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.

 

VCNAA Meeting Minutes 4/7/11 (with my commentary)

Commentary is as follows:

Once again, the public hearing for the St.Francis/Sokoki band involved more fudging of the numbers. Funny how April asks if it would be best to withdraw the application and for some reason, has not done so. Trust me, they do not have the 51% they claim. For the last time, the application is outdated and should be rescinded.

3. You can clearly see where they attempted to change things around by including Chittenden County. Just another attempt to keep the people on the rolls and/or to make them seem more current so the application can stand. Clever.  And not surprisingly, they all voted yes. Typical.

3b. “New Information”.  Funny how Skinas and Lacy allegedly broke their own rules and now the commission claims they haven’t. It’s even more disgusting that Skinas will remain on the scholar panel.

If he hadn’t bribed them with sweetgrass, who knows?

This commission lost credibility right at the beginning. They are continuing their downward slide into the ridiculous.

Abenaki In-Fighting Mars Panel Session; St.Albans Messenger 4/20/11

http://www.samessenger.com/node/1420

Why am I not surprised that the Alliance is blabbing on about “unity” and all that when they still have not addressed the dissension in their own ranks? A point had to be made and that point is that the application as it currently stands is inaccurate and contains duplicate (and triplicate) names, deceased members and people who are no longer associated with the Missisquoi (including, yours truly and the Maquam band).

What I suggested is only common sense. It appears that the commission is not interested in mediating this conflict. That’s fair enough. However, they cannot and should not accept this application as it currently stands.

The article says that Mr.Willard was yelled at but it does not say that I pointed out to the commission that per their own rules, they were not allowed to view the application and that only the scholar panel would have access to it (for understandable privacy reasons).

Again, Thompson chose to spin this story into a way to help the Alliance and Commission by pointing out their desire for unity. The problem is, when April Merrill will not convene people to discuss these issues, she’s only making them worse.

The St.Francis/Sokoki band has no more tribal council (they quit), cannot provide updated tribal rolls (more like they WILL NOT) and does not have the 51% of members that they claim (it is more like 42%).

So, why can’t the commission look at this and say “hey, they don’t meet our requirements. We need more information?”

Instead, we get April and the commission kissing up to each other while the problem goes unaddressed.

Requiring a piece of paper in order to be removed from tribal rolls should not be required, since the Maquam Band split off over 10 years ago. April should have acknowledged this and updated her tribal rolls accordingly. She hasn’t.

So, while a spectacle was made, points were also made. No one is standing up and asking for clarification in this process. No one is actively challenging it, not even the commission themselves!

The joke is on April though because without a dummy council to enforce her rules, they no longer apply.

As for the school bullying comments? I grew up in Swanton, attended Swanton Schools. Not once did anyone pick on my Abenaki heritage.

More Information on the April Merrill Situation

For those wondering just what is going on with the April Merrill situation, here are images of documents that are available to anyone who requests them (public record). There are 20 images in all of these records.

All I can say is that this is a case that is worth watching as it will impact the recognition for the Vermont Indigenous Alliance. Hopefully, the state and federal governments will see through their lies.

Nancy Millette-Doucet Attacks Rep.Kesha Ram

The following image is from a letter from Nancy Millette-Doucet in which she refers to Rep.Kesha Ram as a “23 year old child from California”.

I have had my own disagreements with Rep.Kesha Ram over Abenaki recognition. However, Mrs.Doucet’s conduct is unacceptable and no one in their right mind would accept one of her letters as “proof” for recognition.

Mrs.Doucet is upset that she and her cronies must fill out formal applications for recognition.

I must remind her that the Alliance has had this whole process handed to them by the State of Vermont. They control the commission. They control the view of Abenakis in the media.

What more do these people want? Why should anyone give them more, especially since they have failed to prove that they are the rightful descendants of the Western Abenaki people?

It will be interesting to see what Rep.Ram’s response to Mrs. Doucet’s letter will be. This letter will not help the Alliance in their cause.

April Merrill’s Next Cruise: Straight to a Prison Cell?

Dearest “Gluscabi”, I’m so sorry that you missed me. I had no idea that you adored me enough to become concerned when I did not post any new updates. Did I break your little black heart? Fear no more because your friend, April, has just given me more ammunition for my blog. Now stop goading me because you’ll be joining her on her next cruise.

