Vermont State lawmakers are being urged to reconsider their recognition of four groups as Abenaki after a panel discussion hosted by Rep. Troy Headrick. Leaders from the Odanak First Nation in Quebec presented evidence that many members of the state-recognized tribes in Vermont are not truly Indigenous. They claim that the recognition process lacked sufficient proof of Abenaki heritage and shut out Odanak leaders from the debate.
The panel discussion at the Statehouse in Montpelier quickly became contentious, with audience members shouting over the panelists and accusations of lies being thrown around. Odanak leaders have been vocal in challenging the recognition of the Vermont groups, citing lack of evidence and harm to their band members.
Rep. Headrick plans to introduce a bill that would establish a task force to review the validity of the state’s past tribal recognitions and potentially rescind them. The bill would also revise the state’s standards for tribal recognition to include input from internationally recognized Indigenous communities like Odanak. The goal is to start a process of repairing the harm caused by the state’s recognition of the Vermont groups.
The proposed legislation has been praised by Odanak and W8linak tribal governments as a crucial step in rectifying past wrongs and ensuring a thorough reconciliation process. The bill also seeks to address concerns related to Vermont’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s ties to the state-recognized groups and ensure a fair and unbiased review of their work.
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