Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians facts for kids
| Metaksonekiyak Wolastoqewiyik | |
|---|---|
Maliseet Indian Wooden Hut Interior,
watercolor by Robert Petley, ca. 1850 |
|
| Total population | |
| 869 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( Maine) |
|
| Languages | |
| English, Malecite-Passamaquoddy | |
| Religion | |
| traditional tribal religion, Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Maliseet people |
The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians of Maine (Malecite-Passamaquoddy: Metaksonekiyak Wolastoqewiyik) is a federally recognized tribe of Maliseet, whose land is along the Meduxnekeag River in Maine. They are headquartered in Littleton, Maine, located in Aroostook County.
This tribe is related to the larger Maliseet First Nations of New Brunswick, Canada. The Maliseet have traditionally occupied areas of the Saint John River valley, including its tributary, the Meduxnekeag River. When Great Britain and the United States established a boundary through this area under the Jay Treaty of 1794, the Maliseet were given the right to freely cross the border with Canada, as it was within their ancestral territory. The Houlton Band of Maliseet was invited to take a nonvoting seat in the Maine Legislature, starting with the 126th Legislature in 2013.
They belonged to the Algonquian languages family. The people now use English as their first language. They constitute nearly 6% of the population of Houlton.
Economic development
The Houlton Maliseet farm potatoes, barley, and clover on tribal lands. They also own a roller skating rink (Rollerama).
