They’ve really been on a blitz lately, turning to their allies in the Vermont print and broadcast media to prop them up every time someone challenges their little world.
Burlington Free Press article 1/20/11
MONTPELIER — Two Vermont Abenaki tribes are ready to have the state Legislature decide whether to grant them official recognition, and two more appear headed that way under new rules the tribes hope will end a long and frustrating process.
The Nulhegan band based in Brownington and the Elnu based in Jamaica won the recommendation of the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs, which has turned the applications to legislators.
“We are finally reaching the apex,” commission Chairman Luke Willard said Wednesday at a Statehouse news conference announcing the applications. “I do believe 2011 is the year.”
“This gives us our identity,” said Don Stevens of Shelburne, chief of the Nulhegan band.
The bands are seeking official state recognition they say will allow members to apply for scholarships set aside for American Indians and to meet federal rules for selling arts and crafts as native-made. Legislators established this new process for recognition last year.
Two more Abenaki bands aren’t far behind in seeking recognition.
The Koasek of the Koas based in Newbury won the commission’s recommendation, and the state’s largest band, the Missisquoi, filed its application with the commission Wednesday afternoon. The commission will prepare a report and forward it to the Legislature on the Koasek and will appoint a panel of experts to review the Missisquoi application, Willard said.
April St. Francis Merrill, chief of the Missisquoi Abenaki based in Swanton, handed out bound copies of the application to commission members. For her, it was an emotional moment. Wednesday would have been her father’s 76th birthday, she said. Homer St. Francis was the fiery longtime chief of the Missisquoi band who fought for state and federal recognition. He died in 2001.
“If it weren’t for my father, none of this would be happening,” Merrill said of the state recognition effort.
Efforts during the past 17 years to attain state recognition have run into repeated roadblocks. Abenaki were granted recognition in 1976 only to have it rescinded the next year over fears that it would lead to federal recognition and land claims. Legislation in 2006 simply granting overall recognition failed to meet federal guidelines for recognition.
That led lawmakers last year, through tenuous negotiations, to set up a new process by which bands would apply to the commission for recognition with detailed information about the bands’ members and links to Vermont. Three outside scholars then review the information and decide whether it meets specific criteria. The commission then decides whether to recommend recognition to the Legislature. Lawmakers then vote whether to grant the band recognition.
The law specifies that recognition does not allow the bands to make land claims and establish casinos, as American Indians have done in other states.
Although four bands acted relatively quickly to seek recognition, handing over tribal information for public perusal also gave members pause. Vermont Abenaki long have been wary of making the names of their members public.
In the late 1920s, Vermont Abenaki were subjected to a state-sponsored eugenics campaign that promoted the sterilization of Abenaki as an undesirable population, and for tribal members to deny their heritage.
Mistrust also runs strong among bands of American Indians, some challenging the authenticity and motives of others, with malicious comments spread on the Internet.
The Missisquoi withdrew an application for recognition in the 1980s rather than publicly list its members, Merrill said, but she hopes times have changed, and the information won’t be used against anyone.
Merrill said she had mixed feelings as she submitted her band’s application Wednesday. “We’ve been through this process and had it taken away so many times,” she said, but she added, “We have a good feeling about it.”
Stevens, a former member of the Missisquoi band who joined the Nulhegan after research showed his family had roots there, said receiving recognition will be worth it. He pointed to a silver bracelet on his arm made by a member of his tribe who would be able to sell such jewelry legally as Abenaki-made — likely earning a higher price and generating more demand — if the band earns recognition.
“This process has been bittersweet, because we’re the only people on the face of the earth that have to prove who we are,” Stevens said.
Of course, they call comments like mine “malicious” but the only thing that’s malicious here is the way the VCNAA deals with this recognition issue
They submit applications with Frederick Matthew Wiseman’s “criteria” to a commission that contains members or allies of each incorporation, who then proceed to “rubber-stamp” their approval. The application goes to a committee chaired by one of their allies (honorary Clan of the Hawk “chief”, Vince Illuzzi), who will most certainly send it along its’ way to the rest of their cronies.
Yeah, nothing malicious to see here people. Move along.
The Burlington Free Press wouldn’t know the truth if it landed on their pages. That’s what they get for being a Gannett publication, only interested in publishing PR fluff. They’ve completely forgotten how to be actual journalists.
Something sure smells rotten in the State of Vermont and the stench is coming from Montpeculiar.
But, the process will play out as it may. If these incorporations get exactly what they want, the state of Vermont will be left with a huge PR disaster, once the corruption reaches the noses of the Federal government.
I’m sorry if I come off as crass and rude here. If you read a newspaper 50-60 years ago, you would see articles with content similar to what I write, criticizing each of these incorporations and their motives.
