The Elnu Abenaki Tribe is a

state-recognized tribe State-recognized tribes in the United States are Native American tribes or heritage groups that do not meet the criteria for federally recognized Indian tribes but have been recognized by state government through laws, governor's executive orders ...

Vermont Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provinces and territories of Ca ...

, who claim descent from

Abenaki people The Abenaki (Abenaki language, Abenaki: ''Wαpánahki'') are Indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands, Indigenous people of the Northeastern Woodlands of Canada and the United States. They are an Algonquian languages, Algonquian-speaki ...

. They are not

federally recognized This is a list of federally recognized tribes in the contiguous United States. There are also federally recognized Alaska Native tribes. , 574 Indian tribes are legally recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) of the United States.

as a

Native American tribe In the United States, an American Indian tribe, Native American tribe, Alaska Native village, Indigenous tribe, or Tribal nation may be any current or historical Tribe (Native American)#Other uses, tribe, band, or nation of Native Americans in ...

. Vermont has no federally recognized tribes. They are the smallest of Vermont's four state-recognized tribes with 60 members in 2016.

Leadership

Roger Longtoe Sheehan served as chief since at least 2016.

State recognition

Vermont recognized the Elnu Abenaki Tribe as a state-recognized tribe in 2011.Darryl Leroux, ''Distorted Descent'', page 246. The other state-recognized tribes in Vermont are the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation,

Koasek Abenaki Tribe The Koasek Abenaki Tribe is a state-recognized tribe in Vermont, who claim descent from Abenaki people. They are not federally recognized as a Native American tribe. Vermont does not have any federally recognized Native American tribes. This or ...

, and the

Mississquoi Abenaki Tribe The Missisquoi Abenaki Tribe is one of four state-recognized tribes in Vermont, who claim descent from Abenaki people. The Missisquoi Abenaki Tribe specifically claims descent from the Missiquoi people. They are not federally recognized as a N ...

Nonprofit organization

In 2020, the group created Elnu Abenaki Incorporated'', a

501(c)(3) nonprofit organization A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of the 29 types of 5 ...

, based in Brattleboro, Vermont. Their registered agent is Rich Holshuh.

Heritage

St. Mary's University associate professor Darryl Leroux's genealogical and historical research found that the members of this and the other three state-recognized tribes in Vermont were composed primarily of "French descendants who have used long-ago ancestry in New France to shift into an 'Abenaki' identity." The State of Vermont reported in 2002 that the Abenaki people migrated north to

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

at the end of the 18th century.

Activities

They participate in Abenaki Heritage Weekend, held at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in

Vergennes, Vermont Vergennes is a city located in the northwest quadrant of Addison County, Vermont, United States. The municipality is bordered by the towns of Ferrisburgh, Vermont, Ferrisburgh, Panton, Vermont, Panton, and Waltham, Vermont, Waltham. As of the 2 ...

Property tax

Vermont H.556, "An act relating to exempting property owned by Vermont-recognized Native American tribes from property tax," passed on April 20, 2022.

Notes

References

External links

*
Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs
{{DEFAULTSORT:Elnu Abenaki Tribe Abenaki heritage groups Cultural organizations based in Vermont French diaspora in the United States Native American tribes in Vermont Non-profit organizations based in Vermont State-recognized tribes in the United States