Abenaki leader Merrill’s Exploitation charge dropped Burlington Free Press 6/16/11

Abenaki leader Merrill’s Exploitation charge dropped-Burlington Free Press   Sam Hemingway  6/16/11

Text as follows:

The chief of the St. Francis/Sokoki band of the Abenakis in Swanton has been cleared — for now — of a charge alleging that she improperly spent money belonging to a vulnerable man in her care.

April St. Francis Merrill was arraigned in March on charges she’d financially exploited Louis P. Lafrance of Highgate Center. According to court papers, Merrill spent $30,697 between 2008 and 2010 on items that did not benefit Lafrance, also an Abenaki member. Lafrance died in October.

Merrill, 42, of Highgate did not respond to a phone request for comment Wednesday. Her lawyer, Peter Langrock, said Merrill was glad the charge had been dropped. He said Merrill may not have been a perfect bookkeeper, but that she did “not steal a nickel.”

“Chief April St. Francis Merrill at all times has maintained her innocence and claimed that all monies that came into her control on behalf of Louis Lafrance were spent on his behalf and at his direction,” Langrock said.

Franklin County State’s Attorney Jim Hughes confirmed his office had dropped the charge against Merrill but said he intends to file new, more specific felony charges against her in the Lafrance matter in the near future to resolve a procedural issue raised by Langrock in the original case.

“The defendant filed a motion requesting specificity on all the different acts,” Hughes said. “So we’ll be filing at least a dozen charges we feel can be proven.”

Hughes said he expected to file those new charges in the next week or two. “They’re coming,” Hughes said.

Langrock said he didn’t think Hughes would re-charge Merrill once he studies the facts in more detail.

“I’d be very surprised if he does,” Langrock said. “He doesn’t got anything.”

According to court papers, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department began investigating Merrill’s handling of Lafrance’s money after Lafrance’s family raised questions about expenditures listed on his bank and credit card records and alerted police.

Among the transactions that came under scrutiny were instances where Merrill withdrew money from Lafrance’s account via an ATM while in Rutland, where Merrill has family, and at the Veterans of Foreign War post in Swanton, where she is a member but Lafrance wasn’t, court documents said.

Other purchases she made occurred while Lafrance was in the hospital or a rehab center. Still others involved things such as buying pizza and paying for a car wash. Lafrance, who lived on Social Security payments, did not own a car.

Langrock said the car wash was for Merrill’s car and was done after Lafrance had become sick while in the car. As for the pizza purchases, Langrock said the food was for Lafrance and his friends. “I don’t think she got a single piece of free pizza out of it,” Langrock said.

Merrill became chief of the Sokoki band of the Abenakis following the death of her father, Homer St. Francis, in 2001.

Putting aside all personal vendettas, one must still look at the facts in this case. It will be interesting to see if Mr.Hughes does indeed file these charges as mentioned.

Personally, I have a feeling that there is more to this case than meets the eye. April Merrill has been accused for years by others of mis-managing money but this is the first time that she has been before a court of law to answer to those accusations.

The only other thing I have to say is that if they can find something that will prove her guilt, then they should approach it by all means.  Otherwise, there is nothing more that can be done.

Much like politicians that are forced to step down after scandals, it is only fitting that Merrill step down from her tribal leadership. Rumors abound that this has happened but until solid proof surfaces, it really is her call.

I do want to ask our readers a question: If you were in charge of someone else’s finances, would you ever feel the temptation to spend them on pizza or car washes, even if you know that they could be scrutinized?

Time will tell as this case unfolds further. Some may claim that it does not affect the Vermont Indigenous Alliance. I believe otherwise as the character of leaders in our society must be upheld or else, they do not deserve to be leaders in the first place.

 

Letter to St.Albans Messenger regarding Swanton VCNAA forum

This is my letter to the St.Albans Messenger, which was published shortly after the VCNAA forum up in Swanton back in April.

The letter concerns the media coverage of this event by Leon Thompson.

I don’t think it’s much of a surprise that the media in Franklin County would be supportive of (now ex)Chief Merrill and her merry band of cohorts. You can say the same for various other newspapers in the State of Vermont.

I remember a time when journalists had integrity. Nowadays, it’s nothing short of a free-for-all in which most newspapers are at a race to the bottom. You can’t read actual news in a Gannett publication either  (Burlington Free Press).

