11,297 acres returned to Maine's Penobscot Nation after century

In September 2026, about 11,297 acres of forest land in Maine were returned to the Penobscot Nation, marking the first phase of restoring over 30,000 acres of ancestral homeland. The effort began in 2023 with a $32.5 million fundraising goal, and $20.7 million has been raised so far. This ownership gives the tribe greater authority over land management and conservation, a significant step toward healing historical loss.