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Emotional ceremony recognizes 2 bands of Abenaki
Anson Tebbetts
WCAX News
Montpelier, Vermont
April 22, 2011
An emotional bill signing Friday at the
Vt. Statehouse. Gov. Peter Shumlin
signed a law giving state recognition
to two bands of Abenakis. The ceremony
was met with tears, thanks and song.
"The signing of two pieces of legislation by our governor essentially washes away that very bad
history and recognizes the culture that has been with us long before the European settlers moved
to a place we call Vermont," said Sen. Vince Illuzzi, R-Essex-Orleans Counties.
"The education you are going to give to your kids, the education you are going to give to us and
the ritual and the deep understanding of the earth and love you have brought us is fantastic," said
Sen. Hinda Miller, D-Chittenden County.
"And I would like to say to other tribes we are not done and we will see you right here soon enough.
No Abenaki left behind. Remember those who came before us, remember their lives, remember
their words and look down upon us and cheer... We did... We did..." said Luke Willard of the Vt.
Commission on Native American Affairs.
The state recognition will allow the bands to sell Native American arts and crafts, and children can
apply for certain college scholarships. The state recognition is not a precursor to federal
recognition and it forbids the bands from opening casinos or making land claims.
Some in the Abenaki community question the process and legitimacy of the tribes.
Anson Tebbetts - WCAX News
http://www.wcax.com/story/14499533/an-emotional-ceremony-recognizes-2-bands-of-abenaki
Vermont recognizes 2 Abenaki tribes
Lisa Rathke
Associated Press
Boston Globe
April 22, 2011
MONTPELIER, Vt.—Years after the first Abenaki Indians sought to be publicly recognized in
Vermont, the state on Friday granted recognition to two tribes: the Elnu Abenaki, based in
Windham County and the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation in northeastern Vermont.
Tweet Be the first to Tweet this!Submit to DiggdiggsdiggYahoo! Buzz ShareThis Gov. Peter Shumlin
signed the bills Friday, a step that could allow the tribes to sell their crafts as Indian-made and seek
federal education grants but means much more.
"Today we have stepped out of the darkness and into the light," said Don Stevens, of Shelburne,
chief of the Nulhegan Band, who along with others later celebrated with drumming on the
Statehouse steps.
At least 1,700 Vermont residents say they are direct descendants of the Western Abenaki tribes
that inhabited all of Vermont and New Hampshire, and parts of Maine, Quebec and New York, for
hundreds of years before the arrival of Europeans, according to a Vermont law that set up a
process for state recognition that passed in 2010. They include the Missisquoi and Cowasuck
Abenaki who farmed the river floodplains of Vermont at least as long ago as A.D. 1100s, the law
said.
But in the 1930s, many Vermont residents of mixed French-Canadian and Native American
heritage, as well as poor, rural whites, were placed on a state-sanctioned list of "mental defectives"
and degenerates and placed in state institutions. Some had surgery after Gov. Stanley Wilson in
1931 won enactment of a sterilization law.
"Today marks a turning point, the signing of two pieces of legislations by our governor that
essentially washes away that very bad history and recognizes the culture that has been with us long
before the European settlers move to place that we now call Vermont," said state Sen. Vincent
Illuzzi, who has pushed for state recognition.
In signing the bills, Shumlin told a group of children surrounding him that his great-great-great-
grandfather was a native American man who could not talk about his heritage.
"So his photo stands in my living room as their tribute to an extraordinary man who could not talk
about his identity and today we sign these bills so that you can be proud of yours," he said.
In years past, the state has been reluctant to recognize Abenaki, fearing it could bolster one tribe's
bid to win federal recognition, which opponents said could lead to land claims and gambling
casinos. The Vermont attorney general's office also had questioned the St. Francis/Sokoki Band's
heritage in Vermont and opposed federal recognition, which the band was denied in 2007. Now that
band and at least one other one are seeking state recognition.
