1st document: Ralph Skinner Swett's Birth Record from Barton, Orleans County, Vermont. It indicates that his ethnicity is "white". This birth record is a matter of Public Record and as a Public Figure, proclaiming that he is "Indian" implied by his published name of Chief Spirit Water" a.k.a. "Chief Lone Cloud", while he might be Indian, his birth record claims he is "white".
IF Ralph Skinner Swett is of Abenaki or Native American descent, I haven't dicovered the ancestor(s) that were. Perhaps some people would conclude that this birth record is "personal" and "private" but again, this is not the case, or I would not have been able to obtain a photocopy from the State of Vermont Vital Records last year. I began to do the genealogical background research documentarily beginning in November 2005 after these various "groups" representatives/leaders and their followers decided NOT to show and provide these very documents to the State of Vermont nor to the VCNAA. A little genealogical background is that Ralph had a brother Leon Edwin Swett born in 1924 and whom died in 1946. Leon Ellsworth Swett Sr. was born February 26, 1886 in Bolton, Brome Co., Quebec, Canada to Henry J. Sweat and Edna Alberta (nee: Wedge) and Leon died July 19, 1949. Leon Sweat/Swett Sr. married June 02, 1923 to Elsie Skinner who was born April 22, 1895 and died October 28, 1988 in Newport, Orleans County, Vermont. Her father was Edwin C. Skinner born in 1868 son of Daniel Skinner in Vermont about 1833 allegedly in Brownington, Vermont, and Daniel married to Louise N. Walker in Canada. Sibling to Edwin C. Skinner was a sister Mary L. Skinner. There is some confusion in that Elsie E. Swett was a Skinner to Edwin C. Skinner and his wife Zaidee or Raidee E. Ranney born in New York (maiden name unk.) OR was Leon Ellsworth Sweat's wife was an Elsie E. "Smith" born in England that made an entry into the U.S.A. via Lewiston, NY in 1915. Perhaps Leon Ellsworth Sweat/Swett married twice?
IF anyone has the ability to show and provide documented Abenaki ancestry in Ralph Swett's ancestry, please communicate. IF anyone ignorantly concludes that "genealogical research" is "personal" or "private" then all one needs to do is go to http://www.familysearch.org/ or http://www.ancestry.com/ or http://www.rootsweb.com/ as they are all quite informative.
2nd document: Email communication from Rhonda Lou Besaw whom married to Charles Francis True Jr. to Douglas Lloyd Buchholz (myself) in mid-August 2008 regarding Ralph Skinner Swett's "group" up there in Evansville, Vermont. According to the email, (3) three different Groups came together under the Northeast Wind Council to forever be joined in unity. The three Chiefs who met togehter represented three different bands and signed a pact.
The Northeast Wind Council was set up and organized many years ago with the help of alleged Grand Chief Walter Watso, Great Grand Ambassador of the Abenaki Nation Darryl Larock (Larocque) , retired Chief Howard (Franklin) Knight (Jr.), and Chief Spirit Water (Ralph Skinner Swett himself). To my thinking this MUST have been the Unity Meeting in the late summer of 1994 which I spoke of earlier in this blog. August 20, 1994 wherein the Unity of Councils Agreement signed in Evansville, VT. This agreement was signed by the tribal leaders of Abenaki bands at that time bringing them into Unity as the Sovereign Republic of the Abenaki Nation. Homer St. Francis was named Grand Chief and Walter Watso Assoc. Grand Chief. The Unity Agreement was signed by: Ray Lussier - Grand Council of the Allied Bands of Southern New England, Roland Demers - Sherbrooke Aboriginal Community Council, Pierre Heroux Richards - Sorel Aboriginal Community Council, Ray Milano - Athens Council, Richard Ray Hunt - White Bison Abenaki Council of New Hampshire, ???? - Empire State Council of NY, Howard F Knight - Northeast Woodlands Coos/Cowasuck of North America, Walter Watso - Odanak
Witnesses:
Emerson Garfield - Cowasuck/Coos band, John Lawyer - St. Francis/Sokoki band, Roger Lucas - Cowasuck/Coos band, Brian Lemois - Cowasuck band, Darrel Larocque - St.Francis/Sokoki band, Melody Nunn - Cowasuck/Coos band, Phil Thibault - St. Francis/Sokoki band, Ina Delany - St. Francis/Sokoki band, Phil Martin - Cowasuck/Coos band Mass, Harry Shover - Cowasuck/Coos band, Nancy Lemois - Cowasuck band, Phenix Hearn - St. Francis/Sokoki band, Edward Verge - Abenaki Nation NE VT.