P.S- You want to talk about ethnic cleansing? Webster’s defines it as the following:

Ethnic Cleansing : the expulsion, imprisonment, or killing of an ethnic minority by a dominant majority in order to achieve ethnic homogeneity

Next time, read a dictionary before you accuse someone like this. I have not killed, imprisoned or expelled anyone. The Abenaki Alliance on the other hand, have expelled people who didn’t toe their line and they are attempting to re-write Abenaki history in THEIR favor. How’s that, my illiterate little rival?

Sincerely,

The Admin

Now, on to some serious business with the latest on April Merrill’s legal issues, courtesy of the Burlington Free Press:

Abenaki Chief Pleads Not Guilty To Exploiting Vulnerable Man

April St. Francis Merrill, chief of the Missisquoi  Abenaki tribe based in Swanton, pleaded not  guilty Monday in Franklin Superior Court to a felony charge of exploiting a vulnerable adult by manipulating his financial records.

Franklin County State’s Attorney Jim Hughes alleged that Merrill, 42, of Highgate Center used money belonging to a man in her care from Sept. 1, 2008, to May 2, 2010.

Merrill rang up $30,697 worth of bank and credit card charges that did not benefit Louis P. Lafrance, who was a member of the Abenakis, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department said in court papers.

Lafrance recently died.

Wow, $30,000? Wonder where that money went? More details below:

Detective Kevin Bushey said Lafrance became suspicious of some bank and credit card charges and mentioned it to his family. The family obtained a full printout and marked those that did not benefit Lafrance, Bushey said in a court affidavit.

Bushey said the government has strict rules about a second party who handles money for another person. The money must be used only for that individual’s care and not for the second person, Bushey said.

Merrill, when confronted by the Sheriff’s Department, initially denied taking any money, but later acknowledged some purchases, Bushey said.

Merrill said some purchases were for Lafrance, but the investigation revealed he was in either Northwestern Medical Center or Franklin County Rehab on the days the purchases were made, Bushey said.

He said among the suspicious purchases were car washes when Lafrance did not own a vehicle and an ATM withdrawal at the Swanton Veterans of Foreign Wars post, where Merrill — but not Lafrance — is a member. There also were ATM withdrawals in the Rutland area, where Merrill has family, Bushey said.

Aha! Car washes? Special family trips to Rutland? Don’t tell me, is this what I think it is? We won’t know for sure unless this case goes to trial. I wonder if any of this money went towards her recent cruise? Or did she rip off Burton DeCarr this time? (edit: Mr.DeCarr confirmed that this is not the case. Regardless, we all slip up from time to time.)

“On several occasions it is noted that withdrawals from Mrs. Merrill’s account were deposited in Mr. LaFrance’s account to keep the account from going into overdraft,” Bushey wrote in the affidavit.

Bushey also said he located a May 2, 2008, check to the town of Highgate for $150 with a notation in the memo line “April’s boundary line adjustment.” It was signed by Merrill, he said.

Merrill was released on conditions following Monday’s arraignment.

If convicted, Merrill could be imprisoned up to 10 years and fined up to $10,000.

Merrill is the daughter of Homer St. Francis, the longtime chief of the Missisquoi band who fought for federal and state recognition. He died in 2001.

I see that she really slipped up when she wrote that check to the town of Highgate for $150.  Whoops. Probably wasn’t supposed to happen.

You see people, if the state of  Vermont recognizes April and her cronies (Fred Wiseman, Luke Willard, Donald Stevens Jr.,  Roger “Bad Haircut” Sheehan and Nancy Millette-Doucet), this is what is going to happen to the grant and loan money that they’ll be eligible for.

Car washes, cruises and much more!

It’s too bad that she wasn’t held on bail because then her cronies could start up a bottle fund for her bail money.

She’ll need money if she goes to jail so they should get to work on that fund, pronto!