In their applications for state recognition, the tribes met certain criteria documented by membership
and records, which show they are descended from identified Vermont or regional Native people,
according to the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs, which recommended that the
Legislature grant recognition to the two tribes, under the new state law. The applications were
reviewed by independent scholars, the commission said.
But some in the Abenaki community have questioned the process for recognition, the experts and
the authenticity of the tribes.
"Vermont legislators passed a law establishing vague criteria that most any social club could pass
for recognition as an 'Indian tribe,' violating our rights for the sole purpose to 'sell crafts,'" said
Denise Watso of Abenaki First Nation in an email.
Illuzzi said critics have been unable to explain to him why it would hurt the state to recognize what
he described as tribes "that have existed here for generations but have been required to go
underground because of the eugenics movement and other anti-Indian sentiments of the past.
"Until they convince me otherwise I'm on board," he said.
Stevens said it's time for Abenaki people to put aside their differences and work together.
"People have different reasons for trying to oppose recognition. There's a lot of lateral violence out
there against different minority groups. All I have to say to any opponents is it's time to heal. The
nation needs to heal. Let's stop the white man's bickering and let's heal our nation and work
together," he said.
http://www.boston.
com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2011/04/22/vermont_recognizes_2_abenaki_tribes/
Vermont Grants Public Recognition To 2 Abenaki Tribes
‘Turning point’ In Legacy Stained By Eugenics Law
Lisa Rathke, Associated Press
April 23, 2011
MONTPELIER — Years after the first Abenaki Indians sought to be recognized publicly in Vermont,
the state yesterday granted recognition to two tribes: the Elnu Abenaki, based in Windham County,
and the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation in northeastern Vermont.
Governor Peter Shumlin signed the bills yesterday, a step that could allow the tribes to sell their
crafts as Indian-made and seek federal education grants but means much more.
“Today we have stepped out of the darkness and into the light,’’ said Don Stevens, of Shelburne,
chief of the Nulhegan Band, who along with others later celebrated with drumming on the State
House steps.
http://articles.boston.com/2011-04-23/news/29466923_1_tribes-vermont-law-recognition
Anson Tebbetts
WCAX News
Montpelier, Vermont
April 22, 2011
An emotional bill signing Friday at the
Vt. Statehouse. Gov. Peter Shumlin
signed a law giving state recognition
to two bands of Abenakis. The ceremony
was met with tears, thanks and song.
"The signing of two pieces of legislation by our governor essentially washes away that very bad
history and recognizes the culture that has been with us long before the European settlers moved
to a place we call Vermont," said Sen. Vince Illuzzi, R-Essex-Orleans Counties.
"The education you are going to give to your kids, the education you are going to give to us and
the ritual and the deep understanding of the earth and love you have brought us is fantastic," said
Sen. Hinda Miller, D-Chittenden County.
"And I would like to say to other tribes we are not done and we will see you right here soon enough.
No Abenaki left behind. Remember those who came before us, remember their lives, remember
their words and look down upon us and cheer... We did... We did..." said Luke Willard of the Vt.
Commission on Native American Affairs.
The state recognition will allow the bands to sell Native American arts and crafts, and children can
apply for certain college scholarships. The state recognition is not a precursor to federal
recognition and it forbids the bands from opening casinos or making land claims.
Some in the Abenaki community question the process and legitimacy of the tribes.
Anson Tebbetts - WCAX News
http://www.wcax.com/story/14499533/an-emotional-ceremony-recognizes-2-bands-of-abenaki
Vermont recognizes 2 Abenaki tribes
Lisa Rathke
Associated Press
Boston Globe
April 22, 2011
MONTPELIER, Vt.—Years after the first Abenaki Indians sought to be publicly recognized in
Vermont, the state on Friday granted recognition to two tribes: the Elnu Abenaki, based in
Windham County and the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation in northeastern Vermont.
Tweet Be the first to Tweet this!Submit to DiggdiggsdiggYahoo! Buzz ShareThis Gov. Peter Shumlin
signed the bills Friday, a step that could allow the tribes to sell their crafts as Indian-made and seek
federal education grants but means much more.