Nowadays, it’s all sensationalist fluff and feel good stories.

 

Is White Guilt A Factor In The Push For Recognition?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the psychological reasoning behind the push for recognition by the Vermont Indigenous Alliance. As records show,the Abenaki lineage of these folks is suspect and their claims of having been “hiding in plain sight” all of these years are suspect as well.

One has to wonder, is this push for recognition by these folks all part of their “white guilt”?

Are they truly ashamed of who they really are to the point where they are manufacturing these identities for themselves?

Just look at the attitudes and false claims from these people.  Nancy Millette-Doucet recently went on the WGDR program, “Moccasin Tracks” to complain about what she calls “lateral violence” in Vermont’s re-animated Native community.

Need one remind Mrs.Doucet that her husband, Mark E. Doucet, has committed acts of lateral violence against their opposition.  Nancy herself has screamed and thrown temper tantrums on property belonging to the citizens of the Republic of Vermont (of which she is not a citizen, currently residing in the state of New Hampshire).

The Vermont Indigenous Alliance is on it’s last legs. Mrs.Doucet, Mr.Willard and Mrs.Merrill are all trying to save this failing recognition effort. Expect to see more dirty tricks  by these folks in the next few weeks.

WGDR hasn’t been presenting both sides of this conflict. It’s no wonder the Alliance loves to take advantage of this bias.

“The Fix Is In”: 2/9/11 Seven Days column mentions Abenaki recognition

Shay Totten has done a brief write-up on the continuing issue of abenaki recognition, especially where it concerns the Abenaki First Nation’s grievance:

http://www.7dvt.com/2011fix

Excerpt as follows:
Abenaki Angst

A group of Abenaki that opposes the recognition of several Vermont-based tribes won’t be allowed to testify before a key Senate committee.

The Abenaki First Nation initially got the OK to testify before the Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs Committee, but that offer was partially rescinded by Sen. Vince Illuzzi (R-Essex/Orleans), the committee’s chair and a proponent of Abenaki recognition.

Illuzzi said the group’s in-state members can testify, but the out-of-state members can only provide written testimony. “We only meet for three hours a day and only have so much time to take direct testimony,” he said. “We’ve done the same for other out-of-state witnesses on bills.”

That’s not good enough for Denise Watso of the Abenaki First Nation, which has tribal members in Vermont, New York and Québec. Watso questions the authenticity of at least two tribes seeking state recognition.

“Why are lawmakers like Sen. Illuzzi afraid to hear what we have to say? Why are they scared to look us in the eye?” she asked. “These are not rhetorical questions. They are willing to take the time to hear testimony, they just refuse to hear from us. It’s just a lot easier to ignore emails and letters than it is to hear real-life Abenaki people speaking out for truth and justice in the halls of the Statehouse.”

The House General, Housing and Military Affairs Committee has not established such restrictions this year, but it has yet to receive a request from out-of-state groups.

To date, two tribes that claim Abenaki heritage are seeking recognition: the Nulhegan and the Elnu. A third, the Koasek, has been approved for recognition, but no formal bill has been introduced.

It’s unclear if other tribes or family bands will follow suit this session under a new state recognition law passed last year.

The Missisquoi Tribe was in the process of gathering up the necessary documents, but its leader — Chief April St. Francis-merrill — was arrested last week for allegedly stealing money from a vulnerable adult.

It’s about time that the Vermont media heard from people with legitimate Abenaki standing.

Mr.Illuzzi claimed that he gave Skip Bernier time to testify but it was inadequate and when compared to the hours of testimony from Alliance groups, was a pittance. Nancy Millette-Doucet, a New Hampshire resident, has had more opportunities to speak out (mainly at VCNAA meetings) than Skip Bernier. This must be rectified as the Abenaki First Nation and anyone else who opposes recognition of these fraudulent tribes, must be given equal standing to speak up on this issue.

VT Digger article on Abenaki Recognition

http://vtdigger.org/2011/02/05/who-is-an-indian-abenaki-lawmakers-try-to-set-recognition-standards/

Members from two Abenaki tribes testifying before a House committee last week said that state recognition is more about authentication than land claims or building casinos.

