Kirk E. Francis Sr.
In 2006, when I was inaugurated into the office of the Chief of the Penobscot Nation, I realized that growing up on this reservation surrounded by extraordinary people had brought me to this place. Being raised on Indian Island was a privilege that I didn't take lightly.
On Oak Hill, the highest place on the Island , I was surrounded by many elders who shaped the youth in the community. It was those teachings that guided me to run for office of Chief of the Penobscot Nation.
I cannot express the gratitude I have for the people of the Penobscot Nation for entrusting me with the responsibility to lead this great nation. I am honored to be included in the company of the men and women who have served as leaders in the community.
Our past chiefs have been both elected, like me, or were part of the traditional hereditary system, where the chief line followed a distinguished bloodline. It is these ancestors who worked hard to ensure that the Penobscot Nation remained a sovereign entity with a distinct culture and history. I have learned a lot from our past chiefs, the six still alive today and the written history of many others. Their guidance ensures that proper decisions are made for the next seven generations. In our history, there are letters from Penobscot chiefs from the late 1700s to modern day that address many of the same issues that we continue to fight today.
Today, the methods are much different but the issues and what we want for results remain the same. Economically, the Penobscot Nation is in a better place today. My predecessors had to rely on their instincts and had to constantly think about how to ensure the very survival of our people -- culturally, spiritually, and physically. Those leaders were the glue that bound this community together in our darkest days. And it is the strength of these great leaders that allows me to fight for the success of the Penobscot Nation and our people today. Their past efforts and tough decisions have given me this opportunity, and as a tribal citizen, the right to exist as a Penobscot.
I know that my time as Chief has to provide for opportunity and progress for our Nation. With gratitude to the past, and with an eye to the future, this tribal administration is able to work for future generations and to do so as Penobscots, with our customs and traditions that make us who we are intact
Years Chief/Governor First Lady Sub-Chief/Lt. Governor
2014-2018 Kirk E. Francis, Sr. Shannon L. Blais William Q. Thompson
Mark Sockbeson
2010-2014 Kirk E. Francis, Sr. Shannon L. Blais William Q. Thompson
2008-2010 Kirk E. Francis, Sr. Shannon L. Blais William Q. Thompson
2006-2008 Kirk E. Francis, Sr. Shannon L. Blais Dennis Pehrson Sr.
2004-2006 James G. Sappier Bonnie Jameson Mike Bear
2002-2004 Barry L. Dana Lori A. Thomas Later Mike Bear
2000-2002 Barry L. Dana Lori A. Thomas Later Mike Bear
1998-2000 Richard Hamilton Ann Irene Pardilla
1996-1998 Francis D. Mitchell Edwina Bear Brenda Fields
1994-1996 Richard Hamilton Arnold Neptune
1992-1994 Geraldo R. Pardilla Janet M. Lewey Reuben E. Phillips
1990-1992 James G. Sappier Bonnie Jameson Phillip Guimond, Jr.
Gerardo R. Pardilla
12/07/1989 James G. Sappier Bonnie Jameson Phillip Guimond, Jr.
Chosen at Special Election
09/12/1989- Phillip Guimond, Jr. Lorena Loring
12/07/1989 Acting Governor
01/01/1988- Francis D. Mitchell Edwina Bear Phillip Guimond, Jr.
9/12/1989
1986-1988 James G. Sappier Bonnie Jameson Ann Irene Pardilla
1984-1986 Timothy R. Love Eva M. Ranco James G. Sappier
1982-1984 Timothy R. Love Eva M. Ranco Joseph Francis
1980-1982 Timothy R. Love Eva M. Ranco Nicholas Sapiel
1978-1980 Wilfred Pehrson Joan Dorothy Lolar Edwin Mitchell
1976-1978 Nicholas Sapiel Mary Arlene Ranco Wilfred Pehrson
1974-1976 Nicholas Sapiel Mary Arlene Ranco Peter S. Neptune
1972-1974 Matthew P. Sappier Helen Sullivan Kenneth Nelson
1970-1972 Francis J. Ranco Mabel Dana Frank V. Loring
Terms of office began January 1st prior to 1967 and October 1st after 1968
1968-1970 John M. Mitchell, Sr. Mary E. Meader Donald Daigle (resigned)
Harold Francis Sr.
1967-1968 John M. Mitchell, Sr. Mary E. Meader Frederick Nicola
1965-1966 Francis J. Ranco Mabel Dana Roy Dana
1963-1964 Ernest Goslin Helen M. Mitchell Francis Tomer
1961-1962 Albert J. Nicola Lisa L. Heighe Harold Francis
1959-1960 Francis J. Ranco Mabel Dana John M. Mitchell, Sr.
1957-1958 Francis J. Ranco Mabel Dana John M. Mitchell, Sr.
1955-1956 Albert J. Nicola Lisa L. Heighe Eugene Loring
1953-1954 Albert J. Nicola Lisa L. Heighe John S. Nelson
1951-1952 Albert J. Nicola Lisa L. Heighe John M. Mitchell, Sr.
