Description
In the Shadow of the Eagle: A Tribal Representative in Maine is the diary account of the representative of the Penobscot Indian Nation in the Maine legislature, Donna Loring. A Vietnam veteran, former police chief and former aide de camp to a Maine governor, this amazing woman writes about her years of triumph and challenges in the state legislature. The Penobscot and Passamaquoddy each have nonvoting representatives in Maine's legislature that dates back to the 1820s. The journal entries from January 2000 through August 2002 recount Loring's feelings, significant events, and challenges she faced as a Penobscot representative. Issues such as the Offensive Names Bill that reference names such as Squaw Mountain and mandating the teaching of the history of Maine's tribes in schools are significant points. Additional issues that focus on land, sovereignty, casinos, and jurisdiction over Penobscot traditional waterways also deserve attention. This is a fascinating account of one woman's efforts to find her voice in a legislature that often left her feeling invisible. The book contains a helpful index and black and white photographs.