Didn’t take long for them to raise the alarm bells with this statement. I’ll believe it when I see it. I do wish I could un-see the casino management contract and the interest in the Phillips deed.

“We are at a crossroads in history, said Donald Stevens, chief of the Nulhegan Band, one of two Abenaki tribes with petitions before the Legislature seeking recognition.

“We deserve the right to our identity,” he added, placing the Indian warrior Crazy Horse on the same historical mantle as Martin Luther King Jr.

Does anyone else find it absurd how Donald Warren Stevens Jr. sees to compare this recognition debacle to the plight of Crazy Horse? I highly doubt that Crazy Horse would approve of the recognition quandary in the state of Vermont. He’d probably scoff at it.  Again, this is to be expected from these people.

Chief Roger Longtoe Sheehan, who testified later in the day on behalf of the Elnu Tribe — the other band seeking recognition, said that in the hierarchy of the Indian world a card is needed to validate one’s identity as a Native American.

“The most hateful thing one Abenaki can say to another is that you’re not an Indian,” he said.  “And that is what’s going on now.”

Except that the evidence doesn’t agree with Mr.Sheehan and his claim. I have already exposed the Elnu application and Mr.Sheehan has  ancestors who were Irish Americans that came from NYC. However, does Mr.Sheehan acknowledge this anywhere in his application?

Again, the Alliance has tirelessly worked to discredit their enemies by pulling out the hate card. Nevermind the fact that members of this Alliance have thrown their share of mud over the years. Nevermind the fact that they have probably told other people to “get bent” when those people came to them to seek legitimacy.

Along with bills for recognition before the House Committee on General, Housing and Military Affairs, the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs is also taking testimony on recognition for each tribe.

The bills come to the Legislature as the final step in a process that began a year ago with the creation of the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs.  The commission was empowered by the Legislature to initiate a step-by-step process by which each Abenaki tribe in the state could apply for recognition as Native American.

As defined by the bill, the process would be supervised by the commission and require each tribe to submit documentation, approved by three independent scholars, to validate its claim.  Once that had been accomplished, it would be left to the commission to review the claim and petition the Legislature for recognition on a tribe-by-tribe basis.

One of the caveats in the bill that created the process stipulated that if the Legislature did not act on the petitions, a tribe would be recognized two years after its petition was received.

I’m sure the Alliance is hoping that the Legislature doesn’t act on their petitions. That’s the only way they’re going to get anywhere at this point.

Representative Helen Head of Burlington, a Democrat who chairs the House Committee on General, Housing and Military Affairs, said the Legislature should act on the petitions.

“I would rather be pro-active,” she said last month.

And I hope she’s listening since she is the representative for the area where I live in, which means that I can choose not to vote for her again in 2012.

For the Abenaki, whose struggle for recognition goes back to the 1970s and includes a rejection by the Vermont Supreme Court, it has been an arduous ordeal.

“I’ll never subject myself to this process again,” testified Stevens, who said that he knows Indian blood flows through his veins, no matter what happens with his tribe’s petition.

Again, more rhetoric from Mr.Stevens. He’s certainly a colorful character.

According to its petition, the Nulhegan Band is located along the waterways of Orleans and northern Essex counties. As of September 2010, the tribe consisted of roughly 260 members, among whom 96 percent are related to one another.

The commission found that “Chief Don Stevens is related by blood or marriage to at least 160 members.”

Their biased and manufactured commission you mean? Of course! It’s not like they would actually do the research.

In making their case as an enduring community within Vermont, the Nulhegan Band says its presence can be documented by scholarly research, providing examples in its petition like how members harvested fish.

“They formed into a V with the outside canoes named the rattlers for metal nuts on the ends of the lines that rattled, and they moved down a channel between Big and Little Salem Lakes.

“The rattlers scared the walleyes to the center where they could be caught. Local anger about this practice from Euro-American fishermen shows a distinctive identity of the Nulhegan group. If the dominant culture performed this practice, they would not have been so angry.”

The petition also notes that during ice fishing, Nulhegan Abenaki kept perch eyes used for bait under their tongues to prevent the fish eyes from freezing.

