John Banks

John is a citizen of the Penobscot Nation, who served as the first natural resources director for the Penobscot Nation, a position he held for 41 years until his retirement in 2021. His legacy is marked by many accomplishments and honors, including a lifetime achievement award from Natural Resources Council of Maine in 2021 and a lifetime achievement award from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2019. John was the Penobscot Nation’s representative on the Maine-Indian State Tribal Commission from 1987 to 2021, making him its longest-serving member. He also served on many local, regional and national organization boards, including the National Tribal Environmental Council, Native American Fish and Wildlife Society, National Indian Policy Center, and the Tribal Operations Committee with the federal EPA. But arguably John’s most noteworthy accomplishment involves bringing a Wabanaki voice and leadership to the historic Penobscot River Restoration Project (1999–2016) in which two dams nearest to the sea were removed and a stream-like bypass channel was completed around a third dam.

“I’m excited to be involved with the Kennebec River Restoration Project. As a Penobscot tribal member who has been intimately involved with the restoration of the Penobscot River, I am hopeful that my experience will be helpful as we navigate the many issues associated with the Kennebec project. To me, as an indigenous person, being part of this effort also represents an act of reciprocity, in recognition of the many gifts provided by the rivers that my ancestors enjoyed.”