March 10, 2000
Indian Times [Akwesasne Newspaper] Volume 18 #10, Page 04
NOTICE
The Akwesasne
“Kahwatsire” Genealogy and Historical Society will be meeting on Wednesday,
March 15, 2000, at Phil Tarbell’s place (The
Lost Dauphin) Tekahshon’karo:rens, for 7:00 p.m.
Our guest speaker will be Frederick Matthew Wiseman from the Wabanakik Heritage Centre, Swanton, Vermont.
Mr. Wiseman will be speaking on the controversy of DNA genetic testing to prove Native Ancestry which is in legislature by the State of Vermont.
Anyone interested in attending is most welcome.
May 25, 2000
The St. Albans Messenger
Newspaper, Page 05
Abenaki festival set for this weekend in Swanton
SWANTON – The Abenaki Cultural Heritage Festival will
fill Swanton Village Park this
weekend.
“We have dancers and drummers
throughout both days,” said April [St. Francis] Rushlow, acting Abenaki chief.
There will be a
fashion show. Frederick Matthew Wiseman will tell the history of
the Abenaki culture.
Storyteller Joseph Bruchac III and the Wobanaki dancers will perform Saturday
afternoon.
February 02, 2001
Akwesasne Indian Time Newspaper Vol. 19#4
Community Notice
Potluck Dinner
& Speaker
Kahwa:tsire
Genealogy and Historical Society invites the Community of Akwesasne to attend, a Potluck Dinner and hear a special guest at 5:30 p.m. on Monday,
February 12, 2001 at the St. Regis Recreation Center, Kanatakon.
Dr. Frederick Matthew Wiseman, Director of the Abenaki
Museum and Cultural Center in Vermont, will be giving a lecture titled “The
Great Peace of 1701”.
Next summer will be the 300th Anniversary of
the Treaty between the Iroquois Confederacy, the Great Council Fire and New
France.
Dr. Frederick Matthew Wiseman will explore the
crucial role of the St. Lawrence Mohawks and their allies in getting this
council and its treaty ratified. In the aftermath of the treaty, the Mohawks
and their allies maintained constant contact and helped each other against the
tide of European expansionism overwhelming their ancient lands.
Although many Abenakis
as well as Mohawks have forgotten this
ancient alliance, memories, somewhat clouded, still remain.
For example, the “Life
Chiefs”, “long hairs” and “Seven Nations Chiefs” are political
remnants of the ancient alliance now mostly buried beneath current Iroquois
Confederacy loyalty.
Many wampum belts with their “fourteen fires (Great Council Fire) symbolism” such as the Wolf Belt at Akwesasne, the Kahnesetake belt, or the Fourteen Fires belt of the
Passamaquoddies have been resurrected to serve more
current political purposes than remembering the ancient universal
peace and its symbols.
Dr. Frederick Matthew Wiseman, who has been a great
advocate for this ancient alliance for many years, will discuss the past and
current implications of this treaty.
He will also give the Akwesasne community some
information on the plans being made in Montreal, Quebec, Canada for a
celebration of this treaty and discuss how the community may become part of the
celebration.
For more information or to confirm your attendance,
please call Bernice Lazore at 575-2341, ext. 167 or Rosemary Bonaparte 575-2341
ext. 263.
If you bring a food dish to share it would be
appreciated.
February 04, 2001
The Burlington Free Press Newspaper, Page 3D
Books – Green Mountain Bookshelf
By Sally Pollak – Free Press Staff Writer
Athenaeum honors
one writer, one artist
“The Voice of the Dawn: An
Autohistory of the Abenaki Nation”
(University of Press of New England, $45.00 hardcover;
$19.95 paperback) by Frederick Matthew
Wiseman is an account of Abenaki culture and history written by a member of
the Abenaki Tribal Council.
Frederick Matthew
Wiseman, a scholar of the Mayan culture who has been a researcher at
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, teaches at Johnson State College.
His book on the Abenaki nation is the first written by
one of its own. Fred M. Wiseman is director of the Abenaki Tribal Museum and
Cultural Center.
As he writes, his story “is a sash woven of many strands
of language.”
These include family and tribal history, ideas that
belong to the “remembered wisdom of the Abenaki community,” those that which
“Mother the Earth has revealed to us …“
February 13, 2001
Abenaki Tribal
Council Meeting
Present: Chief Homer
Walter St. Francis Sr., Frederick M. Wiseman, Burton DeCarr, April (St. Francis) Rushlow, Harold “Charlie” St. Francis, Homer St. Francis Jr., and Harlan
LaFrance
Guests: Roy Bergeron, Lawrence LaFrance, and Marjorie
The Council talked about Vermont State Recognition.
Frederick Matthew Wiseman spoke about the 300 year
Anniversary of the Great Peace of Montreal.
39 Nations will be represented and the date of the event
was August 04, 2001. Fred will keep the Council
updated.
Tribal Council discussed selling the Berkshire property
owned by Homer Walter St. Francis Sr., which is 8 acres. The Tribal Council
implied that they could not afford to pay the taxes on this property. Homer St.
Francis Jr. said he was willing to purchase the property. The Tribal Council
will sell for $300.00 dollars, plus all the back taxes on said Berkshire,
Vermont property.
Chief Homer Walter St. Francis Sr. made a
motion to sell, seconded by Harlan LaFrance, and all agreed.
April 05, 2001
The St. Albans Messenger Newspaper, Pages 01-05
By Leon Thompson – Messenger Staff Writer
Ancient bones
policy in committee’s hands: Opposing groups continue struggle toward
compromise
SWANTON VILLAGE – Signs of give and take emerged during a
Wednesday night brainstorming session between Abenaki citizens, Swanton and
Highgate Town Officials, and Monument Road landowners.
About 70 people from all three parties gathered at the
Swanton Village Municipal Complex, where they aired their grievances and formed
a committee aimed at drafting a new policy regarding unmarked Native American
graves throughout Vermont.
Described and “revolutionary” by Highgate Select Board Chairman Richard Noel, the session came on
the heels of a recent policy draft from Greg Brown, Department of Housing and
Community Affairs commissioner.
Greg Brown’s recommendations for identifying and responding
to the unearthing of human remains are insufficient, because they place burdens
on municipalities and property owners and do not address the issue statewide,
those affected by the situation said.
The committee’s goal is to develop a different policy,
one that is fair to landowners, municipalities and Native Americans, said Earl
Fournier, Swanton Select Board Chairman.
Members of that committee are:
Monument Road
landowners:
John Wilda, Alex Dubois, William Hulbert, Bernie LaRocque
and Warren Fournier.
Abenaki representatives:
April
St. Francis – Rushlow (Acting Abenaki Chief), Frederick Matthew Wiseman and Carol Delorme
April 23, 2001
The Burlington Free Press Newspaper, Pages 1A-4A
By Lisa Jones – Free Press Staff Writer
Chief’s daughter
fights for the ‘old ones’ … Landowners, Abenaki see solutions to remains
dispute
When April (nee: St. Francis)
Rushlow said that if one or two burials were found during excavation it might
be reasonable to move them if all other options had been exhausted, “you could
almost hear the tension go out of the room,” said Frederick Matthew
Wiseman, an Abenaki resident of Swanton and a Johnson State College
archaeologist.
May 20, 2001
The Burlington Free Press Newspaper
“THE VOICE OF THE
DAWN,”
7:00 p.m. Tuesday, Bear
Pond Books, Montpelier, Vermont
A new history of the Abenaki nation, presented by Frederick Matthew Wiseman, director of
Vermont’s Abenaki Tribal Museum and Culture Center in Swanton, Franklin County, Vermont. Fred M. Wiseman will also show a display of Abenaki artifacts. Free.
229-0774.
June 15, 2001
The Newport Daily Newspaper
Engagement
Announced VENEZIA/WISEMAN
Dara Mae Venezia and Fred William Wiseman
Mike and Diane
Venezia of Newport, Vermont, announce the engagement of their daughter Dara
Mae Venezia of Derby, Vermont to Fred
William Wiseman, also of Derby, son
of Frederick Matthew Wiseman of Swanton, Vermont, and Diane (nee: Peel) of Newport, Vermont.
Dara Mae Venezia
is a 1998 graduate of North Country
Union High School, and a 2001 graduate of Vermont Technical College with an
associate’s degree in Business
Management. She is employed at the Newport Elementary School.
Fred William
Wiseman is a 1998 graduate of Missisquoi
Valley Union High School, and a 2001 graduate of Vermont Technical College
with an associate’s degree in Computer
Science. He is employed at Vermont Link.
A June 2002 wedding is
planned.
July 07, 2001
Abenaki Chief Dies
“He had a vision for the Abenakis and never backed down,
never compromised, never gave up,” said Frederick Matthew Wiseman, a Swanton Abenaki who directs the tribal museum in town, and chairs
the humanities program at Johnson State College. “I think he’s been the central
person within the last 20-25 years in the renaissance
of the Abenaki.”
“People knew the Abenakis were here,” Fred
Wiseman said, “He didn’t let people forget it.”
July 12, 2001
The County Courier Newspaper Pages 01-02
By Susan Trzepacz
Abenaki Chief
Homer St. Francis Dies At 66
Although Fred Wiseman grew up in Swanton
and was of Abenaki descent, Fred Wiseman himself had not
been a part of the local Native American community.
After earning a doctorate in anthropology and living
outside of Franklin County, Vermont for a number of years, Fred Wiseman
returned to Swanton and became involved with the tribal
council.
When Homer Walter St. Francis Sr. appointed him as
tribal ambassador of cultural affairs, Fred Wiseman was uncertain as
to just what was expected of him.
“I went into his office,” Fred Wiseman said, “and asked
him what my charge was.”
He said there was no charge.
“You [Frederick Matthew
Wiseman] just have to deal with historical and archaeological stuff,”
Homer said, “Now you do it right or you’re out.”
Frederick Matthew Wiseman
reflected, “I must have done it right because he never fired me.”
Homer Walter St. Francis Sr. became a little warmer
toward Fred M. Wiseman over the years and entrusted him with greater
responsibility.
Fred M. Wiseman believes that the change came about as the
result of years of discussion about hunting and fishing.
“To Homer St. Francis, archaeologists were a dime a
dozen,” he said, “but a good fisherman was something to be treasured.”
Frederick Matthew
Wiseman described Homer Walter St. Francis Sr. as “the last in a long series of
chiefs who have fought for the Abenaki homelands.”
January 03, 2002
The Akwesasne Indian Time Volume 20#1
Dr. Frederick Matthew Wiseman put on a presentation about the
Great Law of Peace in Kanatakon. He
represented the Abenaki version of the Great Law of Peace and had Wampum Beads and other items as well as
historical maps to back up his talk.
January 19, 2002
The St. Albans Messenger Newspaper, Pages 01-05
By Leon Thompson – Messenger Staff Writer
Abenaki angry with
Dean Stance: Gov.’s opposition to joint resolution doesn’t sit well
Dr. Frederick Matthew Wiseman – a Swanton-based Abenaki
expert – and Representative Fred Maslack
(R-Poultney), who collected the House signatures with Representative Michael Obuchowski (D-Bellows Falls).
Fred M. Wiseman
called the Vermont Governor’s allegations regarding land claims and casinos
“lies and red herrings” that can be disproved by anyone with knowledge of
Federal Indian law or the Abenaki.
They stressed that the Abenaki are not gunning to steal
anybody’s land. “I want you to think about this,” Frederick M.
Wiseman said, “If these same State of Vermont officials declared that our
African-American, Latino, Jewish or gay/lesbian brothers and sisters were not
who they said they were, Vermont would have a scandal so fast that it would
make our heads spin,” Frederick Wiseman said.
February 07, 2002
The Akwesasne Indian Time Newspaper Volume 20#5, Page 17
Community Notice Section
Akwesasne
Kahwasi:re Genealogy Society Notice
The Akwesasne Kahwasi:re Genealogy Society is scheduling
a monthly Meeting at the Kanatakon
Recreation Hall on Monday, February 11, 2002,
at 7:00 p.m.
Guest Speaker will
be Dr. Fred Wiseman of the Abenaki Tribal Museum in Swanton, Vermont
Dr. Wiseman’s topic is “the Seven Nations: History and
Repatriation.”
Everyone is welcome.
TALK TO BE
DELIVERED BY FREDERICK WISEMAN
TITLE: The Seven
Nations: History and Repatriation
Dr. Frederick Wiseman will be discussing his research on
the Seven Nations of Canada, its
ancient ceremonies and wampum records.
Using original and reconstituted artifacts.
Dr. Wiseman will discuss the ancient greetings,
ceremonies and symbols, the ways that the Great Council at Kahnawake met and
functioned, and the ways that business was enacted.
He will also discuss the ritual regalia and equipage used
in the ceremonies.
After Dr. Wiseman’s talk, there will be time for
questions and answers, including discussion of rebuilding the
Seven Nations as the core of a modern association of First Nations on
both sides of the Canadian/American border.
March 08, 2002
The St. Albans Messenger Newspaper, Page 01-05
By Leon Thompson _ Messenger Staff Writer
Abenaki play the
race card: Tribe, supporters turning up heat for federal petition
Abenaki expert Dr. Frederick Matthew Wiseman, left, makes a point during
a press conference in Swanton on Thursday.
With him are, left to right, Abenaki Chief
April (nee: St. Francis) Rushlow, Abenaki
Repatriation Coordinator Donna (nee: Carvalho) 1m.
Charlebois - 2m. Moody … and Donna’s husband John Scott Moody, ethno-historian.
Frederick M. Wiseman and others also blasted Governor
Howard Dean and Attorney General William Griffin for causing “unfounded fears”
across Vermont that the Abenaki will erect casinos and make land claims.
“The irony is that you don’t need to have federal or
state recognition to make a land claim,” Frederick
M. Wiseman noted.
March 08, 2002
The Burlington Free Press Newspaper, Pages 1B-3B
By Matt Sutkoski – Free Press Staff Writer
Abenaki renew call
for recognition
Vermont’s Abenaki are seeking recognition from both the
federal and state government. Recognition would open the doors for a variety of
benefits, including scholarships to Vermont schools, health care programs and
development programs, said Frederick Matthew Wiseman, director of the Abenaki Tribal Museum and a member of the Tribal Council.