One of the scholars on a three-member panel who reviewed the band’s documentation, David Skinas is an anthropologist employed with the federal National Resources Conservation Service. Prior to that he worked for the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation and, according to his resumé, he has been working with the Abenaki since 1988, helping mainly to recover Native American remains.

Skinas told legislators he had spent up to 30 hours reviewing the Nulhegan Band’s petition for recognition. He also said experts on the panel had conducted the review independent of one another, and that its recommendation for state recognition was not the result of a collaborative effort.

Not the result of a collaborative effort? What? Do you really think people are stupid enough to believe this?

Among the conclusions he offered to the committee, Mr. Skinas said he “felt very strongly” that the band has an historical cohesiveness and that its presence in Vermont has a “demonstrated continuity.”

A second scholar, testifying on behalf of the Elnu Tribe — located in southeast Vermont, said the criteria set up by the commission allowed experts to return to the historical records and examine them in depth.

A “repeating priming of the pump” has provided the Legislature a view from different angles, said Eloise Bell, a folklorist and curator with the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum.

Bell said the Elnu Tribe had met all the criteria laid down by the commission, and recommended recognition.

“The Elnu provide ample and highly detailed evidence of the presence of antecedent Native people in the Bellows Falls and Windham County area from a wide variety of sources: archaeological evidence, historical documents; citations from numerous academic and local histories, and oral traditions from families within the kinship group,” she said in a written evaluation submitted to the Legislature.

“The combination of evidence from these various sources, presented chronologically in a timeline which spans the 16th through 20th centuries, indicates the continuity of community presence in this region by the Abenaki families from whom the Elnu are descended.”

Not bad for a tribe that was incorporated only recently.  Oh right, there’s no factual evidence that these tribes existed 4 centuries ago but in the name of being politically correct, they get a pass. Give me a break.

No direct dissenting testimony came before the committee during last week’s hearing. But there were indications, some outside the committee’s hearing, that recognition has become a divisive political issue among some of the Abenaki tribes.

Thanks to Vince Illuzzi, that dissenting testimony was squashed out. You see, the legislators and senators are so sick of this thing, that they’ll do anything to put an end to it, even if it means ignoring the evidence against recognition.

Stevens told the House committee that the Abenaki in Odanak, located in Quebec, oppose state recognition for the Nulhegan Band. He said he was not going get caught up “in all this craziness,” presumably stemming from challenges over whether the Vermont Abenaki are really Native Americans.

Stevens went on to attribute the allegations to a competition over land claims, saying that Odanak Abenaki want to claim the Northeast Kingdom as part of their tribal territory, with an eye toward operating a casino.

I personally have never seen evidence of this. Mr.Stevens never talked about the Phillips Deed.

A couple of days prior to his testimony, Stevens contacted the state’s Department of Public Safety by email to alert them to the possibility of violence at the State House from at least one opponent of recognition. He asked police to intervene and prevent the individual from stepping on State House grounds.

He overreacted in a grand manner because he knew that it would damage an opponent of this recognition process.  When members of the Abenaki Alliance cannot win a battle of wits, they resort to such actions.

No signs of violence ever materialized during last week’s testimony, but Sheehan told the committee that there was little to be gained by trying to define who is really an Indian.

Actually, when money is at stake, you want to be 110% sure that the people you are giving that money to, ARE WHO THEY SAY THEY ARE! In an age where someone can claim to be “disabled” and use that money for things that it isn’t intended for, you have to be absolutely sure that this kind of abuse will not take place!

“I really don’t think there is a full-blood Abenaki out there,” he said, pointing to the interracial marriages that have occurred over the last 400 years.

He may not think this but it doesn’t mean that it isn’t possible.

Recognition, he added, might cut down some of the infighting among tribes and lead to a healing of old wounds.

Old wounds will not heal until the Alliance stops pouring salt into them with their actions!

“If anyone asks who you are, say French-Canadian,” testified a woman, speaking of the time she left a reservation in Oregon and moved to Los Angeles.

Charlene McManis has since moved back to Vermont, and last week she told legislators that there might be no such thing as a racial identity.

“What is an Indian? Believe it or not, even us Indians question it,” she told the committee. “It’s so diverse.”

She said her grandmother once told her that her identity as a Native American came from the heart rather than the blood. What is odd, said Ms. McManis, is “to have to get recognition from the government.”

