ELNU Abenaki |
| In the News (Current Articles and News Archives) |
| Follow this link to Bone Marrow Drive for Nicole Nelson |
Burlington Free Press
Abenaki relive history
By Sara Buscher • Free Press Staff Writer
July 14, 2008
FERRISBURGH -- In a grove of evergreens, a lean-to built of branches covered with a thick layer of
fir boughs sheltered a woman at work weaving Sunday afternoon. She sat on animal skins,
surrounded by baskets and bowls hollowed from gourds.
As she worked, a man dressed in buckskin, his head shaved and face painted half red, half blue
spoke to the crowd that had gathered to watch.
The two are members of the Elnu Abenaki tribe and spent the weekend participating in a living
history exhibit at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum.
The Elnu Abenaki, based in southern Vermont, are dedicated to taking time to practice traditional
skills in order to pass them to the next generation. Some take days or weeks from their modern
lives to dress in buckskins, sleep in wigwams and cook over a fire -- singing, drumming and telling
the stories their ancestors told.
Many Elnu feel the process brings them closer to their ancestors, tribe member Roger Longtoe said.
The value of their efforts extends to anyone interested in the history of the Champlain Valley, said
Eloise Beil, communication relations manager for the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum.
"If you're going to talk about life in the Champlain Valley -- we're the newcomers. There have been
10,000 years of Native Americans here beforehand," Beil said.
The museum began hosting the American Indian encampment last year, in anticipation of the
approaching quadricentennial celebration of the arrival of explorer Samuel de Champlain.
For those more familiar with European than American Indian history, the encampment represents a
time when the "playing field was level," Beil said.
In 1609, "the indigenous people understood the resources of the region, and how to survive. The
newcomers needed the understanding the native people could provide," Beil said. "It was a very
fruitful time."
Fred Wiseman, tribal historian of the Abenaki nation, is also helping the Elnu learn more about the
history of the period following Champlain's arrival. A member of the Missisquoi-Swanton band,
Wiseman has earned a doctorate in archaeological ecology, and serves as professor of humanities
at Johnson State College.
His academic background allows him to provide some of the history that may not have been passed
through the generations -- including Champlain's relationship with the natives, he said. Wiseman's
son portrayed Champlain from an Abenaki perspective over the weekend: as a consultant in the
tribe's military maneuvers against the Iroquois.
Walker Brook and Dan Swift, among those eager to learn more about their history, say they spend
much of their time participating in encampments and other historical re-enactments.
They say living without modern trappings from time to time can be a spiritual experience and
consider the process of getting in touch with the past a responsibility to future generations. For
Swift, that means teaching the old ways -- such as starting a fire using flint, a skill he's still working
to master -- to his own children.
Contact Sara Buscher at 651-4811 or sbuscher@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com
Abenaki relive history
By Sara Buscher • Free Press Staff Writer
July 14, 2008
FERRISBURGH -- In a grove of evergreens, a lean-to built of branches covered with a thick layer of
fir boughs sheltered a woman at work weaving Sunday afternoon. She sat on animal skins,
surrounded by baskets and bowls hollowed from gourds.
As she worked, a man dressed in buckskin, his head shaved and face painted half red, half blue
spoke to the crowd that had gathered to watch.
The two are members of the Elnu Abenaki tribe and spent the weekend participating in a living
history exhibit at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum.
The Elnu Abenaki, based in southern Vermont, are dedicated to taking time to practice traditional
skills in order to pass them to the next generation. Some take days or weeks from their modern
lives to dress in buckskins, sleep in wigwams and cook over a fire -- singing, drumming and telling
the stories their ancestors told.
Many Elnu feel the process brings them closer to their ancestors, tribe member Roger Longtoe said.
The value of their efforts extends to anyone interested in the history of the Champlain Valley, said
Eloise Beil, communication relations manager for the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum.
"If you're going to talk about life in the Champlain Valley -- we're the newcomers. There have been
10,000 years of Native Americans here beforehand," Beil said.
The museum began hosting the American Indian encampment last year, in anticipation of the
approaching quadricentennial celebration of the arrival of explorer Samuel de Champlain.
For those more familiar with European than American Indian history, the encampment represents a
time when the "playing field was level," Beil said.
In 1609, "the indigenous people understood the resources of the region, and how to survive. The
newcomers needed the understanding the native people could provide," Beil said. "It was a very
fruitful time."
Fred Wiseman, tribal historian of the Abenaki nation, is also helping the Elnu learn more about the
history of the period following Champlain's arrival. A member of the Missisquoi-Swanton band,
Wiseman has earned a doctorate in archaeological ecology, and serves as professor of humanities
at Johnson State College.
His academic background allows him to provide some of the history that may not have been passed
through the generations -- including Champlain's relationship with the natives, he said. Wiseman's
son portrayed Champlain from an Abenaki perspective over the weekend: as a consultant in the
tribe's military maneuvers against the Iroquois.
Walker Brook and Dan Swift, among those eager to learn more about their history, say they spend
much of their time participating in encampments and other historical re-enactments.
They say living without modern trappings from time to time can be a spiritual experience and
consider the process of getting in touch with the past a responsibility to future generations. For
Swift, that means teaching the old ways -- such as starting a fire using flint, a skill he's still working
to master -- to his own children.
