvacationpay.Lt.Gov.RickDoylewasnamedtoreplacehim.ButinApril,Dorehadsecondthoughts.HetoldtheU.S.BureauofIndianAffairs–throughwhichallfederalmoneypassestothetribe–thathewasactuallystillgovernorbecausehehadneverputhisresignationinwriting.Absentaconstitution,thetribehadtowaitthreemonthsforBIAtomaketheofficialrulingthatDoylewasnowgovernor.

•••

In2002BobbyNewell–twiceoustedasatribalgovernor–handilywontheIndianTownshipgovernor’sraceagainstJohnStevens.Itwouldprovetobehislaststintasgovernor.

Theproblemsstartedimmediately.Theauditforfiscalyear2003–thefirstofNewell’sadministration–foundpoorfinancialpracticesatIndianTownship,includingdelayedreportingoftransactionsanddecentralizedbookkeeping.“Tribalinformationcanbedistortedandnotaccurate,whichincludesinformationreportedtoregulatoryagencies,”auditorRonaldH.SmithreportedintheSeptember2004report.

Althoughtheydidnotmakeitpublicatthetime,thetribalcouncillearnedthatthetribe’sbudgethadbeenoverspentby$1.6million,andthatNewellhadbeenimproperly

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appropriatingfederalsubstanceabuseandHIVfundstomake“generalassistance”paymentstocouncilmembers.“ThecouncilvotedtostripNewellofadministrativeauthority,butbacktrackedwhentheylearnedtheywouldnolongerreceivegeneralassistancepayments,”afederalCircuitCourtjudgewouldlaterwrite.

NewelldefendedthemassiveoverspendingataMay2004reservationcouncilmeeting:“Aslongasweareafederallyrecognizedtribeandaslongasthere’safederalgovernmentinplace,”hetoldthecouncil,“wewillnotrunoutofmoney.”

InFebruary2005,theauditorwroteNewellandtheJointTribalCouncilregardingproblemswiththeforestryprogrambooks,includinglackofdocumentationtosupportexpensesandpayments,afailuretokeepadequaterecordsinordertobillloggersfortheharvestingoftribaltreesortomakeanefforttocollectwhatwasowed,aninappropriate$7,000loantoaforestryemployee,andthediversionof$500,000infederalprojectfundstocoverthedepartment’sordinaryoverhead.

Smith,whosefirmcurrentlyauditsthePleasantPointreservation’saccounts,declinedtobeinterviewed.

BytheendofMarch,protestersweregatheredonthelawnofthetribalgovernmentbuilding,callingforNewell’sadministrativedutiestobetakenfromhimagain.Heclosedtheofficesforseveraldays,dismissingtheprotestersas“sidewalkbookkeepers.”

Apetitioncallingforhisousterbecauseof“irresponsibleandrecklesshandlingoftribalfinances[and]nofinancialaccountability”wassignedbymorethan130IndianTownshipresidents,includingthereservation’sentiretribalcouncil.

Newellstayedonthejobandfiredfivetribalemployeeswhohadtakenpartinthedemonstrationagainsthim.“Theymisbehavedandtheydidn’thaveanyrespectfortribalgovernmentoritsauthority,andthat’swhytheygotterminated,”Newelllatersaid.Thefivelaunchedalawsuitintribalcourtallegingaviolationoftheirfreedomofspeechandseekingreinstatementandcompensatorydamages.

“Ifhehasnothingtoworryabout,whydidhefireus?”oneofthefive,NakiaDana,saidinanewsrelease

ItturnedoutNewellhadplentytoworryabout.

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Disagreementoverpowerspollutesstate,tribalrelations

INDIANTOWNSHIP—ThehistoriclandclaimssettlementagreementnotonlyhelpedcreateaharmfullegalvacuumwithinthePassamaquoddytribe,italsoputMainetribesandthestateonacollisioncourseinregardstowhatpowerseachbelievestheyexercisedontriballand.

Thepartiesarestillfightingovertheact’smeaningtoday.

StatelegalexpertssaytheMaineLandClaimsSettlementActof1980wasclearandthatthetribe’srepresentativeswereentirelyawareofitsmeaning.

Underthelaw,thePassamaquoddyandPenobscotsare“subjecttothelawofthestate”exceptinregardsto“internaltribalmatters,includingmembershipintherespectivetribeornation,therighttoresidewithintherespectiveIndianterritories,tribalorganization,tribalgovernment,tribalelectionsandtheuseordispositionofsettlementfundincome.”

Thesetwotribesalsohave“exclusiveauthority”withintheirterritoriestoregulatehuntingandtrappingandfishing“onanypond”oflessthan10acres.(Ajointbody–theMaineIndianTribal-StateCommission–hasregulatorypoweroverfishingonotherponds,lakesandriverslyingwithinorpartlywithintriballand.)

Theycan–andhave–setuptribalcourtsystemstotrymisdemeanoroffensesbetweentribalmembersontriballand,andtheirgovernmentshavethepowersandprivilegesofmunicipalities.

Andfromthestate’sperspective,that’sessentiallyit.AnyotherpowersthePassamaquoddyorPenobscotsmighthaveenjoyed–eitherbeforedirectcontactwithEuropeansin1604orfrom1976-1980whentheywereunderfederaljurisdiction–weresurrenderedinthesettlement.

“Thefactisthetribeswillinglyacceptedthejurisdictionaldealasthepriceforgettingthesettlement,”saysformerDeputyAttorneyGeneralJohnPaterson,headofthestate’snegotiatingteamatthetime.“Later,foranewgenerationoftriballeadership,itallbecamethat‘thestatepushedthisdownourthroatandmadeusacceptthis.’”

Successivestateattorneysgeneralhavevigorouslydefendedthisinterpretation,

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includingthecurrentone,JanetMills,whohasadvisedthatfederalIndianlaws“arenotapplicableinMaineiftheyaffectMaine’sjurisdiction”unlessCongressspecificallystatedotherwiseinthelaw’stext.

“Theoverallmessagefromthecourtsisthatthesettlementactsarewhatprescribetherelationshipbetweenthestateandthetribes–notgeneralIndianlaw,”shetoldtheLegislature’sJudiciaryCommitteelastyear.

Thetribesdisagree.Theybelievetheirsovereignpowersweregivenbytheircreator,andtheonlypowerstheygaveuparethoseexplicitlydescribedintheSettlementAct:beingsubjecttothelawsandjurisdictionofthestateinmattersnotinternaltothetribe.TheAct,theyargue,gavethemadditionalenumeratedrights–thebond-issuingprivilegesofamunicipality,forinstance–butthosewereinadditiontotheirGod-grantedones,notinsteadofthem.

“ThestateofMainethinksthatthetribesonlyhavethepowersgiventothembythestateofMaine,butifyouaskthetribetheysay,no,weweregiventhosepowersinadditiontotheirsovereignpowers,”saysStephenBrimley,aBelfast-basedconsultantontribaljusticeissuesandformerdirectorofthePenobscots’judicialdepartment,whosaysthestate’sstanceisincorrect.

MaineofficialsessentiallyholdthattheSettlementActcleanedtheslatein1980withregardstotheMainetribes’sovereignty,eliminatingtheirinherentpowers,includingthosethathadbeenrecognizedbythefederalgovernmentasaresultofTomTureen’ssuccessfulsuitagainsttheU.SSecretaryofInteriorseveralyearsearlier.

“That’snottrue,”Brimleyasserts.“Thereisnocaselawinthecountrythatwouldestablishthatpremise,andtothinkotherwiseisludicrous.”

ThisbasicdifferenceofinterpretationhaspoisonedrelationsbetweenMaineandthetribeseversince,andtwosubjectshaveprovidedregularflashpoints:fishingandgambling.

Inthefallof1982,stateauthoritiesthreatenedtoshutdownhigh-stakesbeanogamesthePenobscotswereholdingontheirreservationatIndianIslandnearOldTown.Thegames–whichhadbeengoingonsincethetribewonfederalrecognition(and,thus,sovereignty)in1976–featuredpotsofupto$10,000,or10timesthestatelimitatthetime.

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ThatwinterthePenobscotssuedinstatecourttopermanentlyprohibitstateauthoritiesfrominterferingwiththeirgames,arguingthatsincethebeanoproceedswereusedtofinancetribalgovernmentoperations,theywerean“internaltribalmatter”undertheSettlementAct.

Thecourtdisagreed,sayingthetermappliedto“atmost,therelationshipbetweenthetribeanditsownmembers”not“itsoperationofgamblingactivitiesforthepublicatlarge.”Thegameswereshutdown,deprivingthetribeof$125,000inannualrevenues–oraboutaquarteroftheiroperatingbudgetatthetime.

In1996,thetribesuedinfederalcourttobeallowedtoconductgamblingunderthe1983IndianGamingRegulatoryAct.Theylost,thecourtfindingthatpost-settlementIndianlawsdonotapplytotheMainetribesundertheSettlementActs.

Thetribehastriedseveraltimessincetogainstateapprovalforacasino,apotentiallyenormoussourceofrevenue.A2003bidtobuilda$650millioncasinoinSanfordwasrejectedbyMainevotersbya2-1ratio,evenastheyapprovedanotherreferendumquestionallowingthecreationofwhatbecametheHollywoodSlotscasinoinBangor.Votersrejectedtheir2007racinoproposal.Thisyearthestatesenatedeclinedtoauthorizeaproposaltobuilda$150millionfacilityinCalais,evenasasecondnon-tribalcasinohasopeneditsdoorsinOxford.

Formanyinthetribe,it’shardnottodrawaharshconclusion.“It’srelatedtorace,color,andcreed,”saysClaytonCleaves,thecurrentchiefatPleasantPoint.“IfGodwasmyattorneyandMoseswasmyadviserandtheApostlesweremyteamandwewenttoAugustawewouldstillgetturneddownbecauseoftheDNAofNativeAmericans.”

Fishingrightshavealsobeencontentious.

In1997,agroupofPassamaquoddyclaimedtheaboriginalrighttoharvestclamsandscallopsoff-reservationwithoutlicenses,andarguedthatsaltwaterfishingwasan“internaltribalmatter.”Maine’shighestcourtdisagreed.TodaythePassamaquoddygovernmentcanissuecertainpermitsfortheharvestingofmarineresources,butonlybecausethestateLegislaturepassedalawallowingit.

LastyearmarinepatrolofficerswoundupinastandoffwithPassamaquoddyelverfishermen,whowerefishingwithlicensesissuedbythetribethatwereinvalidunderstatelaw.Thestate’sattempttobringcriminalchargesagainstthefishermencontinuestochillrelationswiththetribe.

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“Thetribeisexercisingitsinherentrightandresponsibilitytofish,andwe’veneverstoppedfishingelveratanytime,”saysVeraFrancis,atribalactivistwhoalsomakesalivingfishing.“Youcan’tgrowandstrengthenthetraditionaleconomyfromtraditionalactivitieswithoutfullaccesstoengageinthoseactivities,tolearnaboutthem,andgainandmaintaintheknowledge.”

“We’rePassamaquoddy–thisiswhoweare,”shesaysforcefully,echoingawidespreadsentimentamongtribalmembersinregardstotheirrighttosuchnaturalresources.

Otherspointtothefactthatwhentherearedisputesoverthemeaningofthesettlementact,it’sthestate’scourtsthatdecidewhoisright.

“There’sabasicunfairnessinthefactthatconflictswiththestateonIndianissuescometoStateofMainecourts.Because,waitaminute,theyareoneofthesides,”saysretiredattorneyCushmanAnthony,whoservedaschairoftheMaineIndianTribalStateCommissionintheearly2000s.“Ifonesaidweshouldtakethedisputetothetribalcourts,whitepeoplewouldcomplain,butit’sexactlythesamesituation.”

“I’veheardpeoplesaythereoughttobeawaythatitwouldgotofederalcourtinstead,andItendtoagree,”headds.

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CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE

Fedsmovein,IndianTownshipgovernorfeelstheheat

2006TO2008

With Deer Island in New Brunswick on the horizon, the ocean waters of Passamaquoddy Bay lap against the shore at Pleasant Point. At Indian Township, Gov. Bobby Newell says he “got caught in the political crossfire by ambitious people” who wanted his job.

TimewasrunningoutforIndianTownshipGov.BobbyNewell.

Ashisre-electionbidapproachedinthesummerof2006,federalinvestigatorsrepresentingfouragenciesdescendedonthereservation,inspectingdocumentsdatingbackto2002andaskingquestionsabouthowthegovernorhadbeenspendingfederalfunds.Theinvestigation,whichhadbeengoingonforayear,wouldlandNewellinprison.

“Myprimarygoalonthereservationwasaddressingandhelpingpeoplewhowerepoorsothattheycouldhavesomethinganddealwithsubstanceabuse,andeveryspare

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dollarIcouldgetIfunneledintothat,”Newellsays.“IgotcaughtinthepoliticalcrossfirebyambitiouspeoplewhowantedtobeleadersonthereservationandknewthatevenifIlostanelection…Iwouldbeelectedgovernoragain.”

“Theywantedtogetridofme,”headds.“I’mthenewDonGellers,”areferencetothetribe’sone-timeattorney,whowasrunoutofthecountryonaminormarijuanacharge.

InSeptember,Newelllosthisre-electionbidtochallengerWilliam“Billy”Nicholas,acouncilmemberandchieftribalgamewarden,byavoteof258-144.

ThenewadministrationreportedinJanuary2007thatNewellhadleftIndianTownship$3millionindebt,andhadalreadyspent$1.2millioninrevenuesforthenextfiscalyear.Tribalgovernmentemployeeshadlosttheirmedicalandworkers’compensationinsurance,bothofwhichhadbeenterminatedbecauseofnon-payment.

“Ijustwanttogointomylittleholeandstaythere,andifpeoplearegoingtocomeanddragmeoutofthathole,thenIamgoingtorespondaccordingly,”Newelltoldareporteratthetime.“Ifithastobelitigation,thenIwilldothat.”

•••

ThefederalgovernmentdraggedNewelloutofhishole,indictinghimonMarch20,2008,on30chargesrelatingtotheallegeddiversionof$1.7millioninfederalfunds.

ProsecutorsallegedNewellhadattemptedtohideirregularitiesbyfiringemployeeswhoprotestedwhatwashappening,includingthefiveterminatedafterthe2005protestagainsthisgovernorship.Ironically,thefiringandthelawsuitthatfollowed–andultimatelywassettledoutofcourt–iswhatapparentlyfirstdrewtheattentionoffederalinvestigators.

