Who Are the Penobscot?
The Penobscot are an Algonquian-speaking people of Maine, with approximately 2,400 enrolled members in the Penobscot Indian Nation. Their territory centers on the Penobscot River, Maine's largest—the name means "Rocky Place" or "Place Where the Rocks Spread Out," describing river features. They speak Penobscot, an Eastern Algonquian language with very few remaining speakers. Their reservation—Indian Island at Old Town, Maine—is one of the oldest continuously occupied reservations in the country. The Penobscot, part of the Wabanaki Confederacy, have fought for sustenance rights and sovereignty over the river that defines their identity.
River Rights
The Penobscot River defines Penobscot identity. Salmon once ran the river by millions; Penobscot life centered on the spring salmon run and year-round fishing. Dams, pollution, and overfishing destroyed the fishery—Atlantic salmon are now endangered. The Penobscot Nation has fought for river restoration and sustenance fishing rights. A 2015 court decision denied Penobscot sovereignty over the river itself—a devastating ruling. However, the tribe continues advocating for dam removal, water quality, and fishing rights. The river's health and Penobscot rights to use it remain intertwined struggles.
Basketry and Sovereignty
Penobscot ash-splint basketry is both art and economic necessity. For generations, Penobscot basket makers have produced brown ash baskets—fancy baskets for tourists and collectors, work baskets for practical use. The emerald ash borer, an invasive insect, now threatens brown ash trees throughout the region, potentially destroying the raw material for this tradition. The Penobscot are working to protect ash trees and preserve basket-making knowledge. This threat to cultural tradition parallels broader sovereignty challenges—the ability to maintain traditional practices depends on environmental conditions and legal protections increasingly beyond tribal control.
Contemporary Penobscot
Modern Penobscot navigate sovereignty limitations while maintaining cultural traditions. The 1980 land claims settlement provided resources but limited sovereignty compared to most tribes. Without gaming, economic options are constrained; the tribe operates various enterprises including cultural tourism. Language preservation is urgent—Penobscot has very few first-language speakers; documentation and teaching efforts race against time. Basket making continues despite environmental threats. The tribe participates in Wabanaki Confederacy governance and maintains the Penobscot Nation Museum. How the Penobscot restore their river, preserve their language, and expand sovereignty shapes this river people's future.
References
- Speck, F. G. (1940). Penobscot Man: The Life History of a Forest Tribe in Maine
- McBride, B. (1990). Our Lives in Our Hands: Micmac Indian Basketmakers
- Prins, H. E. L. & McBride, B. (2007). Asticou's Island Domain: Wabanaki Peoples at Mount Desert Island