Tribes in Maine could soon be allowed to gather sweet grass at Acadia National Park, a traditional practice that ended with the creation of the park in 1916.
Under a new co-management plan proposed between the National Park Service and five federally recognized tribes in the Pine Tree State, each enrolled tribal citizen would be allowed to harvest 450 to 2,700 grams of sweet grass per season, depending on conditions.
Before signing off on the plan, NPS said it would accept public comments on its environmental assessment of the proposal until June 5.
The agreements would involve the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Mi’kmaq Nation, Passamaquoddy tribes at Pleasant Point and Indian Township, and Penobscot Nation, known collectively as the Wabanaki.