Attrial,investigatorsshowedhowNewellhadusedhisnearlyuncheckedpowertodoleouthundredsofthousandsofdollarsin“generalassistance”paymentstofriends,family,politicalsupportersandothertribalmembers.Duringthelasttwofiscalyearshewasgovernor,thegeneralassistancebudget–whichNewellallegedlyusedtogreasethewheelsofpoliticsonthereservationof600–wasoverspentbyatotalof$2million.Hepaidoutapparentlyarbitrary“honoraria”tohimself,Lt.Gov.JosephSocobasinandtribalcouncilors.Hedirectedcheckstobeissuedtohimself,hisson,andotherfamilymembersfortripsthatinvestigatorssaidhadneveroccurred.

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“Onotheroccasions,NewelldippedintoHousingAuthorityfundsforweddingdonations,unspecifiedsmallloans,travelreimbursementforhisson,Eric,and‘generalassistance’fortwoothertribemembers,”afederalcourtopinionwouldstate.HespentBureauofIndianAffairshousingfunds“onhisfriends,family,tribalcouncilmembersandtheirfamilies,includingWilliamNicholas,thetribe’scurrentgovernor.”

Tocoverthesecosts,Newellorderedsubordinatesto“loan”thetribalgovernmentfederalfundsgrantedtosupportprogramsatthehealth,environmentandpolicedepartments.Inthefallof2005,federalofficialsstartedaskingwherethemissingmoneywasbutwererebuffedbythegovernor.Byspring2006thesituationwassodirethatNewellwasabletomeetpayrollonlybyraidinghisemployees’401(k)accountsandnotpayingfederalandstatewithholdingorrentpayments(foremployeeslivinginfederalhousing).

“WhenNewellleftofficeinSeptember(2006),afterlosingtheelectiontoWilliamNicholas,thetribeonlyhadenoughmoneytopayforoneperson’ssalary–Newell’s,”anappealscourtjudgewouldwrite.

•••

InNovember2008,Newellwasconvictedof29countsincludingconspiringtodefraudtheUnitedStates,misapplicationoffederalfunds,andfraudandlyingtofederalagencies.HewassentencedtofiveyearsatafederalprisoninPennsylvania.

Newelltriedtoappeal,arguingthatthesewereall“internaltribalmatters”undertheMaineSettlementActandthereforenotunderthejurisdictionofthefederalcourt.Thefederalappealsjudgewasnotimpressedandupheldtheconvictions.Newellspentnearlyfouryearsinprison.

“ThejudgesaidIwashelpingmyfriends,butIhelpedeverybody,”Newellsays,andbesides,thosewhosucceededhimwereawareofeverythinghewasdoing.“Idon’tendorsethechecks;thecouncildoes.ButI’mtheonewhogotcharged.”

ThecourtjudgmentsdidnotethatNewelldidnotappeartohaveactedinordertoenrichhimself,andseveraltribalmemberstoldthePressHeraldtheythoughthismotivesmayhavebeenbenign,ifmisguided.“Bobbyhadavery,verykindheart,andifhegaveout$100,000,$99,000ofthatwenttothepublicandtheother$1,000probablywasnotaccountedfor,”saysClaytonCleaves,thecurrentchiefatPleasantPointandalongtimefriendofthedisgracedgovernor.“Allthosepeoplewhogotnewtiresandclothes,

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shelter,oil,cars,andassistance–inmyopinionthosefolksshouldhavecomeforward,andiftheyhad,Ithinkhis(prison)termwouldhavebeenshorter.”

AsNewell’sprisonvanrolleduptoU.S.PenitentiaryCanaaninWaymart,Pennsylvania,thePassamaquoddystillhadnoconstitution,andBillyNicholaswaswellintohisreignasgovernor.

Thetribe’sproblemswerefarfromover.

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CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

Newleader,newscrutinyonwherethemoneygoes

2006TO2010

The tribal government building at Indian Township. Even after Bobby Newell was convicted of misapplying federal funds and a new governor stepped into the leadership role, questions about spending and appropriations persisted on the reservation.

Tothisday,BobbyNewellsayshisconvictionsforcorruptionandconspiracytomisapplyfederalfundswereorchestratedbyhissuccessortotheIndianTownshipgovernorship,William“Billy”Nicholas,andthecurrentgovernor,JosephSocobasin.

“TheyknewIwaspoliticallysavvyandtheywantedtogetridofme,sotheywentandsolicitedhelpfromtheU.S.Attorney’sOfficeandasenator’soffice,andIgotalynchmobcomeafterthat,”saysNewell,whoserved46monthsinprison.“BillyNicholaswasinvolvedinallofit,andJoeSocobasin,whowasmylieutenantgovernorforfouryears.”

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Trueornot,NicholaswascertainlyamajorbeneficiaryofNewell’sdownfall.

Nicholas,whodefeatedNewellinthe2006election,wasacolorful,charismaticfigurewithacheckeredpast.

Billyandhisbrothers–includingcurrentcouncilmemberLeslieNicholasandcurrentIndianTownshipPoliceChiefAlexNicholas–spenttheirearlyyearsinsouthernMaine,movingwiththeirparentstothereservationafterthetribewonfederalrecognition.Theirfather,Carl,servedaslieutenantgovernorinthe1990s,andhisgreat-uncle,JosephNicholas,wasthefirsttribalrepresentativetotheLegislature.

BillyandAlextrainedinlawenforcementandwereservingtogetherastribalpoliceofficersin1989,theyearthetwomadethenewspapersfortheirroleinaphysicalconfrontationwithtribalgamewardens.TheNicholasbrothersandtwowardenswereallsuspendedfromtheirjobsaftertheincident,whichoccurredaftertheyrespondedtoacallfromapolicemaninPrincetonwhosecruiserhadstruckadeer.Nofurtherdetailsweredisclosed.

In1997,Billy–bythenservingasatribalgamewardenhimself–appliedtojointheMaineStatePolice.Hepassedthewrittenandoralexamsbutfailedabackgroundcheck.Billysued,allegingracialdiscrimination,butwasunsuccessful.HisefforttojointheMaineWardenServicewasalsounsuccessful.

BillRandall,anon-Passamaquoddyhiredasatribalfishandwildlifeconsultant,saysheplayedaroleintorpedoingNicholas’bidtobecomeaMainewardenbyrelatingincidentsofheavy-handedbehaviortowardnon-tribalhunterstransitingtriballands.

“Hewasopenlyprejudicedandhatedwhitepeoplesobadlythatonemorning(inOctober1999)ontheSouthBranchRoadnorthofJackmanhefalselyarrestedawhitefatherandsonfornighthunting,”RandallsaidinawrittenstatementtothePressHerald.Randallsaidheandatribalgamewardenwereabletogetthechargesdismissed,forwhichtheybothfaced“threatsofviolence”fromNicholas.

BillyNicholasdeclinedmultipleinterviewrequestsforthisstory.

•••

Nicholasbecamearisingfigureinthetribalwardenserviceandtribalpolitics.Hejoinedthetribalcouncilin2002,thesameyearNewellbecamegovernor,andremained

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thereuntilthisspring,whenhesuddenlyresigned.IntheNewelladministration,hebecamethereservation’schiefgamewarden,apositionheholdsagaintoday.

DuringBobbyNewell’stroubledfinaltenureasgovernor,BillyNicholasalsoworkedwiththeMaineDrugEnforcementAgencycoordinatinganetworkofconfidentialinformants,whowouldbuydrugsonbothreservationsandreportwhowasselling.HealsobenefitedfromNewell’scavalierspendingoftribalfunds.

Atonepoint,NicholastestifiedatNewell’strial,hisbrandnewpickuptruckstoppedworking.Thefollowingweek,oneofhisinformantstoldhimadrugcounseloratthehealthclinicwaspayingpeopletovandalizehisproperty.HetestifiedthathedroppedalawsuithewasintheprocessoffilingagainstthecounselorafterameetinginGov.Newell’sofficeinwhichhewaspromisedachecktocoverthedamage.

AprintoutoftribalgovernmentdisbursementsobtainedbythePressHeraldshowsthatinthefinaltwoyearsofNewell’sadministation,Nicholaswasthebeneficiaryoftensofthousandsofdollarsinreimbursements,including“meetingfees,”“donations,”“generalassistance”and“honorarium”–allaboveandbeyondhissalaryandbenefits.Thepayments,whichincluded$191and$240expenditureslistedontheledgeras“Cole”–thenameofoneofBilly’schildren–and$4,120asan“honorarium”–totaled$49,965.51.

Itwasn’tNicholas’onlysourceofextraincome.

Inthefallof2005,tribalauditorRonaldH.SmithofBuxtonbeganquestioningpeculiargoings-onwithanewbankaccountadministeredbyNicholasinhisroleaschiefgamewarden.Thisso-called“BearAccount,”whichwasintendedtocollectfeesfromoutsidebearhuntersandtheirguideswhopaidtohuntontriballand,wassupposedtobeusedtosupportthewardenservice’scoreactivities.

Instead,SmithwarnedtribalauthoritiesinaletterthatNovember,theaccountappearedtobeusedforsomeother,unauthorizedpurpose,withmorethan$100,000infederalfundsbeingtransferredintotheaccount.

NicholashadrefusedtoanswerSmith’squestionsabouttheaccount,theauditorinformedtribalofficials,leadingSmithto“recommendallactivityonthisaccountbefrozenimmediately.”

SmithtestifiedatNewell’strialthat,atasubsequenttribalcouncilmeeting,Nicholas

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wassoangryaboutthescrutinyontheBearAccountthathedemandedSmithbefiredthenandthere.Nobodysecondedhismotionatthemeeting.

In2007,afterNicholasbecamegovernor,theIndianTownshipgovernmentallegedlystoppedpayingtheauditorforhiswork.Smith’sfirmwona$91,900courtjudgmentagainstthereservationgovernmentfornon-paymentforauditingservicesperformedonthefiscal2005booksandotheraccounts.(Smith,whosefirmcurrentlyauditsPleasantPoint’saccounts,declinedtobeinterviewedforthesestories.)

•••

AprintoutofBearAccountdisbursementsforfiscalyear2005obtainedbythePressHeraldshowmorethan$1,000inplumbingandheatingrepairpaymentstoBilly’sbrother(andfellowcouncilmember),LeslieNicholas;a$4,500“Workfare”advancetoBilly’swife,Lucy;and$250to$500Christmasbonusesforeveryoneinthedepartment,including$500forBillyhimself.

WhenPleasantPointChiefMelvinFrancisdiedinaJanuary2006carcrash,Billyandthreeotherwardensstoodasanhonorguardaroundhisbody.Billycollected$1,658.32fromtheBearAccountforhistroubleandthecostoftravelandmealsinPleasantPoint,45milesaway.Hisotherwardensreceivedbetween$735.75and$982.23apiece.

“IwassurprisedtoseetheypaidthemselvestobeinthelawenforcementhonorguardforMelvinFrancis,”saysEdBassett,acounciloratPleasantPointwholearnedofthereimbursementslater.“Iguesstheyconsidereditwork.”

BythetimeBillyNicholasassumedthegovernorship,however,thetribe’sfinanceshadbeensuckednearlydry.

NicholashimselfdescribedthesceneintheclosingmonthsofNewell’sadministration,whenthecouncilhadstrippedthegovernorofhisauthoritytohandoutgeneralassistancepayments.“Soontheelders,peoplethatwereonmethadone,peoplethatwerereceivinginthecommunity…theyweregivingusahardtime,”hetestifiedatNewell’strial.Theyweresaying“thatit’snotright,they’regoingtostarve,they’regoingtogowithout,younameit.Imeanitwas–itwasprettyhectic.”

Layoffsfollowedasthenewgovernorandcounciltriedtogetthetribe’sfiscalhousebackinorder.Butitwouldn’tbelongbeforequestionablepracticesbegancroppingupagain.

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CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE

Tribereelsasitsownleaders‘becomeouroppressors’

2007TO2010

A run-down basketball court at Pleasant Point. Decades after the land claims pact, Maine’s Passamaquoddy reservations have become difficult places in which to thrive. Ira Gilbert, a tribal member at Indian Township, puts it succinctly: “There’s a big law problem here: There is none.”

Inthecontinuedabsenceofaconstitutiontoensuregovernmentaccountability,anatmosphereoffearandintimidationtookholdontheIndianTownshipreservation.

Numerouspresentandformertriballeaderssaytheatmosphere–whichendurestoday– isunlikeanythingexperiencedbythetribesincethe1960s,whenstateIndianagentsheldthepoweroflifeanddeathovermanyoftheirdependentcharges,andcrimesbyoutsidersagainstIndianswererarelyprosecuted.

“Thetriballeadersaredoingthesamethingasthepriestsandpapercompaniesused

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todo,”saysAllenSockabasin,whowasIndianTownship’sgovernorinthe1970s,whenthesalaryforthepositionwas$300ayear;todayit’s$102,500.“They’vebecomeouroppressors.”

Freediscourse–thelifebloodofdemocracy–isbecomingimpossible,saysthetribe’scurrentrepresentativetothestateLegislature,MadonnaSoctomah.“Peoplearen’tfreetotalkabouttheissues,becausetheiremploymentcomesfromagenciesthatarecontrolledbypeopletheymightbecriticizing,”shesays.“Electionsareboughtbecauseofthisdependency.”

“Youseewhathappensifyouopposesomeoneinpower,”addsBrianAltvater,whowaslieutenantgovernoratPleasantPointinthe1990s.“Youspeakyourmind,yougettargeted.Nextthingyouknow,youdon’thaveajob.”

IraGilbert,anunemployedtribalmemberatIndianTownship,putsitsuccinctly:“There’sabiglawproblemhere:Thereisnone.”

•••

BillyNicholashadbeenelectedgovernoratIndianTownshipinthefallof2006,andsomeofhisdetractorsplacetheblameatleastpartiallyonhim.Somesaytheyevenfeltfearfulfortheirsafety,andthefactthatNicholas’brotherAlexwaschiefofpoliceonlycompoundedtheirsenseofinsecurity.

ReginaPetit,aformerIndianTownshipcouncilorandone-timerealestateadministrator,drewBillyNicholas’ireonseveraloccasionsbyspeakingillofhim.

Inanearlyincidentwitnessedbyhermother,PetitreturnedaphonemessagefromthegovernorinSeptember2007,inwhichhestarted“yellingandscreaming(and)swearingatme,”threateningherwithaprotectionorder,andtellingherto“watchyourback,”accordingtoastatementshelatergavetothepolice.

