Native American Tribe Finally Reclaims Ancestral Territory Taken 160 Years Ago

At long last, a native American tribe in Maine had finally taken back ownership of the 140-acre ancestral territory which was illegally taken from them centuries ago.

The Passamaquoddy tribe just recently reacquired an island that is historically significant to Passamaquoddy people. When the Indian Township's Chief William Nicholas saw the land for sale in the fall of 2020, he immediately partnered with The Nature Conservancy and the advocacy group First Light to sought after the return of the land.

The Pine Island, renamed "White's Island" by settlers, and known to the tribe as Kuwesuwi Monihq, was returned to Passamaquoddy community in early 2021.

The Return of the Land

In the mid-19th century, the largest island on Big Lake, Kci Monosakom, Maine, once part of the Passamaquoddy Territory, was illegally taken from them despite it violating the treaty and the Maine Constitution. The colonizers eventually renamed the once called Pine Island to White's Island, no longer matching the 1794 treaty language, and removing the tribe its stewardship towards the property.

For decades, the native tribe had sought after its sacred island which they had inhabited for at least 10,000 years, but did not have the means to afford it.

"For $449,000 you could buy 143 acres of forests with sweeping views of the rugged shoreline of Big Lake in Maine, a unique property steeped in history, with only two owners in the last 95 years," wrote the real estate agent.

The Indian Township chief contacted First Light and The Nature Conservancy in Maine, which immediately responded to support reacquisition of a stolen land and 'historical injustice'. They were able to raise $355,000 and bought the island back in March, 2021.

Correcting a Longstanding Historical Injustice

"The Passamaquoddy People have dwelled on and cared for Kuwesuwi Monihq for countless generations. The return of the island to the Tribe will allow us to return home and to resume our stewardship of this special place," said Corey Hinton, Esq., Passamaquoddy Citizen and Lead Attorney.

The Passamaquoddy people wish to continue protecting and looking after their land, with hopes that they won't have to leave again. They created a movement called the #LandBack as an initiative to help the island recover from the damage the colonizers had made, and bring back healing to its land and water.

According to a tribe's member, the island was once used as place to store food in root cellars and once used to deliver food to relatives affected by the smallpox epidemic brought by English and French settlers. Despite loss of many of their ancestors brought by the disease, the Passamaquoddy people were never allowed an access to the island.

"There is no doubt that the ancestors are jumping all over the place over there," Chief William Nicholas said. He added that the return of the land is the right way to correct the longstanding historical injustice.