It’s not odd. It’s standard operating procedure, since recognition gives people access to state and federal grants and other privileges. Thanks to loopholes (and there are plenty), there are “tribes” full of new-age wanna-bes in other states that have access to money that they do not deserve.

It’s bad enough that the ancestors of these new-age wanna-bes WIPED OUT the indians, stole their land and now, these people want to throw more salt into a wound and steal the identities of the remaining indian ancestors?

According to testimony, recognition will allow the tribes to apply for federal grants toward education, and enable tribal members to sell their crafts as Native American products.

Such a label, explained Mr. Sheehan, will put more money in the pockets of Abenaki craftsmen, as a Native American basket is far more marketable than one lacking the label.

It’s all about the benjamins, the moolah, the wampum, etc.

It’s like Vermont maple syrup, he said, noting that it’s the brand of choice among consumers.

Testimony before the committee repeatedly recalled how long the fight for recognition has been going on.

“People have fought this battle longer than I have been alive,” testified Luke Willard, the 30-something-year-old chairman of the commission.

Normally, I’d just dismiss this article as another example of the Alliance folks and their brand of discrediting their opponents. However, there’s a lot to be said for people who plant moles such as “Gluscabi” on this blog and then use such a thing to tip off others.

By the way, if you want to contact “Gluscabi”, his/her email address is rbarbacane@hotmail.com.  That’s right. You mess with me on my blog and your information becomes public record.

I don’t appreciate what Mr.Stevens did. I’ve already explained that I have no interest in violence. However, the Alliance will take this ball and run with it because they have nothing of substance.

For that, I have an Youtube clip that fits this whole sham perfectly.

What Are They Afraid Of?

The above article appeared in today’s edition of the Caledonian Record. I am not sure why Mr.Willard has requested security though.

Perhaps he doesn’t want to hear or see the opposition to his racket? After all, enough people have rolled over and played dead over the years while Luke and the Alliance cruised through the Vermont Statehouse on their “indian” rafts.

Let’s be frank here: No one is calling for violence, not even me. In the wake of the shootings in Arizona, it is not wise to do so. Perhaps an Alliance member saw a post on here and interpreted it as a call for violence. “A Call To Arms” was a poor choice of words and I hastily corrected it when I found out that it was Sarah Palin who used that same term to stir up her fanbase. I personally detest Sarah Palin and the Tea Party. They have made a mockery of politics in this country.

What I am calling for is for people to go to Montpelier and testify against this recognition process. After all, we as citizens have every right to let our representatives know how we feel, as long as it’s in a civil manner.

There really is nothing to be afraid of here with the exception of the truth. If that’s the case, then there’s nothing that can be done.

 

Richard “Skip” Bernier letter to Caledonian Record, 1/25/11

Enclosed within is an image from the letter that Richard “Skip” Bernier wrote to the Caledonian Record. It was published on 1/25/11.

Skip makes some great points and I think it’s interesting that Rep. Bob Lewis is questioning the legitimacy of these tribes. It’s encouraging to see more voices come out to show their opposition to this recognition. Whether or not it will be effective remains to be seen.

Alliance Pulls The Media Strings (Burlington Free Press)

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.

Douglas Lloyd Buchholz letter to Coos County Democrat

I have decided to post images from a letter written by Douglas Lloyd Buchholz to the Coos County (NH) Democrat paper regarding the current recognition debate in the state of Vermont.

I personally have no comments to make as Mr.Buchholz continues to nail down some important points in this debate.

Read this article and send it to your legislators in the state of Vermont!

Click on each image for bigger versions.

Donald Stevens defends Nulhegan, Newport Daily Express

It’s becoming more apparent that the voices both for and against the recognition of the Alliance tribes are becoming louder with each passing day.

Here’s a link to the latest volley fired in this “war” by one Donald Warren Stevens, Chief of Nulhegan:

“In Defense of Nulhegan” Newport Daily Express January 20, 2011

Text is below (with commentary after)

Thursday, 20 January 2011

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to the letter submitted by Lorene Liberty-Curtis from the Clan of the Hawk. She stated in her article that Vermont should follow the Federal Standards to gain recognition. Vermont does not want any Federally recognized tribes in the State because of potential Casino’s. Why would they impose criteria that would circumvent the State’s authority over the tribes? Vermont would rather give recognition in a manner they can control and allow us to sell our arts and crafts. No more and no less.