Witnesses:
Emerson Garfield - Cowasuck/Coos band, John Lawyer - St. Francis/Sokoki band, Roger Lucas - Cowasuck/Coos band, Brian Lemois - Cowasuck band, Darrel Larocque - St.Francis/Sokoki band, Melody Nunn - Cowasuck/Coos band, Phil Thibault - St. Francis/Sokoki band, Ina Delany - St. Francis/Sokoki band, Phil Martin - Cowasuck/Coos band Mass, Harry Shover - Cowasuck/Coos band, Nancy Lemois - Cowasuck band, Phenix Hearn - St. Francis/Sokoki band, Edward Verge - Abenaki Nation NE VT.
3rd document: Email dated August 16, 2008 from Ralph Skinner Swett a.k.a. "Chief" Lone Cloud (formerly "Chief" Spirit Water") to myself (Douglas Lloyd Buchholz a.k.a. "Salmon") wherein Ralph states, Our group was started by Howard Knight, when Howard Franklin Knight Jr. and Cindy Shover broke up. Walter Watso was there as was Darryl Larocque. All was done in a very respectful manner and very legal. What Ralph Swett meant in this email by his usage of "very legal" was that that "group" calling itself the Northeast Wind Council of the Sovereign Abenaki Nations/ Clan of the Hawk was and is yet another 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization. IT IS NOT A HISTORICAL TRIBE OR BAND OF ABENAKI PEOPLE. We had their full backing (support) and help in doing so.
From the Clan of the Hawk, Inc.'s Newslettler of May 2006:
News outside the Clan: As many of you know, Nancy Lyons has been working on a "Unity" Group and I have helped any way I could. However, as the clan has supported Debbie Bezio and applauds her for all the work she has done on the Abenaki Recognition Bill, I told Nancy that we would not be supporting Jeff Benay for the Governor's Commission on Native American Affairs. As soon as I told Nancy these facts and that we would support Debbie Bezio, Nancy removed the Clan of the Hawk, and your Chief from this group! So, here again, I am labeled as a "bad person.' I have many reasons why I chose not to support Jeff Benay, but feel it is not appropriate to air them publicly at this time.
In the spring of 2005 Chief Raymond "Ray" "Looking Glass" Lussier of the Southern New England Indian Council in Attleboro, Massachusetts made a long term gifting loan of over 1800 artifacts to the Abenaki Clan of the Hawk, in Evansville, Vermont. This collection, which Lussier started when he was just nine years old and worked on throughout his entire life, consists of arrowheads, axes, spears, stones and other artifacts. The collection is in museum display cases and is fully catalogued.
In the spring of 2006, Chief Raymond "Looking Glass" Lussier again honored the Clan of the Hawk with another incredible gifting loan. He sent all of the books in his Native American research library to be cared for in a new library at the clan. This will be named the Ray Lussier Wabanaki Family History Center and Reading Room. Dedication ceremonies will be held at this year’s 15th Annual Pow Wow, Saturday, August 5th, at the Pow Wow grounds in Evansville, VT and is expected to be one of the high points of the celebration.
This wonderful collection includes 8 volumes of the Dictionnaire Genealogiques Des Familles Canadiennes, Purreville-Odanak, Napierville, Comte’ de Missiquoi, Richelieu, Drumonville, and many, many more. The birth and marriage records from all the reservations in Canada, going back into the 1600’s are in this research collection. Raymond "Looking Glass" Lussier in a council resolution at SNEIC, said, “Whereas, The Clan of the Hawk of Evansville Vermont under direction of my blood brother Chief Ralph Swett has distinguished itself by carrying on many Abenaki traditions, visiting schools and teaching the younger generation, hosting Pow Wows, Gatherings etc., making available a Museum of Abenaki as well as other tribal histories and involving itself in Community outreach programs. Be it hereby Resolved: In the name of Abenaki Unity, I Hereby entrust to The Clan of the Hawk my Books, Repertoires and other pertinent Documents for the introduction of the Wabanaki Family Resource Library and Reading Room in Evansville Vermont.” The rules pertaining to the access to and use of these materials are to be found later in this newsletter. Copies of them may also be had by requesting them from Chief Spirit Water. The primary responsibility of the Clan of the Hawk Library is the care and preservation of this Historical Collection of Documents and Books. Therefore these rules will be enforced. Policies and procedures for requesting duplication of this Collections materials are available. Requests will be evaluated on a case by case basis. In making such decisions, primary consideration must and will be given to the preservation of the materials. Reference services will be available by appointment only. Chief Spiritwater cannot donate his time for this as he has for years for every thing else. In order to staff the library, there will be a charge of $25.00 per visit, 15.00 per hour after the first. Call ahead for an appointment!! 802-754-2817 or ETPVT@aol.com
In the spring of 2006, Chief Raymond "Looking Glass" Lussier again honored the Clan of the Hawk with another incredible gifting loan. He sent all of the books in his Native American research library to be cared for in a new library at the clan. This will be named the Ray Lussier Wabanaki Family History Center and Reading Room. Dedication ceremonies will be held at this year’s 15th Annual Pow Wow, Saturday, August 5th, at the Pow Wow grounds in Evansville, VT and is expected to be one of the high points of the celebration.