Instead, the Burlington Free Press rolls over and plays dead while these people bring their circus antics to their front pages.
Vermont Native Justice 
FYI Brad I know your trying hard but, you’ll never be a Douglas Llyod Buchholz when it comes to this Blog stuff….won’t be long before your Genealogy will be on his site too, cuz remember he’s the last True Abenaki in allllllllllll of New England he’ll be crowned the last living Abenaki not you Brad “HIM”. Oh and as far as asking people YOU know if they have ever heard of ELNU well brad it doesn’t count when you ask people who live under rocks without rotary phones…..
*Yawn*
Now why do you have to go hating on people who do you no wrong? You should leave people alone.
This is WHY commentary is NOT allowed on my blog. People like to comment and play ‘head games’ while posting. It’s a waste of energy and it is a distractor tactic.
NO why you don’t allow comments is you don’t want to be faced with answering the questions as I have asked…..SHOW US THE PROOF that ELNU not TOLBA, ELNU is Incorporated Please!!!! you keep saying “These Incorporated Groups” Show Vermont the PROOF that Elnu is Incorporated and we will go away
Keven Ruth Parsons incorporated Tolba Inc. with Roger Longto Sheehan in 1997 and it dissolved in 1999. Then El-Nu groups “Chief” Roger Sheehan joined up with Nancy Millette-Doucet as a sub band of the Cowasuck b.s. created by Howard Knight Jr. It does not matter whether “El-Nu” specifically incorporated in Vermont or not. This groups of re-enactors from NY, VT, RI and MA and probably CT too, simply are trying to put their hands in the cookie jar of the Feds and the State Coffers, just like all the rest of their “Alliance” cronies who have Incorporated five ways to Sunday and back to Monday over the years. I don’t know who you are and I really could care less at this point.
No. “El-Nu” as a name in and of itself did not Incorporate under VT state law. Yet, Roger Sheehan “Chief” of this El-Nu group today, as it was back then were parading around at Nancy’s events, and she helped them to reinvent into a supposed “Abenaki Tribe” and he did IN FACT incorporate with Kevin Ruth Parsons. Therefore your argument is mute. The intent, the agenda, and the endeavor to do as all these other groups have done is there, black and white. I will not argue with you whoever you are on this site or any other. I do not see any distinction between Tolba Inc. with Roger’s name thereon those Inc. papers and the present day El-Nu that is claiming to be a Abenaki Tribe today in 2011. Frauds are frauds and imposters are just that. No matter how much red ocre is slathered over the lies and deceptions of their members. As for Norm M;Sadoques; just because he may come from RI up to MA and then is in this group that came into VT from NY, I am sorry but it is just like Jeanne Brinke associating with the St. Francis/Sokoki group up in Swanton, or Trudi Parker of Lunenburg associating with and being a member with Nancy Doucet’s group. Two or three Abenaki amongst a bunch of plastic fake wannabe Abenakis doesn’t make the group an Abenaki Tribe to my thinking. Its all about the $$$$ anyway. S.222 is flawed bill from the beginning and a lot of people are beginning to see and realize that now.
What strikes me is this comment “the state of Vermont will be left with a huge PR disaster, once the corruption reaches the noses of the Federal government.”
Do you really think the Feds care? They have already come out and said that they basically do not care who or how states recognize tribes as long as the state or some other committee vested with the authority by the state does so! Any state could pull any 5 people randomly off the street and call them a tribe and the Feds will not care.
Doug himself has mentioned NC and the “fiasco” down there. Guess what all those tribes are still enjoying the state recognition granted to them even though people tried to fight it….why?……cuz again the feds don’t care!
I am not necessarily disagreeing with you however I think you are wasting a large amount of time and energy basically for nothing. If these groups are granted recognition by the State there is nothing you can do about it and nothing the feds would do about it because it would be violating the states rights.
PS: the reason why the feds don’t care is because in all reality (to the feds at least) State recognition doesn’t mean a thing.
Someone told me before to look at it this way:
State Recognition = Cultural Recognition
Fed. Recognition = Political Recognition
The state’s refusal to LOOK at the facts about these 4 groups is what will eventually bring the bad PR. As long as buffoons like Hinda Miller and Vince Illuzzi are in office, the state will continue to make such glaring mistakes.
To Quote:Interested, on January 24, 2011 at 11:23 am said:
PS: the reason why the feds don’t care is because in all reality (to the feds at least) State recognition doesn’t mean a thing.
