This entry was sent to me as it was posted on Olidahozi, a Yahoo group.  Since it is a "fact", in black and white, it's true that this was posted on the site, I repost it here for the benefit of those unable to sign up or remain members on that particular site or for those who just want to know what the gripe is all about.

If you have the genealogies or other pertinent documentation to support any of your claims, please forward them to me for posting on the site under "Supporting Documentation".  

--- On Mon, 5/12/08, James AKerman <jamesakermanrn@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: James AKerman <jamesakermanrn@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Olidahozi] Re:
To: Olidahozi@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, May 12, 2008, 7:43 PM

Hi there we have said this for many years now. The internet is where most of the money comes from. Right Paul.(since they read this blog) Did you ever get the opportunity to read my certified letter I sent out many moons ago? This letter took much courage and time to write based on all true and verifiable information. I sent it out to approx 100 people including atty General, BIA, Etc but nothing came of it except maybe people knowing the truth. take care --- On Mon, 5/12/08, Chris J. <christinejoslyn@ sbcglobal. net> wrote: From: Chris J. <christinejoslyn@ sbcglobal. net> Subject: [Olidahozi] Re: Abenaki Culture vs. Haudennosanne To: Olidahozi@yahoogrou ps.com Date: Monday, May 12, 2008, 7:22 PM Jeanne, The website is not cowasuck.com but cowasuck.org if anyone wants to check it out. I had not been able to look them up until I googled it. I think it would serve real people well to stop any and all "hucksters".  They promote what is not traditional practice for their own gain.  They seem to prey on those less fortunate and knowledgeable of their own culture. In the meantime federal funds set up to serve real people may get used for other purposes. `:-> --- In Olidahozi@yahoogrou ps.com, Jeanne Lincoln-Kent <rkent3661@. ..> wrote: I have no proof in either of the genealogies I have in my possession, but they are old and I do not know if he has found further information which I do not know about. But you are correct as far as the information I have. I have requested additional information and if anyone has it, please forward it. Morningstar On May 12, 2008, at 1:30 PM, daniel osgood sr wrote:   ANOTHER POINT JEANNE, IS THAT PAUL ISN'T EVEN ABENAKI, LET ALONE COWASUCK OR PENACOOK....   Jeanne Lincoln-Kent <rkent3661@. ..> wrote:   from www.morningstarstud io9.com   MAKE SOMEONE UNDERSTAND -Wawtamikha   Kwai, Nidobak Someone suggested that in sharing information regarding the Pennacook- Cowasuck Band, that I am "making myself look bad." Interesting. For  those who are less versed in what it means to be "Indian", I will share my reasons.   In visiting their website (Cowasuck.com) recently, I noticed that there were several photos of spiritual events taking place. Now, understandably, there are times when photos are taken by people and we miss asking them not to, but when they are included in a photo gallery on the web site of a Band who is stating they know their "traditions" ,  one has to question it. Our religious practices are, for the most part, private. And there are many ceremonies and items which should not be photographed. Period. Blessing a drum, photographing a medicine bag which has been filled and photographing a sweat lodge,  just aren't proper to the Abenaki culture nor (to my personal  knowledge is it appropriate to any other NA tribe).   I also noted that there is now a statement to the effect that they are teaching "Iroquian and Algonquin cultures." This is a strange mix.  And one has to ask why a group that insists it is Abenaki would include the teachings of a group which neither share our language nor our traditions. At one point in history, the Haudennosannee (People of the Longhouse)(Iroquois means rattle snake and is considered an  insult) were dire enemies of the Algonquian speaking community including the Abenaki (People of the Dawn).   Iroquoian, on the other hand, is a language group which includes Erie, Susquehannok, and the Neutrals, Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga and Seneca.  Huron-Wendat were also part of the language group.   The Algonquian language group was much larger and included the:  Abenaki, Delaware, Mahican, Malecite, Massachuset, MicMac, Montauk,  Narraganset, Pennacook, Pequot and Wampanoag. Central Algonquian speaking nations included, Chippewa, Ottawa, Potawatomi, Menominee  (forest region), Sauk, Fox, Kickapoo, Illinois, Shawnee, Piankashaw and Prairie Potawatomi. Now I realize that Paul's Pouliot's group call themselves the Pennacook-Cowasuck Band of Abenaki, but that would have to be a contradiction in terms. How would they talk to each other when they are from two different language groups? How would they have a functioning government when they differed so much? A terrific overview comparison of the two communities can be found onhttp://www. cabrillo. edu/~crsmith/ noamer_newoodlan ds.html . It provides an excellent explanation of how the two cultures differed.   Case in point: While the Haudennosanne were a highly structured village of longhouses from which people went out to hunt and tend > fields returning at night to the long houses for protection, the Algonquian People lived in loose groups of families. The Haudennosanne were strictly regimented by the matrilineal lines into  clans. We were not. We had loose groups which sometimes took animal totems as reference, and were later identified as clans, but we were  less of a city and more of a scattering of small villages or families built on site to tend fields, hunt or fish. The only time we returned  to longhouses might have been in winter when it was easier to share facilities to keep warm and share food. It would have been safer then to live scattered alone and be at the mercy of our enemies. But in  good weather, we were everywhere. It was the reason we were such fair game for stronger, more organized groups such as the Haudennosanne.   When a group claims heritage and goes out into the public teaching it, seeking federal or state recognition, but teach mis-information about our culture and history, it hurts those who are genuine. This is something even the novice NA buff must understand. Just because someone can make a dream catcher does not make them Ojibway. Just because they can speak a few words in Sioux (learned form a CD) does  not mean they are from that tribe.   What is worse is when there are 501(c)3s in about six states connected  to the issue of being Native American. How many of these are getting grants for cultural purposes? How many are receiving money for operating expenses and paying "administration costs" to the chief,  treasurer and/or clerk? Are any of the "offices" claimed really in the name of the tribe or are they in the name of individuals and/or private residences? Tribal offices and properties are open to all the people of that tribe whereas properties in private names become selectively available and can hardly serve the people in the way such  offices were intended. Living in Indian Country is not easy and when there are those who make mockery of it by imitating it for profit, it becomes a serious issue to those who really care about their people. So if having such a commitment to the Abenaki People makes me "look bad", I guess that will have to be, because I will stand for what is right among our  People in an effort to protect the integrity of what our Ancestors stood for.   Morningstar Posted on Monday, May 12, 2008, 11:43 AM