“Ihavestoodupandsaidthattheyaren’tgoingtogetawaywithanythingonthereservation.Iknowtheyarecrooks,andI’mnotafraid,”Petitsays.“Butwhenthepeopleyou’recriticizingarelawenforcementofficerswithguns,that’sanothermatter.”

Alittleoverayearlater,Petitsaysshewasconfrontedinthetribalgovernmentparkinglotbythegovernor’swife,Lucy,whoshesaysorderedherto“stopsayingthingsaboutmyhusband”andphysicallyrestrainedherfromleavinginhercar.

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Frightened,Petitdrovetothetribalpolicestationtofileacomplaint,onlytohaveBillyNicholaspullupoutside“yelling,screamingandswearing(and)…callingmenastynames,”accordingtoanotarizedstatementPetitdrewupshortlythereafter.

AccordingtoPetit,PoliceChiefAlexNicholasandhisson,OfficerAlexNicholasJr.– thegovernor’sbrotherandnephew–hadtoblockthegovernorfromenteringthestationand,later,hadtoescortPetittohercar.“Yourbrotherisatickingbomb,”shesaysshetoldthepolicechief.

InMay2010,anotherwoman,StephanieBailey,filedapolicecomplaintonbehalfofherdaughter,whosheallegedhadbeenassaultedbyherboyfriend,oneofthegovernor’ssons.AccordingtoBailey,thegovernorsubsequentlycalledhersupervisorsathertribalgovernmentjobandorderedthemtodockherhours.Shesayshealsocalledthereservation’schildwelfaredirector,tellinghertheyneededtoremoveoneofBailey’sfosterchildrenfromherhome–ateenagerwhohadallegedlywitnessedtheassault–becauseBaileywasapoorparent.

“IwasmortifiedthatBillywaswillingtotakethisdilemmasofar,”BaileyrecalledinasignedstatementobtainedbythePressHerald.“Ibrokedownandcriedwith(thechildwelfaredirector)becauseIrealizedhowcorruptoursystemisandIfelthelpless.”

Baileysaysshehadtofightthegovernor’sattempttohavethesituationhandledintribalcourtandultimatelywonaprotectionorderforherdaughterfromaDistrictCourtjudge.

“IhadtoinvokemyrightsasacitizenoftheUnitedStates,becauseIcan’tgetjusticeinmycommunity,”shetoldthePressHerald,addingthatshebelievedBilly“isatickingtimebomb.”

SeveralothertribalmemberstoldthePressHeraldsimilarstoriesbutwereunwillingtospeakontherecordforfearofretaliation.

•••

EvenlifelongpoliticalrivalsBobbyNewellandJohnStevensagreethatthingsatIndianTownshiphavereachedadeeper,darkerplacesince2006,whenBillyNicholaswaselectedgovernor.

“JohnandIhavebeenpoliticalopponentsforyears,butIcanhonestlysayaboutJohn

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StevensisthatwhenIlosttohim,Iknewthatpeopleweresafeandwerebeingwatchedoutfor,”saysformerGov.Newell,wholastyearcompletedhis46-monthprisonsentenceformisappropriatingfederalfunds.“Wheneitherofuswereinoffice,Idon’trecallanybodybeingthreatened.Ithappensalotnow.”

“Billyhaslearnedtocontroleverything,andifyoudon’tagreewithhim,he’llgetridofyou,”Stevenssays,addingthatthesituationisfarworsethantheNewellera.

NicholasdeclinedrepeatedrequestsforaninterviewwiththePressHerald,sayingthepaper’sinterestwas“politicallymotivated.”

Whatwerehiscriticsangryabout?Agreatdeal,startingwiththatmostevocativeofPassamaquoddyissues:tribalcontroloftheirland.

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CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX

Tribe’sdealingscloakedinsecrecy,anddistrustfesters

2007TO2010

The factory doors have since closed at the Indian Township site for Creative Apparel Associates, a Passamaquoddy venture that once made chemical-protection suits for the military. A lack of transparency clouded many of the tribe’s business enterprises.

BecausethePassamaquoddylackatribalconstitution,anindependentjudiciaryandcleardelineationsbetweenwhatmatterscanbeappealedtostateorfederalauthorities,tribalmembershavefewtoolswithwhichtoholdtheirseniorofficialsaccountable.

Membersofthetribe–includingmosttribalcouncilors–donothavetherighttoseetheirowngovernment’sbudget;it’streatedasa“needtoknow”secret.NoraretheyguaranteedaccesstoeventheofficialminutesofthereservationandJointTribalCouncil’smeetings.Exceptunderrareconditions,thestate’spublicrecordslawsdon’tapplyhere,andnontribalmembers–betheyjournalists,attorneysorreservation

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residents–havenorighttoattendorcoverpublicmeetings.

MajordecisionsinvolvingthePassamaquoddypeople’ssharedassets–landpurchases,thecreationofcompaniesorthedisbursementoflandleases–canandoftenaremadeoutsidethepubliceye,fosteringsuspicionanddistrust.

Inoneofthepoorestcommunitiesinthestate,seniorofficialsoftendrawcomfortablesalaries.AtIndianTownship,thereservationbudgetshows,thegovernor’sbasesalaryin2010was$102,500,significantlymorethanthecurrentsalaryofthegovernorofMaine($70,000)orthegovernorofPleasantPoint(reportedlyinthelow$60,000s).ThemedianhouseholdincomeinWashingtonCountyis$36,486.

ManyoftheseproblemshademergedduringBobbyNewell’sadministration.Bynumerousaccounts,allofthemcontinuedunderthemanwhowaselectedtothegovernor’spostin2006,BillyNicholas.

•••

TheleaseorsaleoftriballandtooutsidersisanextremelyemotiveissueforthePassamaquoddy,whosecivilrightsandlandclaimsstrugglesofthe1960sand’70sfocusedontheimproperpurchaseorseizureoftriballandsbywhites.Thoughthetribedoesn’thaveaunifyingconstitution,bothindividualreservationconstitutionsforbidtheleaseoftriballandtononmemberswithoutareferendum(inthecaseofIndianTownship’sconstitution)orpublichearing(inPleasantPoint’s).

ButshortlyafterNicholaswaselectedgovernor,thetribalforestrydepartmentoversteppeditsauthority,grantingaleaseofaprimecamplotonacovetedbeachontribaltrustlandatJuniorStreamnearSpringfieldtooneofthenewgovernor’sfriends,hissoon-to-bebusinesspartnerBrianSouers.Inexchange,Souers,anon-Indian,upgradedtheroadtothearea.Souersalsosetupacampandboathouseontheprimeplot,partofasitedesignatedapubliccampgroundforthetribe.

Nicholasbuiltacamponthenextlot.IndianTownshipPoliceChiefAlexNicholas,hisbrother,builtanotherafewhundredyardsaway.Althoughfewknewitatthetime,statecorporatefilingsshowthatBilly,inthefollowingsummer,alsobecameasilentpartnerinSouers’newloggingfirm,BWBLLC,aventurethatincludedTribalCouncilorWadeLola.(Thefirm’sinitialsstoodfor“Brian-Wade-Billy.”)

Addingtothecontroversy,tribalmemberKaniMalsomhadappliedforaleaseforthe

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verylotSouershadbeenleasedbackin2004,butMalsomsaidhisapplicationkeptgettinglost–fivetimesaltogether,helatersaid.HewasflabbergastedwhentheforestrydepartmentinsteadclaimedthelotonSouers’behalf.

“Thoseguysswindleditoffmesotheycouldhaveitforthemselves,fortheirlittlerat’snest,”Malsomlatersaidinavideotapedinterview.“Theyjustpushedmeoutofthewaysotheycouldtakeit.”

In2009,TribalCouncilorEdBassettofPleasantPointgotwindofthesituation.Bassett,tallandfearless,hadspearheadedtheefforttopassatribewideconstitutioninthe1990s.ApassionateadvocateforaccountabilityandadherencetoPassamaquoddylawsandordinances,hewouldirritatesomeofhisfellowmembersoftheJointTribalCouncilbypointingoutwhentheiractionsviolatedtriballaw,oftenquotingfromthesourcedocuments.

Butwhensomethingcomplicatedanduntowardhappened,Bassettwouldgetouthisvideocameraandcreateanexhaustivedocumentaryontheissue.Intheabsenceofatribalfreepress,Bassettwouldinterviewsourceshimself,findanddisplaydocumentsandcontracts,andgointothefieldtocollecton-the-groundvideotoestablishthefacts.

Inthefallof2009,Bassettgavemembersofthetribalcouncilcopiesofhis90-minutevideo,whichfeaturedtwoon-sitevisitstotheJuniorStreamcampsite,adetailedinterviewwithMalsom,andapowerfulcasefortriballawhavingbeenviolated.(SomeonelaterpostedexcerptsontheInternet).TheJointTribalCouncilrevisitedtheissueandaffirmedthatSouershadnorighttoacamplot.

“Billywasnothappywithme,”Bassettsays.“Heevenfiledaclaimfor‘harassment’intribalcourt,butnothinghappenedwiththat.”

•••

Meanwhile,Nicholasandhisalliesoversawthecreationofaseriesoftribaljoint-venturebusinesses,oftenputtingthemselvesontheboardsthatcontrolledthem.Eachhadthepotentialtohelpthetribeeconomically,buthaveprovendivisivebecausetheywerecreatedbehindcloseddoorsbyasoon-to-be-familiarcastofcharacters,triballyownedentitiesaboutwhichfewinthetribecouldgainmuchinformation.

In2009theysetupBlackBearCommunications,ajointventurewithFloridalobbyistJonathanStember,hisbusinesspartner,JavierGarcia,andWashington,D.C.,public

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relationsconsultantGerryGunster.Accordingtoitswebsite,BlackBearisacommunicationsfirm“committedtofurtheringthenation-to-nationrelationshipbetweenIndiantribes,theUnitedStatesgovernmentandprivateenterprise.”

FederaldisclosuresshowBlackBearreceived$40,000duringtherunuptothe2010AfghanistanpresidentialelectiontopromotecandidateAbdullahAbdullah,AfghanPresidentHamidKarzai’sprincipalrival,intheAmericanmedia.Accordingtothefirm’s2010statefiling,BillyNicholasisitsregisteredagentandsitsonitsmanagementboard,asdoeshisbrotherLeslieNicholas,currenttribalGov.JosephSocobasinandIndianTownshipCouncilorElizabethNeptune.

InAugust2010,thetribeformedTomahWater,ajointventuretoextractandbottlewaterfromtriballand.Accordingtocorporatefilings,thetribe’spartnerisHTwoOLLC,ashellcompanymanagedandpartlyownedbyMichaelDuguay,brotherofEdwardDuguay,IndianTownship’slobbyistandthedirectorofTribalEconomicDevelopment,whoalsoadvisedofficialsontheproject.TheotherpartnersinHTwoOwereapairofFlorida-basedLLCs,oneofwhichwassetupbyThomasR.RummelJr.,CEOofafailedFloridabank,whoisfacinga$6.3millionlawsuitfromtheFederalDepositInsuranceCorp.In2011,theboardofTomahWaterincludedtwosittingcouncilmembers,ElizabethNeptuneandMattDana.

BillyNicholasandGov.Socobasinalsojoinedthethree-membermanagingboardofCreativeApparelAssociates,ajointventurewithBelfastclothingmakersGeorgeandSharonRybarczyk,andremaintheretoday.Atitsheightadecadeago,CreativeApparelemployednearly400atsixfactoriesacrossMaine,includingIndianTownship,andproducedchemical-protectionsuitsfortheU.S.military.(Itsoperationsweremothballedin2012whenthegovernmentcontractexpired.)

ByMay2010,purchaseordersobtainedbythePressHeraldshow,IndianTownship’sgovernmentwasbuyingthousandsofdollarsofwoodpelletsfromSnapLLC,areservation-basedcompanymanagedbythegovernor’sbrother,councilmemberLeslieNicholas.Thecompany–whichothertribalsourcessaymanufacturesthepellets–doesnotappeartohaveacorporateregistrationinMaine,soitsfullmanagementstructureisunclear.Inanopenlettertothecommunitywritteninearly2012,LeslieNicholasindicatedthatSnapandCreativeApparelAssociatessharedthesameboardmembership.

Criticsquestionhowmuchincomethetribalofficialsearnfromtheseboardmemberships,whichwereneverratifiedbytheJointTribalCouncil.InthecaseofCreativeApparel,tribalmemberstoldreportersin2006thatformerboardmember

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BobbyNewellhadbeenpaid$500aweek,whileNewellhimselfsaidhisstipendwasonly$100amonth.ThreeformercouncilmemberstoldthePressHeraldseparatelytheyunderstandthatCreativeApparelhaspaidbetween$1,000and$1,300amonthtoeachboardmember.

“Regardlessofwhereweturn,there’salackoftransparency,”saysPleasantPointCouncilorMaryCreighton,whoarguesforincreasedopenness,particularlysinceinvestmentfailuresbyonereservationaffectthecreditratingsofboth.“We’reallPassamaquoddy,andtheliabilitiestheirbusinessesmightcreatecouldaffectustoo.”

BillyNicholasdeclinedtobeinterviewedforthisseries.

ThePressHeraldinterviewedSocobasininearlyApril[2014],butdeniedsubsequentinterviewrequestsseekinghiscommentonthecorporatetransparencyissuesandmorerecentdevelopmentsatIndianTownship.

•••

BillyNicholasalsotookheatforalmostsingle-handedlyderailinga2007legislativeefforttoopentheSt.CroixRivertoalewives,asmallspawningfishthathadbeenblockedbylawfrompassingthedamsattheentrancetotheriverattheinsistenceofsmallmouthbassguides.Despiteoverwhelmingscientificevidencethatthefishposednodangertothenon-nativebassandwouldenhancetheecosystem–andthesupportofthePleasantPointandCanadiangovernments–Nicholaspersuadedlegislatorstobackoff.

“Inmilitaryparlance,it’scalleda‘commandperformance,’”PaulBisulca,thechairmanoftheMaineIndianTribal-StateCommission,toldthePressHeraldin2012.“HewentintothathearingandwithoutanydoubtrepresentedthePassamaquoddytribecompletely.HowBillywasabletomanipulatethosepeopleisbeyondme,buttherearesomewhocandoit.”

Nicholasdidnot,however,representthetribeasawholeand,infact,wascontradictingtheofficialpositionofPleasantPoint’stribalcouncil.Aswordgotaround– inpartviaanotherdetaileddocumentaryvideobyoutspokenPleasantPointCouncilorEdBassett–Nicholas’politicalpositionbegantoweaken.