Someone told me before to look at it this way:
State Recognition = Cultural Recognition
Fed. Recognition = Political Recognition
As far as ELNU is concerned State Recognition = Cultural Recognition is what they have always wanted Political power means nothing. There Goal is to sell there Crafts as Native made and to be Culturally Recognized by other Natives at Powwows etc. they are not opposed to seeing any other Tribes being recognized as well. They’re goal in Recognition is to continue with the revival of the Abenaki Language & Culture and with as many who wish to do the same both in this state as well as NH & MA, Together we can see to it it will survive.
I’m sorry, but I do not buy what you are saying.
Are you a member of this group? Why are you on this blog, calling people names and issuing ad-hominem attacks?
Shouldn’t you be more worried about defending your people at the testimony meetings?
You can attack people all you want but I reserve the right to not publish it. At least here, you are somewhat coherent. I hope you are aware of cyber-harassment laws because your actions are bordering on that.
“Gluscabi” as you are putting yourself out there by name posting your commentary and responses, claiming one thing, and yet State Recognition IS political recognition regardless of what you imply here. Or else this “VT Indigenous Alliance” would not be crawling up every politicians ass every chance these Inc. groups can get. That is the truth of the matter. Attempting to gain State Recognition IS Politically motivated, absolutely 100% by these 4 groups of this “Alliance”. You have claimed that the ELNU seeks State Recognition = Cultural Recognition?
Ok, WHERE is the “ELNU” in January 1997? How about 1950? How about 1930? 1920? 1880? 1750?…..hmm I do not see ANY group Before Roger Longtoe Anthony Sheehan and his Re-Enactor Crew came in from Fort Ti and NY etc into Nancy Millette Cruger Lyons Doucet’s evens in 1994!
That’s right ELNU was NOT Incorporated, NOR was it even in existence UNTIL very very recently at Nancy’s Pow-Wows in Littleton and Twin Mt., NH. They certainly were not identifying themselves nor were any external observers identifying this ELNU bunch as an Abenaki Tribe UNTIL around 2006 up into 2007.
IACB stated that to label one’s artwork would be allowed by the Fed’s IF one simply labels them Abenaki Descendant Made. But that wasn’t good for the likes of Mark Wiliam Mitchell and his cronies of the “Alliance” now was it?! No, it wasn’t. Because these Inc. groups want to become thee Abenaki Tribes of Vermont and New Hampshire, by deceit, deception and dishonesty about their truthful historical pasts, their genealogical dubious connections to the Abenaki Ancestors, and to hide their real motivations and agenda’s against VT, NH and against the Abenakis themselves UNTIL after they gain that State Recognition.
State Recogniton will not revive the Abenaki Language & Culture. Because those that carried and carry the honest to goodness Language and Culture NEVER needed or need today, State Recognition, to exist in the first place. Not for 200 years anyway those ancestors didn’t go crawling and slithering to the State Governments. It still doesn’t.
It costs nothing to speak English or to learn it. Nor any other language. Why should it cost anything to learn Abenaki or to speak it with another human being? It costs one nothing. One does not need no Federal Grants to learn Abenaki nor to speak what one does know of it. UNLESS one is a BRUCHAC or a SHERRY GOULD!
I am not a whore, like some. I do not lay the teachings down, for people to basterdize them, nor to step on or spit on those teachings in language or culture of the Abenakis! The Language, and the Culture of ANY Native People’s should not be for sale to the highest bidder. The blood, sweat and tears of those Abenaki Grandmothers and Abenaki Grandfathers, those Ancestors, NEVER needed nor sought State Recognition to keep their language or their culture together and alive. It was their blood, sweat, and tears, their very lives that kept that “fire” going inside the People.
Now what is happening is an insult and denigration of the Ancestors and their descendants with all this talk talk talk about how State Recognition will save the Abenaki Language, Culture, and allow these people who claim to be Abenaki Tribes, to sell their artwork at Pow-wows as “authentic” I think not kindly and respectfully said. Native People’s KNOW who they are, and their aware of the deceivers as well.
These people in VT, NH, and MA etc are not seeking acknowledgment and recognition from Native Communities such as Kanahawake, Old Town, Akwesasne, Odanak, or Pleasant Point, as none of these Native Communities are being addressed, Especially not Odanak or W8linak, two historical Abenaki Communities. Odanak is well over 200 + yrs old. One would think that IF these Incorporations claiming to be Abenaki Tribes, that Odanak etc, these people would go to the Native Communities there FIRST, before whoring themselves upon the State Legislative Steps? Together, the “we” you speak of, simply attempts to recreate a revisionist history claiming that it is the Abenaki History of K’dakinna.
I am here to tell you your no Gluscabi nor Odzihozo!
This is all I will say on the matter here. LIke you, these Incorporations claiming to be thee Abenaki Tribes are imposters, posers, and NOT the legitimate Abenaki People’s from and of VT nor NH.