| Keeping a cultural heritage alive is the goal of | | | | we can be Native American in public again and |
| many non-profit organizations. For Ndakinna | | | | continue to teach people about our heritage |
| Cultural Center a non-profit Native American | | | | through Abenaki language classes, Pow-wows, |
| education organization, that goal is at the top of | | | | Arts & crafts and drumming. However due |
| the list. The state of Vermont was first the | | | | to the State Of Vermont's failure to properly |
| homeland to the Abenaki Indians. The Abenaki | | | | recognize The Abenaki we still can not label our |
| called their home Ndakinna meaning our land. The | | | | crafts as Authentic Indian Made. We can however |
| Abenaki endured many struggles to keep the | | | | continue to teach our traditions and educate |
| culture alive. The most recent was less then 100 | | | | people that we are still here and always have |
| years ago when The State of Vermont ran a | | | | been. We do this through different programs |
| Eugenics program that targeted the Abenaki. The | | | | through the state including a tribal office for The |
| Eugenics program endured forced sterilizations on | | | | Missiquoi Abenaki in Swanton which also houses a |
| The Abenaki. The law that was passed in 1931 | | | | museum, Through various pow-wow's, The |
| was called "A Law for Human Betterment by | | | | historical society museum in Montpelier as well as |
| Voluntary Sterilization" and the Abenaki were the | | | | other museums throughout Vermont. We also do |
| biggest target. During this period the Abenaki | | | | this through a cultural center dedicated to teaching |
| were forced to fit in with other families around | | | | the Abenaki heritage through a variety of classes, |
| them. Many learned to play the violin or guitar | | | | meetings, school visits and seminars. |
| because drumming would summon the police and | | | | The Abenaki heritage is an important piece of |
| you would more then likely end up in jail. Many | | | | Vermont history and needs to be preserved. All |
| Abenaki were forced to become | | | | Abenaki in Vermont need to be proud of who |
| "French-Canadian" in order to avoid the | | | | they are. Some of us belong to Abenaki bands |
| mysterious miscarriages that happened after a | | | | and some of us choose not to for one reason or |
| doctors visit or the removal of children from the | | | | another but the fact of the matter is that we are |
| family. Due to the fact that the Abenaki were in | | | | all related and need to pass our our heritage to |
| hiding, many Vermonters still believe that there | | | | our children in any way that we can. We also |
| were never Abenaki people that lived in Vermont. | | | | need to come together as one people again. The |
| It is also due to the underground lifestyle that | | | | trials of the past are horrific, However we can |
| Vermont Abenaki could not sell their wares as | | | | endure in the future but first we must learn to |
| authentic Indian goods. | | | | accept each other and educate the people in the |
| The Eugenics program was the latest in the | | | | state of Vermont. |
| darkest days of our ancestors however today | | | | |