Hisloggingcrews,however,werehavingbannerdaysinthetribe’swoods.

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CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN

Tribe’sforests,acrucialresource,fallpreyfromwithin

2006TO2014

An area off Peter Dana Point Road in Indian Township has been freshly logged in this pinhole camera photo. How the Passamaquoddy have managed forestlands in the past decade has led to a significant rift between the tribe’s two reservations.

Theforest,intheory,shouldbethetribe’smostimportantlegacyoftheIndianLandClaimsSettlementActof1980.

Managedcorrectly,thePassamaquoddy’s100,000-plusacresofforestandanimalhabitatshouldbeasourceofcontinuingprosperity,ofemploymentandculturalsecurity,hometogameandfishandsacredplaces,avastpreserveoftheWabanakipeople’s13,000-year-oldhomeland.

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Inpractice,criticssay,ithasbeenusedtoenrichahandfulofwell-connectedtribalmembersattheexpenseofthelargercommunity.

Here’showthetribe’sforestrypolicyissupposedtowork:Tribalforestlandsaretobemanagedforthelong-termvalueofthewoodsovertimebyprofessionalforestersandrangersatthetribe’sForestryDepartment.Theactualharvestingiscontractedout–througheitherabiddingprocessontheopenmarketoranegotiatedonewithtriballoggers–withthetribecollectingcuttingfees,or“stumpage,”alongtheway.

Becausetheforestisatribaltrust–thesharedpatrimonyofallPassamaquoddypeople–thefederalgovernmentislegallyobligatedtooverseetheseactivitiestoensure

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thatthissharedresourceisnotsquanderedorlooted.ThistaskfallstotheBureauofIndianAffairs,adivisionoftheU.S.DepartmentoftheInterior,whoseforestryexpertshavethepowertointerveneifmanagementappearstohavegottenoutofhand,andcanevenshutdownforestryactivities.

Inreality,however,regulationoftheforesthasbeeneffectivelycapturedbysomeofthemenwhoholdcontractstocutit.

Inrecentyearsthesemen–BillyNicholas,hisbrotherLeslieNicholasandRichardSabattus–allservedontheJointTribalCouncilforIndianTownship.Billyservedasthereservation’sgovernorfrom2006to2010andiscurrentlychiefgamewardenatIndianTownship,wherehehaspartialresponsibilityfortheprotectionofforestlands.Forseveralyearsinthemid-andlate2000s,anothertribalmember,WadeLola,whoatthetimehadacontractandaloggingpartnershipwithNicholas,alsoservedonthecouncil.InAprilofthisyear[2014],NicholassuddenlyresignedfromthecouncilandwasreplacedbySonjaDana,whosehusbandisalogger.

WhentheJointTribalCouncilmeets,memberswhoareloggingcontractorshavesharedoversightpoweroftheForestryDepartmentitself.Thebodysetsthestumpageratesthatarepaidtothetribe,andcandeterminewhocangetloggingcontractsandunderwhatconditions.

“Although–whenwehaveourJointCouncilmeetingsanddecideonstumpagerates– theydon’tvote,(theloggingcontractors)havealotofinfluence,”saidcurrentIndianTownshipChiefJosephSocobasin.“Idon’tthinktheyshouldbeabletoholdanycontract,letalonealoggingcontract.Iftheyaregoingtobepartofthepolicymakersanddecision-makersofthetribeandtheyhaveacontractontheside,thereisapotentialconflictofinterest.”

•••

Itismorethanjustapotentialproblem.

Noneoftherecentcouncilorswhohaveheldloggingcontractsactuallyworksinthewoods.Rather,theysubcontractthework,usuallytonon-nativeloggers,andsimplycollectashareoftheprofits.Nicholasdidthiswhilealsocollectingasalaryfromthetribeaseithergovernor(about$102,000ayear)orchiefgamewarden($52,000)inadditiontohonoraria,bonusesandstipendstositontheboardsoftribalenterprisessuchasBlackBearCommunicationsandCreativeApparel.

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ThecurrentchiefatPleasantPoint,ClaytonCleaves,saysthatarrangementisimproper.“Ithinkacouncilmembershouldbeabletogeta(loggingcontract),butheshouldberightouttheresawingdowntrees,”saidCleaves,aformerloggerhimself.“NowifI’madepartmentdirectororsomethingalready,thenbyallmeansIshouldgivesomebodyelsetheopportunitytoharvestthosetreesandearnaliving.”

Duringtheearly2000s,loggersharvestedbetween3,300and7,600cordsayearfromtribalforests.In2006,theyearBillyNicholasbecamegovernor,thatfigurejumpedto15,270,thento27,860in2008and29,102in2009,thehighestharvestsince1985,whenhugestandsofforestwerecutacrossMaineinresponsetoasevereoutbreakofsprucebudworm.Lastyear[2013],thefigurewas22,140cords.

Duringthisperiod,theJointTribalCounciloverruledForestryDepartmentrecommendationsandsetstumpageratesfarbelowthecurrentmarketrate.“Ithinkitwas50percentofwhattheyhadoriginallyproposed,”ChiefSocobasinsaidofthe2012saleatHolebTownship,nearJackman.ThiscontributedtotheForestryDepartmentrunningoutofmoneyin2013.“Wehadtoput$300,000intoourforestryprogramorwewouldhavehadtoshutthedoor.”

•••

DocumentsobtainedbythePressHeraldshowthattheBureauofIndianAffairshasexpressednumerousconcernswiththetribe’sforestrymanagementinrecentyears,includingthelowstumpagerates.

Inearly2012,thebureaulearnedthetribewasallowingBillyNicholas’company,NicholasFamilyLogging,toharvesttimberwithoutaBIA-approvedpermitorcontractfromtriballandsatLowelltown,northeastofCoburnGoreontheQuebecborder.ItorderedthetribetohaveNicholas’company“ceaseoperationsimmediately”untilavalidcontractwasapproved.

TheBIA’sannualreviewfor2012foundseriousproblems,includingmissingreports,theabsenceofafull-timeforesteratthetribeandtheillegalcuttingof“astillundeterminedamountoftimber”fromtriballandsnearBloodBrookinnorthernWashingtonCounty.BIAofficialsconfirmedtothePressHeraldthatNicholasFamilyLoggingwasamongtheharvestersinvolvedintheimpropercutting.

TheBIAalsofound“thattriballoggerswerepayingstumpageatlessthantheapprovedcontractrates”inanadjacentarea,andnotedthattheJointTribalCouncilhad

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formonthsfailedtoprovidetheagencykeydocumentationrelatedtotheincident.

Inmid-December2012,ScottMeneely,aregionalforesterwiththeBIA,wrotetotheheadofthePassamaquoddyForestryDepartment,ErnieNeptune,seekingjustificationforthelowstumpageratesatHoleb,butreceivednoresponse.InlateJanuary2013,agencyofficialsinformedthetribethatthelowrateswereunacceptableandthreatenedtoshutdowntheHoleboperation.

ByFebruary2013theForestryDepartmentwasincrisis,withtheBIAinvestigatingtheimproprietiesatBloodBrookandthedepartment’scoffersemptybecauseofthestumpageunderpayment.ButwhentheJointTribalCounciltriedtomeettodealwiththeseissues,threeloggingcontractorsonthecouncil–BillyNicholas,LeslieNicholasandRichardSabattus–failedtoattendscheduledmeetings,denyingthebodyaquorum.

“Theyareinterferingintheprogressofworkbyboycottingthe(JointTribalCouncil)forestryissueuntiltheirdemandsaremet,”IndianTownshipChiefSocobasinandViceChiefClaytonSockabasinsaidinanarticleinthetribalnewsletter,KeqLeyu,inMarch2013.“Itlooksasthoughthetailwantstowagthedog.”

Socobasinlaterwrotethatclear-cuttingwastakingplaceacrosstribalterritory.

“ItisobviousbycheckingtheGoogleEarthsitesthatwrongshavebeencommitted,”hewrote.

•••

TheBIArefusedtoansweranyquestionsfromthePressHerald,includingbasicpolicyquestions,butbureauofficialsimmediatelyalertedtribalofficialstothenewspaper’sinterestintheforestmanagementissues.TheofficeofU.S.SecretaryoftheInteriorSallyJewell,towhomtheBIAanswers,declinedtoanswerquestionsaboutwhytheagencywouldrefusetospeaktothepress.

“BIAisguiltytoobecauseoftheirtrustresponsibility,”saidBrianAltvater,formerlieutenantgovernoratPleasantPoint.“Theywillwritealetterandsaytheyhavefivefindings,andthenthenextyeartherearethesamefivefindings.Theythreatensanctions,buttheyjustseemtostayinlimbo.

“TheproblemwithForestryisthattheyaremoreworriedabouttheloggingcontractholdersthantheyareaboutrunningitlikealong-termbusiness,”headded.“Thetribe

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shouldbeearningmillionsfromallthattimberthat’sbeingcut,butinsteadit’scostingus$300,000tobailitout.”

Neptune,thetribalforestrydirectorwhoassumedofficeinMay2012aftermanyoftheimproprietieshadtakenplace,saidthatassessmentisn’tentirelyfair.TheBIAgivesthetribe$200,000ayeartoruntheForestryDepartment,buttheJointTribalCouncilhaschosentospendthosefundselsewhere,hesaid.Themaneuverislegal,butitmeanshisdepartmenthashadtosustainitselfentirelyfromstumpagefees.

“Maybe(tribalgovernment)wouldvalueusmoreiftheywouldgiveusthatoperatingmoneyupfrontandreceiveacheckfromusattheendoftheyear,”Neptunesaid.“Alotofpeopledon’tunderstandthatwe’vebeengeneratinganother$200,000ayearforadecade,butthetribetakesitoffthetop.”

Hesaidforestryrevenuewasconstrainedbyhisdepartment’scommitmenttomaintaininghabitatfordeer,bear,fishandotherwildlife,aswellascertainsacredorhistoricsites.Hesaidhewasalsoupsetbythedepartment’slaxoversightunderhispredecessors,butthatthesituationhaschanged.

“Thisismylandtoo,andIwanttomakesureit’smanagedproperly,”Neptuneadded.

InJanuaryofthisyear[2014],thepublicgotinvolved.Hundredsofangrymembersofthetribesignedpetitionsdemandingapublicreferendumthatwouldbanelectedofficialsfromholdingloggingcontractsandwouldrequireallcuttingtobedonebymembersofthetribe.

Loggingcontractholdersargueitisimpossibletomeettheirlabordemandswithinthetribe.“Doyouknowhowmuchit’scostusinthelast25yearstotrytotrainnativepeopletocomeworkwithmyhusband,”saidcouncilmemberSonjaDana,whosespouseusedtologtriballandhimselfbutnowsubcontractstheworktooutsiders.“Wehadonlyonetriballoggerwhocamerainorshine.…Ifyoudon’thavesomebodywhoisfamily,youareoutofluck.”

ThepetitionstorestricttheloggingcontractswereinitiallyrejectedontheadviceofreservationattorneyCraigFrancis,whosaidthepetitionersfailedtoattach“aproposedordinanceorresolution”andthereforetheproposedreferendum“doesnotneedtobeputtoavotebythepeople.”Francis’stancefueledangeronsocialmediasites,andinMarchtribalofficialsdecidedtoscheduleavoteafterall.

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•••

Simultaneously,theJointTribalCouncilmettotakeactionagainstthechieforganizerofthepetitions,StephanieBailey,whoeditstheall-volunteernewsletterKeqLeyu(inPassamaquoddy,itmeans“What’sGoingOn”).Thenewsletter,whichcurrentlyexistsasaninvitation-onlyFacebookpage,isthetribe’sclosestthingtoafreepress.

ThecouncilorderedBaileytorenametheonlinenewsletterbecause“KeqLeyu”wasthenameofaformergovernment-runpublication,nowlong-defunct.

Dana,oneofthecouncilors,saidsheintroducedthename-changingmeasurebecauseshebelievedtheclosedwebsitecouldnonethelessbeaccessedbythirdpartiesandthatitwasallowingstateofficialstokeepapprisedofinternaltribaldeliberations.Shealsosaidshewasoffendedbythepseudonymoususernames–whichshereferredtoasvulgarPassamaquoddyphrases–employedbysomeofthesite’smembers.

“There’ssomestuffintherethat’sgood,butyoushouldseewhatsomeofthepeopleintheretalkabout,”Danasaid.“Sothetribalchieftoldher:‘You’redone’and“Takeitoff.’”

Baileyisn’tcomplyingwiththeorder.“I’mgoingtolaughatthem,because,asItoldthechief,ifyouthinkyouhaveanyrighttoshutthisdown,you’recrazy,”shesaid.

Meanwhile,ChiefSocobasinsaidinanApril[2014]interviewwiththePressHeraldthathe’sbeenpushingtoincreasestumpagerates,withsomesuccess.“Wehaveincreasedtherates,buttheystillneedtobehigher,”hesaid.“We’removingintherightdirection,butit’ssometimesdifficultbecauseofhavingthreejointcouncilmemberswhoareloggersandinfluencesomeofthevotingmembersonwhattheratesshouldbe.”

ViceChiefSockabasinsaidhesympathizeswiththepublicfrustrationontheissuebutthatprogressisbeingmade.“There’sbeenaseparationbetweenwhatisbestfortheresourceandthetribeandwhatisbestforthetribalmemberwhoisouttheretryingtomakealiving”fromlogging,hesaid.“Nowwe’reshiftingbacktohavingmoreofthebenefittothetribeversustheindividuals.”

Butcontroversyovertheissueshasreachedabreakingpoint.InMay[2014],votersapprovedbothlogging-relatedreferendums–byamorethanfour-to-oneratioatPleasantPoint–butChiefSocobasinruledthattheyhadfailedbecausetheyallegedlyneedatwo-thirdsmajorityonbothreservations.(AtIndianTownship,thebanonnon-triballoggers

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passed127-121;thebanoncouncilorsholdingloggingcontractsby140-97.)

Theseparate“constitutions”adoptedbyeachofthereservationsdisagreeonthispointand,inanycase,arenotbindingonpan-tribalissues,suchasforestryassetsandJointTribalCouncilethics.

Intheabsenceofaunifiedconstitution,nobodyiscertainiftheruleoflawhasbeenupheldoroverturned,andnobodyhasthepowertochallengeitortodecide.