This can’t possibly be true. I can’t speak for the state but as a Vermont taxpayer,  I surely don’t want opportunists like Mr.Stevens, Luke Willard and Nancy Millette-Doucet to have access to state and federal money for their schemes.   One of the main talking points of the Alliance has been “we’re doing this for the children” and “we just want to sell our crafts”. These are convenient talking points that do an excellent job of hiding their true motives.

Here is the truth as Lorene Liberty-Curtis puts it. The Nulhegan band has submitted its paperwork and its genealogy data to the scholars who have validated our petition, two of which work for the federal government. Nowhere in the Nulhegan’s application for recognition or supporting documentation is the name or image of Rosa Bangs referenced. Get your facts straight before blatantly lying to the public.

Nulhegan submitted paperwork to a biased group of scholars who were going to approve it anyway. Even a blind man can see that these people were going to get slam-dunk recognition with people like Fred M. Wiseman in their corner. If they had submitted paperwork to a group of non-biased, non-associated scholars, they would have been laughed out of the room (and they know it!).

Where is the Clan of the Hawk’s petition? They have every opportunity to prove themselves through the same process as does every other native group in Vermont. The truth is that the Clan of the Hawk tried to be included in our bill for direct recognition last year as an Abenaki tribe. What Lorene fails to tell you is that their representative stood up in front of the Senate committee and stated that he was not Abenaki and that the Clan of the Hawk accepts everyone, native or not. They admitted freely that they are a social club and not a native american tribe under the Statute.

The Nulhegan, Elnu and Koasek groups are much like the Clan of the Hawk: None of them are tribes. They are incorporations, groups and whatnot.

So who is the one here playing indian? Not us, we have proven ourselves and have been validated by independent scholars.

The naivety of Donald Warren Stevens speaks volumes. Fred M. Wiseman is not an “independent” scholar. Dave Skinas is not an “independent” scholar. I’m unsure about David Lacy and Eloise Biel but again, Mr.Stevens is defecating from the mouth by claiming such a fallacy.

Do not try to suppress our people because you do not believe you are Abenaki. The Clan of the Hawk started up a unity council to work with other natives in Vermont and sent us an invitation to join. If this is their way of gaining unity by speaking out of both sides of their mouth. No wonder they do not have many unity members.

Alas, it was Donald Warren Stevens himself who called for unity back in 2008 as chairman of the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs. Donald’s carelessly worded email lead to libel against commissioners Tim DeLaBruere and Judy Dow via Luke Andrew Willard (“Mrs.Timmy and Mr. Judy”). This makes Donald Warren Stevens a hypocrite who has done his fair share of talking out of both sides of his mouth.

I have no choice but to defend our people when letters of this nature are written about our tribe. I would much rather work for the good of all Abenaki people so we can move our people forward.

Donald Warren Stevens is only interested in advancing the agenda of the Alliance. He has shown disregard towards Odanak people living in the state of Vermont and the Alliance has not reached out to other important family bands  of which I need not mention as they can speak for themselves on this matter. Again, another outright lie.

If Lorene and the Clan of the Hawk enjoy doing native things and being close to the earth, you have every right to worship the way you want. However, if you are going to follow the native ways, then remember the teachings of our elders and to respect one another.

Again, it is Donald Warren Stevens who does not understand the meaning of the word “respect” and has no right to lecture people like Ms.Curtis on such a thing.

If you want unity, you should treat others as you would like to be treated. My role as Chief is to be there for the Abenaki people and to provide guidance to our children. If you have members who are truly Abenaki and are artists, have them come see me after recognition so they may benefit from our hard work and can be protected under the law.
Waolowzi (Be Very Well),
Don Stevens, Chief
Nulhegan Band Coosuk Abenaki Tribe – Lake Memphremagog

It has become clear that this Alliance is a band of arrogant hypocrites that somehow think that they have a god-given right to lecture other people on ethics. They have not shown an ounce of respect towards anyone not in their little Alliance.  Mr.Stevens is not a chief, but rather a larger-than-life cartoon character, complete with indian clothes and a “Chief Wahoo” complex.