March 12, 2002
Joint Meeting of the Abenaki Tribal Council and A.S.H.A.I. Board of Directors
There was discussion about Vermont State Recognition from 4:15 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. There will be scholars presenting to the Vermont Senators and Vermont Legislators about the Abenaki and the group’s existence in Vermont and the evidence they have.
Frederick Matthew Wiseman and April (nee: St. Francis) Rushlow will meet with the Mohawks to discuss the Seven Nations and Alliances.
Boy Scout Update: April St. Francis received information from Judy (nee: Fortin) Dow about a book of Nation Do’s and Don’ts that the Boy Scouts must follow regarding Indians. Frederick M. Wiseman will bring them a copy, because he was trying to get them to do the ‘Indian Camps’. Judy (nee: Fortin) Dow wanted to stop them from doing such events, dressing up as ‘Indians’.
March 26, 2002
Special Tribal
Council Meeting of the St. Francis – Sokoki Group
Present: April St. Francis, Carol Delorme, Fred M.
Wiseman, Harlan LaFrance, Homer St. Francis Jr., and Burton DeCarr
Absent: Harold St. Francis
Guests: Donna [Carvalho]
Moody, John Scott Moody, and Jeffrey Sise
Frederick Matthew Wiseman made a motion to allow John Scott
Moody to do research for the Abenaki Nation for Federal Recognition
seconded by Burton DeCarr after some discussion, and all agreed.
May 22, 2002
The St. Albans Messenger Newspaper, Pages 01- 05
By Messenger Staff
Abenaki Expand
Museum to Put Focus on Struggle
SWANTON VILLAGE – As part of their ongoing mission to
keep future generations turned into their culture, the
Abenaki will unveil a 1,600 foot
addition to their tribal museum here during a celebration Friday afternoon.
Special guests will join Abenaki Chief April Rushlow and Swanton officials for a 1:00 p.m.
ribbon-cutting ceremony at the expanded
museum – a renovated, historic bus terminal located on Grand Avenue.
“The museum’s new heritage wing is much more than a mere
celebration of a long distant past,” said Dr.
Frederick Matthew Wiseman, of Swanton, Vermont, Museum
Director. “Its historical truth
that stands against those few, who because of selected ignorance
and political insecurity, continue their attempt to undermine Abenaki
cultural integrity.”
Many exhibits thematically focus on the relations between
the Abenaki and their neighbors in the United States, Great Britain and New
France. Also explored is the Vermont Eugenics Survey that
targeted the Abenaki and other minority groups for extinction in the 1930’s,
as well as the Abenaki renaissance of the late 20th century.
Other exhibits highlight the Abenakis burial ground
crisis and their struggle to obtain State and Federal Recognition.
Among the historic artifacts housed in the
addition are an Abenaki canoe, 19th century pow-wow
clothing and graphics.
Also featured are peace medals, a mid-19th century
chief’s root club, a woman’s elder staff and a unique fragment of an early 20th
century Niagara-style chief’s collar.
The Abenaki announced their intentions to enlarge the
museum in the summer of 1999.
Work was made possible with the
help of a $25,000.00 allotment from the Vermont Legislature and
volunteer time from Johnson State
College students, who helped
refurbish the building and install exhibits.
Dignitaries expected to attend Friday are:
Senator Julius Cannes,
R-Caledonia, who helped secure state funds
Ronald Kilburn of the Swanton Downtown Revitalization Task Force
Earl Fournier,
of the Monument Road Working Committee
Barbara Murphy,
Johnson State College President
October 31, 2002
The Burlington Free Press Newspaper
“THE ABENAKI AND
THE WINOOSKI”
Talk at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the Heritage Winooski Mill Museum,
Champlain Mill, in Winooski, Vermont.
The talk will be given by Frederick Matthew
Wiseman, professor of humanities at Johnson State College and
director of the Abenaki Tribal Museum. 855-9477 or 985-2431.
January 14, 2003
Joint Meeting of
the Abenaki Tribal Council and Abenaki Self- Helps Association, Inc.’d Board of
Directors
Talked about Vermont Attorney General’s Report sent to
the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
Frederick Matthew Wiseman is going to go after the
Attorney General’s paperwork with Academia and the AG, he complained, used his
book “The
Voice of the Dawn: An Autohistory of the Abenaki” published in January 01, 2001, was used out-of-context.
Used in this Report by William Sorrell and Eve
Jacobs-Carnahan, is the Vermont Eugenics files on the St. Francis family. Dr.
Gordon M. Day attacked April St. Francis in his report. Indian leadership?
Tribal government? And the use of confidential Vermont Eugenics paperwork,
against the Swanton-based “Abenaki” group. The Attorney General says there are
NO Abenaki. No fishing guides, trapping, hunting.
April St. Francis – Merrill will contact lawyer about
this, as it is against the law.
If the group had money, they would file a lawsuit against
them (AG’s Office).
August 12, 2003
Joint Meeting of
the Abenaki Tribal Council and Abenaki Self – Help Association, Inc.’d Board of
Directors
Frederick M. Wiseman discussed emails that he had
received and had been sent out to people, about him.
Donna Roberts Moody and John Scott Moody were attacking
Fred Wiseman’s credibility. Fred had a meeting set up to review his book but it
had been canceled because of these emails.
The problem remains that John and Donna Moody were
continuing to put Fred’s work down and have been trying to get rid of him. Frederick Wiseman stated that he was ready
to resign, if April St. Francis – Merrill kept Donna and John Moody as
NAGPRA Repatriation representatives.
April St. Francis discussed the fact that Donna [nee:
Carvalho] Charlebois – Moody
called the Tribal Office in Swanton, Vermont, yelling and said that she was
getting done, was upset with her husband John Scott Moody and that she was stressed out.
Frederick Matthew Wiseman made a motion to remove Donna
and John Moody as NAGRPA Repatriation representatives, which was seconded by Carol Delorme and the Tribal Council
took a vote and all were in favor.
A motion was typed, signed and dated, and sent to Donna
and John Scott Moody. They were requested to return all records, artifacts,
human remains, and contact data to April St. Francis – Merrill.
August 27, 2003
The Seven Days Newspaper, Pages 22A, 24A,25A, 26A, 27A
[See September 03, 2003 Seven Days Newspaper Article by William H. Sorrell]
By Kevin Picard
Birth of a Nation: The latest skirmish in the battle for Abenaki tribal status?
Frederick Matthew Wiseman didn't have to. He never even
knew he was Abenaki.
"As a child, I remember my grandmother talking about
our relatives to the north as 'that tribe,'" Fred M. Wiseman recalls.
"I don't think my dad ever knew. She never told anyone of our
ancestry."
But when Frederick M. Wiseman's father died in 1985 and a number of his Abenaki relatives came to
the funeral, Frederick M. Wiseman learned the truth about his background.
"It was really weird because as a kid I was fascinated by Indians. I was
in Boy Scouts and did Indian lore and eventually became an
archeologist," he says. "It must have been somewhere in my genes
trying to bubble out." Now a professor at Johnson State College, Frederick
Matthew Wiseman teaches classes on Native American history and culture and has
written a book on the Abenakis called Voice of the Dawn.
Sitting in the Victorian house Frederick M. Wiseman’s
grandfather built in Swanton, Vermont, it's easy to see why some people might doubt his Indian roots. Like other
Abenakis whose ancestors married Europeans, Frederick M. Wiseman bears little
resemblance to the stereotypes of Indians that pervade popular culture. He has
fair, thinning hair, blue eyes and light skin, and he is married to a Caucasian woman.
But Frederick M.
Wiseman is a member of the Abenaki Tribal Council and one of its most vocal
proponents of state and federal recognition. He says there are many reasons why
Vermont should acknowledge the Abenaki Nation, and it's as simple as the
Legislature adopting a non-binding resolution. "State recognition
doesn't give us any land, any casinos, nothing," Frederick M. Wiseman
points out. "What it does do is provide a springboard for
grant-writing. And it gives the Abenakis the status of a minority.
Without state or federal recognition, Indians are not a minority and don't fall
under any civil rights laws."
Bill
Griffin doesn't deny that the Vermont Eugenics Survey took place in Vermont.
"From
about 1800 to 1974 there were no anthropologists or researchers who identified
an Abenaki tribe in Vermont,"
"The idea that this Vermont Eugenics Survey zeroed in on Abenaki Indians has no basis in the record."
September 10, 2003
The St. Albans Messenger Newspaper, Pages 2-3
By Leon Thompson – Messenger Staff Writer
Missisquoi
National Wildlife Refuge 60th year
NATIONAL REFUGE SYSTEM CENTENIAL CELEBRATION
A WORLD APART
Missisquoi Wildlife Refuge raises profile in
60th year
The Abenaki
Dr. Frederick Matthew
Wiseman, of Swanton, walked along the refuge riverbank as a child with Monkey
Drew, an Abenaki Indian and “river rat” who told Fred Wiseman stories about
outrunning federal authorities in his boat.
“The Abenaki always considered the refuge their fishing
grounds, and the feds didn’t want them to fish there out of season,” says Frederick Matthew Wiseman, Abenaki historian.
“They’ve had a continual desire to maintain sovereignty in that area.”
September 25, 2003
[Written in French by
Christopher Alan Roy of the Abenaki Research Project]
Doc. #1.
Dear Odanak Band Councilors,
Here is the letter received last week from Mr. Frederick Wiseman. As we already discussed, he didn't quite
understand what I wrote to him. HE wants us to consider him as a
"native", but as of today they never showed us any of his genealogy.
Same goes for his colleagues whom we discussed the "Mississquois" and other groups that identify
themselves as our relatives (or as related).
I would be happy to discuss this further on our next meeting
on Monday.
Thank you from your Chief,
Odanak Chief Gilles O'Bomsawin
September 29, 2003
From: Gilles
O’Bomsawin
To: Frederick
Matthew Wiseman, PhD.
Dear Professeur Wiseman,
Please find attached resolutions of the Odanak Band
Council. Please feel free to send any genealogical material you have gathered
to the above address so that we might establish whether or not you have any
connections to our Abenaki ancestors.
We remain
Yours truly,
Gilles O’Bomsawin,
Chief
Odanak Band
Council.
September 29, 2003
Resolution De Bande d'Odanak/ Odanak Band Resolution
#Chronologique GOB-046003-04.
Dated September 29, 2003.
Province de: Quebec.
Decide, par les presentes:
"While we recognize that the Band Councils of Odanak
and Wolinak issued resolutions in 1976 and 1977 recognizing the St. Francis/
Sokoki Band of Abenakis as a group of Abenakis living in the United States, we
also recognize that these resolutions were not based on any genealogical or
historical evidence linking these "St. Francis/Sokoki" to our Abenaki
and Sokoki ancestors.
We also recognize that the number of organizations
claiming to being Abenaki in the United States and in Canada has increased
greatly since that time, again without genealogical and historical evidence
presented to this Council.
Therefore, we
resolve that the Couseil de Band d'Odanak does
not recognize at this time any organizations claiming to be Abenaki First
Nations in the United States or Canada, with the exceptions of our
brothers and sisters at Wolinak and Penobscot. We, of course, also recognize
our fellow Wobanaki First Nation- the Passamaquoddy, Malecite and Mi'kmaq.
We further resolve
that organizations claiming to be Abenaki and particularly their leadship, are
invited to send their genealogical and historical documentation to the Conseil
de Bande d'Odanak, so that we might review the information to assess whether or
not there is any truth to their genealogical claims.
Let it be resolved,
that Chief Gilles O'Bosawin sent letters to the Conseil de Bande di Wolinak, to
the Penobscot nation and to the Grand Conseil de la Nation Waban-aki,
encouraging them to pass similar resolutions."
Quorum (3)
Chef Gilles O'Bomsawin; Clement Sadaques, Conseiller; Michel Hannis, Conseiller; Eddy O'Bomsawin, Conseiller; and Denis Gill, Conseiller.
October 06, 2003
Joint Meeting of
the Abenaki Tribal Council & Abenaki Self – Help Association, Inc.’d Board
of Directors
Chief April St. Francis Merrill showed the Tribal Council
the letter that Odanak Chief Gilles
O’Bomsawin had sent to the State of Vermont.
April St. Francis – Merrill said that she would call him
the following day, to find out why he had sent this particular letter to the
State of Vermont.
Judy (nee: Fortin)
Dow (Coordinator) would like someone from Swanton, Vermont to attend the St. Michael’s College Conference.
Frederick Matthew
Wiseman is going to a Museum meeting in Hartford.
November 06, 2003
The Burlington Free Press Newspaper
“POWWOW POLITICS”
discussion
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Wednesday
Johnson State College
Frederick Matthew Wiseman, Abenaki, discusses the
political situation in northern New England, highlighting how Native American
Nations deal with institutionalized prejudice to protect its heritage.
635-1416.
January 30, 2004
Indian Country Today [online]
By Jim Adams
Campaign 2004: Vermont’s Dark Secret
MONTPELIER, Vt. – Howard Dean’s Vermont is hiding a nasty secret.
For more than 30 years, it was a stronghold of the now discredited Vermont Eugenics Survey Movement and State Institutions performed hundreds of sterilizations.
Abenaki Indian families say they were disproportionately targeted.
Official records show a cumulative total of 259 sterilizations under Vermont law from 1933 to 1968, when the eugenics statute was in effect. Some scholars believe the real total could be double that, since the records probably only cover sterilization operations in Vermont State Institutions.
They say that up to one-third of the victims might have been Abenaki, the indigenous people of northern Vermont and New Hampshire and adjacent areas of Quebec and Maine.
“Every family has stories of people who were sterilized,” said Frederick Matthew Wiseman, a professor at Johnson State College in Johnson, Vermont, and a historian and advocate of the Abenaki people.
