Early and modern historical references 

1772-1775 

Henry  Tufts documents his life living among the Coosuck Abenaki. He lived  among 2 family bands that ranged between Lake Memphremegog and Lake  Umbagog with Old Philip, Mali Orcutt, Swasson, Susap and Tomhegan. 

Winter 1783-1784

An Abenak named “Foosah” claims to have killed 27 moose and large #’s of beaver and otter at Barton Pond in VT

Winter 1779

Captain  Susuap and a small band of Abenaki join settlers in Troy, VT and build  their winter camp on the river. They sell baskets, birch bark cups &  pails while there. Molly Orcutt was among them and doctored many of the  settlers while living next to them. 

Autumn 1788

Pierre  Sales de La Terrière while traveling by the Abenaki on Lake  Memphremagog on his way from Three Rivers to Harvard Medical School,  notes in his memoirs “This road is so frequented by the savages, that,  from distance to distance there are huts made that each one repairs and  maintains in turn: they serve all people……The head of the family came  from salmon fishing and moose hunting…..provided us with enough flesh  and well-smoked fish for the rest of our trip.”

June 30, 1796

Coosuk  Chief Philip sells over 3,000 square miles straddling the border to  four men; Thomas Eames and 3 associates that called themselves the  Eastern Company. The price was a simple promise to keep Philip and his  two wives well fed and clothed for the rest of their lives and allow all  other band members fishing and hunting rights on the land in  perpetuity. This deed was signed by Phillip, Molly Mussell, and  Mooselock Sullsop.

     The  3,000 square miles included: from Umbagog and Mooselookmeguntic Lakes  in the East (the headwaters of the Megalloway and Androscoggin Rivers;  South to the junction of the Ammonoosuc with the Connecticut; West to  the western shore of Lake Memphremagog up the Clyde and along the  Nulhegan; and North to the junction of the Salmon and St Francis Rivers.

     This  land sale was actually illegal since the Federal Non-Intercourse Act of  1791 prohibited any agency other than the US government from buying  Indian lands within the territory claimed by the United States (as about  half of this parcel did.) Also in 1793 the Continental Congress wrote  up a law forbidding private citizens to buy land from the Indians. The  state of NH had a similar law on the books as early as 1719.

June 1812

 A band of Abenaki is reported living at Owls Head Mountain on Lake Memphremagog in Potton, QC 

1907

An  Abenaki burial ground is dug up during the excavation for Barton  Academy (now Barton Graded School). No record of what happened to those  artifacts appears to exist. 

August 15, 1957

John  C. Huden, in his book “Indian Place Names in Vermont”, mentions a band  of Abenaki called Nulheganocks living in the Nulhegan River Basin of the  North East Kingdom of Vermont.  Huden lists his informatants as Stephen  Laurent, Amboise Obumsawin, Alice Masta Wawanolett and Oliver  Wawanolett of Odanak, QC 

June 25, 1978

The  first record of a 20th century repatriation and reburial of Abenaki  remains takes place in Center Harbor, NH. *From 1978 to the mid 1980’s  there were in-depth discussions with Stephen Laurent, Homer St. Francis  and Richard Phillips about the repatriation of Abenaki burials in NH. 

November 15, 1980

The  first record of a repatriation and reburial of Abenaki remains takes  place in VT after a set of Abenaki remains is discovered at the Putney  Historical Society in Putney, VT. Blackie Lampman and Richard Phillips  ask Beverly Bolding of Goffstown, NH to facilitate the repatriation. 

May 3rd, 2006

The  Vermont Legislature recognized the Abenaki as a “Minority Population”  within the State of Vermont under Statute 853. This entitled the Abenaki  protections as a disadvantaged race of people. However, since there  were no recognized Abenaki Indian Tribes in Vermont, there were  “legally” no Abenaki people under the law. This was an attempt to  recognize our people without recognizing tribes which of course we would  not accept. 

March 16, 2008

The  Vermont Indigenous Alliance is formed by Elnu Tribe, Koasek Tribe,  Missiqoui Tribe and Nulhegan Tribe of Abenaki with the purpose of  unifying the tribes and pursuing official state recognition from the  state of Vermont.  

April 22, 2011

 Nulhegan  was officially recognized by the State of Vermont as an Abenaki Indian  Tribe and accepted our territorial boundaries contained within our  petitions. 

December 12, 2012

The  Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe officially takes ownership of the first tribal  forestland in 200 years with the purchase of a 65-acre parcel in Barton,  VT. 

January 1, 2013

Wabanaagig  TV from the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network in Canada produces  the movie “The Vermont Abenaki – A struggle for recognition” which  documents the struggle for Vermont State recognition and culminates with  the celebration of recognition at the first annual Nulheganaki. 

