Celebrating the Abenaki
On August 3, In collaboration with the Friends of Tucker Mountain, we hosted an exploration of the lives and legacies of the Abenaki. It was an opportunity to learn about the People of the Dawn Land who lived here for thousands of years before the arrival of European settlers and to honor Native Americans' sacred connections to the land and forests.
Over 200 folks joined in to experience drumming, sample some Abenaki foods, learn about bead craft, watch as fire is started from flint, see traditional pit cooking, visit a bark wigwam, and enjoy the live music of Abenaki singer/songwriter Bryan Blanchette. Bryan shared information about the Abenaki language and sang some songs in the Abenaki language. At the close of the day, Chiefs Shirly Hook and Don Stevens and ethno-historian John Moody led a discussion about Abenaki lives and culture.
Making music in the Abenaki tradition.
Long before the celebration, a crew worked hard to build a bark wigwam, enlisting the help of Newbury Elementary students to construct it. Once the wigwam was complete, the team tested the campfire and found, yes! The smoke escaped through the top of the wigwam, just as it was supposed to!
Thanks to a generous grant from the Vermont Humanities Council, all activities were free.
Excerpt from the NHS Winter 2025 Newsletter