Maine Indian land claims, 1975-1981

Correspondence, newspaper clippings, legal documents, reference materials, financial reports, and other materials related to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Agreement of 1980. The claim covered 2/3 of the land in the state, with 350,000 people living in the disputed area. After four years of negotiations, an agreement was receached between the United States government, Maine, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Passamaquoddy Tribe, and the Penobscot Nation whereby the Indians relinquished their rights to millions of acres of Maine land in exchange for $81.5 million to buy 300,000 acres of State-owned land spread across thes state. The agreement also defined a special relationship between the State of Maine and the Passamaquoddy Tribe and Penobscot Indian Nation, giving them authority over their own internal matters on the reservations. The agreement also gave federal recognition to the Houtlon Band of Maliseet Indians.