Are Odanak families "ex-patriots" or Vermont Abenaki?

"Hiding in Plain Sight?"

Per the Missisquoi Abenaki Tribal Rolls dated January 2011:

# 29. Louis P. Annance in Mechanic Falls, ME
# 30. John P. L. Annance in Mechanic Falls, ME
# 31. Chester J. Annance in Greeneville Jct., ME
# 32. Fredick Annance Jr. in Greenville, ME

Louis Pierre Annance is No. # 29 in the “Missisquoi Abenaki Tribal Roles” membership list, of the "St. Francis/ Sokoki" "Abenaki" group that is based in Swanton, Franklin County, Vermont ... previously led by the late (deceased) Homer Walter St. Francis Sr. and now led (contemporarily) by his daughter, April Ann (nee: St. Francis) (1m. Rushlow) 2m. Merrill.

So let's look at Louis Pierre Annance's genealogy:

1. Gabriel Francois Annance married Marie Appoline Gill who was born 1729 in Odanak, Quebec, Canada. She was the daughter of Samuel Gill" and Rosalie (nee: James).

2. Francois Annance born 1759 married Marie Josephe Thomas.

3. Louis Degonzaque Annance b. 1794 died 1875 m. Marguerite Gilman (whose mother was Marie Susan Pierre Paul and Marie's father was Pierre "Pial Pol" Paul whom married to Hannah "Anne Josephte" Susep).

See this LINK: http://www.nedoba.org/bio_paul01.html  

4. Louis Napolean Annance born 1822 died 1907 married Adelaide Proulx

See this LINK: http://www.nedoba.org/gene/getperson.php?personID=I4&tree=paul1

5. Metilda S, “Tillie” Annance born 1872 died after Oct. 1920

6. Charles Percy Annance born 1890 Greenville, ME died 1957 Greenville, ME

7. Frances Mary Annance born 1918 Greenville, ME died 1993 Lewiston, ME

8. John Arthur Annance born 1935 Greenville, ME died 2003 Mechanic Falls, ME

9. Louis Pierre Annance born Jan 21, 1958 of Mechanic Falls, ME

Clearly and documentarily, the Annance family came from Odanak. The ancestry of Louis Pierre Annance, throughout documented (historically-dated) newspapers in northern New England, did in fact, identify specific people having lived, not at Missisquoi, but at Odanak, Quebec, Canada. The descendants of the Annance family in Greenville, and also Mechanic Falls, Maine repeatedly made mention in various newpapers articles that their Abenaki ancestors CAME FROM the St. Francis Abenaki Reserve now called Odanak, near Saint Francois Du Lac, Yamaska County, in the Province of Quebec, Canada.

For example:

