| Based in the town of Swanton in northern Vermont is the Saint Francis - Sokoki Band of the Abenaki Nation, sometimes referred to as the Western Abenaki. Sokoki is their native word for the Western Abenaki. Their original name, the Wabanaki meant "those who live at the sunrise", or "the easterners". That may mean that the St. Francis - Sokoki Band is actually being called the "Western Easterners" by those unaware of the tribe's name's etymology. The tribe, which numbers around 1200 individuals has been recognized by other Abenaki Bands in Quebec as true Abenaki. The State of Vermont extended recognition to the tribe in 1976, only to rescind it in 1977 due to protests from hunters and fishermen. The state recognition had included special hunting and fishing rights for the band (The Abenaki Today, 99). | | | | | | | ABENAKI:
People of the Dawn Land | | | The Abenaki probably numbered more than 20,000 people before first contact with Europeans, in the current states of Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, although this number was greatly reduced due to the diseases brought into North America by Europeans. During the wars of the 18th century, many Abenaki migrated to Quebec, Canada where the greatest number can be found today.
Today's Abenaki in the U.S. are identified as 2 groups - the Western Abenaki (Vermont and New Hampshire) and the Eastern Abenaki (Maine).
The Abenaki are most often confused with the Wabenaki Confederation of which they are a part of along with the Penobscots, Passamaquoddy, Micmac and Maliseet, however they are a separate tribe.
Today there are more than 2,500 Western Abenaki living in the Lake Champlain area of Vermont - the Sokoki-St. Francis Band of the Abenaki Nation.
Although the Abenaki received state recognition in 1976, it was later withdrawn, and at the time of this writing they are still seeking federal recognition.
The Abenaki absorbed thousands of southern New England Natives who were seeking refuge from the King Philip's War in the 1670's. Descendants of Pennacook, Narragansett, Wampanoag, Niantic, Pocumtuc, Pequot and Nipmuc can still be found among Abenaki today. | |
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