Utoo Radio and Other News Sources - April 19, 2024 - A digital billboard in Times Square flashed maroon for sixty seconds, urging people to stop identity fraud and defend the identity and rights of the W8banaki Nation, which is made up of Odanak and Wôlinak First Nations.
The message, which cost $500, showed up for one minute every hour all day on Tuesday.
Two youth Abenaki representatives spoke during a side event at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, titled "Identity Fraud and Indigenous Self-Determination: Abenaki Youth Perspectives."
The Abenaki youth said that identity fraud threatens the integrity of their cultures and traditions, distorting their age-old heritage. They also highlighted the fundamental distinction between having an Indigenous ancestor and belonging to an Indigenous nation. The Abenaki youth spoke specifically in response to Vermont, which has recognized four groups as Abenaki tribes, which the W8banaki Nation denounces and says are “unrelated to the real Abenaki.” The state-recognized tribes dispute that claim.
Following their speech, the Abenaki delegation heard from a roomful of people belonging to Indigenous nations across the world who say they are seeing the same thing. Rick O'Bomsawin, the Abenaki Council of Odanak chief, noted that under the current UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, there is broad language about the right to self-determination, but he told those at the UN event that it should be clearer who has that right — historically continuous Indigenous nations. He called for the W8banaki Nation to be brought to the table as a nation, because they are a country within themselves and need to be viewed that way.
Vermont's state recognition process has limited the participation of the two Abenaki First Nations, whose governments are headquartered in Quebec, due to parts of the process only allowing Vermont residents to give input.
Abenaki Council of Odanak Chief Rick O'Bomsawin has been unable to discuss this issue with Gov. Phil Scott, who has expressed concern that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples currently has broad language about the right to Indigenous self-determination. Gov. Scott stated that he felt this issue was settled and that any potential changes would need to be made legislatively so Odanak could make their case to legislators.
The Abenaki Alliance, which represents Vermont's four state-recognized tribes, did not immediately return a request for comment. Rich Holschuh, chair of Vermont's Commission on Native American Affairs and a member of the Elnu state-recognized tribe, said that the statements made by W8banaki Nation representatives were hard to hear. He praised the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, calling it "broadly inclusive rather than exclusive."
Youth Abenaki speakers, Isaak Lachapelle-Gill and Sigwanis Lachapelle, expressed hope for the future following their event at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
