Penobscot Nation secures 11,000 acres near Katahdin
Penobscot Nation Reclaims 11,300 Acres Near Mount Katahdin
Wednesday’s land transfer marks the first phase of a broader effort that could bring 30,000 acres of Maine’s eastern watershed back into tribal stewardship.
The Penobscot Nation closed the purchase of 11,300 acres east of Mount Katahdin on Wednesday, a move that completes the first phase of the Wáhsehtəkʷ land‑return project. The name, meaning “east branch” in the Penobscot language, references the stretch of the Penobscot River that the new holdings surround. The transaction, negotiated with the Trust for Public Land (TPL), is part of a larger plan to return 30,000 acres of land to the tribe, ultimately expanding their holdings to 140,000 acres—95,000 of which are held in trust and thus classified as “Indian territory.”
Why the Return Matters
The Penobscot Nation has long viewed the river and its surrounding lands as kin rather than commodities. “These lands have always been part of who we are. Their return gives us the opportunity to care for them for our people and for future generations,” Chief Kirk Francis told a news release. The area includes 15 miles of cold‑water streams, 865 acres of ponds and wetlands, and critical habitat for brook trout, moose and Atlantic salmon. It also sits adjacent to a conservation easement that has protected the river corridor for decades.
Beyond environmental stewardship, the return could unlock new access to the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. The park, which is currently reachable only from the east through Sherman, would gain a southern entrance from Millinocket if Congress approved a right‑of‑way for the National Park Service to build roads through the newly returned lands. Proponents say the new route would boost tourism and highlight tribal stewardship, potentially strengthening the local economy.
Funding the Return
The Trust for Public Land purchased the 30,000‑acre parcel from Sylvan Timberlands four years ago using loans. Since then, the nonprofit has been raising the $32.5 million needed for the full return. To date, it has raised nearly $21 million from foundations, individuals and corporations. The 11,300‑acre phase is valued at $8.6 million and comes with a stewardship fund that will cover road maintenance and property taxes for the tribe.
The Wáhsehtəkʷ project sits within a broader initiative led by the Wabanaki Commission on Land and Stewardship and the First Light land‑return program. That program encompasses 52,000 acres across 11 discrete projects involving all five tribal governments in Maine, with a projected cost of $52 million. The commission’s executive director, Darren Ranco, said the land return offers “future generations of Penobscot people the opportunity to hunt, fish, recreate, and be in ceremony with our ancestors on the East Branch” and praised TPL’s support as a model of conservation partnership.
Historical Context
For centuries, control over Maine’s lands has been a source of tension between settlers and the Wabanaki peoples. The 1985 land‑claims settlement capped tribal trust land at 150,000 acres—a figure that the Penobscot Nation’s current holdings are approaching. Yet the tribe’s claims trace back to the 1970s, when they asserted rights to 12 million acres across the state.
The Trust for Public Land’s strategy of purchasing land before returning it to tribes is a common tactic in conservation circles. It allows nonprofits to secure properties at or below market value, then raise the funds required for tribal reacquisition. A similar approach helped the Appalachian Mountain Club return 1,700 acres near Williamsburg to the Penobscot Nation last year.
Next Steps
Neither the Trust for Public Land nor the Penobscot Nation has announced a timeline for the remaining phases of the Wáhsehtəkʷ project. As the tribe takes stewardship of more of the Penobscot River corridor, local officials and tribal leaders hope the lands will become a living example of partnership between Indigenous stewardship and national conservation objectives.