This program might be considered a historical curiosity, an artifact of an appallingly widespread movement of the 1920’s and 1930’s. Some 31 states adopted eugenics and sterilization statutes before the rise of Nazi ideology and the Jewish Holocaust made evident to even the meanest capacity their inherent evil.
But it re-emerged as a significant issue in Vermont because of the stubborn opposition of state officials, including Vermont Governor Howard Dean, to the Abenaki quest for federal recognition.
The St. Francis/Sokoki Band of the Abenaki Nation of Vermont filed Federal Recognition Petition No. 68 with the BIA in April of 1980. It is now close to the top of the list for “active consideration.”
As Vermont Governor, Howard Dean, now candidate for the Democratic Presidential nomination, rejected appeals for Vermont to issue an official apology for the sterilizations, spurning the example of states like Virginia and North Carolina, which have not only apologized but offered compensation to the victims. According to Nancy Gallagher, the scholar who uncovered the history of the Vermont Eugenics Program, “Vermont Governor Howard Dean was caught in a power struggle with the Abenakis over recognition.” [Kevin Dann was the person who discovered the V.E.S. Records in mid-1986]
“He was against it,” Nancy Gallagher said. “He worked with the Vermont State Attorney General William Sorrell, who actively tried to repress the petition.”
Abenaki leaders, said Nancy Gallagher, cite the Eugenics Program within Vermont as a reason for gaps in tribal self-identification. “They had to hide their identity because of the fear of sterilization.”
Even worse, said Frederick Matthew Wiseman, Attorney General Sorrell has “mined” the Vermont Eugenics Survey Records for evidence to use against the Abenakis’ recognition petition. In December 2002, Bill Sorrell and his Special Assistant Attorney General Eve Jacobs-Carnahan issued a 250-page response to the St. Francis/Sokoki Band Federal Recognition Petition. As part of their argument, they cited extensive entries from the Vermont Eugenics Survey, observing that “Not a single one identifies an Indian as an Abenaki.”
The Attorney General’s report has been dismissed with varying expressions of contempt by professional scholars and historians. “It’s not history,” said Nancy Gallagher. “It’s a legal brief. I don’t understand how lawyers think.”
But the most vehement criticisms center on what scholars consider “an extreme breach of ethics in handling the Eugenics Survey records.”
Eugenics record historians at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York State have adopted guidelines forbidding identification of individuals and even their locales in scholarly works.
Yet William Sorrell and Eva Jacobs-Carnahan include personal names and physical descriptions, such as the following quotation from the Survey: “[blank] Peter Phillips Sr. born ca. 1833 was part Indian, part French, and part Negro. On his death certificate in Peacham, Caledonia County, Vermont he is recorded as colored. He was very decidedly Negroid in appearance.”
Furthermore, the Attorney General’s office has made this report widely available. It went through a second printing in January 2003 and is now posted in its entirety on the Attorney General’s official Web site.
Chief Assistant Attorney General William Griffin, who supervised preparation of the report, defended the use of the names. “We did not release any identification’s that were not in the public record,” he told Indian Country Today. He also denied a connection between the Eugenics Survey and the recognition issue.
“It had nothing to do with Native Americans,” he said of the Vermont Eugenics Survey. “We went back and looked at it,” he said. “It seemed to be targeting French-Canadians, if any particular group.”
(Nancy Gallagher observed that very little research had been done about the fate of Indian peoples in the Eugenics Program within Vermont. She said, however, that a primary target seemed to be mixed-race families, including tri-racial populations of black, white and Indian descent.)
William Griffin also defended the content of the report. “What surprised me was the lack of a substantive response,” he said of its critics. “There is some sniping around the edges, like the question that is being raised today.”
Although William Sorrell is independently elected, he has long been a friend and political ally of Vermont Governor Howard Dean. (His mother, a Democratic Party activist, is often said to be the person who recruited Howard Dean to run for the Vermont State Legislature.) He figures prominently in a separate but possibly related, controversy, Howard Dean’s refusal to release official papers from his 10 years as governor. The Attorney General’s office vetted the Memorandum of Understanding that withholds Howard Dean’s papers from public view for ten years and is now defending the agreement in Vermont’s Washington County Superior Court against a lawsuit from the Washington, D.C. group Judicial Watch. Howard Dean’s discussions about sealing the 146 boxes and 450,000 pages of correspondence and official business, said Judicial Watch, focused on their impact on his presidential campaign.
Some of the more damaging material, to judge from letters which have already leaked and been turned against Howard Dean, very likely involves his decisions on Indian issues, including the call for an apology on the Eugenics Survey.
Howard Dean’s papers are now in the hands of the State Archivist, who is also in charge of the Eugenics Survey documents.
Some critics of the state’s use of the Vermont Eugenics papers also express concern that those documents are less accessible and in more disarray than they were 10 years ago.
“The file on sterilization has gone missing,” said Nancy Gallagher."
[IF it was a SURVEY, which the V.E.S. was, they weren’t doing the sterilizations! If the Vermont State Institutions were performing the hundreds of sterilizations, then those patient sterilization records were NEVER a part of the V.E.S. in the first place, contrary to the assertion by Vermonter’s who self-identify as “Abenakis” and their scholarly allies! Those sterilization records are protected and concealed by federal HIPPA laws.]
February 10, 2004
Joint Meeting of
the Abenaki Tribal Council and A.S.H.A.I. Board of Directors
Present (for Tribal Council): Chief April St. Francis –
Rushlow, Frederick M. Wiseman, Harlan LaFrance, Carol Delorme, Burton DeCarr,
and Homer St. Francis Jr.
(Absent): Harold St. Francis
Present (for A.S.H.A.I.): Anna Louko, Marjorie Greenia,
Lawrence LaFrance, Raymond “Jim” Young, Chief April Rushlow
(Absent): Rene St. Francis and Daniel Demar
Guests:
Debra Bergeron (DOL Director), Francis King (Mohawk Nation), Charlotte King (Mohawk Nation) and Martin
Lebarge (?) (Mohawk Nation)
Martin (Lebarge) and Francis King live at Ganienkeh, a
Mohawk community located on about 600 acres (2.4 km2) near Altona, New York in
the far northeast corner of Upper New York State.
Charlotte Francis is the daughter of Peter and Susan (nee:
Arquette) Lazore of Akwesasne, lives in Akwesasne.
Francis King
talked to the Tribal Council about Land Claims, Hunting and Fishing Rights, and
Status.
They are willing to help support the Swanton-based
“Abenakis” in their recognition efforts.
Charlotte (nee:
Lazore) King talked about coming together as a Confederacy and join
Confederations, to bring the Tribes together in peace, order and good
government.
Protocol Fed Thomas
Matus League of Indian Nations
(LINNA) is a non-profit organization that represents all Nations of North
America.
February 13, 2004
Indian County: Today Media Network.com
By Frederick Matthew Wiseman
Wiseman: Trickster
politics, A Response to LaDonna Harris' letter
On Dec. 17, 2003 (Vol. 23 Iss.
27) Indian Country Today published a highly-partisan letter to deflect
possible criticism of Howard Dean's record, including his dealings with
Indians. In the letter, LaDonna Harris, chair of Dean's Native American
Advisors Council, staked her reputation on the record of the former Vermont
governor. Yet on Nov. 21, 2003, Harris, at her
Americans for Indian Opportunity organization, received documentation from the Abenaki Tribal Museum
concerning Dean's little known human rights record, so she is not ignorant of
Native concerns. Thus far, the Abenaki Community has not received a response
from Harris or the Dean Campaign. Discussion of Dean's record is not a
"Republican ploy" as Harris asserts; it is suppressed history. As an
ethno-historian, Abenaki official and Indian rights activist, I have witnessed
firsthand the politics of ethnic destruction perpetrated by Dean and his
allies.
Dean's "reaching out" to Vermont's indigenous
community, as asserted on November 20, 2004 actually
consisted of trickster politics: of empty words, photo-ops and betrayal. His
early superficial support for Abenaki culture, such as attending a 1993 Powwow,
and signing a pro-Abenaki proclamation (authored by the Governor's Commission
on Native American Affairs), was quickly undermined by his acting to suppress
their rights and identity. The campaign's "spin" was to have Dean
take credit for the work of the politically independent Commission on Native
American Affairs, comprised of Abenaki Nation leaders and governor's appointees.
In my 12-year tenure on the Commission, Dean officially met with us only once,
a short press conference announcing a Native American curriculum guide. His
celebrated support for an Abenaki museum was to hand a hard-won legislative
appropriation check from the Vermont Legislature to the museum.
Howard Dean's assertion that he created a class on Native
Americans (? )
All he did was the press conference, mentioned above,
announcing a Native American guide conceived by the Commission (which fought to
obtain the funding), authored by Abenakis and teachers, and printed by the
University of Vermont. Howard Dean's only independent pro-Indian initiative
after 1995 was to attend the funeral of his nemesis, Abenaki Chief Homer Walter St. Francis Sr.
Since at least 1995, Howard Dean has revealed an abiding
dread of Indian sovereignty, viewing our constitutional rights as economic and
political threats to states rights. Although the nearest Indian reservations
were two to five hours away from Vermont, he implausibly asserted to
Congressman Istook in 1997, "Although Vermont does not have any Indian
land; we lose tax revenues from sales made from Indian lands near our
borders." One might have thought New Hampshire, without a sales tax and
with a long border with Vermont, was a greater problem. In 1999, Dean's
spokeswoman said: "The governor fears state recognition would help the
Abenaki gain federal recognition, and then in turn push for a casino and a
reservation of their own. If they got national recognition we'd have a host of
other issues to deal with." Dean led Vermont's assault with anti-Abenaki
oratory, culminating in his most passionate press conference on January 17, 2002. Contrary to existing federal
statute, Howard Dean claimed "Not only would it (a pending state acknowledgement
resolution) allow them to open gambling casinos without any input from the
state, essentially, it would also paralyze anybody from getting a mortgage or
selling their house for the foreseeable future."
Such inciting of prejudice against an ethnic group due to
fear of the political and economic consequences of their gaining constitutional
and human rights was an obvious prerequisite to human rights violation. Thus a
fresh anti-Abenaki strategy was developed. Dean's fellow Democrat, close friend
and confidant, Attorney General William Sorrell, was entrusted with crafting a
final solution to the Abenaki problem. The Governor's Office outlined the
scheme in 1995: "The position of the state is that in the late 1700s the
Abenaki ceased functioning as a tribe, and although they have regrouped, it
still doesn't meet the legal test." When the Governor's Commission learned
of this anti-Abenaki campaign, it officially complained to Dean's Office, which
reassured Chairman Benay that this "unethical activity would stop."
Thus the Dean Administration had the power to stop this activity, but chose not
to.
The next step was to disengage the State of Vermont from
the Abenakis. As revealed by his Commissioner
on Housing and Community Affairs to a combined Abenaki and Town committee
in 2001, Howard Dean's administration prohibited use of the word
"Abenaki" by state employees or in state documents, for fear that it
may give credence to the Abenakis' long-standing petition for federal
recognition.
Weeks before Dean left office, the state released its
public assault against the Abenakis' very identity. A Web site, lengthy written
report, and lobbying campaign with the Vermont legislature promoted the
falsehood that the Abenaki community was a genetic, cultural and political
fraud perpetrated to get "special" privileges not available to other
Vermonters.
This ethnically-defamatory campaign misquoted current
scholarship, published outright lies, used confidential eugenics medical
records, and republished copyrighted material among many other unethical
tactics. When a furious Governor's Commission was poised to publicly refute
this propaganda, Dean's Office issued its only direct command to the Commission
during Dean's long tenure - to terminate any such plans. But the scholarly
community responded in 2003.
William Haviland,
former Chair of Anthropology at the
University of Vermont said of the propaganda campaign, "It's a real
hatchet job." James Petersen,
current UVM chair, was so furious he said, "I myself would be happy to face
Sorrell and Jacobs-Carnahan (the researcher who wrote the original report and
Web site) in a court of law some day." This politically-motivated rewriting of Native American ethnic identity
must be exposed for what it is and its perpetrators identified.
Howard Dean's mentors are banking on ignorance and the
supposed lack of compassion that the larger "Western" Indian
political interests have for the more heavily colonized peoples of the
Northeast. But no matter what his advisors allege, Howard Dean sees Indian
sovereignty as a threat to states' rights, for his administration was willing
to destroy Indian credibility to "protect" Vermont.
Abenakis had high hopes for Dean in the early 1990s, but
were betrayed. Similarly, some national Indian leaders are hopeful now.
Perhaps, as Indian County Today asserts, Dean can learn and grow, but our
trickster has never apologized for his administration's betrayal of the
Abenakis, even after his supposed "conversion" to support Native
sovereignty. And Vermont's politically motivated campaign of ethnic
nullification continues to this day. The history of Abenaki ethnocide must not
be suppressed for political expediency, because Dean seems the least like
President Bush. Other candidates have cleaner hands than our former Governor.
Frederick Matthew Wiseman, Ph.D., director of the Abenaki Tribal Museum and Cultural Center, was elected to the Abenaki Tribal Council
and Governor's Commission on Native
American Affairs by the Abenaki community. Wiseman teaches Native Studies
at Johnson State College in Vermont. He is most well known as the author of
many scholarly publications, including "The
Voice of the Dawn, an auto history of the Abenaki Nation" as well as
his ardent defense of Native sovereignty against attacks by the State of
Vermont. He is currently writing a trilogy for University Press of New England
called "The Wabanaki World."
February 16, 2005
The St. Albans Messenger Newspaper, Page 01-05
By Lee J. Kahrs – Messenger Staff Writer
Abenaki
recognition inches closer: State Senate Panel takes testimony; feds review
petition
The hearing, held by the Vermont
Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs, was
hastily called.
Long-time Vermont Senator Julius Canns, R- Caledonia, [elected
in 1992], who wrote and sponsored the
resolution.
