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§ 853 (c) (8) The applicant has not been recognized as a tribe in any other state, province, or nation.The Abenaki Nation at Missisquoi, St. Francis/Sokoki band, has not been recognized ill ally other state, Province or Country.
§ 853 (c) (9) Submission of letters, statements, and documents from: (A) Municipal, state, or federal authorities that document the applicant's history of tribe-related business and activities.
Included in this section are executive orders, proclamations, and samples of correspondence between federal/state agencies and municipal governments that describes the relationship between the Missisquoi Abenaki and these entities.
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The 1976 Governor SaImon Executive Order:
APPENDIX D
State of Vermont Executive Order of 1976
WHEREAS, Vermont has a unique history of recognizing the requests of minority groups, in that the State of Vermont was the first state to abolish slavery; and
WHEREAS, in 1974, certain native American people living within the State of Vermont as members of the Abenaki Tribe, reconstituted as their governing body the Abenaki Tribal Council; and
WHEREAS, the Abenaki Tribal Council as the governing body of the Abenaki Indian Tribe exercises internal governmental functions; and
WHEREAS, people of the Vermont Abenaki Tribe can trace their lineage in Vermont well into the 19th century; and
WHEREAS, Vermont Abenakis have resided primarily in the northern counties of the State of Vermont; and
WHEREAS, the Canadian Government has recognized the Abenaki people of the Odanek and Becancourt Reservation in the Province of Quebec; and
WHEREAS, the Quebec Abenakis endorse and recognize the tribal status of Vermont Abenakis; and
WHEREAS, there may be as many as 1,700 people living in Vermont claiming to be direct descendents of the original Abenaki Indian Tribe, and research indicates that many of these people are descendents; and
WHEREAS, many of these people suffer from low education attainment, severe poverty, inadequate housing and high unemployment;. and
WHEREAS, Congress has appropriated several millions of dollars of federal funds to provide benefits and services to Native Americans; and
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WHEREAS, without State recognition, Native Americans residing in Vermont cannot qualify for these programs; and
WHEREAS, the definition of Native American is varied, according to federal interpretation, and initial research indicates the existence of Native Americans residing in Vermont;
NOW THEREFORE, I, Thomas P. Salmon, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Vermont do hereby recognize these Native Americans by federal definition as members of the Abenaki Indian Tribe; and
THEREFORE, in furtherance of the above recognition, I hereby establish the Governor's Commission on Indian Affairs.
GOVERNOR'S COMMISSION ON INDIAN AFFAIRS
1. The Governor's Commission on Indian Affairs shall investigate problems common to Indian residents of the State, as well as the special concerns of the Abenaki Tribe, and shall assist the Abenaki Tribal Council in its dealings with agencies of State and Local government.
2. The Commission shall further develop the initial research to provide historical data to define the Native American population in Vermont, and shall prepare a report to the Governor and Legislature. All State Agencies shall cooperate with the Commission in the performance of this function.
3. Each State Agency shall be responsible for evaluating its own services which are received by the Native American population, and shall propose means to provide adequate services. The head of each State Agency providing, or capable of providing, services to Native Americans is hereby directed to determine within three months whether or not federal, state or other funds are available to improve such services. Where it is determined that funds may be available for services and benefits to Native Americans, the-Agency and the Abenaki Tribal Council shall work together to prepare applications for such funds. The Commission's advice on such matters may be sought and the Commission shall be informed of all funding proposals submitted by State Agencies.
4. The Commission shall meet at least four times a year, and shall be comprised of five members, of whom two shall be appointed by the Abenaki Tribal Council, two shall be appointed by the Governor, and the fifth shall be chosen by the previous appointed four members.
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EXECUTIVE ORDER OF 1976 .............. 279
5. The Commission shall address itself to the problems of poverty, lack of education and high unemployment which exists within the Native American and Abenaki population.
6. In addition, the Commission shall prepare a report and recommendation for the Governor and the Legislature on the request by the Abenakis for unrestricted hunting and fishing rights within the State of Vermont; the inclusion of Abenaki Tribal members in the guardianship and management of the Mississquoi National Wildlife Refuge; and the request that legal title to the Monument of St. Francis, located north of Swanton, be transferred to the Abenaki Tribe.
IN WITNESS MY NAME HEREUNTO Subscribed and the Great Seal of the State of Vermont hereunto affixed, at Montpelier, this 24th day of November, A.D., 1976.
Thomas P. Salmon
GOVERNOR
By the Governor
Joseph Ja--le Jr.
Secertary of Civil and Military Affairs
EXCUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 36
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The 1983 Governor Snelling Proclamation:
STATE OF VERMONT
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
A PROCLAMATION
I, Richard A. Snelling, recognize the St. Francis/Sokoki Band as a legitimate representative of individuals of Abenaki descent residing in the State of Vermont; and
I declare my sapport of the St. Francis/Sokoki Band in seeking recognition as the appropriate representafives in any and all federal. petitions designed to determine which groups are entitled to benefits designated by the United States Congress to individuals of Abenaki descent.
While I recognize sovereignty to be an exclusive attribute, and believe that Vermont is sovereign State within the sovereign United States of America, I support recognition of the St. Francis/Sokoki Band as a de facto entity representing those of Abenaki descent entitled to whatever attributes of sovereignty may be vested in them by due process actions of the people of the United States of America and Vermont.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State of Vermont, this 17th day of June, 1983.
Richard A. Snelling
GOVERNOR
By the Governor:
Timothy Daguard (?)
Secrectary of Civil and Military Affairs
