Maine’s Penobscot Nation regains ancestral lands
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The Penobscot Nation in Maine received 11,297 acres of forestland on September 16, 2026, returning a portion of their ancestral territory after more than a century.
The Trust for Public Land partnered with the Nation to purchase the land from timber harvesters and raise funds for its return, beginning a $32.5 million campaign in 2023.
This transfer, part of the Wáhsehtəkʷ project named for the East Branch of the Penobscot River, includes 15 miles of streams, 865 acres of wetlands, and habitat for species like Atlantic salmon and moose. The Penobscot Nation intends to actively manage the land, focusing on habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring, including ticks and bat populations, and sustainable access to natural resources for hunting and harvesting. Ownership allows the Nation greater control over conservation efforts than simply advising on them.
The project also aims to eventually return over 30,000 acres total, requiring an additional $12 million in funding. Beyond the immediate restoration, the land return could create a southern access route to Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, potentially boosting tourism for local businesses.
This effort is part of a larger Wabanaki Nations initiative, Tributary Land Returns, which seeks to restore over 50,000 acres to the four federally recognised tribes in Maine, addressing a history where they collectively hold only about 1% of their original lands.
