On March 16, 2023, a joint session of the Maine Legislature convened for a historic State of the Tribes Address. On the same day, nearly 200 Mainers came to the State House for the Wabanaki Alliance Lobby Day. The media gallery below chronicles the State of the Tribes address, Wabanaki Alliance Lobby Day and some of the many legislators who #StandWithWabanaki.
The State of the Tribes Address
March 16, 2023 was a historic day at the Maine Legislature, with all five Wabanaki Chiefs delivering individual speeches to a joint session of the Maine Legislature. It was only the second State of the Tribes address in the state’s history and the first to include all five Chiefs. You can read more details in our press release and view photos and a video of the address below. Click on the first image to open a larger gallery.
![Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians Chief Clarissa Sabattis entering the House chamber for the historic State of the Tribes address to a joint session of the Maine Legislature.](https://www.wabanakialliance.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/03/Untitled/2690639364.png)
![Standing ovation from supporters watching from an overflow room as the Wabanaki chiefs entered the House chamber.](https://www.wabanakialliance.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/03/Copy-of-73459/542251782.jpeg)
![Passamaquoddy citizen Lauren Stevens sang the “Welcome Song” to begin the historic State of the Tribes address.](https://www.wabanakialliance.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/03/Welcome-Song-sung-by-Passamaquoddy-citizen-Lauren-Stevens-8162_DXO__tif-copy/1416828530.jpg)
![A full gallery of Wabanaki citizens, allies and other honored guests watched the historic State of the Tribes address from the balcony of the House chamber.](https://www.wabanakialliance.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/03/73433/1438010104.jpeg)
!["We are not a long-forgotten society. We are strong. We are resilient. And most importantly, we are still here." -- Chief Clarissa Sabattis of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians](https://www.wabanakialliance.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/03/Copy-of-Maliseet-Chief-Clarissa-Sabattis-8367_DXO__tif-copy/3291038081.jpg)
![" Today is beyond symbolic. Today, just as I did 21 years ago, I will appreciate the words heard before me and those that will follow and it is certainly my hope that those in attendance today and watching and the citizens of this great state of Maine will also hear the messages brought forth on this day."-- Chief Rena Newell of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik](https://www.wabanakialliance.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/03/Copy-of-Passamaquoddy-Chief-Rena-Newell-8480_DXO__tif-copy/2515227674.jpg)
![“The Penobscot people and Wabanaki Nations are Mainers. The blood, sweat and tears of our ancestors run through this land, and will continue to do so for generations to come. We are not going anywhere.” -- Chief Kirk Francis of the Penobscot Nation](https://www.wabanakialliance.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/03/Copy-of-Penobscot-Nation-Chief-Kirk-Francis-8580_DXO__tif-copy/3036951494.jpg)
![This is only the second State of the Tribes address in Maine history and the first to include all five Wabanaki chiefs.](https://www.wabanakialliance.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/03/floor/4066908611.png)
!["With open hearts and minds, with honesty and fair dialogue, there is no doubt we can create solutions that will not only benefit the Wabanaki people, but all Maine people. " -- Chief Edward Peter-Paul of the Mi'kmaq Nation](https://www.wabanakialliance.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/03/Copy-of-Mi_kmaq-Chief-Edward-Peter-Paul-8712_DXO__tif-copy/1635333696.jpg)
![U.S. Rep Jared Golden, a longtime supporter of Wabanaki sovereignty, attended the State of the Tribes address as a special guest.](https://www.wabanakialliance.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/03/Golden/2911758012.png)
!["The opportunity to address the unfair treatment that Maine tribes have received since 1980 can be worked on and end with this legislative body of leaders. " -- Chief William Nicholas of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkomikuk](https://www.wabanakialliance.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/03/Copy-of-Passamaquoddy-Chief-Willam-Nicholas-8903_DXO__tif-copy/2354121483.jpg)
Wabanaki Nations’ State of the Tribes Address on Maine Public.
Wabanaki Alliance Lobby Day
A broad coalition of advocacy groups, faith-based organizations, businesses and others support Wabanaki sovereignty, many of whom took part in the 2023 Wabanaki Alliance Lobby Day on March 16. More than 200 people from all 16 Maine counties came to the State House that day and took part in trainings, talked with their legislators and witnessed the historic State of the Tribes address. Some photos from the day are below. Click on the first image to open a larger gallery.
If your organization, group or business is interested in learning more about the Wabanaki Alliance, email info@wabanakialliance.com.
![Passamaquoddy Tribal
Representative Aaron Dana (facing viewer), then clockwise Wambli
Martinez, Amuwes Dana and Nicholas Paul drum in the Hall of Flags
for the 2023 Wabanaki Alliance Lobby Day. Barbara and Terry Baker
hold the banner.](https://www.wabanakialliance.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/03/335140008_1415095542361892_7836833897949580424_n/3188652998.jpg)
![Nearly 200 people attended Wabanaki Alliance Lobby Day, a group so large, trainings took place in three different locations in the State House.](https://www.wabanakialliance.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/03/IMG_5738-1-scaled/863896036.jpeg)
![Lobby Day began with trainings led by allies and Tribal citizens, including Penobscot Nation Tribal Ambassador Maulian Dana.](https://www.wabanakialliance.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/03/Copy-of-20230316_090956-scaled/917015821.jpg)
![Volunteers staffed check-in tables and Lobby Day trainings, helping supporters from all 16 counties learn more about the importance of Wabanaki sovereignty.](https://www.wabanakialliance.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/03/Copy-of-Signing-up-for-lobbying_5239-Edit/2439155300.jpg)
![Attendees at Lobby Day and the State of the Tribes address included Osihkiyol Crofton-Macdonald (left), Ambassador of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, and Darren Ranco, a citizen of the Penobscot Nation, Chair of Native
American Programs and Coordinator of Native American Research at the
University of Maine, and a member of the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission.](https://www.wabanakialliance.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/03/Osihkiyol-Zeke-Crofton-Macdonald-talking-with-Darren-Ranco-8281_DXO__tif-copy-1/1625509818.jpg)
![A statewide coalition of organizations, businesses and faith-based groups support Wabanaki sovereignty, including the Maine Unitarian Universalist State Advocacy Network (MUUSAN).](https://www.wabanakialliance.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/03/Poppy-Arford-1-scaled/1689944449.jpeg)
Legislators who #StandWithWabanaki
The Wabanaki Nations are the only federally recognized tribes in the entire United States that are denied their inherent sovereignty. Efforts to change that by restoring Wabanaki sovereignty have broad support from legislators from across the state. The right to self-governance isn’t a partisan issue. When the Wabanaki thrive, all of Maine thrives. That is why these and many other legislators #StandWithWabanaki. Click on the first image to open a larger gallery.