A
total of 19 Vermont Senators have
co-sponsored the bi-partisan resolution, JRS 9, including Franklin
County Democratic Vermont Senators Don Collins and Sara Kittell.
Vermont Senator Julius Canns, R-Caledonia,
has sponsored similar Abenaki Recognition bills / resolutions in the
past, only to have them stall in committee. Former Vermont Governor
Howard Dean did not support the Abenaki cause for Vermont State Recognition.
The Vermont State
Attorney General’s Office issued a statement [244 page report by William H. Sorrell, AG,
and Eve Jacobs – Carnahan] in December 2002
as a party to the tribe’s federal recognition application. The statement continually cited a “lack of
documentary evidence” as a reason for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to deny the
Abenaki petition for federal recognition.
Melody Lynn (nee: Walker) [She
married to Walker Tenney Brook in October 18, 2009], age 22 years, of
Highgate, Franklin County, Vermont, gave tearful testimony about her
Abenaki lineage and the support she has received from the tribe.
“They have all been there for me,” she said. “I probably
would not have been able to go to college.”
Melody Lynn Walker is a History Major at the University
of Vermont. She said, as an honors student, she has received some federal loans and scholarship to pay for her education,
but that the tribe has given her
$7,500.00 dollars to supplement her tuition and buy books.
Many of the Abenaki
who testified Tuesday can trace their lineage back to the Swanton/ Missisquoi
area. Just as many said that they were discouraged as children from discussing their Native American
heritage.
“My grandmother did not admit she
was native until she was on her deathbed.”
Carol Jessie Irons, whose Abenaki grandfather was from the Swanton, Franklin Count, Vermont
area, said many Abenaki anglicized
their names “to hide in plain sight.”
She said they [Abenakis] did not indicate their race on
any paperwork for fear of racist reprisals from whites. There was a
long-standing fear among the Abenaki men during the early to mid-twentieth
century that if they were discovered to be Indian, the U.S. Government would
come in and sterilize them. [Eugenics Survey of
Vermont]
Although the 2000 U.S. Federal
Population Census indicates 1,700 self-identified
Abenaki in Vermont, the tribe contends that number is more like 2,600.
Frederick Matthew
Wiseman, of Swanton, Franklin County, Vermont, is the Abenaki tribal historian. He is also on the Vermont Governor’s Committee on Native American Affairs and is a Professor of Humanities at Johnson State
College.
Frederick Matthew
Wiseman, on Tuesday, presented for
the first time, a trailer for a film “Against the Darkness” on the Abenaki that he
financed and produced.
“The purpose of the film is to provide documentation of
every generation to show continuity,” Frederick Matthew Wiseman said.
Thirteen year old Bonita
Langle, of Sheldon, Franklin County, Vermont, narrates the film.
“I must now be a modern warrior,
carrying historical and genealogical data,” Bonita Langle said. “I must carry
historical accounts that refute the State of Vermont’s Ethnic Cleansing of our
history and our identity. We are not going anywhere.”
This last line was met by applause from the audience at
the hearing.
Frederick Matthew
Wiseman’s film “Against the Darkness” will
be shown in its entirety on Thursday, February 17,
2005, at 4:00 p.m., in the Johnson
State College library.
After the Committee on Economic
Development, Housing and General Affairs hearing, the committee’s
Chairman, Vincent Illuzzi said he
expects the committee to approve the resolution by next week. It will then go
to the floor of the Vermont Legislative Senate. Because it is a resolution and
not a bill, Vincent Illuzzi said it
does not require the Vermont Governor’s signature.
The Vermont Senator, Vincent
Illuzzi, said that contrary to testimony he has heard in other Senate
hearings, he was moved by what he heard from Abenaki Vermonters.
“This was from the heart,” Vincent Illuzzi said. “They were speaking about their families.
They really are in a cultural depression.”
When asked what benefits the resolution would give the
Abenaki, Vincent Illuzzi said State Recognition support should be underestimated.
Melody Lynn (nee: Walker) Brook is an educator, activist and artist. She received her Master's Degree in History
from the University of Vermont in May 2011.
Melody Lynn (nee: Walker) Brook is an Adjunct
Professor at Johnson State College
where she teaches "Native American
Worldview and Spirituality"; “Native
American History and Culture”; and “Abenakis
and Their Neighbors".
She gives lectures about
Abenaki history, women’s’ issues and is authorized to present on the “Against the Darkness” System,
created by Frederick Matthew Wiseman.
February 17, 2005
The Burlington Free Press Newspaper
By Sam Hemingway
Julius Canns dying
wish for Abenaki
If only Senator Julius
Canns, R-Caledonia, could have been here to see it all.
“He would have loved this,” said Senator Vincent Illuzzi, R-Essex/Orleans, the
committee chairman who had moved the hearing to Julius Canns’ home turf in St.
Johnsbury, Vermont hoping he could be a part of the proceedings.
Vincent Illuzzi had the sad duty of announcing that
Julius Canns’ fight with terminal cancer had taken a turn for the worse; he was
back in the hospital with perhaps only days left to live. He is 81 years of
age.
Since his arrival in Montpelier in 1993, Julius Canns has been the kind of senator
everyone likes to be around – an unusual attribute for a politician. A
self-made businessman with a ready smile, Julius Canns was a selectman and tax
collector in St. Johnsbury before going to the Senate. He has not been a
prodigious lawmaker but a passionate one.
A decorated veteran of World War II, Julius Canns
persuaded his colleagues to start reciting the Pledge of Allegiance for the
first time in the chamber’s 215-year history.
After 13 years, Julius Canns finally got Vermont to join
the other 49 states in passing a resolution condemning desecration of the flag.
Julius
Canns, part Cherokee, has fought for
Abenaki recognition with the same fervor.
Four times he’s introduced a
resolution on behalf of the Abenaki, each time tweaking the wording
to address contentions by the Attorney General’s Office that formal recognition
of the Abenaki as an American Indian tribe would lead to land claims and
casinos.
“It’s just a
harmless resolution,” Julius Canns said of his efforts in 2002. “It
would not mean formal recognition of the Abenaki by the state of Vermont.”
February 21, 2005
The Burlington Free Press Newspaper
ABENAKI: The Senate Economic Development, Housing and
General Affairs Committee will hold a hearing at 6:30 p.m. Thursday on a resolution that would grant official state
recognition to the Abenaki.
Committee Chairman Vincent
Illuzzi, R-Essex/Orleans, said the committee will hear from the Attorney General’s Office, the chairman
[Jeff Benay] of the Governor’s Commission on Native American Affairs and Johnson State
College Professor Frederick Matthew
Wiseman on the legal ramifications of state
recognition of the Missisquoi Band of Abenaki.
February 22, 2005
The Boston Globe Newspaper
By Associated Press
Julius Canns,
Vermont state senator, 82 Obituary
ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. -- Senator Julius Daly Canns died Sunday at his St. Johnsbury, Vermont home at
1 Cherokee Drive. It was his 82d birthday.
Mr. Julius Daly
Canns's colleagues and friends remembered the Republican from Caledonia
County as a man of deep conviction, strong voice, and unbending resolve. They
also recalled his sense of humor and the pleasure of conversations with him.
The Vermont State Senate will change now that Mr. Julius Daley Canns -- whose ancestors were
white, black, and American Indian [Cherokee] and who was the chamber's
only veteran of World War II -- is gone, said Phil Scott, Republican
of Washington.
Among Mr. Julius
Canns's passions was state recognition of the Abenaki people.
February 25, 2005
The St. Albans Messenger Newspaper, Pages 01-05
By Lee J. Kahrs – Messenger
Staff Writer
Attorney General’s Office Rejects Abenaki Bid: State’s lawyer sees
problems in status change
Bill Griffin
based his testimony on a December 2002
statement [244
page report by William H. Sorrell, AG, and Eve Jacobs – Carnahan]
issued by his office, which concluded that is not enough evidence to support
the tribe’s federal BIA petition for recognition.
“We concluded that the petition was very badly flawed,” Bill Griffin said, “that they did not
make their case, that there were mistakes.”
Bill Griffin
argued that Vermont State Recognition would lead to federal recognition, as one
of the federal guidelines is “relationships with State Governments based on
identification of the group as Indian.”
“I respectfully disagree with the facts stated in the
resolution,” Bill Griffin said. “I
disagree that recognition would have no consequences.”
Bill Griffin said
one consequence would be that federal laws would be “tribalized,” and the State
of Vermont could not enforce laws regarding zoning, fishing, and game,
gambling, and taxes because the tribe would become a quasi-sovereign nation.
“My advice to you, as your lawyer, is that this
legislation would be used as evidence in a case that does not have merit,” Bill Griffin said.
Supporters of recognition charge
the Vermont Attorney General’s Office with human rights violations over
what they call a “smear campaign,” that perpetuates “revisionist history.”
Dr. Frederick
Matthew Wiseman, of Swanton, Franklin County, Vermont, is the Abenaki tribal historian. He is also on
the Governor’s Committee on Native
American Affairs and is Chairman and
Professor of Anthropology at Johnson
State College.
Frederick Matthew
Wiseman showed a film entitled Against the Darkness that he financed and produced in order to prove
seven generations of evidence that the Abenaki exist.
“It’s obvious from Bill Griffin’s testimony that he
considers the Abenaki to be cultural frauds,” Dr.
Frederick Matthew Wiseman said.
February 27, 2005
The Burlington Free Press Newspaper, Pages 1A-8A
By Nancy Remsen – Free Press Staff Writer
Lawmakers
reconsider Abenaki recognition
... despite the insistent efforts of the late
Senator Julius Canns, R-Caledonia, whose own mixed-race background made him
sympathetic to the Abenaki cause...
Frederick Matthew Wiseman, an Abenaki, author, and
professor at Johnson State College.
“If you are black, you can say you are black. If you are
Indian, you have to prove it,” Fred M. Wiseman said. “As long as we aren’t
recognized, we are nothing.”
The state also questions the Indian lineage of the
families listed as belonging to the St. Francis/Sokoki band in northwestern
Vermont.
“One of the most well-known claimants was Homer Walter
St. Francis Sr.,” William Griffin said. The late Homer Walter St. Francis
Sr. was April Merrill’s father. William Griffin argued that after consulting
birth, military and other records, “We aren’t finding evidence of
Abenaki heritage.”
William Griffin told lawmakers that he and his staff
didn’t set out to discredit the group claiming to be Abenaki. The Attorney
General’s Office investigated the case because the federal recognition would
have such huge consequences, in establishing a sovereign nation within the
state’s borders, he said. “We have an obligation and look at the law and ensure
a right result.”
The Abenaki, in turn, accuse the Attorney General’s
Office of biased research that overlooks evidence and fails to consider that many Indians hid their identities to
protect themselves.
Frederick Matthew Wiseman in a paper entitled “Fahrenheit
1790: Erasing Ethnic History in the Green Mountain State,” writes, “From the
final products of this ‘investigation,’ we deduce that the state’s strategy was
to systematically discredit the Abenaki community’s culture, political
leadership and structure, and its genetic uniqueness.”
March 16, 2005
Julius Canns: A
true Vermonter, with a twist
He was a tireless supporter of
the Abenaki Nation, an issue which rarely appears on the radar screen of our
elected officials. (In perhaps the final irony of Julius Canns’ impressive
career, the chief of the Abenakis [April A. (nee:
St. Francis) Rushlow – Merrill] was invited by the Julius Canns’ family
to speak at his funeral but was overlooked and never got the chance.)
March 24, 2005
The St. Albans Messenger Newspaper, Pages 01-05
By Lee J. Kahrs – Messenger Staff Writer
Attorney General
Deletes ‘Abenaki’ from contract: Child services pact pushed into debate about
tribe’s status
A Native American rights official says the Abenaki people
have suffered yet another slight from the Vermont
State Attorney General’s Office as part of a deliberate effort to derail
the tribe’s bid for Vermont State Recognition.
In even stronger terms, Abenaki Tribal Historian, Frederick
Matthew Wiseman said he is investigating whether the action taken by a
lawyer for the State of Vermont [William “Bill”
Griffin] constitutes a human rights violation.
Frederick Matthew Wiseman, who is Abenaki and
Chairman on the Johnson State College
Humanities Department, said today that he was in the midst of researching
the ramifications of Bill Griffin’s
actions before a meeting of the Governor’s
Advisory Council later today.
“This is pretty amazing,” Fred M. Wiseman said. “I’m looking into this as a human rights
violation.”
The Abenaki have claimed that the Eugenics Movement
resulted in the State of Vermont plucking Abenaki children from their families and placing them in Boarding
Schools and Orphanages.
Bill Griffin said his research
refutes that claim, that according to the original UVM Eugenics documents,
there is NO EVIDENCE that the Abenaki were targeted in the Eugenics Survey of Vermont Movement.
March 25, 2005
The St. Albans Messenger Newspaper, Pages 01-05
By Leon Thompson – Messenger Staff Writer
Abenaki weighing
in on Attorney General’s Actions
Dr. Frederick
Matthew Wiseman, tribal historian, said Bill Griffin’s decision might be a form of “ethnic erasure” and a possible
human rights violation.
Citing research he conducted, Fred M. Wiseman, described ethnic
erasure as “a process by which constitute ethnic groups
perceived by the State as a threat to the status-quo are systematically written
out of the broader ‘homeland’ dominated by the political group doing the
deletion.”
April 17, 2005
The Burlington Free Press Newspaper, Page 11C
By Frederick Matthew Wiseman – Swanton, Vermont
Abenaki deserve
Vermont recognition
Inciting fear
The April 06, 2005
editorial, an argument against the Abenakis’ desire for state recognition, was
compounded by lies and fear-mongering. The Abenakis are represented therein as
a threat to the state’s “family friendly image.” Abenakis, if given the chance,
will bring all kinds of woes to Vermont, from “low-end ages,” to “bitter land
disputes,” and “neighbor-versus-neighbor” strife. The editorial maintained that
recognition would not even be in the best interest of the Abenakis.