InastunningdevelopmentJune20[2014],thegovernorofPleasantPoint,alsocalledSipayik,andthetribalcouncilannouncedthattheyconsideredbothreferendumstohavepassedlegitimately,andwereformallybreakingwithIndianTownship,alsoknownasMotahkomikuk,overforestrymanagement.TheysaidtheywouldbeinformingtheBIAoftheirdecision“tohonortheresultsofthereferendum”andwouldasktheagency“toassistwiththeprotectionofthetribalforestryresources.”

PleasantPointGov.Cleavesandhisdeputy,theysaid,wouldnolongerparticipateinforestrymanagementdecisions,norsignForestryDepartmentchecks“untilthismatterhasbeenresolvedtoreflectthewillofthepeople.”

“Sipayikhasstruggledfordecadestryingtoco-managetribalforestrywithMotahkomikukonlytoseetribalforestresourcesbemoreandmoreexploited,andthisisnotsatisfactorytothepeople,”thePleasantPointgovernment’sofficialstatementdeclared.“Thisstrugglehasgoneonmuchtoolonganditistimetodeclarethatthisforestmanagementexperimentisnotworkingandmustbefixed.”

Neitherreservationchiefrespondedtoarequestforcommentonthisdevelopment.

Asthetriberunsheadlongintothislatestconstitutionalcrisis,forestryproblemsarenottheonlyonesitwillconfront.

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CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT

Reservationleadershipchanges,thoughlittleelsedoes

2010TO2014

The pinhole camera captures the trailer home of a Passamaquoddy tribalmember in the parking lot of the now-closed Creative Apparel Associates

building in Indian Township. Changes in tribal leadership in 2010 did not lead toa longtime goal: enacting a tribal constitution.

ItallcaughtuptoBillyNicholasintheend.

TheIndianTownshipgovernorhadlostsupportonaccountofthevariouscontroversiesduringhisadministration,fromtheleasingcamplotstostoppingnativealewivesfromcominguptheSt.CroixRiver.

Inthereservation’sSeptember2010tribalelection,hereceivedastingingpublicrebuke,losingtheleadershiproletohisownlieutenantgovernor,JosephSocobasin,byavoteof204-166.Hedidn’ttakeitwell.

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StephanieBaileywasstandingoutsidethebuildingwheretheballotswerebeingcountedthatnight.Whentheresultswereannounced,shesaidshesawBillystormoutandjumpintohistruck.“Hesquealedoutofthatparkinglot,cryinglikeababy,andletitbeknownthatnightthathewasdone.Hewasn’tevengoingtofinishhisterm,”sherecalled.Whenhewentintohisofficetoclearouthisthings–eventhoughhehadtwomoreweeksinhisterm–Baileysayshehadhisgunrestingonhisdesk.

“Peoplewhoworkedtherefeltintimidatedwhentheysawthat,”sherecalled.

Nicholasdeclinedtobeinterviewedforthesestories.Ina2012lettertothecommunity,hewrotethathehad“steppedawaytwoweeksearlytoletthecurrentadministrationhaveasmoothertransition,andIbeganmyowntransition.”

“TheChief’sposition,”headded,“isnowalkinthepark.”

AroundthattimehealsoconvenedaseriesofmeetingswithGov.-electSocobasin,whowasfornowstillhissubordinateaslieutenantgovernor.HewantedSocobasintoapproveaseverancepackage,andnotasmallone.

Theseverancepackage,documentationforwhichwasobtainedbythePressHerald,wasforastaggering$40,436.Socobasin,whosayspastchiefssometimesgotaseverancepaymentequaltoafewweeks’salary,signedoffontheunprecedentedpaymenttohisoutgoingboss.

Thegovernor–whosetitlewaschangedtochiefin2010–admitshehasnocredibleexplanationforapprovingthepayment.“Iactuallyofferedsomethingthatwasnotquitethathigh,butafterwemetacoupleofdifferenttimesandhegavehisexplanations,well…,”ChiefSocobasinsaid,hisvoicetrailingoff.“Itwasaweekaftertheelection,andIguessattheendofthedayIhadagreedtodoit.

“Rightorwrongithappened,”hesaid,“and,Idon’tknow,IguessIdon’thaveareasonableanswer.”

•••

ThenewchiefwasinauguratedwithhighhopesonDec.3,2010,inatraditionalceremonypresidedoverbyhisgrandfatherandseven-termgovernor,JohnStevens.Attheculminationoftheproceedings–whichincludeddrumming,chanting,smudging(ritualcleansingwithsmoke),andshawl-dancing–Stevensplacedtheceremonial

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headdressonhisgrandson’sheadandembracedhim.

The38-year-oldchiefpleadedforhispeopletocometogether,bothwithinIndianTownship,wheretheelectionhadbeenextremelydivisive,andwiththetribe’sotherreservationatPleasantPoint.Inthisvein,hepraisedBillyNicholasforhavingreturnedthetribetoasounderfinancialfooting,eventhoughthedefeatedgovernorhadfailedtoshowupfortheceremony.

“Manyofthesocialissuesinthiscommunityarebecausepeoplehavealackofhope,”thenewchiefsaid.“Wehave50to100peopleapplyingforeveryposition.Weneedtochangethat.”

Peoplewerehopeful.“Joehasagoodheart,”CouncilorElizabethNeptunetoldareporter.“Ifheleadsfromhisheart,ashedidtonight,wewillgofar.”

ChiefSocobasin,whosaidhedoesnotplantorunforre-electionthisyear,disappointedmanyonthereservationbyfailingtopushthroughpromisedreforms,mostcriticallythepassageofatribewideconstitutionthatwouldmaketoptribalofficialsaccountabletothepeopleandtotriballaw.

“IsupportedJosephandIreallybelievedthathecoulddosomething,”Baileysaid.“NowIthinkheshouldreallyjuststepdown.”

Throughouthistermaschief,Socobasinspokeoutonthevitalimportanceofenactingsuchaconstitution,callingitoneofhistoppriorities.“IhavenothingtolosebecauseI’mnotlookingtobeelectedagainandIcanbefearless,”hewroteinanopenlettertothetribeinJanuary2013.“I’lltellyouwhatIhopetoleaveasanenduringtoolforustouseandpolish.…Iamhopefulthatwewillsoonhaveaconstitutionofourown.”

Butprogressonthisandotherreformpledgeskeptitsagonizinglyslowpace,raisingsuspicionsthatthenewgovernorremainedundertheinfluenceofhispredecessor,whowasre-electedtothegoverningcouncilin2012.Formany,disclosureofthepost-electionseverancepackage–nowcommonknowledgewithinthetribe–confirmedtheworst.

“Joetoldmewhenhegotin,‘I’mgoingtohavethatconstitution.I’mgoingtosetupacommitteetodoit.Iwanttomakearulingthattheyhavetodeliverinacertainperiodoftime,’”recalledStevens,hisgrandfather.“AndIbelievehewouldhavedoneitifhehadn’tappointedBillytothecommittee.Hedraggeditoutanddraggeditoutand

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draggeditout.”

•••

BrianAltvater,aformerlieutenantgovernoratPleasantPointwhochairstheboardofthetribe’sprofitablePassamaquoddyWildBlueberryCo.,saidthatinadditiontotheseverancepackage,ChiefSocobasinhiredNicholastoa$45,000-a-yearpositionasaneconomicdevelopmentconsultant.Socobasinrefusedtoanswerquestionsaboutthis,andNicholasdeclinedtobeinterviewed.

Inadditiontohisearningsfromforestrycontracts,boardmemberships,andservingonthetribalcouncil,lastyearNicholaswasreappointedchiefgamewarden,whichcarriesasalaryinthelow$50,000s.

“Youadditallup,andsomeindividualshavealottoprotect,”Altvatersaiddryly.“Thereasonwedon’thaveaconstitutioniscorruption.Theywouldratherhavethepowerwithahandfulofelectedofficials.”

AllenSockabasin,whowasgovernoratIndianTownshipinthe1970s,agreed.“Theysaytheywantit,buttheydon’twantaccountabilityortransparency.Theywanttobeabletomanipulateandpoliticizeeverythingtheydo,sotheycancontroleverything,”hesaid.“Wehavepeoplewhoaregoinghungryandtriballeaderswhohavethree,four,five,sixsourcesofincomeofftribalandfederalmoney.

“Andanyonewhosayssomethingaboutit,they’retargeted,”headded.

•••

Takethecaseofthetribalnewsletter,KeqLeyu.Inthesummerof2012,StephanieBaileyapproachedChiefSocobasinaboutrevivingthepublication,togiverank-and-filetribalmembersbasicinformationabouttheproceedingsoftheJointTribalCouncil,announcementsofpublicbidsandcontracts,andaplacetodiscussissues.

Initially,Socobasinwassupportive,contributingopenletterstothepublicationthatsometimesfranklyaddressedpublicconcernsaboutmishandlingofforestassets,theexistenceandmanagementstructureoftribalcompanies,andotherissues.

Althoughsheandherhusbandstruggledtosupporttheirfamilyandfosterchildren,Baileyworkedonthenewsletterwithoutpay,relyingondonationsofprinterinkand

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accesstocomputerstogetonetothreeissuesouteachmonth,evenwhentheelectriccompanycutoffherpowerforlackofpayment.

Butbythewinterof2012-13,Baileybeganrunningintobureaucraticroadblocks.Socobasinwouldbeunavailableforinterviews.Departmentheadswouldrefusetosharepublicinformation.BaileysaidatonepointBillyNicholas’wife,Lucy,toldtheschoolprincipalnottosharetheschoollunchmenuandotherbasicinformation“becauseIwouldchangeitformyagenda.”ShesaidthechieftoldherNicholashatedthenewsletterandwishedshewasn’twritingit.

HerlastissueraninSeptember2013.“Itwasmyhopethateachdepartmentwouldbemoreengagedinkeepingyouall‘intheknow,’butitisnotso,”shewroteinafarewelleditorialthatthankedSocobasinforhissupport.“Ourteamdidthebestwecouldwiththelimitedinformationweweregiven.…Thisissueisasmallonebecauseitseemsthetribaldepartmentsthatserveyouhavenonews.”

Formonthsnow,SocobasinandthereservationcouncilhavebeenpressingBaileytostopusingtheKeqLeyunameonaninvitation-onlydiscussionpageshemaintainsonFacebook.Shehasrefused,andinAprilofthisyear,thegovernortoldthePressHeraldthegovernmentwasconsideringitsoptionstoenforcetheruling.Lastweekhedeclinedtoanswerfurtherquestions.

ButtherearesomebrightsignsatIndianTownshipaswell,indicationsthatChiefSocobasinmaybetryingtopushthroughsomevitalchangesbeforehisterminofficeexpiresinSeptember.

•••

*AconstitutionwasnotpassedunderChiefSocobasin’swatch.IntheSeptember2014elections,BillyNicholaswasre-electedchiefatIndianTownship.HisbrotherLesliewaselectedvice-chiefandAlexbecameamemberofthegoverningcouncil.

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CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

‘Wearegettingstronger’

SPRING2014

A Passamaquoddy elder rests his hands on an oar while working near Long Lake in Indian Township this spring. The people on the tribe’s two eastern Maine reservations have spent decades fighting for their rights while struggling to preserve their collective identity.

Aneconomic,politicalandculturalrenaissanceisunderwaythroughoutIndianCountryintheUnitedStates.

It’sbeengoingonfornearlyaquarter-century.Whereasinthe1980s,economicgrowthonIndianreservationslaggedfarbehindtherateoftheU.S.economy,throughthebooming1990sandthestagnant2000s,percapitaincomegrowthonIndianreservationsoutstrippedtheU.S.asawholefivefold.

WhileU.S.povertyratesheldsteady(at10percent),inIndianCountrytheyfellfrom48percentto32percentbetween1990and2010.AsU.S.unemploymentincreasedfrom

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8percentto10percent,Indianunemploymentfellfrom26percentto19percentoverthesameperiod.IncomesandlifeexpectancyarestillfarbelowtheU.S.average,butthegapisclosingfast.

“Theeconomicgrowthhasbeensorapid,andithasappliedtobothtribeswithandwithoutcasinos,”saysJosephP.KaltoftheHarvardUniversityProjectonAmericanIndianEconomicDevelopment,whichcompiledthedata.“There’sarenaissancegoingonacrossIndianAmericaandit’snotaboutcasinos.”

Thereasonit’shappening,Kaltsays,isthegreatlyincreasedcontrolIndianshaveovertheirownaffairs,includingeconomicdevelopmenteffortsandthemanagementoffederallyfundedprograms.“Forahundredyears,thetribeswerefundamentallybeingrunbyWashington,D.C.,butwe’veswitchedfromthatnow.Todaytribaldecision-makersaremakingtheirowneconomicandresourcedecisionsandrunningtheirservicesandweseethismarkedstatisticalevidenceofimprovement.”

There’sacatch,though.Thedatashowthatthetribeswhichhavemissedoutonthisrenaissancearepreciselythosethathavefailedtoestablishastableruleoflawenforcedbyformalchecksandbalancesonthoseinpower.

“Intribeaftertribe,weseetheirturnaroundsoncethere’sconstitutionalreform,”saysKalt,aneconomistatHarvard’sKennedySchoolofGovernment.“Self-governmentmatters,butyouhavetohaveagoodgovernmentthatworks,andatitscoreistheruleoflawissue.”

WhichbringsusbacktothePassamaquoddy,apeoplewhohavehadbreathtakingachievements–andfailures–inthe50yearssincefourIndianTownshipwomensatdownonagravelpiletostopawhitemanfromtakingyetanotherpatchoftheirland.

Afewhundredimpoverishedwardsofthestate,deniedtherighttovoteinstateelectionsandeventhebasicpolice,fireandmedicalservicesotherMainerstookforgranted,tookonthestateofMaineandtheU.S.DepartmentoftheInterior,blastingapartthelegalassumptionsthathaddeniedsovereigntytoEasternIndiantribes.Againstseeminglyimpossibleodds,theynegotiatedahistoriclandclaimssettlementthatredefinedtheirstatus,ensuringtheywouldneveragainbetreatedaswardsand,asa19thcenturyMainecourtruled,“imbeciles.”

Theyandtheiralliesfirsttookonracistbarbersandstatepatrolmen,thenthegovernorofMaineandtheU.S.secretaryoftheInterior.Intheprocess,theirchiefsweretargeted

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forsanctions,theirfirstlegalchampionwasrailroadedthroughthecourts,andtheirsecondwasshoweredwithdeaththreats.ButthePassamaquoddypersevered,andindoingsotransformedthefoundationsofU.S.IndianlawandpolicytothebenefitofdozensoftribesacrosstheEasternUnitedStates.Theywonthemselvesatrustfund,federalrecognition,themeanstoexpandtheirlandholdingsmorethanfivefold,andagreatdegreeofsovereigntyandself-government.