"Today we have stepped out of the darkness and into the light," said Don Stevens, of Shelburne,
chief of the Nulhegan Band, who along with others later celebrated with drumming on the
Statehouse steps.
At least 1,700 Vermont residents say they are direct descendants of the Western Abenaki tribes
that inhabited all of Vermont and New Hampshire, and parts of Maine, Quebec and New York, for
hundreds of years before the arrival of Europeans, according to a Vermont law that set up a
process for state recognition that passed in 2010. They include the Missisquoi and Cowasuck
Abenaki who farmed the river floodplains of Vermont at least as long ago as A.D. 1100s, the law
said.
But in the 1930s, many Vermont residents of mixed French-Canadian and Native American
heritage, as well as poor, rural whites, were placed on a state-sanctioned list of "mental defectives"
and degenerates and placed in state institutions. Some had surgery after Gov. Stanley Wilson in
1931 won enactment of a sterilization law.
"Today marks a turning point, the signing of two pieces of legislations by our governor that
essentially washes away that very bad history and recognizes the culture that has been with us long
before the European settlers move to place that we now call Vermont," said state Sen. Vincent
Illuzzi, who has pushed for state recognition.
In signing the bills, Shumlin told a group of children surrounding him that his great-great-great-
grandfather was a native American man who could not talk about his heritage.
"So his photo stands in my living room as their tribute to an extraordinary man who could not talk
about his identity and today we sign these bills so that you can be proud of yours," he said.
In years past, the state has been reluctant to recognize Abenaki, fearing it could bolster one tribe's
bid to win federal recognition, which opponents said could lead to land claims and gambling
casinos. The Vermont attorney general's office also had questioned the St. Francis/Sokoki Band's
heritage in Vermont and opposed federal recognition, which the band was denied in 2007. Now that
band and at least one other one are seeking state recognition.
In their applications for state recognition, the tribes met certain criteria documented by membership
and records, which show they are descended from identified Vermont or regional Native people,
according to the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs, which recommended that the
Legislature grant recognition to the two tribes, under the new state law. The applications were
reviewed by independent scholars, the commission said.
But some in the Abenaki community have questioned the process for recognition, the experts and
the authenticity of the tribes.
"Vermont legislators passed a law establishing vague criteria that most any social club could pass
for recognition as an 'Indian tribe,' violating our rights for the sole purpose to 'sell crafts,'" said
Denise Watso of Abenaki First Nation in an email.
Illuzzi said critics have been unable to explain to him why it would hurt the state to recognize what
he described as tribes "that have existed here for generations but have been required to go
underground because of the eugenics movement and other anti-Indian sentiments of the past.
"Until they convince me otherwise I'm on board," he said.
Stevens said it's time for Abenaki people to put aside their differences and work together.
"People have different reasons for trying to oppose recognition. There's a lot of lateral violence out
there against different minority groups. All I have to say to any opponents is it's time to heal. The
nation needs to heal. Let's stop the white man's bickering and let's heal our nation and work
together," he said.
http://www.boston.
com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2011/04/22/vermont_recognizes_2_abenaki_tribes/
Vermont Grants Public Recognition To 2 Abenaki Tribes
‘Turning point’ In Legacy Stained By Eugenics Law
Lisa Rathke, Associated Press
April 23, 2011
MONTPELIER — Years after the first Abenaki Indians sought to be recognized publicly in Vermont,
the state yesterday granted recognition to two tribes: the Elnu Abenaki, based in Windham County,
and the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation in northeastern Vermont.
Governor Peter Shumlin signed the bills yesterday, a step that could allow the tribes to sell their
crafts as Indian-made and seek federal education grants but means much more.
“Today we have stepped out of the darkness and into the light,’’ said Don Stevens, of Shelburne,
chief of the Nulhegan Band, who along with others later celebrated with drumming on the State
House steps.
http://articles.boston.com/2011-04-23/news/29466923_1_tribes-vermont-law-recognition