VCNAA Meeting Minutes 2/15/11 (with added commentary)

It’s that time of the month where I critique yet another set of minutes from the biased, fraudulent VCNAA. Original minutes are in the link below with commentary below that as well:

vcnaa_minutes_021511

Commentary starts here:

2. Update on current recognition legislation

Luke gave a briefing on the status of the bills regarding the State Recognition of the Elnu and Nulhegan tribes. The two House bills have passed and crossedover to the Senate.

This was done by a voice vote after the House claimed that they had poured over all of the documentation. I don’t believe it. Neither application should have passed.

Peter Thomas was recognized by the chair. He asked if scholars from the Review Panel would be testifying in regards to pending applications (ie Missisquoi). Luke explained that the legislative committees had taken testimony from Review Panel scholars during the Elnu and Nulhegan committee hearings. Presumably, the committee will do the same with future recommendations.

I assume that both David Lacy and Dave Skinas will not be able to give any more testimony, which makes sense considering what they did.

3. Public records redaction process

After requesting clarity on the process of redacting information that is exempt from the public record (ie Archeological site locations, Genealogy) from recognition applications and reports from the Commission and Scholar Review Panels, legal counsel from the Division for Historic Preservation is helping to develop a process.

When was genealogy made exempt from the public record? These people just do not want anyone pouring over their genealogy because it does not line up with what they are trying to do!

Luke has made it clear to legislators and Historic Preservation that the Commission does not have the resources to perform legal redactions. Luke suggested that the Commission consider adopting a policy that instructs applicants that this information can’t come to us.

He could ask his pal, Mr.Illuzzi, to pull a few strings. Illuzzi’s already at it, helping these people to obscure the truth about themselves.

Dawn mentioned that it would be difficult for us to establish the kinship criteria in our reports without the genealogical references. Luke noted that the Scholar Panels would still be able to access the information and we can reference their responses in our reports.

Fred moved to make it policy from this point on that applications may not include genealogical information that identifies specific living individuals or archaeological site locations. This information may be included in the Expert Review Panel packets.

Only these “review experts” will have access to this information. And, if they are connected to the members of this commission? You can bet your bottom dollar that the public will not hear or see this information.

Nathan suggested that we use the word “must”, rather than “may” in the last sentence. Fred amended his motion to replace “may” with “must”. Takara seconded Fred’s motion. Luke stated the motion with the exact wording, “Applications may not include genealogical information that identifies specific living
individuals or archaeological site locations. This information must be included in a separate packet that only goes to the expert review panelists.” All agreed.

This whole process is comical. Only in the state of Vermont, can you invent a tribe, join a commission and make your own rules. What about transparency in government? Are these people really afraid that others are going to harm them if their genealogical information is out there?

4. Review draft Commission Report re: Koasek of the Koas

Dawn began by noting that the addendum satisfied any concerns from the initial review but voiced a concern about some names and addresses that were not included in the application. Luke mentioned that the Commission has already voted unanimously to recommend recognition of Koasek to the General Assembly. He noted that Nathan had originally brought up the fact thatthere were Koasek members whose names and street addresses were left out for privacy purposes. Luke confirmed it as 17 members and that their Band ID numbers and town/state of residence were listed in the roster to document their existence. This is detailed in the Commission’s draft report to the legislature. Luke asked how we interpret Criterion 4.

Despite the fact that some of the scholars expressed doubt as to the legitimacy of this incorporation (mainly Lacy & Skinas), they approved the application.

This is totally not a surprise at all. Anyone who thought that these people were going to do the right thing, obviously had no clue about their true purpose on this commission.

He mentioned that, fundamentally, the criterion is to establish the existence of the applicant’s “organizational structure” and how the fact that a tribe keeps a detailed census of its members
supports that. He said that although some names were left out for privacy purposes, the Commission was still able to confirm that the applicant maintains a census of its members. Fred mentioned that the criterion did not specify that ‘all’ names and addresses be included. Discussion continued around the purpose and intent of the names and addresses. Nathan voiced
that his concern is that we will set a precedent. Luke mentioned again that we must look at the criteria. We use the names and addresses for two purposes: To establish that a majority of the
applicant’s members currently reside in a specific geographic location within Vermont; and to support that the applicant maintains an organizational structure that exerts influence and
authority over its members. We’ve seen this.