The Lewiston Journal, Illustrated Magazine Section

February 16 1918
Page 05
Louis Annance – Famous Maine Indian Who Became a Mason
The following was delivered by Dr. S. A. Patten at the dedication of a monument and was quoted by Albert Moore of North Anson in his address as grand master of the Grand Lodge of Maine, 1877.
“On the 27th day of December last, we consigned to the silent grave the remains of our friend and brother, Louis Annance. Today we gather around his resting place and erect there a stone with suitable inscription – a testimonial of our esteem for him as a man, and as a worthy brother of our ancient and honorable institution.
“The belonging to a race, for the most part, wanting in the grace and polish of education, he availed himself of some opportunities for mental culture, thrown in his way in early life, and mane no inconsiderable progress in the arts and sciences.
“When asked by a friend a few years since, ‘why did you not continue your studies and give yourself up to intellectual pursuits?’ he replied, at the same time raising his hand and pointing his finger to his head, ‘too much Indian here!’
“Many of the characteristics of his race exhibited themselves in his life, despite the influence of the schools and early associations with the whites even down to ripe old age. He loved the communion and solitude of the woods, and most of his time, after abandoning literary pursuits, until the infirmities of age pressed heavily upon him, was spent roaming the forests in pursuit of game.
“How plainly in his case is illustrated the fact, that it is difficult, if not impossible, for a man to rid himself, even if he will, of those mental and moral peculiarities which mark and distinguish his nation and race from that of all others.
The Ethiopian cannot change skin or the leopard his spots. How not less difficult is it for a man obliterate or conceal those true habits, and modes of thought with the Great Creator has seen … make this distinguishing features that branch of the human family which he belongs.
“In the year 1836, he was made Master Mason by North Star lodge located at Lancaster, in the state of New Hampshire, and from that time to the day of his death he ceased not to love our institution. He often spoke of it in warm terms of communication. For his Bretheren he entertained a peculiar esteem and he seemed always keenly alike to the obligation of the fraternity.”
To residents of the Moosehead Lake region the name of Louie Annance recalls the story an American Indian who tried to discard the shackles of tribal influence which seemed to hold him back and although he graduated from college and mingled with the white men, he never succeeded in becoming wholly white.
In writing a short sketch of the life of the above named remarkable and somewhat famous character the writer is compelled to depend upon facts, gained from histories and other old books now in his possession and facts related to him … odd years ago.
Louis Annance was a full-blooded Indian, a member of the St. Francis tribe of Indians, once one of the most vigorous and powerful of the early tribes on this continent; although a ranger of the Maine wilderness, he was a man of marked ability, superior intelligence, fine character, strict morality. He was born August 25th, 1794, where is now the town of St. Francois du Lac, in the County Yamaska, Province of Quebec. He received his education under the direction of the Jesuits of that region; after completing his studies under their direction he went to Hanover, N.H., entering a school preparing for college; he was about to enter college when war of 1812 opened and he was summoned home to serve his tribe under the British colors against the U.S.
In the year 1817 he publicly renounced the Roman Catholic religion and severed his connection with the Catholic Church and he became a member of the Congregational society at that time. He should have, by the laws and rules of his tribe succeeded his father as chief but having become a devout Protestant his religious convictions subjected him to persecution.
In 1818 he removed to Hanover, N.H., where he connected himself with the Methodists. In 1834 he received the degrees within the … of North Star lodge, Laconia, N.H.
In 1835 he came to the Moosehead Lake region, being charmed by the scenery and the shadowy recesses of the vast forest that then surrounded Moosehead Lake. It became his home.
He was a member of the Congregational church at Greenville at the time of his death. He died Dec. 25, 1875. The funeral services were conducted by Doris Lodge of Monson. His last days were made pleasant and happy by the hand of the Mystic tie. He lies in the cemetery at Greenville beneath the shade of the forest and cedar that he loved so well. On October 4th, 1876, a marble monument was erected to his memory by Doris lodge, Monson, Mt. Kineo lodge, Guilford Penobscot lodge, Dexter, Cambridge lodge, Cambridge.

The Sun Journal

September 29, 1994
Standng Tall: Native American group reaches out
By Ellie Fellers
POLAND – Helping people find their Native American roots is just part of the mission of Dawnland Alliance, a non-profit organization based here.
The group promotes Native American awareness and appreciation and has been meeting in the basement of the Poland Community building every month for the past year.
Louis Annance of Mechanic Falls, the group’s president and leader, says the group’s efforts as the Northeast native connection are growing and better focused. More than 300 newsletters are mailed from the non-profit group.
That effort was evident at Native American Appreciation Days recently with a flurry of educational outreach to the passing public by the group’s members.
Dawnland Alliance members are people with diversity of backgrounds – those of predominately Native blood, those of partial or traces and those who are Native in heart and spirit.
Dawnland Alliance’s bustling efforts in its second year of participation in Native American Appreciation Days drew a non-stop blitz for information.
Members provided the public with a variety of information to help those who are seeking information on researching their Native American genealogy and family history to the making of specific crafts and flint knapping demonstrations.
Dawnland member Steve Drane of Auburn spoke with first-hand knowledge about herbal and edible plants with a visual display of illustrations.
Another member, Gary Labbe, offered both modern and ancient crafts, along with educational information.
Labbe is Dawnland’s first vice-president, and owner of The Spirit Within, a bookshop in Turner. Dawnland Alliance is an outgrowth of Lewiston High School teacher Tom Ford’s Adult Education course on Maine’s Indians several years ago. A group of students participating in Ford’s popular class continued to connect people long after the course ended, linking those interests in Native American culture.
The group first met as the Wabanaki Cultural Alliance at the YWCA in Lewiston.