The editors ignored the entire purpose of the proposed
recognition bill, which is to assist in economic development through support of
Abenaki students and artisans, choosing instead to incite Vermonters’ fear,
through unexamined reiterating of the Vermont Attorney General’s
politically-motivated anti-Abenaki assertions.
The core of the editorial’s argument is that the “true”
American Abenakis left for Canada many years ago, and Vermont should not bestow
recognition on a people, who under this explicit logic, are genetic, cultural, and political frauds. How can ethnic
frauds be “important friends and neighbors” to other Vermonters? Perhaps if
Vermont can somehow destroy Abenaki ethnic credibility, it can protect itself
from the “land-grubbing casino Indian,” the only pejorative ethnic stereotype
permitted today.
Contrary to the editor’s assertions, the Vermont Abenakis
never became extinct; archaeologists and ethno-historians have proved this.
State recognition has never led to federal recognition. Casinos cannot be built
without state legislative and statutory approval and oversight. Casinos cannot
do any form of gaming prohibited by state law. Land claims lead to monetary
settlements, not land taking. These truths are easily discovered by anyone with
a rudimentary awareness of Vermont ethno-history and U.S. Indian law.
Vermont prides itself as being in the forefront of human
rights. However, a state (and its media) that re-writes an ethnic minority out
of its own history, in order to protect the socio-political status-quo, is
decidedly behind-the-times. I hope that Vermonters will be enlightened enough
to reject ethnic fear-mongering and support state recognition.
FREDERICK M. WISEMAN
Swanton, Vermont
April 18, 2005
The Burlington Free Press Newspaper, Pages 1B-3B
By Terri Hallenbeck – Free Press Staff Writer
Abenaki State Recognition
bill on track in Senate:
Frederick Matthew Wiseman, chairman of the Humanities Department at Johnson State College and
director of the Abenaki Tribal Museum, said he will make a pitch for the state recognition legislation before Judiciary.
The bill [VT state recognition of the Abenakis]
would go a long way to help Abenaki youths obtain college educations by making
them eligible for scholarships, he said.
April 27, 2005
The St. Albans Messenger Newspaper, Page 01
Abenaki meeting in
Swanton set for Thursday
The Governor’s
Advisory Commission on Native American Affairs will hold a meeting Thursday
to discuss growing concerns related to the Vermont
Attorney General’s Office and Vermont State Recognition of the group in Swanton, Franklin County, Vermont.
According to a Press Release issued on Tuesday, “The
Commission will discuss form an educative and cultural perspective the
assertions that the modern Vermont “Abenaki” community is not based on genealogical, cultural
and political descendancy from the original 18th century native community of Mississquoi.”
Also to be discussed are concerns that the Vermont State
Recognition necessarily leads to federal recognition, casinos and land claims.
The gathering will begin with a screening of a new educational film [“Against the
Darkness” presentation by Frederick Matthew Wiseman] discussing 19th
and 20th century Abenaki survival.
The meeting will take place in the basement of the old Swanton Elementary School, on
Church Street, in Swanton, Vermont, at 1:00 p.m.
For more information, contact Chief April (nee: St. Francis) Rushlow –
Merrill at 868-2559 or Frederick Matthew Wiseman at 868-3808.
April 28, 2005
The St. Albans Messenger Newspaper, Pages 01-05
By Lee J. Kahrs – Messenger Staff Writer
Judiciary Panel
Hears From Abenaki Backers: Land-Claim, Casino Fears Dominate Committee Hearing
The Vermont State
Attorney General’s Office through Chief
Assistant Attorney General Bill Griffin, has strongly opposed Vermont State
Recognition of the Abenaki, citing fear of land claims and casinos.
Bill Griffin
has based his testimony against Bill S.
117 on a December 2002 statement [244 page
report by William H. Sorrell, AG, and Eve Jacobs – Carnahan] issued
by his office, which concluded that there is not enough evidence to support the
St. Francis – Sokoki band’s federal Bureau
of Indian Affairs (BIA) Petition for Recognition.
Bill Griffin
has cited a “lack of documentary evidence” that the Abenaki have existed in
Vermont continuously since the 1700’s.
Several witnesses, including College Professors [James E. Petersen
and Dr. Frederick Matthew Wiseman] and Archaeologists [James B. Petersen and
David Skinas] have disputed the claim of the State’s Attorney General’s
Office.
Jim Peterson, Professor and Chairman of the University of Vermont Anthropology Department, testified on Wednesday and rejected Bill Griffin’s argument.
“There is copious evidence of native people from one end
of the state to the other,” James B.
Petersen told the committee.
The Professor, Jim Petersen, has used strong language in
his criticism of Bill Griffin and the Attorney General’s Office, calling its
stance “extremist.”
He gave his opinion of the December
2002 statement [244 page report by William H. Sorrell, AG, and Eve
Jacobs – Carnahan] issued by the Attorney General’s Office against Abenaki recognition:
“When I saw the December 2002
[244 page
report by William H. Sorrell, AG, and Eve Jacobs – Carnahan] document,
I found it to be an amateurish piece of work,” Jim Petersen said, “I found it
to be a misguided effort.” SEE BELOW *****
Frederick Matthew
Wiseman, Ph.D., of Swanton, Abenaki
tribal historian and of Abenaki descent,
is Chairman and Professor of
Anthropology at Johnson State
College (JSC).
Fred M. Wiseman
has testified at previous hearings and did so again on Wednesday.
While Assistant
Attorney General William “Bill”
Griffin has cited land claims of the Penobscot
tribe in the State of Maine as
reason to deny recognition, Frederick M.
Wiseman disputed that argument. Dr.
Wiseman said that the State of Maine was a Trustee of Native lands and
illegally transferred the titles of state lands held in trust, which gave the
tribe legal justification for a land claim.
“Bill Griffin’s
information is misrepresented for political purposes in order to instill fear
in Vermont officials and voters,” Frederick
Matthew Wiseman stated.
*****
March 08, 1995
The University of Maine at Farmington
Department of Social Sciences and Business
Anthropology, Archaeology, Business, Economics,
Geography, History, Political Science, Sociology
Archaeology Research Center, 17 Quebec Street,
Farmington, Maine 04938-1507
By James B. Petersen,
UMF Archaeology Research Center Director
To: John Scott Moody, RFD, in Sharon, Vermont 05065
Cc: Michael Delaney and M. Heckenberger
Dear John:
I have been meaning to write to you for a while now,
having gotten a copy of the Boucher site feature list from Michael Heckenberger
around the beginning of the New Year. In that regard, this is an authoritative
list within the limits of available information; in other words, while we may
be able to clarify it more it [sic] in the future through puzzling over the
available (but woefully complete) records, this list is about as accurate an
inventory as we will ever have. Notably, you will see that a number of feature
numbers have been dropped due to duplication numbers, a non-cultural
(non-burial) origin, etc. As I told you on the phone when we spoke before Christmas,
I will be happy to help you clarify any of this, or other Boucher site matters,
if necessary.
Secondly, I have just written a letter to Chief Homer
Walter St. Francis Sr. to inform him and other members of the Abenaki community
about our tentative plans to conduct a UVM Department of Anthropology
archaeology field school at the Winooski site this coming summer. I have copied
you on this letter, along with various other people.
Finally, as I mentioned to you on the phone a few months
ago [ca. January 1995], I am curious if
you or anyone else can help me learn more about a long-standing (but unproven) “family story”
that some of my French Canadian ancestors were part Native American in heritage.
In particular, my paternal grandmother, Emma
Mayhew (Maheu), was all French Canadian, although born in Vermont, and two or three of her grandparents may have been part Native American
according to our very incomplete information, possibly even
Abenaki given that they were all from southern Quebec.
Specifically, my grandmother’s maternal grandfather, Louis Ouimette (or Wimett as they later
spelled it), was born about 1850-1852 in “Saint Mary,” Quebec, and he died
about 1889 in Addison County, Vermont, from TB; I think Louis’ father was Moses Ouimette and possibly Louis was
born in Saint Marie, Marieville, or something like that in Quebec.
Another of my grandmother’s ancestors, her paternal
grandmother, Denise Marceille, was
born in Quebec and is rumored to have been part Native
American too, but we know less about her origin, birth date, etc.
Finally, my grandmother’s paternal grandfather, Sifroi Maheu (later Mayhew in Vermont), was born ca. 1840-1845 in St. Simon, Quebec, in relatively close proximity to Odanak,
but it is less clear about any Native ancestry among his relatives.
Anything you can tell me about
the possible Abenaki (or other Native American) heritage of any of these
people would be much appreciated. Like other Vermonters, my family
has been long intrigued by these rumors, but has not really had a way to check
them out.
Best wishes to you in your current endeavors!
Sincerely,
James B. Petersen, Director
UMF Archaeology Research Center
Enclosures
Cc: M. Delaney
M. Heckenberger
Of course, the late James E. Petersen DID NOT mention that this genealogical connection of his to the Ouimette's tied to Frederick Matthew Wiseman's paternal Ouimette line, WAS PERHAPS the very cause of his (Petersen's) BIAS against the Dec. 2002 Report.
April 29, 2005
The St. Albans Messenger Newspaper, Pages 01-05
By Messenger Staff
Commission
Unlikely to back Wiseman film
SWANTON VILLAGE – The Governor’s Commission on Native American Affairs will likely not
take an official position on a film produced by a member of the commission and
the Abenaki Tribal Council.
Frederick Matthew
Wiseman, of Swanton, Franklin County, Vermont, Abenaki tribal historian,
screened his 36-minute film “Against
the Darkness” for the Commission on Native American Affairs during a
meeting in Swanton Village on Thursday.
The video traces Abenaki ancestry and descent through
members of the tribe and scholarly points of view, but it is also laced with
political overtones about the Abenaki community’s struggle to gain Vermont
State and Federal Recognition under former Vermont Governor Howard Dean’s
Administration.
Frederick Matthew
Wiseman produced the video, which is still in its first stages of
development. His wife [Anna Marie (nee: Roy) York - Wiseman, Aaron Todd York’s mother] directed
the film. His step-son [Aaron Todd York]
helped develop the project.
Frederick Matthew
Wiseman owns the movie and hopes to turn it into a DVD that would become an
educational tool, perhaps with a complementary CD-ROM. He is seeking funds to
continue the project and help distribute it. He hopes to earn an audience with Vermont Public Television (VPT).
Frederick Matthew Wiseman said
he could obtain grants more easily if a group such as the Governor’s Commission
on Native American Affairs endorsed the film.
“You are the portal,” he said.
But some Commission
on Native American Affairs members, though they admired the film, hinted it
would be inappropriate to take any position on the film “Against the Darkness,”
because it is “meant to be a persuasive piece,” as described by Steve Gold,
commission member.
The commission, according
to its charge outlined in an Executive Order by then-Vermont-Governor Madeleine May Kunin, cannot take a political stance on issues, according to Jeff Benay, Chairman of the said Commission on Native American Affairs.
Some commission members suggested that Frederick
Matthew Wiseman seek the stamp of approval he desires from the Abenaki Tribal Council.
“There are other portals out there,” Steve Gold told Frederick
Matthew Wiseman.
The commission did not vote on the film, members said
they admired the work put into it.
“It’s fantastic,” said Steven Bourgeois, commission member. “Anytime you can document history like
that, you’re doing a service.”
May 06, 2005
The St. Albans Messenger Newspaper, Pages 01-05
By Lisa Rathke – Associated Press Writer
Senate Panel
Continues Hearing on Abenaki Bill
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) – A Senate committee tried Wednesday
to carve out what affect Vermont State Recognition of the Abenaki Indians would
mean for the tribe and for Vermont.
In a second day of testimony, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard from representatives of the
Abenaki, scholars and state officials about a bill [S.
117] that would set up a process under which the Abenaki could be
officially recognized by the State of Vermont.
“I don’t appreciate my ancestry being
analyzed and dissected and told I’m not a Native American,” said Frederick Matthew Wiseman.
May 12, 2005
The Burlington Free Press Newspaper, Pages 1A-5A
Abenaki
recognition gains support: Bill advances further than previous efforts
MONTPELIER – The bid for Abenaki recognition won support
from a second legislative body Wednesday, as the Senate Judiciary Committee
voted 5-0 for the bill.
The full Senate is expected to vote on the bill Friday.
Frederick Matthew
Wiseman, tribal historian for the St. Francis/Sokoki Band of Abenaki in
Swanton, Franklin County, Vermont, hailed
Wednesday’s vote as the furthest that Abenaki recognition legislation has ever
gone.
“I’ve been working with Julius
Canns on this for years and I’m very glad it’s come this far,”
he said, referring to the late Senator Julius Canns,
R-Caledonia, who repeatedly introduced Abenaki
recognition resolutions.
May 14, 2005
The St. Albans Messenger
Newspaper, Pages 01-05
By Lisa Rathke –
Associated Press Writer
Vermont Senate Approves Abenaki Measure: Recognition
Wins Preliminary OK
Frederick Matthew Wiseman, who has presented evidence to lawmakers about the existence of the Abenaki, praised the committees for independently reviewing the issues.
Frederick Matthew Wiseman said the late Vermont Senator Julius Canns, R-Caledonia,
first talked to him about Vermont State
Recognition in 1996 or 1997.
Vermont Senator Julius Canns died in February [2005].
“It’s a shame that Julius Canns had to pass before this
had to happen, Fred M. Wiseman said.
June 01, 2005
The St. Albans Messenger Newspaper, Page 04
By Richard Cowperthwait
Has their time
come?
With a Native American presence in the region for some
10,000 years, it most certainly is an area rich in history. And the last three
decades have been a particularly noteworthy time for the Abenaki. The first two
chapters in “The Vermont Encyclopedia” are on the Abenaki and Abenaki Heritage Days both written by Frederick
Matthew Wiseman. He is tribal historian for the St. Francis/ Sokoki
Band of Abenaki and a Johnson State College professor who was elated by the
recent Vermont Senate passage of the Abenaki recognition bill.
