The Reinvention of the Alleged Vermont and New Hampshire Abenakis: CPAIN or Corporate (entities) Posing As Abenaki Indigenous Nations in VT/NH

2010 –

Arthur William “Bill” Seymour, one of our oldest Band members had apparently notified Paul Pouliot’s group, that he was living in North Carolina with family members. “Bill” Seymour goes way back and was the chief of the Winooski Band in Burlington, VT during the early years when the Abenaki groups in Vermont were reemerging.

September 06, 2010

Donald Warren Stevens Jr. (“Don Stevens”) sent multiple solicitations by email to Phillips descendants regarding Nulhegan Enrollment form (attached to the email). Don Stevens Junior was (quote in his own words per this specific email) assuming a leadership role in the Nulhegan group in which our ancestor Antoine Phillips (ca. 1810-1885) was Chief back in the 1800’s.

I would like to get you and your family all enrolled before our recognition application goes to the state of Vermont for consideration. If you are interested in becoming a tribal member, please fill out these forms, sign them, and get them back to me or the Tribe. I at least need you to acknowledge your intentions.

Luke Andrew Willard (a.k.a. “Falling Owl”) had been nominated by his fellow cohorts on the VCNAA as Chairperson of the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs, which had been preparing by manipulations, to receive the State Recognition Applications from the four groups of the “Abenaki Alliance” that had been compiled and constructed by Dr. Frederick M. Wiseman PhD with little addition from the groups themselves other than their membership lists etc. Thus, Don Stevens became the “chief” of the Nulhegan on September 10, 2010, while previously having been a previous (yet recent) member of the Homer St. Francis/”Blackie” Lampman/April (St. Francis) Rushlow-Merrill-led St. Francis-Sokoki at the Missisquoi group and Board of Directors member of the group’s Abenaki Self-Help Association, Inc.’d. Now he was a “Nulhegan Chief” and he was intent on bringing his Phillips descendants over to Nulhegan as well.

Jeanne (nee: Lalime) Lincoln/Kent and so many others also switched from one group to Nulhegan in NE Vermont, because they wanted State Recognition and “protection” from the Indian Arts and Crafts Act and more importantly, protection from their race shifting, once state recognition was granted to the four groups in the “VT Abenaki Alliance”.

May 22, 2011

Nathan E. Pero was voted in a Chief of the Koasek group, the “Koasek Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nation” , with a Semi Annual meeting at the American Legion Hall, Thetford, Vermont. Sub-Chief Paul Joseph Bunnell and others were voted in as council and elder’s council.

In late 2011-

Ralph Skinner Swett began referring to his group “Clan of the Hawk” with the addition of “Coos-Cowasuck Band”/ “Sovereign Abenaki Nation” and “Northeast Wind Council” in submitted newspaper articles … to the Caledonian-Record newspaper in particular.

June 27, 2011

Kenneth Mortz, sibling brother to Bernard “Bernie” Mortz, had resigned from Paul Bunnell and Nathan E. Pero’s group, “Koasek Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nation”

May 12, 2012

Post on Face Book by Ralph Skinner Swett: On Sunday May 27, 2012, an historic event was arrived at the Clan of the Hawk grounds at their annual meeting.

After the election of officers for the Clan of the Hawk, which for this year will remain the same, we elected three new council members to our tribal council: George “Peskunck” Larrabee, Justin Deth, and Justin Carlson (the latter of who is a great young man from Essex, Vt). He has been with the Clan of the Hawk group for several years. The two Justin’s bring in some new young blood into the clan, which is much needed.

The great event of two bands coming together at this meeting by both Chief White Cloud [Reynold Roland Choinière] and Chief Lone Cloud [Ralph Skinner Swett formerly called “Spirit Water”].

Chief White Cloud is of Newport, VT and of The North American People of the Dawn / Algonquin Wabanaki Nation, since 1984.

Chief Lone Cloud [Ralph S. Swett] had stated of the Clan of the Hawk in Evansville, VT, that it received its start back in the late 1970’s, by old Elwin Joe Merle Pero of Thetford, VT.

In this coming together of two old established bands in Vermont it means that Native Americans in Vermont can come together and work for the good of all Native Americans in Vermont.

These two great long established bands, and as chiefs we hope, will pave the way for more groups to work together in unity, to benefit all natives.

At this meeting all were in favor to go ahead in unity and after the meeting we had drumming and then a great meal as usual.

