ABENAKI SPEAK OUT AGAINST LEGAL LOOPHOLES, CALL FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY, AND SEEK JUSTICE IN VERMONT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  ABENAKI SPEAK OUT AGAINST LEGAL LOOPHOLES, CALL FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY, AND SEEK JUSTICE IN VERMONT

February 3, 2011

Will the Vermont legislature extend state recognition to applicants with no proof of Abenaki ancestry (or any Native American ancestry) whatsoever?

Vermont Statutes, Title 1, Chapter 23, Section 853 (c) (2) requires that applicants submit genealogical documents which "show a descendency from identified Vermont or regional native people," but also allows for the "submission of letters, statements, and documents" from other groups, agencies, and governments to "supplement" criteria such as 853 (c) (2).  How could the Vermont legislature allow such a loophole to be written into its legislation?  After all, the most controversial claim made by groups applying for recognition is that they are Abenaki.  According to the Vermont legislature, they don't have to offer any proof of that assertion.

Regardless, whatever documentation they do submit is not available for public review.  In a last-minute amendment last year, the Vermont Senate decided to remove transparency from the process.  Why are they afraid of public scrutiny?  Doesn't Vermont deserve better?  Don't the state's true indigenous people deserve better?

The Vermont legislature seems intent on giving "state recognition" to non-native people, at the expense of historically-known Abenaki people whose homeland has included the Connecticut River Valley, the Champlain Valley, the Green Mountains, and the shores of Lake Memphramagog since time immemorial.  And apparently, they plan to do it with loopholes and secrecy.

Please contact your Vermont legislators and demand that they reject pending applications for state recognition under this reprehensible law.  Vermont's leaders should sit down with real Abenaki people to build a new relationship based on respect, transparency and justice for all.