Our research takes place on land traditionally owned and stewarded by the Western Abenaki. We recognize the past, present, and continued existence of their tribes on the land as well as the deep significance it holds to their culture. As well, we recognize the harm inflicted on their people by European settlers. We hope that acknowledging crimes committed in the past and celebrating the lives of those in the present leads to a future that is just, equitable, and inclusive for all who call this land home.
A land acknowledgement is intended as a way of formally recognizing the Indigenous Nations which historically inhabited lands now governed by the United States.
Recognizing the past and continued existence of Indigenous nations, including the Abenaki, is a step towards reconciliation with historical injustices that have been perpetrated against Indigenous peoples both in Vermont and elsewhere in North America. While merely recognizing the existence of the Abenaki is a small gesture, it is nonetheless important, for omitting their presence would be tantamount to the erasure of their culture from American history. As Alexander Cotnoir writes in this article published by Audubon Vermont, land acknowledgements not only name the Indigenous nations historically affected by colonialism, but encourage organizations to build stronger relationships with contemporary Native communities. One important aspect of the Town Forest Census Project is to identify community actions with regards to recognizing Indigenous history and stewardship, and what resources they may need for the future.
The land acknowledgement on this website was developed following guidelines provided from the Native Governance Center, a non-profit organization. The land acknowledgement was written with the recognition that while acknowledging the genocide of Indigenous nations is an important step, the goal of a land acknowledgement is not the resolution of settler guilt, but the celebration of Native peoples, past and present. Moreover, providing a land acknowledgement is only the first step towards reconciliative justice; they are meaningless without further calls to action.
In managing municipally-owned forests, there are a number of steps communities can take to recognize and respect the historical and current presence of the Abenaki in Vermont, and their relationship to the land. These include:
- Developing land acknowledgements to be posted on town websites and signs in municipally-owned forests.
- Providing special land access rights to Indigenous communities where appropriate.
- Officially defining and delineating hunting, fishing, and gathering rights for Indigenous communities.
- Using Indigenous place names.
- Expressing indigenous perspectives through art, education, wayfinding, and historical accounts of town forests.
- Interpretive trails incorporating Indigenous cultural perspectives and language names for plants and animals.
- Permitting Indigenous cultural events to take place on town land.
- Consulting Indigenous experts on traditional ecological knowledge.
- Inviting Indigenous representatives to take part in governance.
While the list of actions that could potentially follow a land acknowledgement is very long, the suggestions above could be a good place to start.
Additional Resources for those interested:
- UVM PLACE program website on Abenaki history. This website also includes additional information on indigenous and settler history in various towns around Vermont. https://www.uvm.edu/place/towns/greensborobend/abenaki.php
- “What is the Status of The Abenaki Native Americans in Vermont Today?” story from VPR https://www.vermontpublic.org/programs/2016-11-04/what-is-the-status-of-the-abenaki-native-americans-in-vermont-today#stream/0