From: James AKerman <jamesakermanrn@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Olidahozi]
To: Olidahozi@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, May 9, 2008, 2:49 PM

 

 

Chief Paul Pouliot has spoken. Does grandfather and Gail Demers know as of yet that they are in the middle of a law suit? Or are they still in denial. Where can you find this newsletter information. It is no longer on website I have been told. --- On Fri, 5/9/08, Jeanne Kent <rkent3661@charter. net> wrote: From: Jeanne Kent <rkent3661@charter. net> Subject: [Olidahozi] My latest Blog To: Olidahozi@yahoogrou ps.com Date: Friday, May 9, 2008, 11:14 AM From my blog at www.morningstarstudio9.com ENEMY - Apcikozid Kwai, Nidobak Sorry to bring back the issue of politics again, but it seems that some people do not fully realize that the bill to recognize the Abenaki in Vermont has been shelved until the next session of the Legislature. They continue to beat a negative drum, flailing against a list of people that leaves one wondering if they have any friends among their world of enemies. under direction of Paul In the latest issue of Aln8bak News produced by the Cowasuck Band of Pennacook Abenaki Pouliot, there are negative references to the Canadian Abenaki, Chief April Merrill, Fred Wiseman, Nancy Millette, Chief Brian Chevernet, the Elnu group and Roger Longtoe Sheehan, the Senate Committee on economic Development, Housing and General Affairs led by Senator Vincent Illuzzi, spirual leader and pipe carrier Burton DeCarr (who he paints as a defective individual) , Retired Chief Howard F. Knight, and his council: Lucie Caron, Karen Mica, John Davis, Virginia Toetosen; Jim Haskins, the state of Vermont and even an unnamed "woman who lives in CT". Accusations and name calling are the central theme of the issue, but that is nothing new as in reviewing past issues, the thread has been long standing.Word usage often exaggerates and inflames a situation which is otherwise mundane. Terms such as: self declared, exclusive, exclusionary, to silence us, discriminating against us, sleazy groups, trouble makers, handwriting analysis (by whom?), documents, email messages (as proof), working for the US and Canadian federal governments as an agent and agitator, disrupt by creating dissent, advocated and encouraged violence, use of terms such as AIM, Mafia, et. al, encouraged people to do killings and other illegal acts to disrupt groups, make mockery, seized, underlying agendas, international gambling, land claims, flagrant violator, people are ignorant or oblivious, Abenaki Nation...may collapse, struggle, dubious, lying and back biting, stick a knife in your back, dominance and control, troubling hardships, claiming supremacy, tactics of intimidation, fraud, destructive warrior behavior, member apathy, negative activities.. .spread like terrorism, nationally organized militant warrior group waging warfare , purposes of dominance and supremacy , hidden agenda, and the list of key words of negativism is endless. Words used to anger or agitate people, make people fearful of others and to separate them. It is little wonder that this man has lost member after member over the years and that his leadership (except for Grandfather Maple) is a revolving door of people being elected and then resigning. One passage is particularly exemplary of his desire to create fear in the community, but it may backfire. His reference to a "woman in CT" could well refer to a number of Abenaki women living in CT, including his own sub chief and tradition protector, Lynn Menard-Mathieson, who is a CT resident and a woman. By not naming the individual, he has placed Ms.Menard-Mathieson and other Abenaki women in CT in danger because (as he pointed out) such accusations are taken seriously in Indian Country. He has, by his own creation, provided an unsafe environment for others. This could cause serious reprecussions for him when all is said and done. The following is the quote from the Aln8bak News for Jan, Feb, Mar, 2008: "All of this is bad enough, but it has been reported from Canadian sources, documents, and email messages that a woman in CT has been working for the U.S. and Canadian federal governments as an agent and agitator inside several groups of the Abenaki community. The purpose of which is to gather information and disrupt Abenaki groups by creating dissent. Check the many Abenaki internet "chat-rooms" . Several postings have advocated and encouraged violence against any Abenaki or Abenaki group that speaks out about the events that are occurring in our community. She has been directly linked to at least two such acts of violence. This is not unreasonable to believe considering the well documented activities of the FBI wherein they infiltrated groups. (AIM, Mafia, et. al) and then encouraged inside people to do killings and other illegal acts to disrupt the group." These are serious accusations and appear to be an act of desperation on the part of a person who knows they have lost control. The fact that he has incorporated (501 (C) 3 (non-profit organization) his "Band in CT, VT, NY, Calif, Wash., MA, RI, Maine and NH shows that he has little or no understanding of what it means to be federally or state recognized. Any NA tribe or band must be on its homeland and can be recognized only in one state (according to state and Federal law). Beyond that, some are recognized only in one  geographical area of a state. They have to have been there since the early 1900s, had continuous governmental influence over its members and had its own continuous governing body. Beyond that, they must prove that they are from similar family roots of the originating NA population. This group has moved from state to state getting 501(C)3 non profit status which is flaunted as if it means recognition of some kind when, in fact, it has nothing to do with state or federal recognition. Its members have changed rapidly and include members of NA heritages other than Abenaki. There are no records to prove an ongoing and continuous organization in any given area. Therefore, recognition of this "band" is highly questionable which is why other Abenaki groups do not recognize him. While accusing others of being subversive and supporting violent acts, the very accusations and publications by this group have been in this vain. As owner of a NA message board, I was orwarded "documents" by one of their members who was using an assumed persona. Since I was a teacher, I am familiar with peoples writing syntax and realized who it was. Therefore, I researched the documents and pointed out the discrepancies in them (cut and paste, no signatures, etc.) and refused to post them. So I am all too familiar with "doctored" papers used as "evidence" by these people. Sadly, if the negative energy put forth by this group were turned toward more positive endeavors, they could do many great things, but after years of watching such things, it appears it is only getting worse, not better. This is the kind of thing that casts all of the Abenaki in the shadow of doubt and leads to others not believing in our authenticity. Sadly, by not being a recognized group, we can not stop this nonsense. I see occasional news items where "phony chiefs" and "unrecognized bands" are fined and some jailed, but this group has gone on for years without any type of legal action. It makes one wonder why? Hopefully, people will see this publication and the actions of this individual for what they are and walk away. One day there will be some form of consequence for the slander and negative spread by the group and many people within the group will be hurt for having been part of it. The lucky ones are the ones who walked away. Thank goodness, I am one of them. Morningstar

