Indians In Vermont?

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It’s true.  The Abenaki in Vermont are trying their best to recover some of their old traditions as well as to be able to refer to themselves as Abenaki.

Historically, the Abenaki used to live up around the New England area, but faced hard times when they were taken over.  Lynchings and sterilization lead remaining members to thoughts of Genocide.  

“During my grandfather’s time, you could get hung from a tree,” said Roger Longtoe Sheehan of the Elnu tribe, who spent Saturday afternoon selling handmade pipes, war clubs, tomahawks and arrows on the lawn outside of the museum. “Being Indian wasn’t a thing you wanted to go telling too many people.”

“If they found out you were Abenaki, you could get sterilized,” Hebert said. “People came up missing. It was genocide. That’s what it was.”

In 2006, members of the Abenaki in vermont received a victory.  Vermont Gov. signed a bill that effectively said there were in fact Abenaki members in their state.  Yet, through laws still in effect, Abenaki members can’t refer to themselves as Abenaki or sell their work as “Abenaki made,” or even the generic Indian made.  As usual, there are stereotypes out there, but the tribal members are working to correct things.

E. Montpelier welcomes Abenaki museum