It seems to me like Nathan was right to ask questions. It’s too bad that Luke and Fred aren’t interested in listening. Nope, can’t have Nathan rocking the apple cart.

Chief Nancy Millette-Doucet was recognized. She explained that this particular family would not permit the publishing of their personally identifiable information for reasons of privacy. She
said that Koasek is a tribe, not a dictatorship, and she cannot force them to be public or expelthem from the tribe for exercising their own right to privacy.

It’s not a tribe, it’s an incorporation. The “Queen Bee” makes yet another appearance. The funny thing is, no one has said just who this “family” is.

Nathan said that the law needs to be changed.Luke said that there is definitely a gray area in the law, however, we already voted to unanimously to recommend Koasek for recognition. No one brought this up at the public hearing or any of the other meetings we have had since Koasek’s application was submitted on November 16th of last year. We need to provide a report to the legislature and that is the item at hand. It can be amended to say anything we want but we need to provide the legislature with a report.

Just because no one brought it up, doesn’t mean that there wasn’t opposition to it. Also, who writes these minutes?

Nathan moved to not approve the draft report. No one seconded.

See what I mean? They were going to approve it regardless of what Nathan and others said. This is why this commission should be disbanded.

Fred noted that he is fine with the report because we noted in it that the 17 names were redacted for privacy purposes. We are up front about it in the report and we explain our decision.
Nathan brought up how Chief Roger Longtoe asked about the names and addresses in Newport and we told him that they have to be included. Everyone should have to do the same thing.
Luke said that Koasek did provide names and addresses and that he told Chief Nancy the same thing that he told Chief Roger. Luke said we may be forgetting that Eloise Beil, Bill Haviland,
and David Skinas all provided detailed reports of approval, that include the fourth criterion.

Everyone should do the same thing, unless their name is Nancy Millette-Doucet. See what I mean? I figure, if you’re going to hold one of these groups to a standard, you might as well hold all of them to the same standard.

Nathan brought up that he hadn’t received the tribal rolls until recently. Luke brought up that it is up to Historic Preservation to provide you with handouts if you are absent from a meeting.

Actually, Luke should have copies of these handouts on him at all times. He is the Chair after all.

Takara said that we each have the personal responsibility to request the handout if we don’t have it. All handouts are recorded in the agendas and minutes. Fred said that we drafted this report based upon what we were given. We’ve done our job. Takara said we need to get back to the report and moved to approve the draft report and forward to the legislative committees. Fred seconded. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

After they finish brow-beating Nathan, they decide that it’s more important to get a crock report to the Legislature instead of fleshing out all of the details.

What’s the hurry? You’ll find out below.

5. Missisquoi Application Review

The Commission looked at reports from the Scholar Review Panel (Peter Thomas, Kevin Dann,and Bill Haviland). All were positive. Nathan mentioned that he did not have a copy of the
Missisquoi application because he was absent from the January 19th meeting when they were passed out. Melody has excused herself from the Missiquoi review because she is a former
member and because she is mentioned in the application, so she offered her copy to Nathan.

Dawn had positive remarks about the Missisquoi application but has an issue with the names and addresses because there are people listed who are not members of the tribe anymore. Dave
mentioned that the tribe has procedures that members must file to be removed from the tribe’s rolls. Luke noted that he understands that but having Don Stevens, who is Chief of the Nulhegan Tribe listed, is a conflict. It is common knowledge that Chief Don is no longer a member of Missisquoi. These names conflict with other applications that have already been checked for accuracy. It looks like an older list that just needs some updating. No harm done. We can work with Chief April when she returns from vacation to amend the list. We must do this so that wecan accurately determine the percentage for the first criterion.

Do the Feds know about April’s little vacation? Also, if your family tree is held at the Missisquoi Building on Grand Ave. in Swanton, you may be on the list for Missisquoi. Unless you specifically request to have your records removed, they WILL use it to try and get recognition.

Also, it’s true that Donald Stevens should no longer be on the Missisquoi list. I’ve heard rumblings about how these people “jump” from one incorporation to another in order to try and get recognition.