Contact Sara Buscher at 651-4811 or sbuscher@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com
For Immediate release
Date: 7-21-08
Contact: Nancy Millette
802-392-8006
WHITE PINE ASSOCIATE FOCUSES ON ABENAKI LANGUAGE PRESERVATION
North Haverhill, NH- The non-profit White Pine Association (WPA) for the Koasek Abenaki and in assistance to other
Abenaki Bands within the Abenaki Nation’s alliance has put together an aggressive Abenaki language preservation
program. The White Pine Association have been working for the past two years building a foundation to spring board
what they call the phase one of a long term program into the Abenaki community in way of preservation of one of the
most endangered Native American languages. WPA was able to secure a rare dictionary and a 50 cd set of the
Joseph Aubrey / Joseph Laurent language. Only 200 Abenaki to English dictionaries were printed in 1884. Last year
the WPA was able to secure a rare copy in mint condition. They also were able to secure a 50 cd set of the same
dialect of the language in the fall of 2007. At the present time the WPA is working on a website to host the audio cd
set and a PDF file of the dictionary. The Abenaki enrolled members of the three historic tribes in NH and VT will have
access to the website. And for the elders and members who do not have computer access the WPA will reproduce the
CD set free of charge and mail the set directly to their homes. The language phase one preservation program will be
given free of charge from the WPA to enrolled Abenaki citizens within the Alliance Bands.
The long term goal of the White Pine Association is to be able to host language immersion programs. One of the
problems has always been without a reservation the Abenaki have had a hard time gathering people together for
such programs. For two years the White Pine Association had their eye set on possibly purchasing the old Wells River
School House for a cultural center. With economy being what it is the WPA association voted to invest into the
community phase one program first and put the goal of having a place on the back burner. However, thanks to the
support of many and especially to Beth Mayette the WPA has purchased a large classroom trailer in North Haverhill,
NH to host the programs and have an outreach office.
“We are very excited and grateful for this opportunity,” said Trustees of the White Pine Association. The board
trustees members include: Nancy Millette, Peggy Fullerton, John Prescott, Colleen Chase, Dr. Ray Lussier and Mike
Fenn. All members with the exception of Dr Ray Lussier where born and raised in the Haverhill / Newbury area. The
Abenaki Alliance is made up of the Koasek, Nulhegan, Missiquoi/ Sokoki and El Nu Abenaki Nations and spans the
whole state of Vermont and parts of New Hampshire. The White Pine is centered in the heart of the historical Koas
Meadows of Newbury and Haverhill which was historically the home of the Mission des loups built around 1675 by
Jesuit Joseph Aubrey.
Other programs the White Pine Association has sponsored in the area was Nawihla Native American Festival for the
past two years. For the future the White Pine will be adding on more preservation work and projects as well as
focusing on the language immersion programs. Thanks to the generosity of Beth Mayette for now the classroom
trailer will stay where it is on Main Street North Haverhill. The White Pine Association is in hopes of being able to
secure land where they can expand the trailer into a cultural site with living history projects and other programs within
the communities of Haverhill, NH ande Newbury VT.
For more information contact Nancy Millette Executive Director at 802-392-8006
Date: 7-21-08
Contact: Nancy Millette
802-392-8006
WHITE PINE ASSOCIATE FOCUSES ON ABENAKI LANGUAGE PRESERVATION
North Haverhill, NH- The non-profit White Pine Association (WPA) for the Koasek Abenaki and in assistance to other
Abenaki Bands within the Abenaki Nation’s alliance has put together an aggressive Abenaki language preservation
program. The White Pine Association have been working for the past two years building a foundation to spring board
what they call the phase one of a long term program into the Abenaki community in way of preservation of one of the
most endangered Native American languages. WPA was able to secure a rare dictionary and a 50 cd set of the
Joseph Aubrey / Joseph Laurent language. Only 200 Abenaki to English dictionaries were printed in 1884. Last year
the WPA was able to secure a rare copy in mint condition. They also were able to secure a 50 cd set of the same
dialect of the language in the fall of 2007. At the present time the WPA is working on a website to host the audio cd
set and a PDF file of the dictionary. The Abenaki enrolled members of the three historic tribes in NH and VT will have
access to the website. And for the elders and members who do not have computer access the WPA will reproduce the
CD set free of charge and mail the set directly to their homes. The language phase one preservation program will be
given free of charge from the WPA to enrolled Abenaki citizens within the Alliance Bands.
The long term goal of the White Pine Association is to be able to host language immersion programs. One of the
problems has always been without a reservation the Abenaki have had a hard time gathering people together for
such programs. For two years the White Pine Association had their eye set on possibly purchasing the old Wells River
School House for a cultural center. With economy being what it is the WPA association voted to invest into the
community phase one program first and put the goal of having a place on the back burner. However, thanks to the
support of many and especially to Beth Mayette the WPA has purchased a large classroom trailer in North Haverhill,
NH to host the programs and have an outreach office.
“We are very excited and grateful for this opportunity,” said Trustees of the White Pine Association. The board
trustees members include: Nancy Millette, Peggy Fullerton, John Prescott, Colleen Chase, Dr. Ray Lussier and Mike
Fenn. All members with the exception of Dr Ray Lussier where born and raised in the Haverhill / Newbury area. The
Abenaki Alliance is made up of the Koasek, Nulhegan, Missiquoi/ Sokoki and El Nu Abenaki Nations and spans the
whole state of Vermont and parts of New Hampshire. The White Pine is centered in the heart of the historical Koas
Meadows of Newbury and Haverhill which was historically the home of the Mission des loups built around 1675 by
Jesuit Joseph Aubrey.
Other programs the White Pine Association has sponsored in the area was Nawihla Native American Festival for the
past two years. For the future the White Pine will be adding on more preservation work and projects as well as
focusing on the language immersion programs. Thanks to the generosity of Beth Mayette for now the classroom
trailer will stay where it is on Main Street North Haverhill. The White Pine Association is in hopes of being able to
secure land where they can expand the trailer into a cultural site with living history projects and other programs within
the communities of Haverhill, NH ande Newbury VT.
For more information contact Nancy Millette Executive Director at 802-392-8006
