Dear Editor,
It was with great interest that I read University of Vermont historian David Massell’s recent commentary in which he discusses his role in the 2022 “Beyond Borders” conference and provides historical context regarding the emergence of the Vermont state-recognized tribes.
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I was reminded of how educational that conference had been. Despite the fact that my Ph.D. dissertation covered a fair amount of Abenaki history and I currently teach Native American studies, the conference significantly improved my inadequate understanding of both Odanak First Nation’s struggles with the state of Vermont and the specific process whereby the state recognized the four Vermont tribes.
At their best, land-grant universities function as clearinghouses of reliable information that help create the informed citizenry required for democracy to thrive. I am grateful that UVM was willing to wade into this brewing conflict and create a public forum that allowed the Abenaki of Odanak to represent themselves here in Vermont.
Marc Boglioli
New Haven
Read the story on VTDigger here: Marc Boglioli: UVM conference provided important context to debates over Abenaki identity.