Butthatonehurdleremains:ensuringtheruleoflawathome,thatessentialunderpinningofeconomic,social,andpoliticalprosperitytheworldover.ThePassamaquoddyneedaneffectiveconstitution,andthevastmajorityofthemappeartowantone.

ItneednotlookliketheU.S.Constitution,Kaltnotes.“Thisisnotonesizefitsall,”hesaid.

UndertheIroquoisConstitution,forinstance,actionsofthetribe’stop“ConfederateLords”canbereviewedbyacouncilofWarChiefswhocan“divesttheerringLordofhistitlebyorderofthewomeninwhomthetitleshipisvested.”Thewomen–acertaincircleofelders–select“anotheroftheirsonsasacandidateandtheLordsshallelecthim.”

TheCochitiPuebloofNewMexicohaveapuretheocracyinwhichamemberoftheshamanclass–theCacique–appointskeyofficialsannually,buthisactionsarewatchedoverbyaCouncilofPrincipales,asortofSupremeCourt,butonewithoutlawyers.

“Everyonehastogetaruleoflawthatisbackedupbychecksandbalances,butthesystemdoesn’thavetobeWesterninstyleordesign,”Kaltnotes.“Itjusthastodealwiththeproblem.”

WhatthePassamaquoddy’sconstitutionlookslikewillbeuptothem.ThosethathavebeenvotedoninthepastaremodeledontheU.S.system,withaseparatejudiciaryandpowerdividedbetweengovernors,theJointTribalCouncil,andthepeoplethemselves,whocanforcecertainactionsthroughareferendumprocess.

Othersargueforamoretraditionalsystem,wherebysupremepowerliesinacircleoffemaleelders–ClanMothers–whomustactbyconsensusandwhoseordersarecarriedoutbychiefs.“TheClanMotherswouldbeonthetop,andtheywouldputthedecisionsdownonthecouncilandchiefswhowouldbetheoneswhowouldcarrythemout,”saysPlansowesDana,anadvocatefortribalfishingandhuntingrightsfromPleasantPoint,

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whosayspeoplestillknowwhotheClanMothersare.

Oneofthem,severaltribalmemberssaid,wouldbeMaryBassettofPleasantPoint,whosaysthatunderPassamaquoddytraditionalgovernance,womenplayedacentralrole.“Itwasamatriarchyreally,andtheyhadtohaveconsensus,”shesays.“Butevenifyoudidn’tagree,youdidn’tmaketrouble.”Thecentralpurpose,whichsheandmanyothertribalmemberslamenthasbeenlost,wassimple:“Wejusttookcareofeachother.”

ManytribalmemberswhospoketothePortlandPressHerald/MaineSundayTelegramemphasizedthatpeoplenolongerlookoutforoneanotherthewaytheydid40or50yearsago.Neighborsusedtosendtheirchildrentodohouseholdchoresforthesickandpregnantmothers,andeveryoneparentedthekids.Thecomingofthelandclaims,manysaid,hasweakenedthoseimpulses,turningthetribeintomoreofacollectionofcompetingindividuals.

“WhenIwasgrowingupIfetchedpeoplewater,Ihelpeddoinglaundry–peoplerespectedoneanother,”saysPleasantPointcouncilorMaryCreighton,70.“Irememberwhenthiswomandiedinchildbirth,mygrandmothertookinthekids.Thosewerethingswedidandwerevalued.Idon’tseethatanymore.Nowpeopledon’tevensayhellotoyou.”

IndianTownshiptribalcouncilorSonjaDana,69,echoesthissentiment:“Beforethelandclaim,everyonewasbasicallyequalandwedidn’thavetheseproblems,”shesays.“Theyoungergeneration–Idon’tknowhowwemissedtheboatinhelpingthemtoseewhatourculturaltraditionalvaluesare.”

PlansowesDanaisonememberoftheyoungergenerationwhochampionstraditionalwaysandthinkstheyneednotbedeclaredextinct.“Anythingthat’slostisn’treallylost.YoujusthavetoprayandaskthespiritsandtheCreator,andifyou’reseriousaboutitthentheanswerswillbebroughtbacktoyou,”shesays.“Anythingthat’sbeenlostcanbebroughtbackagain.”

“WeneedtogobacktotheOldAge,”sheconcludes.“We’regoinginthewrongdirection.”

•••

Fiftyyearsago–whenelderlyChiefGeorgeFrancisfirstsatdownwiththeyoung

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attorneyDonGellers–thePassamaquoddylanguagewaswidelyspoken,andmanyadultsspokeEnglishonlyhaltingly.Today,however,thislanguagethathasbeenspokenonMaine’sshoresandforestsformillenniaisinretreat.

WayneNewell,whohelpedintroduceawritingsystemforhispeople’stongueintheearly1970s,estimatestherearefewerthan400peopleleftonEarthwhospeakPassamaquoddyfluently,andthenumbergoesdowneachyearasmembersoftheoldergenerationpasson.“Thispastyear,welostseven,Ithink.”

“It’sbeenarealchallengeovertheyearstokeeptheyoungstersspeakingthelanguage,”henotes.“Theyunderstand,butnotmanyofthemarespeaking.”

Someofthereasonsforthiswouldbefamiliartospeakersofsmalllanguagestheworldover:thearrivaloftelevisioninthe1960s,thespreadofEnglish-languagemediathroughbooks,filmsandtheInternet,andtheabsenceofnativelanguagealternatives.And,asseven-termformerIndianTownshipgovernorJohnStevensputsit:“IfthereisawhitewomanmarriedtoanIndianorawhitemanmarriedtoanIndianwoman,theydon’tspeakPassamaquoddy;theyspeakEnglish.”Out-marriagesareunderstandablycommoninatribethatnumbersonly3,000,agreatmanyofwhomarerelatedtooneanother.

ButtheSistersofMercy,theRomanCatholicnunswhooperatedthereservationschoolsuntilthe1970s,didn’thelpmatterswhentheyslappedorhumiliatedchildrenforspeakingtheirlanguage.Parents,notwishingharmtocometotheirkids,sometimesintentionallyraisedtheminEnglish.Ontopofthat,inthe1950sand1960s,Passamaquoddythoughtitrudetospeaktheirownlanguageinthepresenceofthosewhodidn’tunderstandit,whichreducedtheexposureofmixed-marriagechildrentotheirIndianparent’sspeech.

There’smoreatstakethanjustwords:Languagesencodeandexpressculturalvaluesandwaysofseeingandbehavingintheworld.“WhenIspeakPassamaquoddy,itcomesfromatotallydifferentperspective,”tribalmemberDwayneTomahsays.“It’stheconnection.IspeakandIfeelit;I’mconnectedtoit.”

AllenSockabasin,alongtimechampionofthelanguagewhowasgovernoratIndianTownshipinthemid-1970s,saysnon-speakersalsolostaccesstoinformationontraditionalhuntingandtrappingtechniques.“Thelanguageisthekeytoopenthelockofindependencefornativepeople,becauseinourlanguageareourtraditionalvalues,ourwayoflife,ourwayofbelief,andourspirituality,”hesays.

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Canthedeclineofthelanguagebereversed?WayneNewellhopesso,notingthattechnologycanhelprecord,preserveandteachendangeredlanguages.“ButIknowit’sahardroadnomatterwhat,”hesays.“I’djustlovetobemoreoptimistic,butifIcamebackahundredyearsfromnow,IwouldhopeIwouldfindthelanguagebeingspoken,buthonestlyIdon’tknow.”

•••

Thereisrenewedmovementtowardpassingaconstitution,however.Aconstitutionalcommitteehasdraftedanewdocument–onelargelyinspiredbytheU.S.system,withdividedpowersandseparatebranchesofgovernment–andin2011,theJointTribalCouncilsanctionedaprocessforittobeevaluated.Fourpublichearingsmustbeheld,alternatingbetweenthePleasantPointandIndianTownshipreservations.Atribewidevotecanthenbeheldtoratifythefinalproduct.

Theprocesshasslowedtoastandstill[asofsummer2014].IndianTownshipheldthefirstofitspublicworkshophearingslastyear[2013],butmonthshavepassedwithoutPleasantPointChiefClaytonCleavesschedulingoneforhisreservation,effectivelyfreezingtheprocess.

ChiefCleavessaysheisn’ttryingtodelayactionbutalsoindicatedheisn’tabigfanoftheconstitutionaleffort.“RightnowourconstitutionatPleasantPointprimarilyhasalottodowithaccountabilityandthat’sall,”hesays.“Itwasdevelopedthinkingthattherearecrooksrunningthetribalgovernmentandtheyshouldbeheldaccountable.ButIbelieveitshouldbegreaterthanjustprotectingmeasanindividualfromthetribalgovernment.”

Rather,Cleavessays,theconstitutionshouldseektoexpandthetribe’srightsvis-a-visthestateandfederalgovernments,particularlyineconomicdevelopmentmatterslikehunting,fishingandgambling.“OurconstitutionshouldallowmeasaNativeAmericantogofishingandnothavetobesubjecttostatelaws,”hesaysbywayofanexample.“ButI’malittleworriedthestatewon’trecognizeit.”

ButhiscounterpartatIndianTownship,ChiefJosephSocobasin,appearstobemakingafinalpushtopresentaconstitutiontovotersbeforehistermendsthisSeptember[2014].

“ThisisoneofthegoalsIhopedtoaccomplishinoffice,tohaveaconstitutionratifiedbybothcommunities,”hesaidinApril[2014].“IthinkwehaveaunityIdon’t

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rememberinalongtimewhenitcomestothisissue.”

Surprisingly,amongthetribalmemberswhosaytheyseetheneedforatribewideconstitutionisthepersonwhodidsomuchtopreventonefrombeingadoptedinthepast.“Weneedtohaveaconstitutionthatwillmakepeopleaccountable,”saysformerChiefBobbyNewell,whoservedhisprisontermformisappropriatingfederalfundsandagainresidesatIndianTownship.“Youcan’thavelawwithouthavingsomebodywhocanenforcethelaw.”

Evenifavoteisheld,passageatIndianTownshipremainsuncertain,inlargepartbecauseoffearsthatajointdocumentwillsomehowleadtodominancebyPleasantPointwhenkeyissues–whocanvote,whatactivitieselectedofficialscanengagein,whatjobsorrightsresidentswhoarelessthanone-fourthPassamaquoddy(and,thus,non-members)canhold–arebroughttoavoteintribalreferendums.

“Iwasoneofthemthatstoppedtheconstitution(underNewell)andIwillcontinuetomydyingbreath,”saysIndianTownshipcouncilorandformerlieutenantgovernorSonjaDana.“PleasantPointnevercaredforIndianTownship,andthey’vewantedustogotohell,basically.Theyhavemorevoters,soifwehadajointconstitutiontheywouldoutvoteusonanythingtheywantedwhenyouputanyvotesouttothepublic.”

Whilethisisarealfear,itmaybeanunwarrantedone,asthenumericaladvantagePleasantPointoncehadhaslongsinceevaporated.Accordingtothe2010federalcensus,PleasantPointhasatotalpopulationof749toIndianTownship’s718.Inthelastgubernatorialelection–whichwasheldthatsameyear–370tribalmemberscastballotsatIndianTownshiptoonly340atPleasantPoint.

InlateApril[2014],ChiefSocobasinsaidhewasrenewinghispushtogetadraftconstitutionreadyforvoters,withthehopeofareferendumonthedocumentbeingheldbytheendofsummer.Hedeclinedsubsequentinterviewrequests,however,andtribalofficialssaytherehasbeennoprogressinrecentmonths.

OnApril15[2014],formerIndianTownshipChiefBillyNicholasabruptlyannouncedhisresignationfromthetribalcouncilinafieryletter.“Beinginapoliticalcapacityputsmeinapositionofdisadvantagewhenitcomestodefendingmyrights,”hewrote.“MyfamilyandIarecontinuallybeingattacked,andmyrecoursefordefenseasanelectedofficialislimited.”

“Iwillnotsitidle,andIwillbeabletoaddressignorantpeoplewithoutlimitations,”

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headded.“AlthoughIhavemuchmoretosay,theindividualsthathaveparticipatedincreatingsomuchanimositiesandchaosinourcommunityshouldbeashamed.”

ManyinthetribebelieveNicholasintendstorunforgovernorinthisSeptember’selection[2014].Nicholasdeclinedtobeinterviewedforthisseries.

Manyarehopefulthataconstitutionalorderwillbeestablished,enablingthetribetofollowsomanyothertribesintoaneraofincreasingprosperityandculturalrevival.

“Whatwe’redoingisgoingthroughgrowingpains,”saysPleasantPointcouncilorEdBassett.“Itmaynotbeeasyforus,butwearegoingtocomeoutofthisinagoodway.”

“Wehavecomealongwayin50years–quitealongways,Ithink,”saystribalhistorianDonaldSoctomah.“Mostofitforthebetter,someofitnotsogood.ButIthinkwearegettingstrongerbecausewe’relearningmoreaboutourcultureandthere’smoreprideinourcommunityaboutit.”

“We’reable,”hesays,“topracticeitoutintheopen.”

•••

WhilemanyPassamaquoddyareworkingtopassaconstitutionaldocumenttomendtheirpeople’scivicrift,othersarequietlyworkingtohealolder,deeperwounds.

ThePassamaquoddy–individuallyandcollectively–havebeenthroughalotoftrauma.Numeroustribalmemberssaythatthepriestsandnunswhousedtorunthereservation’sschoolswereoftenabusive,andthatsomepriests–andatleastonelaterpublicschoolteacher–sexuallyabusedalargenumberofpupilsofbothgenders.Additionally,inthe1950sthroughthe1970s,thestateofMainetookmanytribalchildrenfromabusivehomesonlytoplacetheminoftenmoreabusivefosterhomes.

Asinanycommunity,suchtraumascanhaveanimpactonthepeopleinsubsequentgenerations.Becauseoftheirhistoryasneglected,unprotectedwardsofthestate,peoplelivingatMaine’sIndianreservationsboremorethantheirshare.

WhenDeniseAltvaterwas7,sheandherfivesiblingsweretakenfromtheirparentsandplacedinafosterhomeintheOldTownareawheretheywerestarved,sexuallyassaulted,lockedinacold,rat-infestedbasementandmadetostayinaurine-soakedbedfor24hoursatatime.Whentheytriedtoalertsocialworkers,nobodybelievedtheir

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stories.Whenshereturnedtohermotherat14,shewasrapedbyatribalmember.

