Municipal Status

Maine law states that "except as otherwise provided" in the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act, the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Penobscot Indian Nation, within their respective Indian Territories, shall:

Have, exercise, and enjoy the rights, privileges, powers and immunities of a municipality (including the power to enact ordinances and collect taxes);

Be subject to all the duties, obligations, liabilities, and limitations of a municipality; and

Be subject to the laws of the State.

However, internal tribal matters (including membership in the Passamaquoddy Tribe or Penobscot Indian Nation, the right to reside within the respective Indian territories, tribal organization, tribal government, tribal elections, and the use or disposition of settlement fund income) are not subject to regulation by the State.

Under the settlement, the Houlton Band of Maliseets does not have a status similar to that of municipalities and is entirely subject to state law.