Frederick Matthew Wiseman, who also has been a driving
force behind the Abenaki Tribal Museum in Swanton, referred in the Abenaki
chapter to this “period of Native American ethnic renewal in the 1970’s …
June 11-12, 2005
The Le DeVoir Lebre de Penser
Newspaper, Page 13
By Denis Lord of the Le DeVoir
Lebre de Penser Newspaper
Abenaki - A nation across borders
The Abenaki
Museum is the oldest museum institution in Quebec, Canada. Their Native
ancestral territory is now divided by
the border; the Abenaki of Canada
and those of the United States have relatively weak ties, and at best those
ties are informal politically-speaking.
A troubling past at Swanton, Vermont 15 minutes
from the Quebec border, the Abenaki Tribal
Museum is the only museum devoted to American Abenaki. "This is not a professional
or sophisticated museum,” said Frederick Matthew Wiseman, its curator and
Creator. This is a museum for the community, which works with many
volunteers. This museum is composed of the private collection of the native
doctor Fred Wiseman PhD in Archaeology. After teaching at MIT in Boston, Massachusetts Dr. Wiseman, who now teaches at Johnson State College, moved to
Vermont, where the Swanton-based Abenaki community had expressed its desire to
have a “museum”. "I invested all the money I earned doing consultations
and conferences to acquire artifacts from Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and
southern Quebec. I was also donated,” said Fred
M. Wiseman. While in most of the “museum’s rooms, contents such an owl
feather fan, or ceremony caps, and masks – are genuine; some of them, such as
clothing, are replicas, the originals have
been entrusted to the Museum of
Civilization and the McCord Museum
in Montreal, for reasons of safety and
conservation. A portion of the artifacts on display at the Abenaki Tribal
Museum are rather unusual in such a place.
Based on the “theme of fire” … in addition to working with Canadian and Vermont museums mentioned
above, Dr. Frederick Matthew Wiseman
during this summer is the guest
curator of the Abenaki Museum at Odanak on the shores of the Saint-François River. Mr. Frederick Mathew Wiseman has loaned
the museum several pieces from his collection, tomahawks, traditional clothing
and wampum - set pieces with beads that were used to sign treaties and trade.
All will be explained in the framework of the "theme of fire", adopted for the 2005 summer season by all
museum institutions (museums, interpretation centers, galleries, etc.) Mauricie
and Centre-du-Quebec.
"We are talking,” says Nicole Obomsawin, Director of the Abenaki Museum, not so much the historic fire,
traditions and symbolism associated with it, but the fire, as a gathering place.
In Odanak the Great Fire revives the alliance between the Nations of the St.
Lawrence, the Great Lakes and the Maritimes. We can admire chief medals,
ornaments and weapons not only from the Abenaki but the Mohawk, Mic-Macs,
etc."
June 24, 2005
The St. Albans Messenger
Newspaper, Pages 01-05
By Leon Thompson – Messenger
Staff Writer
Native panelist resigns in protest: Frederick Matthew Wiseman claims Vermont Governor Jim Douglas giving cold shoulder to talks, Abenaki future
Jeff Benay reluctantly accepted Frederick Matthew Wiseman‘s
resignation on one condition: That Frederick Matthew Wiseman converse with Abenaki
Chief April (nee:
St. Francis) Rushlow - Merrill and reconsider before he officially
steps aside. Frederick Matthew Wiseman agreed to that stipulation.
Speaking with the St. Albans Messenger Newspaper
yesterday, however, April (nee: St. Francis) Rushlow - Merrill said, “I don’t blame Fred. I understand where he’s coming from. The Abenaki
feel the same way he does. Why do we even have a commission, if the state says
we don’t exist?”
In his two-page letter dated June 23, 2005, Frederick
Matthew Wiseman – an Abenaki tribal historian and Johnson State College
professor – said he and other scholars agreed they should meet with Vermont
Governor Jim Douglas after the governor said in a radio interview earlier this
year that he wanted to learn more about the nature and efforts of state recognition.
Frederick Matthew Wiseman said he and other professors have made at least three attempts to meet with
the Vermont governor but received lukewarm or, at times, no
response.
“Howard Dean and Assistant
Attorney General William Griffin, the architects of Vermont’s official
anti-Abenaki position would, for their own purposes, keep open lines of
communication with Vermont’s scholars such as myself,” Fred M. Wiseman wrote. “Apparently Vermont Governor Jim Douglas
will not.”
Neal Lunderville,
a spokesman for Vermont Governor Jim Douglas, said yesterday that the governor
wants to work on issues important to all Native Americans.
“It’s unfortunate that Mr.
Wiseman has decided to leave the commission,” Neal Lunderville said. “The governor takes the commission very
seriously. This office is in regular communication with the
commission and Chairman Jeff Benay.”
Fred M. Wiseman
told commissioners his resignation is about the academic community’s struggle
to earn an audience with Vermont Governor Jim Douglas, not the Abenakis’ ongoing
struggle to obtain Vermont State Recognition.
“I’ve never been on an Advisory
Commission where the governor wouldn’t listen to me as a scholar,” Fred M. Wiseman said. “These are not
trivial voices who’ve tried to set the record straight.”
In his letter of resignation, Frederick M. Wiseman charged Vermont
Governor Jim Douglas with abandoning the neutrality toward State Recognition
that he showed when he met with the commission at his Montpelier, Vermont office
in April 2004. At that time – the first time a
sitting governor met with the commission – Governor Jim Douglas said he would
not side with the Abenaki nor with the Attorney General’s Office until the
Federal Recognition process ended.
April (nee: St. Francis) Rushlow –
Merrill said the Abenaki Petition
for Federal Recognition with the Bureau
of Indian Affairs was to take a year from the time it was activated in February 2005.
April Merrill, Frederick M.
Wiseman and other Abenaki leaders are worried some of Vermont Governor Jim
Douglas’ comments in recent interviews show he has leaned toward the mindset of
Assistant Attorney General William
Griffin, who opposes Vermont State Recognition out of fears it could lead
to Federal Recognition and, subsequently, land claims and casinos.
Vermont Governor Jim Douglas
and his legal counsel also asked Vermont State Senators to set aside the bill [S. 117] as they heard testimony on it this past
Legislative session. The legislation awaits House action, amidst strong rumors
of a veto from Vermont Governor Jim Douglas.
The Vermont Governor’s staff
and members of his Administration have insisted he is still neutral on the
matter, but April Merrill isn’t so confident. She said her relationship with
Jim Douglas and his Administration has soured since she shook hands with him in
Montpelier, Vermont not more than a year ago.
The land claims and casinos
fears are bogus, she explained, because existing federal laws prevent both form
happening in Vermont.
“How many times do we have to
explain that so people understand? April
Merrill asked. “Let’s get to more important issues. I have human bones
(burial ground in Alburg, Vermont) that have been unearthed for nearly five
years, and some of our kids can’t go to
college because they can’t obtain Native American scholarships. But all I
hear about are land claims and casinos.”
Frederick M. Wiseman was one of
three commissioners who were appointed by the Abenaki Tribal Council, which
means that group is responsible for filling his vacancy, according to
commission chairman Jeff Benay.
“We felt your contribution was above and beyond,” Jeff Benay told Fred M.
Wiseman. “This is difficult. This is difficult for me and the commission.”
“I’m not going away,” Wiseman
said. “I’m just working in other capacities.”
August 15, 2005
The St. Albans Messenger Newspaper, Pages 01-05
By Lee J. Kahrs – Messenger Staff Writer – with AP
reports
Professor slain;
Abenaki lose friend, advocate: Peterson among those working to secure state
tribal recognition
Fred M. Wiseman,
of Swanton, is the Abenaki tribal historian. He is chair and professor of
Anthropology at Johnson State College. He has known the late James Peterson for
about 15 years, personally and professionally.
“Jim was a great scholar, very meticulous, a brilliant
mind, and a good friend,” Frederick M.
Wiseman said in a telephone interview this morning.
Frederick Matthew
Wiseman said James Peterson was responsible for assembling a panel of fellow
archaeologists interested in Abenaki history at the Vermont Statehouse in 2002.
That meeting supported the most recent bid for recognition with the help of
organized, scholarly research.
“He got us talking to each other for the first time,” Fred M. Wiseman said. “It was very
important, a kind of catalyst.”
The state Attorney General’s Office has been strongly
opposed to recognition of the Abenaki, citing fear of land claims and casinos,
a view shared by Vermont Governor Jim Douglas.
James Peterson strongly disagreed with Chief Assistant
Attorney General William “Bill” Griffin’s assertion that there was a lack of
evidence that the Abenaki have existed in Vermont continuously since the
1700’s.
“There is copious evidence of native people from one end
of the state of Vermont to the other,” Jim Peterson testified at a March 16, 2005 Senate Committee Hearing. “I have been
driven to testify again after hearing the inaccurate and misleading testimony
offered by Bill Griffin.”
William “Bill” Griffin based his testimony on a 2002
statement issued by his office, which concluded that there is not enough
evidence to support the tribe’s federal petition for federal recognition.
Jim Peterson vehemently disagreed in his testimony,
calling Bill Griffin’s position extremist.
“Virtually no one in the academic community supports the
extremism of the Assistant Attorney General’s position against the Abenaki,”
Jim Peterson said. “I offer my strong support of
the legislative action proposed in recognizing the Vermont Abenaki based on my
professional background.”
SEE Petersen, James B., and
Joshua R. Toney ~ 2000 Three Native
American Ceramic Vessels from Western Vermont: The Colchester and Bolton Jars
Revisited. Journal of Vermont Archaeology 3:1–16 regarding Frederick
Matthew Wiseman
ALSO SEE and REVIEW:
March 08, 1995
Letter-of-Inquiry by James B. Petersen, UMF Archaeology Research Center
Director
To: John Scott Moody, RFD, in
Sharon, Vermont 05065
Cc: Michael Delaney and M. Heckenberger
In his Senate testimony last spring, Jim Peterson said
his doctorate in anthropology “was awarded more than 20 years ago on the basis
of an archaeological study of prehistoric Native people in Vermont.”
Frederick M. Wiseman said James
Peterson was completely committed to the quest for Abenaki recognition.
“Through our attempts at
recognition, he’s been right there with us,” Wiseman said. “He was
very interested in getting the word out about Abenaki history.”
August 17, 2005
The Chicago Tribune (IL) Newspaper
James Petersen:
Archeologist dies in robbery after years of risky work
He also pushed for state
recognition of the Abenaki tribe in Vermont, arguing that artifacts proved the
Abenakis' constant presence in the region. The state is in a continuing dispute
with the Abenaki over formal recognition.
August 22, 2005
The (Maine) Lewiston Sun Journal, Pages B1-B3
Hundreds mourn
former UMF anthropologist: Family, friends say slain professor led by example
Mourners praised Jim Petersen for his anthropological
contributions:
Acting as a champion of Vermont’s Abenaki tribe
Fred Wiseman, Chairman of Humanities at Johnson State
College, praised Jim Petersen
for his work to help the Abenaki tribe gain official State
Recognition. James Petersen,
Wiseman said, moved beyond intellectual impartiality and learned that history
has sides, a discovery that allowed him to move from working on American
Indians to working with them and finally for them.
“This work will endure,” said Frederick Matthew Wiseman, who also is a tribal historian for the St. Francis/Sokoki band of Abenaki in
Swanton, Franklin County, Vermont.
August 23, 2005
Burlington Free Press Newspaper, Pages 1A-11A
By Adam Silverman – Free Press Staff Writer
‘Here, in us, to
stay’ … Hundreds pay tribute to slain UVM professor
Frederick Matthew
Wiseman, chairman of Humanities at Johnson State College, praised James
Petersen for his work to help the Abenaki tribe gain official state
recognition. Petersen, Fred M. Wiseman said, moved beyond intellectual
impartiality and learned that “history has sides,” a discovery that allowed him
to move from working “on” American Indians to working with them and finally for
them.
“This work will endure,” said Frederick M. Wiseman, who
also is a tribal historian for the St. Francis/ Sokoki band of Abenaki in
Swanton, Franklin County, Vermont.
September 23, 2005
The St. Albans Messenger Newspaper, Pages 01-05
By Leon Thompson – Messenger Staff Writer
Contact with
Governor James Douglas gives Abenaki new hope: Wiseman remains on commission
SWANTON VILLAGE – A meeting between Native American
Affairs Commission Chairman Jeff Benay and Vermont Governor James Douglas has
prevented a longtime panel member from jumping ship.
Frederick Matthew
Wiseman, who announced his
resignation from the Native American
Commission on Native American Affairs in June of this year, told commission
members and Abenaki Chief April St. Francis – Merrill on Thursday that the one
hour session between Jeff Benay and Governor Jim Douglas influenced his
decision and gave him hope for future progress.
“That meeting had a lot to do with it,” Frederick M.
Wiseman said.
Frederick Matthew Wiseman, a Johnson State College
professor and Abenaki tribal historian, originally intended to resign because
of the Academic Community’s struggle to earn an audience with Vermont Governor
James Douglas, NOT the Abenakis’ ongoing struggle to obtain Vermont State
Recognition.
In recent months, Frederick Matthew Wiseman, April St.
Francis – Merrill and other Abenaki representatives have charged the Vermont
Governor Jim Douglas with abandoning the neutrality he showed toward Vermont
State Recognition when he met with the commission at his Montpelier office in April 2004.
At that time – the first time a sitting Vermont governor
met the commission – Vermont Governor Jim Douglas said he would not side with
the Abenaki or the Attorney General’s Office until the Federal Recognition
process ends, which may not be until next year.
On Wednesday, the Vermont Governor James Douglas, a Republican, emphasized to Jeff Benay, that he and his Administration work exclusively through
the Attorney General’s Office, led by Democrat William “Bill” Sorrell.
Assistant Attorney General
William “Bill” Griffin has said publicly that the Missisquoi Band of Abenaki
does not exist. He fears Vermont State Recognition would lead to
Federal Recognition and, subsequently, to land claims and casinos.
April (nee: St.