--- On Fri, 5/9/08, Jeanne Lincoln-Kent <rkent3661@charter.net> wrote:

From: Jeanne Lincoln-Kent <rkent3661@charter.net>
Subject: [Olidahozi] Aln8bak News-Arts and Crafts Law
To: "Olidahozi" <Olidahozi@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Friday, May 9, 2008, 6:01 PM

From my Blog at www.morningstarstud io9.com

A LAW - Lagidamwôganal

Kwai Nidobak,

How quickly people forget.  I know I suffer from old age and often forget things and have to go back and double check things sometimes, but once it is down in print, it is difficult to deny that we said something.  Case in point:

"Aln8bak News, Jan. Feb, Mar, 2008, page 5

INDIAN ARTS AND CRAFTS ACT 101-644

By means of letter dated March 28, 208 from Ken Van Wey, U.S. Department of the Interior, we were notified that it was illegal to sell our art or crafts as Indian made.  Since we have no nationally known artisans or craftspeople, someone of these trouble makers filed a non-specific complaint against our Band.  We requested the BIA to identify which one of our Band citizens violated the law, as of yet no one has been named.  So this is just another act of destructive bad behavior from within this group of troublemakers.

To comply with this law we previously resolved this matter when we re-issued our Artisan Certificates to our artisans with the designation that the arts and crafts are made by 'Descendants of Native American Abenaki Indians.'"

Apparently the writer forgot that he was present at the March hearing in Vermont and at that hearing, he stated that not only did he issue certificates to HIS artisans, but that he would continue to issue them as Abenaki Artists. The hearing was video taped so in case his memory continues to fail, he can check back rather than accusing others of causing him grief when it was he, himself, who challenged  the government. Also, in the above statement it is obvious that he is not aware that this applies to ALL artists and craftsman, not just nationally known ones.  And the fact that their certificates had to be changed clearly indicates that they were not in compliance at the time they were originally issued or until this letter pointed their error out to them.  Amazing how one does not read or listen to their own words.

Another matter of incorrect information is the issue of the Missisquoi Office being "SEIZED".  Such drama.  No, with the passing of the  bookkeeper for the Missisquoi, there were some unpaid bills that needed to be brought up to date.  But a simple call placed to the office found that everything was functioning normally.  It is interesting how simple life incidents become dramatic episodes in some people's lives.  Life is exciting enough without enlarging upon it.

It is interesting to note that when pressed for information and failing to get it, would not print the documents forwarded to my website, I received emails such as the following from members of this group:

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