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"Burlington, Vermont/Politon, Kdakinna (April 23, 2024) — The four Vermont state-recognized Abenaki tribes, together as the Vermont Abenaki Alliance, held a press conference on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, to call attention to our vibrant history, authenticity, and issue a call for tolerance and open exchange. Joined by media representatives and fellow citizens, the Chiefs provided updates on their interactions with their Canadian counterparts and relatives, additional resources to educate the public on the Vermont Abenaki experience and struggle for recognition, and advocated for ongoing positive interactions between Vermont's state-recognized tribes and our neighbors. The four tribes spoke about promoting tolerance and respect for Indigenous cultures in Vermont and beyond."   

The Vermont Abenaki Alliance is an inclusive community of four Vermont recognized tribes — Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, Elnu Abenaki Tribe, Koasek Traditional Band of the Koas Abenaki Nation, and Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation. https://www.abenakialliance.org/ 

PRESS CONFERENCE HANDOUTS:  

A Journey to State Recognition: The Vermont Abenaki Experience 1976-2024 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Twq7... 

Position Paper Legal and Policy Arguments Justifying Vermont State Recognition Of the Vermont Abenaki Tribes https://drive.google.com/file/d/1va71... 

The Not So Invisible Border https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e1xt... 

Gov. Phil Scott Abenaki Support Proclamation https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bmbn... 

Vermont House of Representatives Resolution HR10 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zyB6... 

Vermont Senate Resolution SR11 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lPvc... 

Vermont Congressional Delegation Support Statement https://drive.google.com/file/d/18P-X... 

WEBSITES: 

Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs https://vcnaa.vermont.gov/ 

Vermont Abenaki Alliance https://www.abenakialliance.org/ 

Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi https://abenakination.com/ 

Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation https://abenakitribe.org/ 

Koasek Traditional Band of the Koas Abenaki Nation https://koasek.org/ 

Elnu Abenaki Tribe https://elnuabenakitribe.org/

”Tuesday morning at a press conference held by Vermont's Abenaki chiefs in Burlington in advance of another event at the University of Vermont on Thursday, where the Abenakis of Canada will continue to press their claims that Vermont Abenakis are frauds, mostly descended from French-Canadians.”

"It sucks you dry because you're thinking about it all the time," said Chief Shirly Hook of the Koasek Traditional Band of the Koas Abenaki Nation in Vermont. "They keep on pounding us."