ILLUSTRATION

Louis Annance of Mechanic Falls in chief's traditional regalia during Native American Appreciation Days at Cumberland Fairground recently. Annance is of Abenaki heritage and is the president of Dawnland Alliance, a non-profit organization that meets regularly at the Poland Community Building. The group's efforts strive to promote Native American awareness and appreciation. Annance is the great-great grandson of two Abenaki chiefs. [Ellie Fellers photo]

Page 2 Sun-Journal, Lewiston, Maine dated Thursday, September 29, 1994
Standing continuing from page 1
Growing pains for more space and a hard look into the group’s mission created the name change and non-profit status for the group’s move to Poland last year.
Inner Council members of Dawnland Alliance include President Louis Annance; Gary Labbe, the first vice- president; Terry Groton, second vice-president; Mary McAvoy, secretary; Nancy LeCompte, treasurer; Bettina Gervais, recorder; and Stephan Drane, general representative.
Louis Annance
President, Dawnland Alliance
Louis Annance is the great-great grandson of Chief Francois Annance of Odanak, Quebec, and Durham, Quebec, and Chief Louis Annance of St. Francis of the Abenaki of Odanak from Northern New Hampshire and the Moosehead Lake region of Maine.
Dressed in chief’s regalia, Annance prepared to join the Grand Entry sacred circle. A bear claw medicine bag hangs from his neck and on his outfit is a colorful shield, hand painted on the skins of the regalia. Annance hand constructed his outfit two winters ago. The outside of the design of the shield reflects his own personal belief statement. “People will unite and all will be one and share Mother Earth together. The four colors within the main theme of the shield signify the four races of man: Red, white, yellow and black.
Last year Annance was invited to attend the Algonkian Conference with Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, Dr. Alvin H. Morrison of New Glouchester.
“I met with scholarly people knowledgeable about Native American people,” says Annance. “More of this is needed to bring the people to unite in one expression.”
“One of the projects my people are working on is to buy back a sacred healing ground, Brunswick Springs in Vermont,” says Annance.
There are 5,000 registered Abenakis in Missisquoi … and Odanak, where members have federal recognition by the Canadian government, says Annance.
However, here in America, the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs has not given federal recognition to the Abenaki.
Newspaper Article courtesy of Nancy Lecompte of Nedoba, Inc.

See this LINK: http://www.thedailyme.com/Obituaries/john_a_annance.html

"Mechanic Falls, ME - John Arthur Annance, 68, died December 27, 2003 at The Maine Veterans Home, South Paris after a long battle with Altzhiemers. He was the son of Frances M. Annance, born in Greenville, Maine July 27, 1935. He grew up on the shores of Moosehead Lake and attended schools in Greenville. He returned to Maine and married Claudette Irma Bosse of Lewiston on December 1, 1956. John worked in the textile industry his entire life and retired from Robinson Mfg. in Oxford after thirty years. John and his wife owned and operated Polly's Variety in Oxford from 1983 to 1997. An Abenaki Indian, he enjoyed the solitude of the wilderness, hunting and fishing and the company of friends and family."

~~

Louis Pierre Annance of Mechanic Falls, Maine does not descend from "Missisquoi." Nor is there any implied or stated historical connection(s) (pre-1970's) of his ancestors associating with the "St. Francis/Sokoki Band of the Vermont Abenakis" families at or around Swanton, Franklin County, Vermont ... historically-speaking. Rather the ancestors of Louis Pierre Annance descend from Odanak.