August 19-22, 2015

The  annual Wabanaki Confederacy Conference was held in Shelburne, VT. This  was the first time the Confederacy was hosted by the Western Abenaki of  Vermont in 200 hundred years. The Seven Nations of Canada Confederacy  Nations also attended this important gathering. The Abenaki are the only  Nation who is in both Confederacies.  

December 20, 2016

Chief  Don Stevens and the Nulhegan Abenaki tribe reach a settlement agreement  with the US Dept. of the Interior granting the Nulhegan Tribe, Elnu  Tribe and Koasek Tribe the legal right to possess, carry, use, wear,  give, loan or exchange among other Indians without compensation, all  federally protected birds as well as their parts or feathers. November  8th, 2018 Chief Stevens was able to add the Missisiquoi Tribe to the  settlement agreement. 

November 9, 2019

Through  the efforts of Nulhegan Abenaki Chief Don Stevens the grand opening of  the Abenaki Nation Cultural and Historical Exhibit occurs at the  Burlington International Airport. 

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References

1. Tufts, Henry. The Autobiography of a Criminal; Loompanics Unlimited, 1993. ISBN 1-55950-095-6

2.  Gazetteer of Lamoille and Orleans Counties, VT.; 1883-1884, Compiled and Published by Hamilton Child; May 1887

3. Samuel Sumner’s 1860 History of Missisco Valley (Vermont)

4. Pierre De Sales Laterriere. Memoirs of Pierre De Sales Laterriere. 1873

5. Colin G. Calloway. The Western Abenakis of Vermont, 1600-1800, University of Oklahoma Press1994

6. Crystal Lake Falls Historical Association (June 6, 2007). Barton Academy turns 100 years old. The Chronicle.

7. Vermont Archaeological Society. An  Overview of Abenaki and Indigenous Peoples, Burial/Site Protection,  Repatriation, and Customs of Respect, Looting, and Site Destruction in  the Abenaki Homeland, and Relations between Archeology, Ethnohistory,  and Traditional Knowledge. The Journal of Vermont Archaeology, Volume 12, 2011.

8. Vermont Statutes. Justia US Law. https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/01/023/00853

9. Fred Wiseman. Against the Darkness: The American Abenaki Experience. Distributed by Title VII Indian Education Program. 2006

10. “An Act Relating to Recognition of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation as a Native American Indian Tribe”. Vermont General Assembly. 

11. Vtdigger.org. Nulhegan Abenaki attain first tribal forestland in more than 200 years. December 17, 2012. https://vtdigger.org/2012/12/18/nulhegan-abenaki-attain-first-tribal-forestland-in-more-than-200-years/

12. Aboriginal Peoples Television Network. Wabanaagig, Land of the Rising Sun. The Vermont Abenaki – A struggle for Recognition. January 1, 2013. https://www.cctv.org/watch-tv/programs/vermont-abenaki-struggle-recognition?fbclid=IwAR0tAnselSsPql96gSeqvSfv0AtzlhZ1BSwA_BW_jaM_lMO6TKsSLU1BL1s

13. Burlington Free Press. Abenaki host historic gathering in Shelburne. August 22, 2015. https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/2015/08/22/abenaki-wabanaki-shelburne-farms/32205229/

14. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. Morton Policy: Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act; Religious Use of Feathers – Settlement Agreement with Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe. December 21, 2016.

15. WCAX.com. Abenaki Tribe displays history at Burlington airport. October 15, 2019. https://www.wcax.com/content/news/Abenaki-tribe-displays-history-at-BTV-airport-563110421.html

16. Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe Website. https://abenakitribe.org/ 

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Culture and Traditions

• Government – According to its constitution, the Nulhegan tribal government is organized into three branches: the Chief (executive), the Tribal Council (legislative), and Council of Elders (judicial).  The Tribal Headquarters are at 1366 May Farm Road, Barton, VT 05822 You may click on the word “Government” at the beginning of this section to see more about our government.
• The Nulhegan Gathering is a celebration held annually since State Recognition in 2011 at the  end of August in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. It is important in bringing together members of families, many from great distances for a weekend long celebration of Abenaki culture.  
• Snow Snake Games are ancient games that the Abenaki have played for centuries.  Brian Chenevert and Roger Longtoe Sheehan revived the snow snake games  among the Abenaki in 2008 and they have been played annually ever since. Click on the words “Snow Snake Games” at the beginning of this section. You will be brought to the Activities page where you can scroll down and see pictures of some of our games that have been held in the past. Watch our Events calendar during the winter months to find out when and where our next games will be held.