Maine tribes meet with Venezuela for low-cost heating oil

PORTLAND, Maine - American Indian leaders from four tribes in Maine met with representatives of the Venezuelan Embassy and became the first tribes in the nation to begin working out details for the delivery of low-cost heating oil to tribal members.

Aroostook Band of Micmacs Chief Bill Phillips praised Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez for his offer to bring discounted heating oil to the United States, and Venezuelan Embassy officials for following through on Chavez's offer.

''We appreciate Chavez trying to bring low-cost heating oil for our elderly. We're thinking: He is a fellow Native from the Americas, and we appreciate his taking the time and effort to do some good,'' Phillips told Indian Country Today.

Venezuelan Embassy officials met Dec. 13 with representatives of four tribes: the Aroostook Micmacs, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point and the Penobscot Indian Nation.

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http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?feature=yes&id=1096412127

he'll run up against tribal sovereignty.

:)

I never knew that Penobscot was an Native American word. I learn like crazy in these rooms!

nt