BUCKSPORT — A group of  approximately 40 people assembled in Bucksport July 10 to stand with members of the Penobscot Nation and the Passamaquoddy Tribe at the docking of the vessel Nao Santa Maria, a replica of the ship used by Christopher Columbus.

The Penobscot Nation explained in a statement why the ship is offensive to the tribes as well as being historically inaccurate, because Columbus never actually set foot in North America, said protest organizers.

In a news release they said that they regarded the demonstration: “as a moment to teach the real history of our state, part of which is that while Maine is 200 years old, the Indigenous People have been here for at least 12,000 years. The arrival of colonizers from Europe led to terrible atrocities visited on the people native to this land There were once upward of 20 Tribes and now 4 remain. Systemic racism continues, and Tribal Sovereignty remains under attack today.
 
“Celebrating the statehood of Maine cannot be done without telling the truth about the history and honoring the Indigenous People. The sailing of this ship is not an honor especially in our homeland on a river that is our relative and bears our name."