“Idon’tthinkpeopleunderstandwhatit’slikewhenyougrowupinabsoluteThirdWorldtypeofpovertyandthenyouexperiencethingsthattakeyoursoulaway,leavingyoujustashelltryingtosurvivedaytodaytodaythebestyoucan,”shesays.“Andwhatwedobecausewe’reallhurtingisthatwehaveallthislateralviolencethatwetakeoutoneachother,andallthisinternalizedoppression.”

Itcanbepasseddownontheunborn.Youwereabusedasachild,oryouwatchedsomewhitementrytobeatyourfathertodeath,orateachersexuallyassaultedyou,andmaybeyounevertalkedaboutit.“It’shardenoughtogrowuponareservationandevenharderwhenyougrowupwithaparentwhohaslivedthroughsomuchtraumaandPTSDthattheypassitontotheirchildren,”Altvatersays.“Mychildrendidn’tknowwhyasamotherIwasabusiveandabsent,andthenyourgrandchildrensufferthisunsolvedgenerationaltraumathatnobodyhaseventalkedabout.”

Altvatertalkedaboutwhathappenedtoherforthefirsttimein1999,whenshesteppedforwardandtoldherstoryforafilmtheMaineDepartmentofHealthandHumanServicesmadetohelptrainsocialworkerstounderstandtheimportanceofcomplyingwithanewfederallaw,theIndianChildWelfareAct,thatmandatedchildrenbeplacedwithfosterparentsinsidetheirtribewheneverpossible.Shesaysshedidn’treceiveanyemotionalorclinicalsupport,andwoundupbeinghospitalized.

Nowshe’shelpingpeopletelltheirstoriessafelyasaco-founderoftheMaineWabanaki-StateChildWelfareTruthandReconciliationCommission,aquasi-statecommissionchargedwithuncoveringthetruthaboutwhathappenedtotribalchildreninvolvedwiththestate’schildwelfaresystem.“Themoreyoutellyourstory,thelesspowerithasoveryou,”shesays.“Youcan’tmoveforwardwithoutgoingback.”

Thecommission,formallysignedintobeinginaJune2012ceremonyincludingGov.PaulLePageandthechiefsofthePenobscots,theHoultonbandofMaliseets,theAroostookbandofMicmacs,andthetwoPassamaquoddyreservations,isthefirstofitstypeintheUnitedStatestofocusonIndianissues.Commissionershavebeentakingtestimonyfrominformantsinrecentmonthsandintendtoreleaseareportinthesecondhalfofnextyear[2015].

•••

DonGellers,thelawyerwhofirstchampionedthePassamaquoddycause,fledMaine

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nearly40yearsagoafterbeingconvictedof“constructivepossession”ofsixmarijuanacigarettes.Hesayshetoldthemanwhoprosecutedhim,DeputyAttorneyGeneralDickCohen,thatheplannedtoflytoIsraelratherthanservehisprisonsentence.Cohen,hesays,indicatedhewouldnotseektostoporapprehendhim.

ThroughGellers’long,unsuccessfulefforttooverturnhisconviction,hisattorney,HyMayerson,keptMaineauthoritiesabreastofGellers’addressinIsrael,andtheymadenoefforttoapprehendhimthereoronhissubsequentvisitsbacktotheUnitedStates.

GellersemigratedtoIsraelin1971,embracedJudaism,livedonakibbutz,acollectivistfarmingcommunity,andadoptedhisHebrewbirthname:TuviaBen-Shmuel-Yosef.Hewaswoundedinthe1973Arab-IsraeliWar,inwhichheservedasaprivateintheinfantry,andwaslateranofficerinanarmoredunit.Wishingtopracticelawagain,healsoappliedtotheIsraeliBar,submittingfulldocumentationofhisconvictioninMaine.Onreviewingthecasefiles,theprincipallegalassistanttotheattorneygeneralofIsraelwrote:“Thecaseisacatalogueofhorrors–including,butnotlimitedto,multipleviolationsofdueprocess,manufacturedevidence,cleareffortsto‘gethim’becauseheadvocatedunpopularideasanddefendedunpopularclients.”GellerswasadmittedtotheIsraelibarwithoutreservation.

Asthe1980landclaimssettlementcametogetherhetriedtosuethetribeforhis10percentcontingencyfee,arguingthathisformerlegalintern,TomTureen,hadpurloinedandreliedonhisresearchtowinthecase.(Tureendeniesthis.)Hewasnotsuccessful.

Intheearly1980s,hereturnedtotheUnitedStatesandsettledinhisnativeNewYorkCity.In1989heagaindisclosedthecircumstancesofhiscasetoauthoritiesattheU.SCircuitCourtofAppealsforthe1stCircuit,beforewhichhehadbeenadmittedtopracticelawin1966.ThecourtissuedhimaCertificateofGoodStanding,allowingthesupposedfugitivetopracticelawthere.

Gellers–nowTuviaBen-Shmuel-Yosef–isarabbilivinginQueens.HehasnotsetfootinMainesincehisfinalpresentationtothePassamaquoddyatIndianTownshipin1971,whenheclaimsTureen,hissuccessorastribalattorney,stolehislandclaimsfiles.HefearshecouldbearrestedifhereturnedtothePineTreeState.

“These50yearshavebeenvery,verypainfulyears,”therabbisaid,notingthathiscontroversialconvictionandpossiblefugitivestatushavealwayshungoverhishead,waitingtobedroppedonhimbyanyopponent.

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“Itisa‘LesMiserables’story,andIamJeanValjean,”hesays,referringtotheVictorHugonovel.“It’snotsimplyaone-shotoutrage,andwhensomethinglikethisisdoneitcarriesrepercussionsforlife.Thesecandlesticksarewithmeforever.”

HehasneversoughtapardonfromagovernorofMaine.Askedwhetherhewouldwantone,hesaid:“Well,yes.Yes,thatwouldbenice.”

•••

AlongtheshoreofLeweyLake,justnorthof“TheStrip”atIndianTownship,mostofthecampsbuiltbythatwhitelandownerahalf-centuryagoarestillstanding,rightnexttowheretheIndiansstagedtheirprotestin1964.Thecamprestaurantburneddownyearsago,andaresidentialhomehasbeenbuiltonitsfootprint.

Therearenosignsorplaquesormonumentspointingoutthehistoriceventsthattookplacehere50yearsagothisspring,nothingtomarkthesiteofaprotestthatwouldunleashachainofeventsleadingtofederalrecognitionforthePassamaquoddy,thehistoriclandclaimsact,andalltheyearsofstrugglethatfollowed.

Nomonumentssaveone,thoughyouwouldnevernoticeitorknowwhatitwasunlesssomeonetoldyou,orunlessyouwereaPassamaquoddyIndianofacertainage.

It’sthere,nearthesoutherntreeline:agravelpilenotallerthanaman,coveredinweeds,ajumbleofmaterialsdepositedbyawhiteman’sbulldozerthatwasfinallystoppedinitstracks.

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EPILOGUE

Family’squestforjusticestillburns,ahalf-centurylater

Michael-Corey Francis Hinton, a Passamaquoddy Indian living and working as a lawyer in Washington, D.C., stands on the spot near the Pleasant Point reservation in eastern Maine where his great-grandfather, Peter Francis, was killed after a confrontation with five white hunters from Massachusetts in 1965. Hinton, who is working to get the case reopened, said: “For me it’s not so much about bringing justice to Peter Francis per se as to bringing justice to my people, period.”

PLEASANTPOINT—OnadarkNovembereveningin1965,PassamaquoddytribalconstableRaymondMoorewasmakinghisregularroundsofthePleasantPointreservationwhentheheadlightsofhiscarilluminatedamanlyingfacedownintheroad,ariverofbloodpouringfromhishead.

Hestoppedthecar,jumpedoutandrantodiscoverPeterFrancis,the59-year-oldbrotherofthereservation’sformergovernor,GeorgeFrancis,comatoseanddying,anail-studdedtwo-by-fourlyingnearby,coveredinblood.Peter’sarmswereoutstretched,hisbrainapparentlyhavingshutdownbeforehisbodyevenhittheground.

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Francisdiedthenextmorning–Nov.15,1965–atthehospitalinEastport,theresultoftwoheavyblowstothebackoftheheadhehadreceivedduringaviolentconfrontationwithfiveyoungwhitehuntersfromMassachusetts.ThemenhadspedoffintheirCadillacconvertiblesecondsafterFrancishittheground.TheyhadalsobeatenPeterFrancis’friendChristyAltvatersenselessinfrontofhisown8-year-oldson,Kirk.

Nobodyhaseverbeenheldaccountablefortheincident,whichclaimedonelifebutaffectedcountlessothers.Murderindictmentsweredrawnupagainstallfivehuntersbutneverserved.Onewaschargedwithmanslaughterbutfoundinnocentbyanall-whitejuryinWashingtonCountybyreasonofself-defense.InthebrutalbeatingofAltvater–wholaterkilledhimself–thecountyandstateprosecutorsbroughtnochargesatall.

Fornearlyhalfacenturyandthroughfourgenerations,theFrancisfamilyhasbeenseekingjustice.TodaytheyholdouthopethatrecentexposureofthecaseinthePortlandPressHerald/MaineSundayTelegram–andthediscoveryjustmonthsagoofapieceofkeyevidencethathadmysteriouslygonemissing–maypromptstateorfederalprosecutorstotakeanotherlookatoneofthemostdisturbingchaptersinthelong,sordidstoryofMaine’sinteractionswithapeoplewhohavelivedontheselandsforatleast13,000years.

“I’dliketoseejustice–notjustformygrandfather,notjustfortheothervictimsofbiasandprejudiceinthestateofMaine,butformyfamilyandmypeoplewhocarrythisburden,whocarrythiscloud,”saysPeterFrancis’grandsonRandyHinton,61,agiantofamanwhochokesupwhenherecallshismothergettingtheterriblephonecallthatnightwhenhewas12.“Iwouldliketoseethatcloudslowlydisappearinmylifetime.”

•••

LilaHinton,Randy’smotherandPeter’seldestchild,attendedthe1966trialandspentyearstryingtogetauthoritiestotakeanotherlookatthecase.“Shetalkedaboutitfortherestofhernaturallife,butnobodywouldrespond,”Randyrecallsofhismother,whodiedin1978.“Irememberhersayingtomeonce:‘Youknow,it’sjustanotherIndian.’”

Herbrother,PeterFrancisJr.,spenthislifeadvisingfamilymembersthattherewouldbenojusticeforIndianslikethemselves.HehadspenthisearlychildhoodingrindingpovertyatPleasantPointbeforetheirfatherrelocatedthefamilytoNewLondon,Connecticut.TherehisbrotherSkeaFrancis,aMarineveteranoftheKoreanWarwhohadsurvivedthehorrificBattleoftheChosinReservoir,diedundersuspiciouscircumstancesinthelate1950s,withthefamilybelievinglocalpolicemighthavebeen

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involved.

“WhenmygrandfatherPete…waskilled,(UnclePete)wascrushed,”RandyHintonrecalls.“Idon’tthinkheevergotoverthepainofhisfatherdying.Heletmymomandhisoldersisterscarrythetorch.Hejustsatinthebackgroundformanyyearsandwatchedandwaited,waiteduntilthedayhedied.”

ButbeforehediedinFebruary2013,PeterJr.–thenthefamilypatriarch–gavepermissiontohisnephewRandytotrytoseekjustice.HewarnedRandyandhissonthattheyshouldn’texpectjustice,though.“Itwillneverchange,”hesaidastearssuddenlypoureddownhisface,anexchangecapturedbyMainefilmmakerBenLevine,whoisworkingonadocumentaryaboutthekilling.

Randyhasnevergivenup.Earlierinlifehehadconsideredgoingtolawschooltoacquirethetoolstoseekjusticeforhisgrandfather,but,asheputsit,“lifegotintheway.”Overthedecadesheresearchedthecaseandtalkedtolegalandcivilrightsexperts;nobodywasveryencouraging.

Butnowhehasapowerfulally:his27-year-oldson,Michael-CoreyFrancisHinton,whois–notcoincidentally–atriballawattorneyatAkinGump,oneofthemostinfluentiallawfirmsinWashington,D.C.

•••

CoreyHinton,atthetimeathird-yearlawstudent,wasdeeplyaffectedbyhisunclePeter’swarningnottoexpectjusticeforIndiansinAmerica.

“Itwasheartbreaking.HerewasamanIrevered–everythingabouthimwascoolandconfident–tohearhimsaythosewordsandbecomeovercomebyemotion,itjustcrushedme,”Coreyrecalls.“Iftherewereanydoubtsinmymindaboutwhatweneedtodoandaboutwhatmymissionandmycareerwouldbe,alldoubtswereerasedatthatpoint.”

CoreyhadgrownupinupstateNewYork,inatownwhereheandhissisterweretheonlyIndiansintheschoolsystem.Therewereattorneysonhismother’sside,buttheyhadbeenpractitionersofdivorceandfamilylaw,andeveninhisyouth,Coreyhadaninterestinsocialjustice.Hesayshedidn’tfullyrealizethesystemicoppressionnativepeopleshavefaceduntiltakingacollegeclasswhileinterningfortheNationalIndianGamingCommission.Anditalldidn’tfullyhithomeuntilthatmomentwithhisUncle

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Pete.

“Hewassayingthat,‘I’manIndian,andmyrightswillnotbeprotected,’”Coreyrecalls.“Icannotallowthattobethestatusquoformyselfandmychildrenandmychildren’schildren.”

Hesayshisgreat-grandfather’sslayinghadalwaysinfluencedhim,butafterthatdayitbecameaconsciousmotivation.

“Theeventsofthatnighthavebeenaninvisibleguidinghandforme,”saysCorey,whohasrepresentedhistribeprobonoinrecentdisagreementswiththestateoversaltwaterfishingrights.“Formeit’snotsomuchaboutbringingjusticetoPeterFrancisperseastobringingjusticetomypeople,period.Hisstoryisamicrocosmofwhathashappenedtoindigenouspeopleacrosstheworld.”

NorhastheslayingofPeterFrancisandthestate’shandlingofitbeenforgottenbythePassamaquoddy,atribeof3,000peoplewithtworeservationsineasternWashingtonCounty.

