~ WORK IN PROGRESS ~

Chronology of presentations, related published documents, and selected press coverage.

April 2022 “Beyond Borders: Unheard Abenaki Voices of the Odanak First Nation” panel at the University of Vermont.

First Panel – The Past

• David Massell, University of Vermont, Professor of History
• Suzi Obomsawain, Assistant General Manager, Odanak Band Council
• Daniel Nolett, General Director, Odanak Band Council
• Christopher Roy, Temple University, Assistant Professor of Instruction, Department of Anthropology

Second Panel – The Present

• Jaques Watso, Odanak
• Mali Obomsawin, Odanak
• Jus Crea Giamano, Pennobscott

“UVM officials apologize to Vt. state-recognized tribes while Odanak reps continue to denounce them.” Vermont Public by Elodie Reed. Published February 9, 2023 

April 28th 2023 Indigenous Sovereignty, Race-Shifting, and University Responsibility panel at the University of Vermont

• Kim TallBear (Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate), University of Alberta, Professor of Native Studies (since moved to University of Minnesota Department of American Indian Studies)
• Chris Andersen Chris Anderson (Métis/University of Alberta) – talk not recorded
• Brenda Macdougall Chris Anderson (Métis/University of Ottowa) – talk not recorded

“Review of genealogies, other records fails to support local leaders’ claims of Abenaki ancestry.” New Hampshire Public Radio by Julia Barnett. Published May 22, 2023. Audio reporting and full text.

“State Recognition and the Dangers of Race Shifting: The Case of Vermont.” Paper by Darryl Leroux (associate professor of political studies at the University of Ottowa) in American Indian Culture and Research Journal 46:2 published July 14, 2023.

“Churchill: Is Joseph Bruchac truly Abenaki?” Times Union, Albany, NY by Chris Churchill. Published September 30, 2023. [full text available only to subscribers]

“Recognized” three-part special series within Brave Little State podcast by Vermont Public. | Elodie Reed, Josh Crane, Sabine Poux. Published October 19, 2023.

American Indians in Children’s Literature blog by Debbie Reese. Post last updated October 20, 2023. Resource list including some overlap with this one. Reese links to additional regional reporting, historical documents related to federal and state recognition, and press releases posted to the Abenaki Heritage website. (See “Organizational Websites” section below.)

April, 2024 “Identity fraud and Indigenous self-determination: Abenaki youth perspectives.” W8banaki presentation at side event during 23rd Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York City.

• Ghislain Picard, Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador
• Rick O’Bomsawin, Chief of the Abenaki Council of Odanak
• Daniel Nolett, Odanak
• Sigwanis Lachapelle
• Isaak Lachapelle-Gill

April 16, 2024 Highlighting Abenaki: UVM Collaborations that Bridge Communities panel at the University of Vermont College of Arts & Sciences.

• Sherwood Smith, senior executive director of inclusive excellence and faculty engagement at UVM’s Division of Diversity, Equity and inclusion, member of the College of Education and Social Services faculty
• John Crock, associate professor of anthropology and the College of Arts and Sciences’ director of the Consulting Archaeology Program
• Kris Stepenuck, UVM Extension associate professor in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources and Extension Program leader for the Lake Champlain Sea Grant
• Jess Rubin, Myco-Phytoremediation Research Technician in the Department of Plant and Soil Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• Katherine Elmer, lecturer in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and the Osher Center for Integrative Health.

“Panel Highlights UVM Collaborations with Abenaki.” UVM News by Alex Bertoni. Published April 17, 2024.

“Abenaki in Quebec take identity fraud concerns to the United Nations” CBC News, Canada by Ka’nhehsí:io Deer Published April 24, 2024.

April 25, 2024 Indigenous Belonging & Rights in the Northeast panel at the University of Vermont.

• Gordon Henry, (White Earth Anishnaabe Nation), Michigan State University, Professor Emeritus of English and American Indian and Indigenous Studies
• Pamela Palmater (Eel River Bar First Nation (Ugpi’ganjig)), Toronto Metropolitan University, professor and Chair in Indigenous Governance
• Darryl Leroux, University of Ottawa, Associate Professor in Political Studies

“Historian studies awkward truth about state’s Abenaki.” The Other Paper by David Massell. Published June 13, 2024.

“Abenaki Nations address identity fraud again at UN, call for U.S., Canada to support self-governance.” Vermont Public by Elodie Reed. Published July 11, 2024.

July 11, 2024 6th Meeting, 17th Session Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) of the United Nations (video recording). Jaques Watso speaks at 1:13:30.

“At contentious Statehouse panel, Abenaki leaders urge lawmakers to reconsider recognition of Vermont groups.” VTdigger.org by Shaun Robinson. Published February 20, 2025. [so far I have not found a recording of this panel at the Statehouse]

April 23, 2025 An Evening with the Vermont Abenaki with the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs

• Katherine Sims, former House Representative for Orleans County, VT
• Dr. Marge Bruchac, Professor Emerita, University of Pennsylvania
• Dr. Peter Thomas, retired Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Vermont
• Giovanna Peebles, retired Vermont State Archaeologist

Genealogy Research Project: Imagined Ancestry, Misplaced Recognition. Directed by Darryl Leroux, Project Lead and Associate Professor at the School of Political Studies at the University of Ottawa. Project commissioned by the Abenaki Council of Odanak. Published October 2025. See related documents.

“Here’s the info Abenaki leaders in Canada say proves VT tribe members are mostly European.” The Burlington Free Press by Megan Stewart. Published October 26, 2025. [online full article available to subscribers only, see pdf below]

“Vermont tribes defend their identity against scrutiny from across the Canadian border” Native America Calling podcast by Art Hughes. Published November 11, 2025.

• Chief Rick O’Bomsawin (Odanak First Nation), Chief of the Abenaki Council of Odanak
• Chief Don Stevens (Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation)
• Margaret Bruchac (Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation), professor emerita of anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania

“Confronting a past of forced sterilization” Native America Calling podcast by Art Hughes. Published March 12, 2026.

• Elena Giacci (Diné), historical trauma trainer and anti-sexual violence advocate
• Josett Monette (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians), cabinet secretary for the State of New Mexico Indian Affairs Department
• Chief Don Stevens (Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation)
• Jean Whitehorse (Diné)

“The Abenaki of Odanak and Wôlinak speak in UVM course” The Vermont Cynic by Ethan Brodie. Published March 31, 2026.

Organizational Websites

Abenaki Council of Odanak (Canada)

Abenaki Council of Wôlinak (Canada)

W8banaki Nation – Tribal Council representing the Abenaki communities of Odanak and Wôlinak (Canadian federally recognized First Nation). See History page.

Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi (Vermont state recognized tribe)

Elnu Abenaki Tribe (Vermont state recognized tribe)

Koasek Traditional Band of the Koas Abenaki Nation (Vermont state recognized tribe)

Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation (Vermont state recognized tribe)

Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs

Polemical Websites

Abenaki Heritage (W8banaki First Nation, Canada)

Abenaki Alliance (Vermont Abenaki Tribes, no authors listed)

Ndakinna News (Vermont Abenaki Tribes, no authors listed)

Joseph Bruchac Blog Posts