Nathan said we should look over all information first to make sure it is correct before it is sent to the scholars. Luke said that we can’t do that. The scholars examine information that we’re not even allowed to see. Addenda are forwarded to scholars. Dave said it’s up to the applicants to provide correct information. We can ask for clarity and additional information and send it along to the scholars but our job is to facilitate, review, decide, and report. More discussion followed.

I’m not sure if Nathan is truly ignorant of the processes but I will concede that they seem to be giving him hell just for asking uncomfortable (but very legit) questions.

6. Status of Active Scholar’s List

David Lacy and David Skinas were both given ethics violations by the USDA for using Forest Service and USDA letterhead on their reviews. Luke found this interesting since Mr. Lacy was given permission to conduct his review during work hours and Mr. Skinas has worked with Native American tribes for a long time. He found it even more interesting that chain of
communication in regards to these “violations” originated from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Identical reviews (minus the letterhead) were provided for our files so that the record would reflect that the federal government does not share the views of their employees. The Commission was less than impressed and even less surprised.

Luke Willard, if you’re reading this blog, then you of all the people should know by now that both Dave Skinas and David Lacy illegally used those letterheads for their respective federal employers in their letters of recommendation. Federal law has established that by writing such letters, it gives the false impression that the agencies on those letterheads ENDORSE these groups, which they obviously do not.

If the part about letters minus the letterheads is correct, then why didn’t the commission submit those letters instead of the letters WITH the letterheads? Something isn’t adding up here and I think that by using the letters with those official-looking letterheads, that the Commission was trying to build “legitimacy”.

Peter Thomas added that BIA should have no interest in State Recognition review panels. Nathan asked if we would be issuing a response. Luke mentioned that our process and the individuals themselves have been harmed by this. Even on personal time, Lacy can’t participate anymore. Nathan asked if they are allowed to volunteer at the local food shelf or anywhere else. Takara said that this is a free country and it was even on their own time. Luke said we didn’t ask the USDA or the Forest Service for anything. Our interest is in the scholar’s experience and education and not their title. Nathan suggested we give the two agencies some extra paper for their time. Luke added that hostility from the feds is nothing new.

Actually, when you misuse Federal letterheads, it becomes the business of the Federal government.

The VCNAA willingly used these recommendation letters with the hopes that they would “legitimize” this whole process.

You know, I just find it funny that these people are just now claiming that the departure of Skinas and Lacy is “harming” them and this process.

Let’s see, they sit on a biased and compromised VCNAA in which each member is intimately connected. They voted to pass on bills to support recognition of their friends. They worked with scholars that have known them for years and would obviously approve their recognition.

They have it easy here. There’s no hard questions being asked. Their genealogy is not being addressed by the State of Vermont. They are practically cruising through without many speed bumps. Well, not anymore.

Who’s really being harmed by this process? Hint: It’s not the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs!

It’s the Odanak people who reside in Vermont who are being harmed. It’s the people who aren’t part of this Alliance that are being harmed.

People who find this VCNAA to be a complete and utter joke! Right now, the VCNAA has the credibility of tyrants like Gadhafi, Ben Ali and Mubarak!

To the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs: STOP PLAYING VICTIM HERE!

You are making victims out of people, not the other way around!

Secrecy or Transparency?

Two contrasting dynamics are currently at play in the State of Vermont.

On one hand, we have a proposal from Senator Vince Illuzzi that would actively hide access to public records of groups seeking tribal recognition:

Mr.Illuzzi wants to send a message to yours truly, Mr.Buchholz and Nancy LeCompte that we will not be able to view or copy public records relating to the Alliance groups and their genealogy. This will also apply to any Vermonter who wishes to access such records.

We know by now exactly why Mr.Illuzzi would redact such information:  he must have something in it for him. Why else would he be so eager to hide this information? Who is Mr.Illuzzi trying to protect?

Regardless of what happens, he’s far too late on this. The information is out there and no law will prevent people from knowing the truth.

Which brings me to this fun tidbit concerning transparency in Vermont State Government:

In the famous words of Dwayne Johnson, don’t sing it, BRING IT!

Show us this transparency you speak of! Mr.Shumlin and Mr.Condos must now stand by their words and put a stop to Mr.Illuzzi’s meddling.

You can’t promise something and then not deliver!

Which is it going to be? Secrecy or Transparency?

“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.