~~

I don't see Johnson State College Professor Frederick Matthew Wiseman, PhD running around calling/ labelling Louis Pierre Annance's ancestors of Greenville, Maine, "expatriates" or a "bi-national's" in the media or the Vermont Legislative body, do any of you?

Of course not ... because Louis Pierre Annance and his three or four other relatives in this menbership list chose at some point (likely in the mid 1990's) to become supporters/ members of the "St. Francis/Sokoki Band of Vermont Abenakis" led by the late Homer Walter St. Francis Sr.

~~

I also do not see this Abenaki Annance - Gill descendant family allegedly "hiding in plain sight" nor have I found in any source documents (online or newpapers) that these Annance ancestors who are Abenakis (and/ or their descendants) to have been targeted by the Vermont Eugenic's Program because they were Abenakis, from ca. 1916 up through the 1930's and 1940's either. Retrospectively-speaking it has also been documented that the VT Eugenics Program Field Researchers had been interactive Lancaster, Coos County, New Hampshire and also in the State of Maine.

I guess the Annance family had no reason to use the Eugenic's Excuse?

~~

Obviously, the Annance family (from Odanak) who settled in the Rangeley and Greenville, Maine areas, lived for more than a hundred years amongst their non-Native neighbors. It has been clearly documented, that in most all of these geographical locations, the Annance family (along with the Capino and Wasamimet families, etc) were clearly identified as Abenaki/ Indian. It was only rarely that these people were mis-identified as "white" in the vital records. Because they maintained their culture and because wherever they resided these families were seen as Native families/ communities/ neighborhoods by outsiders and documented historically by those outsiders and "Native/Indian" ... in a wide variety of documents.

This family, (the Annance family in particular) that Louis Pierre Annance descends from, demonstrates EXACTLY what I have been saying all along.

Abenakis did not live in isolation

They were not "hiding in plain sight" as some will use as an excuse, for their own lack of ....

These families (such as the Annance family) left Odanak (St. Francis Indian Reserve), but maintained their culture enough so that their neighbors/ outsiders knew who they were. They were documented.

~~

Aside from the Annance Ancestry and their descendants, these alleged and reinvented "Abenaki" groups claiming to be "Abenaki" "Tribes" and/ or "Bands" within Vermont (per their Petitions for VT Legislative "Recognition" in 2010-2011) show absolutely no connections between the families they descend from (that were allegedly "hiding") and the families that were not "hiding", such as the Obomsawins of Thompson's Point in Charlotte, VT; the Jackson/ Taxsus's of Guildhall, VT; or the Annance's etc ... that have descendants on these membership rolls of the so-called self-proclaimed Missisquoi "St. Francis/Sokoki Band of the Vermont Abenaki" ... etc.

~~

Of particular retrospect, in this blog, per the St. Francis/ Sokoki Band of Vermont Abenaki: Proposed Finding - Summary Under the Criteria:

http://reinventedvermontabenaki.blogspot.com/2010_10_21_archive.html

"As far as can be determined, the SSA does not assert Missisquoi Abenaki or Western Abenaki descent through any ancestors other than the 20 "primary" ancestors named in the petition. (125.) Further, the 20 "primary" ancestors claimed by the petitioner did not live contemporaneously or in geographic proximity to one another. The petitioner furnished no evidence generated in the lifetimes of these 20 "primary" ancestors identifying them by tribal affiliation or even as Indian, except for Simon Obomsawins and Jean Charles Nepton. Thus, the 20 "primary" ancestors appear to be simply the earliest known individuals from whom current members do descend, rather than members of a historical tribe from which current members must descend. If the petitioner wishes to pursue Federal acknowledgment, it must provide evidence acceptable to the Secretary of descent from the historical tribe."_____________
FOOTNOTE:
124. Elvine (Obomsawin) Royce has 8 descendants listed on the petitioner's 2005b membership list.
125. A total of 3 members on the 2005b membership list appear in the petitioner's FTMTM database as descendants of "Chief Louis Annance" (1794-1875), alleged to have been Chief of the St. Francis Indians at some point.