Maine NFC Delivers Custom State Heritage Fish Signs to Passamaquoddy Tribe

Maine NFC Chair Emily Bastian and Chief Nicholas of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township.

Maine NFC Chair Emily Bastian and NFC National Vice Chair Bob Mallard recently drove to Princeton, Maine, near the Canadian border to deliver custom State Heritage Fish signs to the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township. The signs will be posted on tribal waters by their biologists and game wardens.

The Passamaquoddy tribe owns the land surrounding eight and possibly nine SHF waters, as well as several potential SHF waters. They have full jurisdiction over waters under 10 acres and cooperative shared jurisdiction with Maine Department of Inland Fish and Wildlife in regard to larger lakes and ponds.

ME NFC Chair Emily Bastian with Passamaquoddy tribe biologists and law enforcement. Tribal fish and wildlife biologist John Sewell is to Emily’s right.

As has been the case elsewhere, there was great support for the State Heritage Fish sign project and we were made to feel very welcome. In addition to the State Heritage Fish signs we discussed other possible projects including a Native Fish Appreciation event.

After a most enjoyable and informative meeting we were presented with gifts from Chief Nicholas: Native American dance sticks and locally sourced wood cooked maple syrup. In turn we presented our host, tribal elder Martin Dana, and Chief Nicholas with NFC hats and decals.

A Passamaquoddy dance stick and wood cooked maple syrup from tribal land.

We also presented Chief Nicholas with a tribal State Heritage Fish sign for his office as well as a signed copy of NFC National Vice Chair Bob Mallard’s new book, Squaretail: The Definitive Guide to Brook Trout and Where to Find Them

Left to right: Tribal elder Martin Dana, NFC National Vice Chair Bob Mallard, and Chief Nicholas of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township.

While all versions of the State Heritage Fish signs look great, we at NFC are partial to to the Passamaquoddy version (second from left) for obvious reasons, the tribal colors and fade really work :)