We provide legal services to members of the Mi'kmaq Nation, The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Penobscot Nation, and the Passamaquoddy Tribe, and to other Indigenous people residing in Maine. We publish the Wabanaki Legal News and the Quinnehtukqut Legal News (for tribes in Connecticut) once a year.
Contact the Indigenous Peoples Unit
Pine Tree Indigenous Peoples Unit toll free hotline: 1-877-213-5630; V/TTY: 711.
Unfortunately due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we do not currently have walk-in hours. Please call our toll free hotline to request assistance, or call Pine Tree Legal Assistance during call center hours.
Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Inc.
Indigenous Peoples Unit
Ryan Lolar, Staff Attorney
115 Main St. #2
Bangor, ME 04401
If you live in the U.S. but outside of Maine, go to a list of Indian Legal Services programs, to find help in your state.
Pine Tree Legal Information
Wabanaki Legal News
Published two times a year, this Newsletter offers information of legal interest to Native Americans in Maine. It includes legal news and update information on services.
Index of Community Resources
Contact Information for tribal government and agency resources, and other state and federal help agencies.
What if I am denied entry into Canada from the US because of a criminal record?
Information from the Government of Canada about how this law works and how to go about reinstating your right to cross into Canada. (May 2013)
Indian Child Welfare Act Update (January 2002)
A brief summary of the key points covered by ICWA with links to more information.
Facts about the Jay Treaty for Canadian-Born Native Americans (Fall 1996)
The "Jay Treaty" is an agreement signed in 1794 to allow Canadian born Native Americans to travel freely across the U.S./Canadian border.
A Self-Help Guide to the Tribal Court System (Fall 1996)
Basic information about the Penobscot Nation Tribal Court and how it operates.
Links to More Information
Border Crossing Rights Between the United States and Canada for Aboriginal People
More detailed information about the Jay Treaty, authored by the American Indian Law Alliance and posted by Pine Tree Legal.
National Indian Child Welfare Association
The most comprehensive source of information on American Indian child welfare and works on behalf of Indian children and families.