This wonderful collection includes 8 volumes of the Dictionnaire Genealogiques Des Familles Canadiennes, Purreville-Odanak, Napierville, Comte’ de Missiquoi, Richelieu, Drumonville, and many, many more. The birth and marriage records from all the reservations in Canada, going back into the 1600’s are in this research collection. Raymond "Looking Glass" Lussier in a council resolution at SNEIC, said, “Whereas, The Clan of the Hawk of Evansville Vermont under direction of my blood brother Chief Ralph Swett has distinguished itself by carrying on many Abenaki traditions, visiting schools and teaching the younger generation, hosting Pow Wows, Gatherings etc., making available a Museum of Abenaki as well as other tribal histories and involving itself in Community outreach programs. Be it hereby Resolved: In the name of Abenaki Unity, I Hereby entrust to The Clan of the Hawk my Books, Repertoires and other pertinent Documents for the introduction of the Wabanaki Family Resource Library and Reading Room in Evansville Vermont.” The rules pertaining to the access to and use of these materials are to be found later in this newsletter. Copies of them may also be had by requesting them from Chief Spirit Water. The primary responsibility of the Clan of the Hawk Library is the care and preservation of this Historical Collection of Documents and Books. Therefore these rules will be enforced. Policies and procedures for requesting duplication of this Collections materials are available. Requests will be evaluated on a case by case basis. In making such decisions, primary consideration must and will be given to the preservation of the materials. Reference services will be available by appointment only. Chief Spiritwater cannot donate his time for this as he has for years for every thing else. In order to staff the library, there will be a charge of $25.00 per visit, 15.00 per hour after the first. Call ahead for an appointment!! 802-754-2817 or ETPVT@aol.com
This evening, I found some video clips on youtube.com by a daughter of Raymond "Looking Glass" Lussier that was done in 1992 or 1993. Check it out.
From the Clan of the Hawk, Inc.'s Newsletter of April 2008:
Lorna Garfield shared this with the senators responsible for reviewing the Abenaki recognition Bill Amendment:
Dear Senators: I am writing this to add just a little more information to my previous testimony. I thank you for the job that you are doing, I know this is not an easy decision. I do believe that to pass this and allow two supposed historical bands the say in the fate of all other Abenaki people is a serious mistake. I ask that people please do the research of the history. Any band could have claimed these historical names, but that does not make them so. Sokoki bands were from southern VT, not Swanton area. I am not saying they are not native, or anything against them. I do know that the criterion that is being set is truly impossible to meet. Who is going to check Nancy Millette and April St .Francis lineage? If they could not meet the regulations for Federal Recognition then how do you expect any of the others? But the amendment they are trying to push would allow them in, and then decide the fate of the same bands that they don't acknowledge now. Check their petition, and please do not once again allow yet another form of genocide. I believe that in having to prove ourselves in this way is just another form of genocide. I pray the day shall come that my people can hold their heads high, be proud of whom they are and that all will get along. This is as it should be; this is the teaching of my ancestors. As for Nancy Millette's band, they too are going by a historical name, but the band has only been organized since state recognition. Just because the smaller bands are not as old or in the news, makes them no less Abenaki.. I speak for the Clan of the Hawk, as a tribal council member. We ask you to check our records; we have been organized for 20 years.
Dear Senators: I am writing this to add just a little more information to my previous testimony. I thank you for the job that you are doing, I know this is not an easy decision. I do believe that to pass this and allow two supposed historical bands the say in the fate of all other Abenaki people is a serious mistake. I ask that people please do the research of the history. Any band could have claimed these historical names, but that does not make them so. Sokoki bands were from southern VT, not Swanton area. I am not saying they are not native, or anything against them. I do know that the criterion that is being set is truly impossible to meet. Who is going to check Nancy Millette and April St .Francis lineage? If they could not meet the regulations for Federal Recognition then how do you expect any of the others? But the amendment they are trying to push would allow them in, and then decide the fate of the same bands that they don't acknowledge now. Check their petition, and please do not once again allow yet another form of genocide. I believe that in having to prove ourselves in this way is just another form of genocide. I pray the day shall come that my people can hold their heads high, be proud of whom they are and that all will get along. This is as it should be; this is the teaching of my ancestors. As for Nancy Millette's band, they too are going by a historical name, but the band has only been organized since state recognition. Just because the smaller bands are not as old or in the news, makes them no less Abenaki.. I speak for the Clan of the Hawk, as a tribal council member. We ask you to check our records; we have been organized for 20 years.