Francis) Rushlow – Merrill, Frederick
Matthew Wiseman, and other Abenaki leaders have worried that some of
Vermont Governor James Douglas’ comments in recent interviews show he leaned
toward Assistant Attorney General Bill Griffin’s mindset.
According to Jeff Benay’s
account of his sit-down with Governor Jim Douglas – which the Governor’s Legal Counsel, Suzanne Young, also attended – the Vermont Governor acknowledged that members of the commission and
Abenaki Tribal Council are of Abenaki ancestry.
Jim Douglas also
made Suzanne Young Jeff Benay’s contact in his Administration and said the State of Vermont would assist and support the Abenaki Self – Help
Association, Inc.’d, because the Abenaki are one of the poorest
populations in the state.
Tight and slashed budgets have hurt the Abenaki Self – Help Association (ASHAI), which has gone from nearly 15
employees to just a handful of employees, Jeff
Benay said.
He was “pleasantly surprised” after he left the Vermont
Governor’s Office.
“Honestly, there was a sense that there was much to
learn,” Jeff Benay said. “I think
we’ve got somebody who really wants to learn. I looked into Vermont Governor
Douglas’ eyes and saw someone who was genuinely interested in what we need to
do.”
Attempts to reach Jason
Gibbs, the Governor’s Press
Secretary, were unsuccessful as of press time today.
Jeff Benay said the Commission on Native American Affairs
would “take a step backwards” by losing Frederick Matthew Wiseman.
“The loss of Fred on this commission would be very
difficult for us to deal with,” Jeff Benay said. “There is still work to be
done, and Fred is a large part of it.”
Jeff Benay also thanked April St. Francis – Rushlow –
Merrill yesterday for staying on the commission, even though she, too,
seriously considered walking away from the commission. Her position was that if
the State of Vermont doesn’t feel the Abenaki exist, a commission is
unnecessary.
“I respect the fact that you stuck it out as long as you
have,” said Jeff Benay.
September 23, 2005
The St. Albans Messenger Newspaper, Pages 01-05
By Leon Thompson – Messenger Staff Writer
Commission OK’s
film “Against the Darkness” created by Frederick Matthew Wiseman, after
‘politics’ are removed
SWANTON VILLAGE – The Governor’s Commission on Native
American Affairs has changed its stance on an educational film about the tribe
produced by Frederick Matthew Wiseman, tribal historian.
The commission got a second, revised look at Frederick M.
Wiseman’s movie, “Against the Darkness,” during a meeting Thursday in Swanton,
Franklin County, Vermont.
At a previous session, the commission told Fred M.
Wiseman it could not endorse his film, because it was too political. The executive order that formed
the commission prohibits it from engaging in explicitly political activity.
“Against the Darkness” originally
contained critical [negative] references to
the Howard Dean Governor’s Administration’s stance on the Abenaki. During a
revision, however, Frederick Matthew Wiseman removed the overtly political
material from his film.
“Everything we do has a political overtone, but that was
very political,” Jeff Benay, commission chairman, said of Fred M. Wiseman’s
original film. Yesterday, however, Jeff Benay and other commission members said
they could back the toned-down version.
“This is really very different than what we saw before,”
Jeff Benay said.
Frederick Matthew Wiseman, potentially with the
commission’s help, hopes to distribute “Against the Darkness” to schools,
libraries, colleges and museums throughout the State of Vermont,
both in VHS and DVD format.
February 05, 2006 [See
December 01, 2005]
702 Gilead Brook
Road in Randolph, Vermont at 1:00 PM
The first Abenaki
Unity Meeting since 1995 is held it Randolph, VT.
Those in attendance were:
Charles Delaney - Mazipskwik
band
Peter Newell - NH
Intertribal Native American Council
Howard F. Knight, Jr. - Cowasuck Traditional Council of the Abenaki
Kimberly Merriam - Secretary
of Cowasuck Traditional Council
Roger Longtoe Sheehan - El Nu Abenaki Tribe
Nancy Cote & Dawn Macie - Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki
Yannick Mercier - Mena'sen
Band Cowasuck Abenaki of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
(He was absent due to car problems on the way)
Melody Walker - Seven
Fires Leader
Fred Wiseman - Historian
of the St. Francis-Sokoki band
Jeff Benay - Chairman
of VT Governors Commission of Native American Affairs
Burton Decar - Spiritual Leader - St. Francis/Sokoki band
Brian Chenevert - Cowasuck
Traditional Council - Record
Keeper
Nancy Lyons - Cowasuck
Traditional Council - Meeting
Organizer
February 24, 2006
The Times Argus Newspaper (Rutland)
By Anne Galloway Times Argus Staff
First Nation art
from a Native American point of view
None of the stereotypes hold in the Helen Day Art Center's exhibition of Native American art from the
First Nation peoples of the Northeast. And that's because our pop culture
understanding of the native arts is based on a pan-Indian lineup of totem
poles, patterned rugs, eagle-feather headdresses, buffalo skin loin cloths and
fringed pants, and heavily beaded clothing from tribes that lived throughout
North America.
Frederick
Matthew Wiseman, a professor at Johnson State College, worked with students to fashion two traditional headdresses, one composed of a deer pelt,
the other of eagle down, both with beaded velvet headbands.
March 24, 2006
The Burlington Free Press Newspaper
7:00 p.m.
Frederick Matthew
Wiseman, PhD. has a screening of his “Against the Darkness: Abenaki Material
Culture, Forensics and Sovereignty” at the Helen Day Art Center on School Street in Stowe, Vermont
$5.00
April 04, 2006
Abenaki Unity Meeting
(Left to right) David Stewart
Smith (Pennacook); Frederick Matthew Wiseman
(Missisquoi Nation); Debbie Bezio (Clan of the Hawk Band), Howard Franklin Knight Jr. (Cowascuk);
Dawn Macie (Nulhegan Band); Helen Sawyer, Jackie Martin (Yvon Mercier's wife-to-be);
Nancy Cote ( Nulhegan Band); Yvon Mercier (Sherbrook Band); Nettie Demar, Nancy
Lyons (Cowasuck Band), Jim Sawyer; Mabel Victoria
Billie (nee: Burton) Largy ( Nulhegan Band);
Peter Newell (NH Intertribal); Roger Longtoe Sheehan
(El Nu Tribe); Mike Plant (El-Nu Tribe).
April 06, 2006
The
Burlington Free Press Newspaper
By Terri
Hallenbeck – Free Press Staff Writer
Abenaki
Recognition to be Official Today
“I’m ecstatic,” Frederick Matthew Wiseman, tribal historian for the St. Francis/Sokoki Band of Abenaki in Swanton, said after the vote.
Frederick
Matthew Wiseman set up a video camera on the Legislative
House floor Wednesday
to capture the historic moment, just as he did last year in the Legislative Senate. This time he came with a
tripod, a longer boom microphone and a second camera. His wife, Anna Roy, was in the balcony taping
from that vantage point.
Fred
M. Wiseman was
watching closely to see what Janet Ancel would do. He remembered
vividly her statement in 1995: “The position of
the state is that in the late 1700’s the Abenaki ceased functioning as a tribe
and although they have regrouped, it still doesn’t meet the legal test.”
The
statement, proving the state’s intention to fight the Abenaki, was a low point,
Fred
M. Wiseman said.
That made her remarks Wednesday in favor of recognition especially important,
he said.
April 06, 2006
The St.
Albans Messenger Newspaper, Pages 01-05
By Ross
Sneyd – Associated Press – with Messenger reports
House
Vote Puts Abenaki a Step Closer
MONTPELIER,
Vt. (AP) – Descendants of some of Vermont’s original settlers moved closer
Wednesday to winning official Vermont State Recognition from Vermont State
Government.
The House
Legislature voted to extend formal recognition on the various Abenaki Indian
tribes that exist in Vermont, a status that members of the Abenaki have sought
for many years.
A final
vote on the bill S.117 is scheduled for
Thursday in the Legislative House and
differences in its bill would have to be reconciled with a bill that passed in
the Legislative Senate.
Frederick
Matthew Wiseman, Abenaki
tribal historian, was in Montpelier, Vermont yesterday and planned to be there
for the bill S.117’s final passage today. Fred M. Wiseman said he was “heartened” by
the state recognition and expected hundreds of Abenaki from all over the
country would attend the ceremony when Vermont Governor Jim Douglas signs the
bill into law.
“It’s been
a lot of work over these years,” Fred M. Wiseman, of Swanton, Vermont, said.
“It’s all getting behind us now. It’s a sense of relief, to say the least.”
April 06, 2006
The
Burlington Free Press Newspaper, Page 4A
By Terri
Hallenbeck – Free Press Staff Writer
Deadline
loons for federal appeal
Frederick
Matthew Wiseman, tribal
historian for the St.
Francis/ Sokoki Band of Abenaki in Swanton, said Wednesday that he is working feverishly
on his part of the response to show
artifacts from every decade between 1790 and 2000.
He said the group’s efforts are constrained by a lack of money.
April 2006
From: Carollee Reynolds
To: Luke Willard
Thanks Luke and everyone. I had a talk with Burton Decarr and a talk with Fred
Wiseman and met Harold and Nancy Lloyd, as well as my friend who belongs to the
other group and I guess it was too much brain stimulation-- as well as frustration.
I used to have a Missisquoi Card and then they asked
for more documentation and their genealogist Chris Roy told me that my three
Lampman lines, Partlow’s (same line as Aprils' mother and Brent Reader) were in
Vermont too long to be native.
What an idiot.
So later I did some more research and came up
with my Partlow ancestor who was a documented Indian in civil war records of
the town of Alburgh.
April 15, 2006
PRESS RELEASE - For Immediate Release
Contact: Nancy Lyons
Telephone: 802-234 [redacted]
Abenaki Councils in Unity move Forward
Historically the Abenaki Nation territory consisted of Vermont, New Hampshire, Southern Quebec, Western Maine, Eastern New York and North Western Massachusetts. Within this territory are many bands historically and many are alive and well today. In the last few months many of these councils have been meeting in Unity to plan for the future and help pave way for the generations to come.
Councils and Bands have been focusing on programs to help preserve and make available to the youth and to the next generations issues that have always been on the minds of many. Jeff Benay, Vermont Commissioner of Native American Affairs, Fred Wiseman historian, David Stewart Smith, Penacook and historian, Peter Newell, Inter-tribal Council, Roger Longtoe, El-Nu Tribe, Howard Knight, Cowasuck, Yvon and Yannick Mercier of Sherbrooke, PQ are all pooling together the ancient history of their area and research to share and document for the future. All the bands above with the Nulhegan Band and several other groups are working to help Unify the bond between their band members as one Nation working for the better of all. Elders who are part of the Councils in Unity bring a spiritual awareness all focusing on the importance of brotherhood, responsibility, peace and ancient protocol.
Fred Wiseman with the help of Jeff Benay and the Seven Fires has recently produced a DVD Out of the Darkness which is a work in progress. With a projected finish date of 2009, it is Wiseman’s ambition to work with all the historians, re-enactor's, families and leaders in Unity to complete this documentary film, which will give a good overall perception of the entire Abenaki Nation.
May 03, 2006
Sachem Speaks –
Our Future
Kwai kwai Nidobak (Hello Friends),
The Cowasuck
Traditional Band Council would like to extend its thanks and gratitude to
the many people who have made this day of recognition possible. Kchi Oliwni
(Great Thanks) to VT Governor James Douglas for signing this bill today, (Great Thanks) to VT Governor James Douglas
for signing this bill today, (Great Thanks)
to VT Governor James Douglas for signing this bill today, (Great Thanks) to VT Governor James Douglas
for signing this bill today, (Great
Thanks) to VT Governor James Douglas for signing this bill today, the VT House
with a very special thank you to Francis
Brooks and committee along with the Senate for passing the bill and the
late Senator Julius Canns who worked
hard to introduce the bill that would become S. 117. We would also like to
thank those who fought hard to get this bill passed and took the time to
testify on behalf of the bill such as Jeff Benay, Fred Wiseman and Howard F.
Knight Jr. At this time would like to take a moment and remember those who are
no longer with us physically and cannot be here to see this momentous event.
Those such as Chief Walter Watso,
Chief Homer Walter St. Francis Sr., Chief Joe
Pero and Darryl Larocque who
worked tirelessly on the front lines to put the Abenaki front and center. Here
today, as a show of our appreciation for the years of hard work, we would like
to honor Chief Homer Walter St. Francis Sr. by presenting his wife Patsy (nee: Partlow)
St. Francis and daughter, April (nee: St. Francis) Merrill with a gift of an
Eagle feather. It is our hope that efforts of Homer Walter St. Francis Sr. and the St. Francis/Sokoki band are not
forgotten as they paved the way for us to be here today and the Cowasuck Traditional Band Council and
the entire Abenaki Nation owe them a great deal of respect and thanks. Today is
not the end, but only the beginning of what is to come for the Abenaki Nation.
This day has opened up a new world for Abenaki youth, a greater chance of a
better education and economic development. But most of all it has instilled a
sense of pride that yes, WE ARE ABENAKI and that we do in fact exist and have
been here in Ndakinna (Our Land) for over 8,000 years! We must now take the torch
that has been passed onto us and run with it. We must continue the fight. We
must make sure that our children continue to be educated and take advantage of
the opportunities given to them and go on to college. We must make sure that
our children and their children learn their heritage and continue to pass on
our distinct cultural being. We must make sure that our ancestors have a proper
place to be laid to rest. We must make sure that we develop a proper economic
development plan to benefit the next seven generations through environmentally
friendly means. But most importantly we must stand proud and remain ABENAKI!
Respectfully,
Chief Sachem Brian Chenevert
Co-Chief Sachem Nancy (nee:
Millette) Cruger - Lyons
Cowasuck Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nation
May 04, 2006
The St. Albans Messenger Newspaper, Page 01-05
By Lisa Rathke – Associated Press Writer
Governor Signs
Bill Recognizing Abenaki
Frederick Matthew Wiseman and April (nee:
St. Francis) Merrill, as he addresses the gathering.
