User:Alouellette14/sandbox

In 1823, the Penobscot tribe sent what is believed to be their first representative to the Maine Senate. In 1842 the Passamaquoddy tribe also sent their first representative. It appears that prior to Maine’s statehood, that Massachusetts allowed these tribes to send in representatives. It is not known what role the representatives played in the legislature until 1907, when records started being kept, and included documentation of where the representatives sat, what they said when they spoke, and privileges that were granted. While the representatives tried to achieve a higher status in the legislature, in 1941, legislation was passed to remove the representatives from the Hall of House, meaning that they held very little power, besides the persuasive power granted by being in the capital. It wasn’t until 1975 when the representatives were once again allowed in the chamber hall with seating and speaking privileges. In 1996, tribe representatives tried to co-sponsor a bill, and in 1999 the tribes were formally allowed to co-sponsor bills. . In 2001, this rule change allowed for Donna Loring to push for a bill called  “An Act to Require Teaching Maine Native American History and Culture in Maine’s Schools”, which as the title implies, required all public and private schools in the state of Maine to teach about Maine history, including Native American History. This act was signed by then Governor Angus King in 2001. In 2015 the tribes pulled their representatives from the legislature in protest of growing tension between the tribes and the state government, including Governor Paul LePage. There appears to be no plan to have the representatives return to the legislature for the 128th session as stated on June 20, 2016.