Dear Members of the House of Representatives,
The members of the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs are writing to you to share our thoughts about bill S 0222 and H 0569, which are currently being considered in the Senate and House.
We have for the last three years listened to hundreds of voices and read many, many letters from Abenaki people in regard to the recognition process for the purpose of Arts and Crafts. The majority of these people are in agreement that the process should be fair and transparent. We recently took a number count of the 19 Family Bands and Tribes that we have been communicating with, in an effort to identify how many people they represent. That number is 5349. We also believe there are more people that we have not heard from. In fact the silent voices may be the majority for all we know. This number does not include the individual Tribes mentioned in the bills.
We believe we are representing the majority of Abenaki in Vermont and, for this reason we do not support S 0222 and H 569 as they are currently written. The bills mirror the colonial tactics of divide and conquer, and are exclusive rather than inclusive. Recognizing three groups without requiring documentation or a transparent process and requiring it of others is blatantly unfair. It is also contrary to precedents set by other states and the Federal government in regards to the recognition of Indian Tribes.
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples clearly states that they are acknowledging, and welcoming, the fact that “indigenous peoples are organizing themselves for political, economic, social and cultural enhancement and in order to bring to an end all forms of discrimination and oppression wherever they occur”. The Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs has been working towards developing a fair and transparent process, for the last three years, to see that we align with this statement in an effort to identify our artists.
This important document continues to clarify another important principle that the Commission has fought to maintain. We “affirm the fundamental importance of the right to self-determination of all peoples, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development”
We would appreciate notice of future committee meetings with regard to these bills. Our monthly Commission meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of the month in the Vermont Life Building and can be rescheduled at the Capitol building on any of these Thursdays.
Respectfully Submitted,
The Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs
