Penobscot

Penobscot is a name associated with several related entities in Maine, United States, including the Penobscot people, the Penobscot River, the Penobscot Bay, and the Penobscot language. The Penobscot are a Native American people who are members of the Wabanaki Confederacy, a historic alliance of Algonquian-speaking tribes in northeastern North America.

The Penobscot Nation is a federally recognized Native American tribe based in Maine. It governs itself through a tribal council and other tribal divisions. The main population resides on the Penobscot Indian Island Reservation, located on Indian Island in the Penobscot River opposite Old Town, Maine.

The Penobscot River runs from central Maine to Penobscot Bay, a coastal inlet of the Gulf of Maine. Penobscot Bay and its environs form part of the central-southern Maine coastline and have long been a traditional resource area for the Penobscot people, as well as a site for European settlement.

The Penobscot language is an Algonquian language closely related to Passamaquoddy and Maliseet. The language declined during the 19th and 20th centuries but has undergone revitalization efforts, including language classes and immersion programs within the Penobscot Nation. Traditional arts, crafts, and ceremonies continue to play a role in cultural life.

Historically, the Penobscot lived along the Penobscot River valley and coastal areas. They were part of the Wabanaki Confederacy, negotiating with European states and later the United States. In 1980, the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act established a framework for tribal self-government and settled land claims with the state for the Penobscot Nation and other Maine tribes.