May 05, 2006
Indian News Country Today Newspaper
By Editors Report
Abenaki of
Vermont: Out of the shadows
The Abenaki of Vermont are the latest Native people to
emerge from the shadows. Their long-sought state recognition made official amid
great celebration May 03, 2006 in a bill S.117 signing on the Vermont
Legislative Statehouse steps, does not change their history or the fact that
they have always known who they were. But it signals a dramatic – almost
overnight – end of the official hostility that made their struggle for survival
so harrowing.
A
large number of Abenaki families felt
they were a target and hid their
identity. The memory of this horror was refreshed when state
Attorney General William Sorrell
dipped into the records of the Eugenics
Survey to bolster his brief against federal recognition for the Abenaki. In
a violation of academic ethics, he published family names along with
uncomplimentary descriptions by the eugenics census-takers. ...
Along with some 32 other states, Vermont joined the
Social Darwinist eugenics movement in the 1920’s, passing a Eugenics Survey program in 1925 and
following up in 1931 with a law for
sterilization of feeble-minded or unruly members of undesirable minorities. Mixed
Indian/French Canadian families were a special target. By this time, Vermont
was already suppressing the memory of its first inhabitants, referring to their
ancestors as “gypsies”, “pirates” or “river rats”.
Anti-recognition politicians of
the present hid behind this terminology to deny that the eugenics program
singled out Indians, but the Abenaki know better.
According
to the Abenaki historian Frederick Matthew Wiseman,
nearly every Abenaki family of the Missisquoi region has stories of a
relative who suffered involuntary sterilization. Cross-burning by
the Ku Klux Klan added to the fear, causing many Abenaki to ‘pass’ into other
segments of society. But it is important to note that the Eugenics Survey was
not a product of redneck ignorance. It was an offshoot of the progressive movement of the time,
trying to improve society by scientifically guided state action.
That reactionary bastion, the Roman Catholic Church,
deserves honor for mounting the strongest resistance to this liberal horror, which was finally
exposed for what it was by the rise of the Nazis in Germany.
We apologize for recounting this ugly history at a time
of Abenaki celebration, but it shows just how much this nation has had to
overcome to reach this moment. Indeed, we would suggest as one of the first
tasks for the Abenaki bands and their supporters do is that they petition the state government for a formal apology for the Eugenics
Survey, on the model of North Carolina. Such a project would show
that state recognition is not just a political sop; it is bulwark against
oppression for all Indian country.
May 08, 2006
The Akwesasne Phoenix Newspaper, Front Page; P-C1 andC2
By Frank Vando and Kim Hathaway
Vermont Abenaki:
Heritage Home
Longtime historian of the Abenaki People in Vermont, Dr. Frederick Matthew Wiseman looks over the proceedings (far left), as Chair of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Native American Affairs in Vermont, Jeff Benay introduces the moment right after the signing of the Bill that recognizes the Abenaki as Native Americans in his state. Far right, Chief April St. Francis Merrill of the Swanton Missisquoi St. Francis Band of Abenaki.
Capital steps MONTPELIER, Vt. – As Governor Jim Douglas,
crew, reporters, State and Abenaki historians, together with an assembling
group of more than 150 people, Abenaki people, gathered at the footsteps of the
Capital in Montpelier, Vermont, the anticipation was palpable from all in attendance.
As Governor Douglas, finally approached the table where
he would sign the historical bill into law, April St. Francis Merrill, chief of
the Abenaki Nation Missisquoi Sokoki band, together with many of the principals
involved in a long struggle, also approached the moment.
Children and adults packed at the steps of the capital,
together with a small army of radio, TV, and Native American press, surrounding
the moment of the signing. A sigh of relief was audible. Then, applause,
screams, drumming, people hugging each other, ad a brief but well-appreciated
series of statements, geared to the historical moment, by April St. Francis Merrill, Abenaki historian Frederick Ph.D. Matthew Wiseman, and Jeffrey Benay, chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on
Native American Affairs.
Diane Snelling, R-Chittenden, said, “We now have
respect for the Abenaki and their heritage in the law books of the state of
Vermont.” She was the lead sponsor of the bill S.117 three decades after her
father, then-Governor, Richard Snelling had rescinded the executive order
signed by his predecessor, Vermont Governor Thomas Salmon.
She remained a power house
behind the bill S.117 to honor and fulfilling her father’s death bed wishes
for state recognition of the Abenaki people.
Senator Vincent
Illuzzi, R-Essex/Orleans, one of the bill’s sponsors, said although he is
disappointed that the Abenaki have had trouble winning federal recognition, he
said Tuesday’s bill signing was “a significant step forward that recognizes the
past.”
Dr. Fred M.
Wiseman, Ph.D., Director of the Abenaki Tribal Museum, commented, “Yes, I
am very happy today. This is what so many have worked for a very long time.” He
continued that state recognition provides acknowledgement of Abenaki heritage
and enhances the educational opportunities to apply for scholarships for those
seeking post-secondary educational pursuits and for the historical Abenaki
bands to sell their crafts as authentic Indian crafts.
Jeff Benay, April (nee: St. Francis) Rushlow
– Merrill and Frederick Matthew Wiseman
Kermit Spaulding and Frederick Matthew
Wiseman
May 11, 2006
The Burlington Free Press Newspaper
Legislative Impact
Winners - Abenaki
Vermont’s Abenaki community won official state
recognition with Vermont Legislative honoring the tribe’s heritage
and opening the door to economic and educational assistance. About 1,500 Vermonters consider themselves Abenaki,
whose quest for federal recognition was denied in the fall of 2005.
September 15, 2006
The Burlington Free Press Newspaper, Page 4A
My Lake
Frederick
Matthew Wiseman, 58 years of age, of Swanton, Franklin County, Vermont,
is a member of the St. Francis/Sokoki band of Abenaki, director of the Abenaki
Tribal Museum and chairman of the Humanities Department at Johnson State
College.
[SEE and review March 31, 1991 wherein Fred Wiseman
states that it was “his maternal
grandmother was an Abenaki” who married a white man and “passed
completely into white culture”… this
maternal grandmother was Anna Marie
(nee: Hines) who married to Matthew William Platt ca. 1915 in Baltimore,
Maryland]
Missisquoi means place of flint, and the old name of the
bay was Mazipskwibi, “flinty water.”
“My father’s mother [Josephine Kay (nee: Erno) who married
to Frederick William Wiseman] was Abenaki and
I spent all of my summers with my grandparents and parents in Swanton, Highgate
Springs and St. Albans.
I’ve always been
out on the lake – I think I was taken out in a bassinet when my mom and dad
would go fishing. One of my first memories is curling up in the opening under
the bow of my father’s cedar-strip boat. It was like a little nest and had a
very distinctive smell of the spar varnish.
I spent a lot of
time with Monkey Drew, an Abenaki and one of the “river rats” on the
Missisquoi. He would always tell me, “This is what the French and the Indians
used to do.”
He taught me the way
you could listen to the waves lapping on the shore, and it would tell you what
the weather was going to be.
We caught
everything. My favorite were walleye, as good as perch, but without all the
bones. The best bass fishing was always out on the lake. Everyone knew exactly
where to go. There was a chain of rocks on the bottom of the bay, some old
glacial feature. The “river rats” would put buoys at each end, so you could
troll back and forth along the reef. I think my dad was the last person to do
that.
When I was a kid, I
was in love with the lake and the river.”
September
28, 2006
Vermont
Commission on Native American Affairs
Meeting Minutes
The Commission
on Native American Affairs held a public
meeting on September 28, 2006 @ 1:00pm at the Title VII Indian Education Offices
at 49 Church Street, Swanton.
Present were:
Mark Mitchell,
Chairman
Judy Dow
Donald Stevens
Tim De La
Bruere
Charlene McManis
Absent
were: Jeanne Brink, and Howard Lyons.
Also present
were:
Jeff Benay
Fred Wiseman
Anna Roy
Wiseman
John Moody
Roger McManis
Lester Lampman
Jedd Ketler,
County Courrier Newspaper
Heidi
Britch-Valenta, Board Secretary
2) AGAINST THE
DARKNESS
Fred
Wiseman, (Abenaki Tribal Museum) was present to demonstrate and explain his digital teaching
system, “Against the Darkness”. After presenting the 35 minute video he briefly explained the potential for use by educators.
October 2006 -
Last year my husband, new baby daughter and I [Lisa Arredondo-Veress] attended the Powwow last
October [2005]. As a member of the
Penobscot Nation I felt at home, joining the dancing with my baby in
my arms, surrounded by people from other nations.
For those of you interested in learning more about the
Penobscots and their affiliation:
"The Penobscot tribe, together with the Mi'kmaq,
Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, and Abenaki [only of
Odanak and Wôlinak] Indians, were members of the old Wabanaki Confederacy. These allies from the eastern seaboard
region spoke related languages, and "Abenaki" and
"Wabanaki" have the same Algonquian root, meaning "people from
the east." The Penobscot are not affiliated with the
Abenakis today, and distance themselves from the Abenaki of New
England. There are 3000 Penobscot Indians now, and most of whom
live in the state of Maine.
November 30, 2006
Vermont Commission
on Native American Affairs
Meeting
Minutes
Present were:
Mark Mitchell,
Chairman
Don Stevens
Charlene McManis
Judy Dow
Jeanne Brink
Tim De Le Bruere
Hilary Casillas
Also present
were:
John Moody
Jeff Benay, Former
Chair of Governor’s Commission on Native American Affairs
Ellen Maxon,
Human Rights Commission
John Churchill,
Abenaki Tribal Council,
Nancy Gallagher
Fred Wiseman
Jedd Kettler,
County Courier
Heidi Britch, Valenta-Board
Secretary
3. UPDATE ON
QUADRICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
Frederick Matthew
Wiseman was present to update the Commission on the progress in the Lake Champlain Centennial Celebration scheduled
for 2009. Frederick Matthew Wiseman
has long been associated with this effort and has been entwined in several committees. Frederick Matthew Wiseman let the Commission know that as the
celebration gains momentum is will behoove the Commission to become more
involved in the committees to ensure
accurate representation of the Abenaki experience.
Frederick Matthew Wiseman
described the plans for a canoe-cade on Lake Champlain similar to one which
occurred in 1909. Canoe occupants will be in
costume and the Maritimes Museum will contribute a canoe circa 1969 as well
as a replica of Champlain’s shallop.
The canoe-cade is expected to be open to the general public but it is hoped
that the birch bark canoe will lead the
pageant.
Other ideas for the commemoration were for a Powwow, guided hike, reenactment of
attacks, and a Tent of Many Elders. Frederick
Matthew Wiseman pointed out that the Committees have little money at this
point and Federal Funding is limited.
While the 1909 celebration of Lewis and
Clark’s exploration was centered in Burlington, Vermont; the 2009 event
will be more dispersed with events scheduled for far more communities. Frederick Matthew Wiseman also noted
that the previous event was very Native American centered and that it would be
prudent to collaborate with other Nations to establish a cadre of Native American
advisors to proceed with the planning.
Donald Warren
Stevens, Jr. stressed the need to use all marketing sources to publicize
the event including rest areas, magazines, and newsletters. Frederick
Matthew Wiseman agreed and mentioned the series of signage anticipated to be
reevaluated for this purpose.
Frederick Matthew Wiseman
then presented the Commission with this first proposed Logo for the event. He
pointed out that the focus would be on The Region, the People, and the Lake and
less so on Samuel D. Champlain. The Commission recognized the depiction of “Marge” Bruchac
in the poster. Frederick Matthew Wiseman
stated the goal of the image was to avoid using the traditional representation
of the buckskin Indian and to portray a more modern image of a Native American. Jeff Benay shared his disappointment that art donated by local Native American artist Felicia Gagne
was not selected for this draft. Frederick
Matthew Wiseman acknowledges that this was still a work in progress. The
Commission expressed curiosity on the topic.
The crux of the discussion was that indeed more presence
was necessary on the various committees. Wiseman informed them of the next full
Quad meeting which was scheduled for
January and several Commission members committed to joining the team. Charlene McManis expressed interest in
becoming a part of the Commemoration team. Judy
Dow offered to join the team which would be focusing on Education, and Jeanne Brink stated her desire to aid
in the indigenous celebration preparations.
Frederick Matthew
Wiseman noted that there would still be a gap in the team which would be
handling the decision surrounding infrastructure. There are plans in the works
for an Interpretive Center. John Scott Moody spoke of his past involvement in this discussion
and that he had stressed a need for Native American artifacts to be stored below ground
level to honor the spiritual beliefs system. Mark W. Mitchell offered to establish contact and request a
position on the committee. John Scott Moody noted the name of Duncan Wilky, archaeologist for the
Agency of Transportation (AOT).
Frederick Matthew Wiseman
then moved on to share his disappointment and frustration at the application
and acceptance of a grant by Vermont Public Television (VPT) and the Division
for Historic Preservation - Museum and Library Division, for which the topic
would be Champlain and the Native American interaction. Wiseman pointed out
that he was made aware of the project due to a request for his expertise in the
creation of the video. Wiseman pointed out that this was very presumptuous of
the Applicants without the input or notification of the Commission on Native
American Affairs. It was also noted that Jeanne Brink is on the Community
Advisory Committee (CAC) for VPT and was not notified of this project. Don Stevens pondered if the Division of
Historic Preservation was charged with aiding and supporting the Commission,
then they should be able to get a copy of the grant. Jeanne Brink committed to
bringing up the issue at the next meeting of the CAC and to note the unease of
the Commission at being usurped. Fred M. Wiseman agreed to send the information
to Mark Mitchell who would prepare a missive and copy all members. Those
members wishing to have input in the final draft must respond to Mark W. Mitchell by the 10th of
December. The letter will outline that all future Native American coverage of
the celebration should be channeled through the Commission.
Frederick Matthew Wiseman
closed by saying that the video he had
prepared for the celebration will be previewed at the “Big Moon” event at the Mary Babcock Elementary School in Swanton
from 5-9 PM on December 08, 2006.
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