Clearly, and obviously, Ralph Skinner Swett, in his narrative of his group’s alleged beginnings, had TRIED to fraudulently give itself “historical roots” farther back into the 1970’s, contrary to reality and truth. The group was started in 1994.

More data on “The North American People of the Dawn” etc can be found here:

http://reinventedvermontabenaki.blogspot.com/2010_01_05_archive.html

https://vermontnativejustice.wordpress.com/tag/luke-andrew-willard/

Sept 19 2012

Narrative Family History by Chief Nathan E. Pero:

From the time of my great, great grandfather Chief John Shinnio [Chagnon dit Shonyo] (mid 1800's) to great grandmother Chief Clarissa to Great Uncle Chief George Pero to my farther Chief Joe (Elwin) Pero [Using a genealogical mapping to subjectively IMPLY that they were all “chiefs” of some “Tribe”] our family, the Nolka Clan, have been a part of the Coos Band of the Abenaki of the Upper Valley. When Howard Knight Jr. became Chief (1981) the merger and separation of many Bands and families has changed our name.

“Northern New England-Coos Band”

“Independent Clans of the Coos United”

“Cowasuck of North America”

“Cowasuck-Horicon Traditional Band”

“Cowasuck Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nation”

And in May of 2006 our name change again to “Koasek Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nation”.

September 01, 2013

“The Koasek Traditional Band of the Abenaki Nation of the Koas” Inc.’d (N.H.)

Business Address: 2997 Dartmouth College Hwy in North Haverhill, N.H. 03774

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 252 in Lincoln, N.H. 03251

Chief Bernard E. Mortz of Lincoln, N.H.

Peggy Fullerton of Piermont, N.H.

February 20, 2014

“Koasek Traditional Band of the Koas Abenaki Nation”

Principal Office Address: 162 Evergreen Drive in Newbury, Vermont

Business ID: 0289975

Business Status: Expired (on April 21, 2019)

Bernard (Bernie) E. Mortz [now also group hopped into the Nulhegan group]

John Prescott of 162 Evergreen Dr. in Newbury, VT

November 26, 2018

“Koasek of Turtle Island, Inc.’d” of “Koasek Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nation”

Paul Bunnell is the leader of such group.

Incorporators:

Paul Bunnell of 32 Hoit Mill Rd #202, Weare, NH, 03281

Sandra McGrath of 1100 Rocky Rd., Fancy Farm, KY, 42039 - 9508

Patrick Michaud of 46 Lynn Dr, Preston, CT, 06365

Kris Martindale of PO Box 595, Bandon, OR, 97411

Michael D. Byers of 3717 Mormon Coulee Rd. Apt 100, La Crosse, WI, 54601 - 7333

Brian Chenevert had left the group “to greener CPAIN pastures” to join the Nulhegan as did Francine (nee: Poitras) Jones along with her BFF Nancy (nee: Saucier) “Spiritbird” Rivera.

December 03, 2018

Apparently, in December 2018, the “trade name” registration “Koasek Traditional Band of the Abenaki Nation of the Koas” was to expire. (Business ID #606829 c/o Peggy Fullerton of 45 Knapp Road in Piermont, N.H. 03779

January 26, 2019

Business ID: 0352591

Alnôbaiwi Co., Inc.’d

49 Leonard Street in Burlington, VT 05408

Registered Agent: Charles D. – Megeso [Charles Lawrence Delaney Jr]

Directors:

Cody Hemenway

Frederick M. Wiseman PhD

Joanne Crawford [Not the Hollywood actress!]

Enrolled Citizens of Recognized Abenaki Tribes of Vermont and Quebec and enrolled Citizens of Wabanaki Confederacy Communities are eligible for regular membership in Alnôbaiwi as are their spouses and children.

People over six years of age, who do not have proof of Wabanaki ethnicity, may apply for status as “Nidôbak Alnôbaiwi” (Friends in the Abenaki Way). If they are sponsored by an Alnôbaiwi member in good standing and if they show a commitment to learning and performing in the Abenaki way.

Vermont Indigenous Heritage Center at the Ethan Allen Homestead

Council Members (since 2018):

Fred M. Wiseman PhD Steering Team

Kerry Wood Steering Team, Dance Committee Chair

Eugene Rich Public Relations Team

Charlie L. Delaney Jr. Finance Team

Morgan Lamphere Finance Team, Music Committee Chair

Chandlee Crawford Public Relations Team

Patrick Lamphere Living History Chairperson

Joanne Crawford Council Secretary, Steering Team, Public Relations Team

Allison Lewis Council Member

Cody Hemenway Finance Team