“Thewholecommunitywentintoshock,becauseitinvolvedyoungpeoplewhosawitallhappenandthevictimsweretwobelovedmembersofthetribethatdidn’thaveameanboneintheirbody,”saystribalhistorianDonaldSoctomah,whonotesthatatleastfourPleasantPointPassamaquoddywerekilledinthe13yearsleadinguptotheincident,withoutanychargesfiled.“Thisistheonecasewherethetribethoughtweweregoingtogetjustice.…Whentheydidn’titwaslikeadarkdayoverthecommunity.”

•••

Together,fatherandsonhavebeenlobbyingtheU.S.DepartmentofJusticetorevisitthecase.TwoyearsagotheyapproachedtheU.S.Attorney’sOfficeinMaine,whichagreedtotakealook.FederalprosecutorsquicklydiscoveredwhatthePortlandPressHerald/MaineSundayTelegramalsolearned:Virtuallytheentireofficialcourtrecordforthis,arguablythemosthigh-profilecaseofitsera,disappearedfromtheWashingtonCountyCourthouserecordssometimebeforethecasefilewastobetransferredtotheMaineStateArchives.

Conspicuousamongthatcourt’scaserecordsforthemid-1960s,onlythreerandomsheetsofpaperhavesurvived.Eventhedocumentsrecordingtheofficialcomplaintand

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judgmenthavedisappeared.

U.S.AttorneyThomasE.DelahantyIIsayshisofficeorganizedasearchoftheMachiascourt’sclutteredstorageatticin2012butcameupwithnothing.“Wewouldneedofficialcourtevidencefromthetrial,whichnolongercanbelocated,”toconsidermovingforwardwithacase,hetoldthePressHeraldlastwinter[late2013].

Afewmonthsago,however,anarchivistfoundthetranscriptofthegrandjurytestimonyforthecaseinthecourthouseattic,copiesofwhicharenowinthepossessionofboththeFrancisfamilyandthePressHerald.The411-pagetranscriptcontainstestimony,underoath,frominvestigatingofficers,doctors,thecoroner,and18Passamaquoddywitnesses.

CoreyHintonsaysthefamilyprovidedthetranscripttotheDepartmentofJusticeinWashington,D.C.,inhopesthatthecasemightbereopenedunderrecentlyrevisedfederalhatecrimeslegislation.Butafterseveralmonths,anattorneythererecentlytoldthefamilybyemailthatthedepartmentdidnotbelievetherevisedlawwouldapplybecausethekillinghappenedsolongago.Thefamilysaystheyarenotdeterredbyasingleemailfromafederalattorney.

Separatelythiswinterandspring[2013-2014],thefamily’sphonecallsandemailstoDelahanty’sofficeinPortlandwentunreturned,andtheydidnotreceivearesponsetoanoffertheymadetopersonallydeliverthetranscriptthere.

DelahantytoldthePressHeraldinJune[2014]thatheknewnothingaboutthetranscript’sexistencebutsaidheisinterestedinreadingit.Basedonadescriptionofitscontent–andthefactthatgrandjuryevidencedoesnotincludematerialfromthedefense’sside–hesaiditisunlikelytoresultinnewcharges.

“It’samatterthathasnotbeenclosed,”Delahantysaidofthecase,“butmyobservationatthistimeisthatitdoesn’tlookliketherewouldbesufficientevidencetogoforward.”

•••

Thetranscript,whenaddedtodetailednewspaperaccountsofthetrialitselfandinterviewswithsurvivingwitnesses,enablesafine-grainedreconstructionoftheeventssurroundingtheslayinganditstroublingaftermath.

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ThefivehunterswereallfromBillerica,Massachusetts,20milesnorthwestofBoston,andknewoneanotherfromhighschoolorsharedworkexperiencesonconstructionsites.Fourarestillalive,andthreestilllivewithin30milesoftheirhometown.Accordingtooneofthem,DanielFrobese,thesurvivorsallstillknowandseeoneanotherfromtimetotime.

TheydrovetoeasternMaineinJamesEllinwood’swhite1961Cadillac,aconvertiblewithrecessedrearwheelsandlongsharklikefins.

Ellinwood,25,wasatall,huskyformerfootballplayerwhoworkedconstructionandhadapriorconvictionforassaultandbattery.WilliamRobbins,thegroup’sleader,wasa32-year-oldformerMarineandHallofFameathleteatBillericaMemorialHighSchoolandworkedasatruckdriver.Frobese,23,wasarooferand,byhisownadmission,a“blackoutdrinker,”whoalsohadapriorconvictionforassaultandbattery.HughO’Neill,a25-year-olddata-processingspecialist,hadplayedfootballwithEllinwood.RomoloCapobianco,25,wasamarriedfatheroftwowhohadhuntedintheareainthepast;somewitnessessayheexpressedreservationsaboutsomeofhisfriends’subsequentactions.

Nov.14wasaSunday,anddeerhuntingwasforbiddenbystatelaw,sothehuntershadlefttheircampnearPrincetonlatethatmorninginsearchofotherentertainment.TheircampwasjustafewhundredyardsfromthePassamaquoddy’sotherreservationatIndianTownship,butaccordingtothen-Gov.JohnStevens,they’dbeenrunoffafewdaysearlier.“Don’tcomearoundwithliquorandtrytoenticeyounggirlsintodrinkingandtakingthemoutandrapingthemsomewhere,”Stevensrecallstellingthem.“Staythehellaway.”

Thatafternoon,theypulledupoutsidethehomeofformerGov.GeorgeFrancis,72,atthePleasantPointreservation,50milessouthofPrinceton.Theybargedinandoverthenextfewhoursattemptedtoenticenumerousteenagegirlsonthereservation–someasyoungas14–totakeoffwiththem,sometimesofferingmoney,accordingtotestimonybymorethanadozenIndianwitnesses.(Attrial,thehunterswoulddenyhavingpropositionedanygirlsthatday.)

UltimatelytheyweredivertedtoneighborChristopher“Christy”Altvater’shome,whereGeorge’syoungerbrotherPeterofferedtomakethemdinner.Hewoulddieforhistrouble.

•••

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PeterFranciswasvisitinghomeforhuntingseasonfromNewLondon,Connecticut,wherehewasanelectricianatthenavalsubmarineyardthere.Hewas59butlookedmucholder,withfailingvisionandapermanentlimpfromaworkplacekneeinjury.

Hewasamanofimpressiveendurance.AftertheJapanesetorpedoedhistransportshipduringWorldWarII,hesurvivedformanydaysonatinyliferaftintheSouthPacificwithoutfoodorfreshwater;othersaboardtheraftperished.

Hewaslaterfearedlostwhenhefailedtoreturnhomefromamoose-huntingtripearlyonewinter,onlytowalkoutofthewoodsinthespring,havingsurvivedaloneinhisdisabledpaneltruckthroughmonthsofstormsandsubzerotemperatures.Hehadheardthesearchplanesoverhead,buttheywereunabletoseehisforest-greentruckamidthepineandspruce;hisnextvehiclewasbrightorange.

“Hewasanoutdoorsmanandhischurch–hisworld–wastheoutdoors,”RandyHintonrecalls.“Hewascomfortablewithwhohewas.Hespokehismind.”

Hisbrother-in-law,ChristyAltvater,was5-foot-2andhadmildparalysisonhisleftside,theresultofhavingbeenclubbedintheheadwithariflebuttbyamuchlargerwhitemanfromEastport.(Nochargeswereeverfiledinthatincident.)HehadjustreturnedfromtheTogusVeteransAdministrationhospital–hetoohadservedinWorldWarII–wherehewasbeingtreatedforrelatedheadachesanddizziness.

OneofthelastPassamaquoddyporpoisefishermen,Altvaterwas45,puckishandphysicallyunthreatening.Thefatherofsix,hewasinthemidstoffightinganeffortbythetownofPerrytoseizehishouse,locatedjustafewhundredyardsoffthereservation,for$700inbacktaxes.

“Hewasthekindest,mostgenerouspersonyoucouldevermeet,”recallshisgranddaughterPatriciaAltvaterMorangGraffam.“Hewouldtakefruitdownthehilltothereservationandgiveittoanyoneoreveryone.Hegaveeveryoneachanceandwasapeacemaker,eventoobnoxiousdrunks.”

•••

AttheAltvaterhouse,theIndianssaidthehuntersbecamerowdierandsomepropositionedAltvater’sgirls.EllinwoodsweptupChristy’s8-year-oldsonandtookhimoffinhiscarinsearchofmoregirls.Whenhereturned35minuteslaterwitha17-year-oldgirlinthefrontseat,hisfourhuntingcompanionshadjustleftthehouse,

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followedbyPeterandChristy.

ThetwoIndianchildreninthecarbothtestifiedthatastheypulledtoastoptheysawthreeofthehuntersonthefarsideoftheroad,wherethewreckageofanoldhaybarnlay,and8-year-oldKirksaidthathesawthempickinguppiecesoflumber.Thehuntersopenedthecardoor,andthekidsslippedoutandaway.

Inthenextfewminutes,thehuntersgotintoandthenoutofthecar.ThreeattackedChristy,beatinghimwithaheavyobject.Ellinwoodhitorstraight-armedPeterFrancis.

ThensomeonehitFrancistwiceinthebackoftheheadwithabluntobject,causingmuchofhisscalptoseparatefromthebackofhisskull.Anail-studdedtwo-by-fourfelltothegroundnearby,splinteredfromapowerfulblow.BothboardandsplinterweresoakedinPeter’sbloodtype,andpolicefoundoneofPeter’shairsstucktothesplinter.

Thehuntersspedoff.

ThePressHeraldrecentlyspoketotwoofthefourhunterswhoarestillalive.

Capobiancoclaimednottorememberanythingabouttheincident.

“Ijustturned74,andI’mtellingyoumymemoryisn’tasgoodasitoncewas.Idon’trememberanythingaboutthat,”hesaid.“Whyareyouinterestedinthat?Itwassolongago;it’sforgotten.”

Robbins,whohadlivedinKeene,NewHampshire,diedinMarch2009.

O’Neill,wholivesinHollis,NewHampshire,didnotrespondtotelephonemessages.

Ellinwood,arecentresidentofSpring,Texas,couldnotbelocated.

Inabriefinterview,Frobesesaidhewasa“blackoutdrinker”in1965andhadonlyfragmentarymemoriesofthatdayinNovember,thecriticalminutesaroundthebeatingsnotbeingamongthem.

Frobesesaidhedidn’trecallhimselforotherspropositioninggirls,althoughhethoughtEllinwoodhad“giventwogirlsaridetoacommunitycenterorsomething”whiletheyremainedattheAltvaters.“Wewenttothereservationforalcohol.”

HesaidEllinwoodwasa“scrapper”butthat,inallthetimehe’sknownhim,“I’ve

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neverknownhimtodoanythingwithmorethanafist.”Frobesealsosaidthathedidn’tbelievehehimselfwasinvolvedinanypartofthefinalfight.

WhenaskedwhodidkillPeterFrancis,Frobesesaidhedidn’tknow.

•••

Inthehoursaftertheslaying,CountyAttorneyFrancisBrowndrewupmurderindictmentsagainsteachofthefivehunters.Theywereneverserved.

AttorneyDonGellers,theidealisticyoungnativeoftheBronxwhohadstartedaggressivelyandeffectivelyrepresentingthetribe,calledaPressHeraldreporterandchargedBrownwitha“deliberatefloutingofthelaw”thatwouldnothaveoccurredhadthevictimsbeenwhite.RandyHinton’smother,Lila,whohadtraveledtoEastportfromherhomeinSyracuse,NewYork,toldthePressHeraldshewouldnotleave“untiljusticeisdone.”

Instead,thecountyattorneyissuedasinglemanslaughterindictmentagainstEllinwood.NochargeswereeverbroughtinAltvater’sbeating.

Thecasereceivednationalattention.U.S.Sen.SamErvin,aNorthCarolinaDemocratwhochairedtheSenatesubcommitteeonconstitutionalrights,demandedanaccountingfromMaine’sAttorneyGeneralRichardJ.Dubord.TheNationalCouncilofChurchesurgedtheU.S.DepartmentofJusticetoinvestigate.

“ThisisthesortofsituationyouwouldexpectintheDeepSouthbutnotinMaineoranyotherNewEnglandstate,”councilspokesmanFletcherCoatestoldareporter.

AtEllinwood’strialinMachiasinMarch1966,anall-whitejuryfoundhimnotguilty.Manywhitesinthecourtroomroseinapplause.

Thevictims’familiesweredevastated.

ChristyAltvaterwasneverthesameafterthebeating.Hehangedhimselfinhisbasementin1971.

Aftertheattack,Christy’ssonKirksufferedfrompanicattacksthatwouldleavehimdoubledoverandhyperventilating.“Henevereventalkedwhenweplayedtogether,andwhenhedidtalkhewouldstutterquiteabit,whichhehadn’tbefore,”recallshiscousin

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BrianAltvater.“We’remoreawareoftraumaandstufflikethatnowadays,butbackthenIdoubtverymuchtherewasanyhelp.”

Kirkkilledhimselfin1979.Hewas21.

“Thetragedyofallthisisn’tjustthemurder;it’sallthefalloutandallthecollateralinjusticeandpainandangerthatrevolvesaroundthatnight,”RandyHintonsays.“Justicewasneverserved,andthoseguysgotawaywithmurder.”

Hesayshisfamilyisinitforthelonghaul,drawingonanenduringstrengthexhibitedbyhisdeceasedmotherandgrandfather.

“Thatspiritisinme,andthat’saspiritIpassontomychildren,”hesays.“Ifjusticedoesn’tprevailformygrandfatherinmylifetime,I’vegotmysonandmydaughter.”

“They’rewell-equipped,”hesays.“They’renotgoingtofighthalfabattle.”

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AboutUnsettled

COLINWOODARD

StaffWriterColinWoodardspentmorethanayearresearching“Unsettled,”loggingthousandsofmilesandmorethan250hoursofinterviewswithsome70sources,includingpastgovernorsofMaineandthereservations,tribalelders,councilorsandactivists,aswellasattorneys,stateofficials,policeofficersandacademicexperts.

Woodard–whoistheauthoroffourbooks,includingthreeworksofhistory–reconstructedeventsthrougheyewitnessinterviews;newspaperarchives;thecorrespondenceanddepartmentalrecordsofgovernment,includingnumerousfilesthathadbeenpreviouslysealed;state,tribalandfederalcourtrecords;thousandsofpagesoftribal,state,andfederaldocumentsacquiredthroughpublicrecordsrequestsandconfidentialsources;anddecades-oldcorrespondencebetweenattorneys,governmentofficials,andtribalmembers.

Illustration by Pete Gorski/Staff from rendering by Stephanie Ann Francis.

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