Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians
 Maliseet Indian Wooden Hut Interior, watercolor by Robert Petley, ca. 1850 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
 United States ( Maine) | |
| Languages | |
| English, Malecite-Passamaquoddy | |
| Religion | |
| traditional tribal religion, Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Maliseet people |
The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians of Maine is a federally recognized tribe of Maliseet people, whose land is along the Meduxnekeag River in Maine.[2] They are headquartered in Houlton, Maine, located in Aroostook County.
The people are related to the larger Maliseet First Nation of New Brunswick, Canada.[3] The Maliseet have traditionally occupied areas of the St. John River valley, including its tributary, the Meduxnekeag River. When Great Britain and the United States established a boundary through this area under the Jay Treaty of 1794, the Maliseet were given the right to freely cross the border with Canada, as it was within their ancestral territory.[3]
They belonged to the Algonquian languages family. The people now use English as their first language. They constitute nearly 6% of the population of Houlton.
Government
The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians of Maine is governed by an elected six-member council. The current chief is Brenda Commander.[4]
The tribe obtained federal recognition on 10 October 1980.
Economic development
The Houlton Maliseet farm potatoes, barley, and clover on tribal lands. They also own a roller skating rink.[1]
Notes
- ^ a b "Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians." Region 1: EPA New England. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
- ^ Pritzker 428
- ^ a b Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Official Website, accessed 24 November 2013
- ^ "Government." Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
References
- Pritzker, Barry M. A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0-19-513877-1
External links
- Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, official website