The Abenaki Experience: Prehistory To Present – Part 2

The Abenaki Experience: Prehistory To Present – Part 2
A Speakers Series hosted by Friends of The Morrill Homestead

The Vermont Abenakis: Un-writing History with Fred Wiseman

Prof. Frederick Wiseman discusses three critical, but little known cultural periods of Vermont Indigenous history. Misunderstanding of these periods by academics, politicians, bureaucrats, and even some Indigenous people is a major obstacle in social, economic, and racial equity of the modern Abenaki communities.

Wiseman uses an Indigenous perspective to tease meaning from what we know of Native life and ecology in 1609-1620 Vermont, the eve of the coming of European conflict. The second focuses on revealing the incredible sophistication of Vermont Abenaki diplomacy within the Great Council Fire Alliance of the mid 18th century. The third is perhaps most important, for it details the culture, history, and ecology of Vermont Indian families and communities during the 19th and early 20th centuries, a time that there were supposedly no resident Abenakis in the State. Wiseman concludes with how the Vermont Abenaki communities are getting to know their incredible and unique cultural-ecological-historical experience.
Supported by Vermont Humanities and Hotel Coolidge