In 2011 and 2012, the Vermont legislature recognized the Missisquoi, Koos, Nulhegan and Elnu tribes/bands as Native communities after extensive vetting through research and public testimony. Now, a decade later, some members of Odanak are challenging the Native heritage of every member of the state-recognized Abenaki tribes. Abenaki leaders and non-Abenaki Vermonters have not sat idly by.

Filmmaker Nora Jacobsen - known for the 2013 6-part series about the state, “Freedom & Unity: the Vermont Movie”, made with dozens of collaborators - expresses her deep concern for the overt bias being expressed through Vermont Public’s editorial policies and decision to not air her work in its entirety.

The establishment of a world divided into nation-states, known as countries, is very recent in the history of humanity. Nevertheless, the existence of these countries as naturally given entities has been so powerful that it has taken over our imaginations and our identity narratives, and even projected itself onto our past.

“Recognition must be shaped by the people and communities who live in Vermont, not by foreign authorities or those seeking to rewrite settled state law.”

Radio show and podcast Native America Calling hosts guests Odanak First Nation Chief Rick O’Bomsawin, Nulhegan Abenaki Chief Don Stevens, and anthropology professor emerita Marge Bruchac in an exchange of perspectives on the disagreements regarding Abenaki political recognition.

Vermont Governor Phil Scott has followed his previous annual Executive Proclamations with an affirmation of the statewide observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day on October 13, 2025. The holiday has been a statutory element of the state’s calendar of official holidays since 2019.

Coverage of the community celebration in the Brattleboro Reformer by Kristopher Radder, October 13, 2025

Much appreciated coverage by Lindsey Jones with My NBC5 of yesterday's Indigenous Peoples' Day celebration at Retreat Farm., supported by Vermont Humanities.

A geneticist explains analyses made possible by tech advances show human history to be one of mixing, movement, displacement. “Ancient DNA is able to peer into the past and to understand how people are related to each other and to people living today,” Reich said during a talk at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. “And what it shows is worlds we hadn’t imagined before. It’s very surprising.”

This commentary is by Peter A. Thomas. He is a retired UVM research associate professor. The text is adapted from his presentation to an information program for Vermont legislators about the state-recognized Abenaki communities on April 4, 2025.

As community members, colleagues to Vermont Abenaki and land grant university employees, we address Seven Days readers, responding to Abenaki Council of Odanak's advertisement on April 2, 2025, along with similarly oriented event news since 2022.

…NOW, THEREFORE, I, Philip B. Scott, Governor, hereby proclaim May 4-10, 2025 as ABENAKI RECOGNITION AND HERITAGE WEEK in Vermont.

Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State of Vermont on this 3rd day of May, A.D. 2025.

Under the editorializing headline “Leaders of Vermont-recognized tribes defiant at Statehouse panel on Abenaki identity”, media source VTDigger - whose tagline “News in pursuit of truth” indicates they have some catching up to do - reported on the informational presentation held at the Vermont State House at 4:40 pm on Wednesday, April 23, 2025

The full video recording of last night’s (04/23/25) State House event, as posted on the blog here, is available for reference and sharing. It was a good evening and both well-received and attended.

The Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs (VCNAA) is hosting “An Evening with the Vermont Abenaki” to educate and engage with new lawmakers about the state’s Tribal Recognition process and hear from scholars, community members, and allies. The evening will include a presentation on the VCNAA, a look at Vermont Abenaki history and current experience, and a panel discussion.

Pitta alamizwôganal kolaloka Attean - much gratitude for your good work, Stephen! - a beautiful video storytelling…

Author and storyteller Randy Kritkausky, a federally enrolled tribal member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation who lives in Vermont, writes about awakening to Native American spiritual teachings and working with allies.

Guest Opinion by Kenneth Barnett Tankersley, Ph.D. in Native News Online December 2, 2024 - Indigenous McCarthyism seeks to establish an internal termination process through disinformation and divisiveness. State-recognized tribes have been accused of being frauds, and historically and politically problematic

“New Lights in the Dawnland” is a two hour audio documentary based on five individually recorded voices recounting 13,000 years of Indigenous history of Northfield leading up to the arrival of English colonists in the 17th Century and the impacts of colonialism that followed. Replete with tribal songs, flute and drum interludes and ambient sounds, this conversational telling of the story creates its own imagery, to the considerable satisfaction of those whose voices are interwoven throughout.

For Monday - October 14, 2024 - Vermont Governor Phil Scott issued an Executive Proclamation affirming Indigenous Peoples’ Day for this year’s observance.