The State of Vermont is commemorating the 400th Anniversary of French explorer Samuel de Champlain's visit to the lake that was named after him. They have put out a website that features an article about Abenaki history by Frederick Wiseman. [See comments below for a significant criticism of Wiseman's article.]
You may also want to read Lee Sultzman's compact history of the Abenaki.
Or use this link to visit the Abenaki Tribal Museum.
The picture above of two Abenaki women is from Maggiemac's History of American Women blog.
4 comments :
When you follow the link to the Quad page (an article about Abenaki history by Fred Wiesman) there is a statement at the bottom which is incorrect.
The Abenaki of VT do not have "limited State recognition". They are recognized as a minority. Period. The statement is stretching the truth so it appears as if "authentic" Natives will be participating in the Quad celebrations.
In other words, the state doesn't recognize them as a Native community, just acknowledges that they are "non-white." (?)
JS
The bill (in part presented) says:
§ 853. RECOGNITION OF ABENAKI PEOPLE
(a) The state of Vermont recognizes the Abenaki people and recognizes all Native American people who reside in Vermont as a minority population.
(b) Recognition of the Native American or Abenaki people provided in subsection (a) of this section shall be for the sole purposes specified in subsection 852(c) of this title and shall not be interpreted to provide any Native American or Abenaki person with any other special rights or privileges that the state does not confer on or grant to other state residents.
(c) This chapter shall not be construed to recognize, create, extend, or form the basis of any right or claim to land or real estate in Vermont for the Abenaki people or any Abenaki individual and shall be construed to confer only those rights specifically described in this chapter.
The VT groups came before legislation last year asking for State recognition (without the need to present genealogical proof) however were denied due to time running out with recess upon said legislation.
The groups in Vermont have a bill in legislation asking for STATE RECOGNITION. They also tried last year. IF the web site that has "Abenaki History by Fred Wiesman" was true stating that the Abenaki already had "limited" State recognition why are they pushing this bill? AND why does the bill have a sunset clause at the bottom, which states that conditional recognition will be repealed on Jan. 15, 2013? Go to this page to read the bill:http://www.leg.state.vt.us/DOCS/2010/BILLS/INTRO/H-124.PDF
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