Maine calls to restore 19th century tribal obligations to the constitution. Voters must now decide

By PATRICK WHITTLE
Associated Press

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Voters in Maine will be the ones to decide whether to restore long removed language about the state’s obligations to Native American tribes to printed versions of its constitution. The Maine Legislature gave its final approval on Tuesday to a proposal to restore the language that requires Maine to honor treaties the state inherited from Massachusetts when it became its own state more than two centuries ago. The language has always applied, but was removed from printed versions of the constitution in the 19th century. Statewide voters must also approve of the change to the constitution.