Drummond Woodsum’s Tribal Nations Practice Celebrates Major Victory for Passamaquoddy Tribe

Drummond Woodsum is proud to announce a major client victory for the Passamaquoddy Tribe, which has successfully completed the $5.4 million acquisition of 7,756 acres of land in Hammond Township. The land—situated along the south branch of the Penobscot River—creates a now-contiguous 28,000-acre parcel under unified tribal ownership.

The newly acquired property links two existing tracts of Passamaquoddy trust land: a 13,846-acre parcel and a 6,462-acre parcel. The expanded, uninterrupted landscape is a milestone achievement for tribal land reclamation efforts in the region and will significantly advance environmental stewardship, wildlife protection, and tribal access to traditional sustenance activities.

“This transaction represents years of work, complex negotiations, and an unwavering commitment to restoring tribal lands,” said Michael Corey Hinton, Co-Leader of Drummond Woodsum’s Tribal Nations Practice.

The acquired lands had previously been subject to heavy logging operations and commercial bear hunting leases, which had led to growing tensions between tribal members and non-tribal users of the land. The Tribe’s acquisition ensures full tribal jurisdiction and will eliminate longstanding access and resource conflicts.

The deal was largely self-financed by the Passamaquoddy Tribe, thanks to funds generated through a successful carbon credit initiative—another project guided by Drummond Woodsum attorneys. This creative and sustainable financing approach allowed the Tribe to retain ownership and control while reinforcing its long-term environmental and economic goals.

Once negotiations and due diligence were completed, Drummond Woodsum attorney Chris Hatch and paralegal Molly Rondeau led the closing process. The team worked closely with tribal leadership and stakeholders to bring this complex transaction to a successful close.

“We are honored to support the Passamaquoddy Tribe in achieving this transformative milestone,” said Hinton.

Drummond Woodsum congratulates the Passamaquoddy Tribe and is proud to continue its work empowering tribal nations across the country.