4th document: Cindy Shover (a.k.a. Loon Caller)'s Business Card. Notice the circular image on the left on the Card. Remember that when you see the Incorporation papers of Howard Franklin Knight Jr. dated May 31, 2007 when they attempted to "steal back" the Incorporation "Abenaki Nation of Vermont, Inc. The Native American & Abenaki Affairs", with the help of Burton Decarr a.k.a. "Spotted Eagle" of Swanton, Vermont. Burton Decarr had signed a document "against" Paul Wilson Pouliot on January 30, 2007 with the help of gaurdianship, April St. Francis-Merrill herself. Because when one looks at the notarized document of January 30, 2007 it states, "At Swanton, on the this 30th day of January, 2007, before me personally appeared Burton Decarr and known by me to be the person who executed the foregoing instrument, and she thereupon duly acknowledged to me that she executed the same to be her free act and deed. Well, last time I seen Mr. Burton Decarr he appeared to be physically a male/adult man, NOT a "she" or a "female". So you do the math.....
Cindy Shover was allied to Howard Franklin Knight Jr. The circular image on this Card, and the documents dated May 31, 2007 are the same image.
5th document: Document attachment that came in an email to Douglas Lloyd Buchholz on August 15, 2008. Again it is about the Clan of the Hawk, and this so-called "Northeast Wind Council of the Sovereign Abenaki Nations". Wow, now we don't just have an alleged "Abenaki Nation of Vermont" but now we have allegedly Sovereign Abenaki Nations. Totally amazing. Is this like a epidemic or a virus spreading across Vermont, etc?! I think the Mohawk's better watch out, it might be worse than the common cold or swine flu.
6th document: Newspaper article regarding the Clan of the Hawk 17th Annual Intertribal Pow-wow dated August 2nd and 3rd, 2008. You don't have to be Abenaki, or even Indian/Native American to join this "group". Nancy Millette might fit in perfectly with them. Buckskin, leather, psychic booths, wannabe's, runnamucks, the whole nine yards. Again, one needs to evaluate and know what is REALLY ABENAKI and what isn't.
5th document: Document attachment that came in an email to Douglas Lloyd Buchholz on August 15, 2008. Again it is about the Clan of the Hawk, and this so-called "Northeast Wind Council of the Sovereign Abenaki Nations". Wow, now we don't just have an alleged "Abenaki Nation of Vermont" but now we have allegedly Sovereign Abenaki Nations. Totally amazing. Is this like a epidemic or a virus spreading across Vermont, etc?! I think the Mohawk's better watch out, it might be worse than the common cold or swine flu.
6th document: Newspaper article regarding the Clan of the Hawk 17th Annual Intertribal Pow-wow dated August 2nd and 3rd, 2008. You don't have to be Abenaki, or even Indian/Native American to join this "group". Nancy Millette might fit in perfectly with them. Buckskin, leather, psychic booths, wannabe's, runnamucks, the whole nine yards. Again, one needs to evaluate and know what is REALLY ABENAKI and what isn't.
7th document: Another newspaper article out of the Caledonia Record dated October 07, 2009 Page B10. "Perhaps then the State of Vermont and the rest of our great country might follow us and do their part." Yeah, well when it was time for all these "groups" to do their part and cough up the PROOF/ EVIDENCE of being legitimately Abenaki People, all the State of Vermont (and the BIA) got was crap and silence from the whole bunch of these alleged Abenaki "groups"! So, talking about "heritage" falls flat on itself. Perhaps these "groups" and their so-called Chief's such as "Spirit Water/Lone Cloud" (Ralph Skinner Swett) andhis side kick creator/inventor "Rushing Water/Grandfather Circle" (Howard Franklin Knight Jr. are nothing more than illusions, distortions, charlatans, and decievers of the Vermont Public and Legislature in claiming they are the Real legitimate Abenaki descendants they claim to be. I have yet to see genealogical evidence clear and convincingly that either of them descend from the Abenaki People. I don't think anyone else has either. If I am in error in stating this, then provide me the documented evidence to prove my conclusions to be incorrect!
8th document: Phillip Thibault a.k.a. "Soaring Eagle" holding up a Clan of the Hawk, Inc. Honorary Membership for Life Certificate he and Ralph Skinner Swett signed
9th document: Aaaaah, here is a photograph that was sent to me via email attachment, of Jeanne Lincoln-Kent of Winsted, CT on July 05, 2005 while she was at the Clan of the Hawk Pow-wow in Evansville, Orleans County, Vermont. Perhaps she had a Membership Card with Ralph Swett as well, that she no longer carries, like she did with that Metis Nation of Quebec, and Paul Wilson Pouliot's "group"? Well, at least Jeanne Lincoln-Kent's regalia isn't that commercially-tanned hide buckskin.