1949-1950 Albert J. Nicola Lisa L. Heighe David Sapiel
1947-1948 Albert J. Nicola Lisa L. Heighe Melvin Neptune
1945-1946 James Lewis Mary Josephine Ketchum Harold Francis
1943-1944 Theodore B. Mitchell Mildred M. McKenney John P. Ranco
1941-1942 James Lewis Mary Josephine Ketchum Theodore B. Mitchell
1939-1940 Horace Nelson Philomeme Saulis Andrew Dana
1937-1938 James Lewis Mary Josephine Ketchum Horace N. Polchies
1935-1936 Howard M. Ranco Nora Mary Paul Louis Lolar
1933-1934 Howard M. Ranco Nora Mary Paul Louis Lolar
Elected to succeed John T. Ranco
1933 John T. Ranco (resigned) Phoebe Leblanc Louis Lolar
Old Party and New Party Politics ceased to exist after 1931
1931-1932 Louis Nicholas (New Party) Susan Bernard Newell A. Paul
1929-1930 George C. Dana (Old Party) Julia F. Mitchell Peter M. Nelson
1928 Louis Nicholas Susan Bernard
Chosen at Special Election 10/01-12/31/1928
1928 Lester Bassett Mary Ethel Totty
Acting Governor 02/05-10/01/1928
1927-1928 Newell Tomer (New Party) Louise Saul Lester Bassett
Died in office 02/05/1928
1925-1926 John Nelson (Old Party) Alphonsine Mary Oulette Peter M. Nelson
1923-1924 Unknown (New Party)
1921-1922 Nicholas Solomon (Old Party) Ellen Antoinette Francis Theodore B. Mitchell
1919-1920 Peter M. Nicola (New Party) Madeline Ranco
1917-1918 Newell Francis (Old Party) Julia F. Mitchell Peter Neptune
1915-1916 Newell Lyon (New Party) Elizabeth Chandler Louis Ketchum
1913-1914 Horace Nicola (Old Party) Martha Madeline Hubbard Peter Neptune
1911-1912 Peter M. Nicola (New Party) Madeline Ranco Louis Ketchum
1909-1910 Sabattis Francis (Old Party) Mary Ann Nicholas John B. Mitchell
1907-1908 Joseph Francis (New Party) Elizabeth Swassian Gabriel Paul
1905-1906 Newell Francis (Old Party) Julia F. Mitchell Peter N. Neptune
1904 Newell Lyon (New Party) Elizabeth Chandler Lola Coley
Chosen at Special Election 01/29/1904
12/26/1903-
01/29/1904 Lola Coley Annie Francis
Acting Governor
1903 Sabattis Glossian (New Party) Mary Sockbesin Lola Coley
Died in office 12/26/1903
1901-1902 Mitchell Attean (Old Party) Mary Ranco Frank Loring
1899-1900 Joseph Francis (New Party) Elizabeth Swassian Peter Nicola
1897-1898 Sabattis Francis (Old Party) Mary Ann Nicholas Peter W. Ranco
1895-1896 Francis P. Sockalexis (New Party) Frances Sockbeson John Saul
1893-1894 Sabattis M. Francis (Old Party) Mary Ann Nicholas Louis Peol Sock
1891-1892 Joseph Francis (New Party) Elizabeth Swassian Francis Sockalexis
1889-1890 Saul Neptune (Old Party) Frances Neptune Sabattis Dana
1887-1888 Joseph Francis (New Party) Elizabeth Swassian Francis Sockalexis
1885-1886 Stephen Stanislaus (Old Party) Sylvia Solomon Saul Neptune
1883-1884 Sockabesin Swassian (New Party) Mary Susep Swassian F. Susup
1881-1882 Stephen Stanislaus (Old Party) Sylvia Solomon Saul Neptune
1880 Sockabesin Swassian (New Party) Mary Susep Swassian F. Susup
1879 Stephen Stanislaus (Old Party) Sylvia Solomon Saul Neptune
1878 Joseph Susup Sockalexis (N Party) Muddlin Glossian Sockabesin Swassian
1877 Stephen Stanislaus (Old Party) Sylvia Solomon Saul Neptune
Chosen at Special Election 01/04/1877
01/01/1877-
01/04/1877 Saul Neptune Frances Neptune
Acting Governor
1877 Tomer Attean (Old Party) Elizabeth Francis Saul Neptune
Died in office 12/24/1876
1876 Joseph Susep Sockalexis (N Party) Muddlin Glossian Sockabesin Swasson
1875 Sabattis J. Mitchell (Old Party) Elizabeth S. Francis John Neptune
1874 Unknown (New Party) Attean Orson
Died in Office 01/12/1874
Sockabesin Swassian
Chosen Special Election
03/20/1874
1873 Saul Neptune (Old Party) Frances Neptune
1872 Joseph Susup Sockalexis (N Party) Muddlin Glossian Attean Orson
1871 Saul Neptune (Old Party)
1870 Attean Orson (New Party)
Acting Governor 09/30/1870-12/31/1870
1870 Tomer Sockalexis (New Party) Attean Orson
Died in Office 09/30/1870
1869 Joseph Attean (Old Party) Saul Neptune
1868 Tomer Sockalexis (New Party) Attean Orson
1867 Joseph Attean (Old Party) Saul Neptune
1816-1858 John Attean
Attean Elmut
Joseph Orono
John Attean
Lolon Saguarrab
Wenonganet II
Wenonganet I
Madockawando
Asticou
Bashabez