STOWE – When the Abenaki People of Vermont conduct a drum circle, they believe they are opening up to Mother Earth through their drums.
The ceremony begins by placing tobacco on the skin of their drums, in an offering to her to awaken. Then, after a few gentle beats to coax Mother Earth awake, they will begin to play.
While the drum circle conducted Saturday morning in Stowe for the second annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day Rock! Celebration didn’t signal the beginning of the festivities, it did provide a unique experience for crowds excited to learn about the Abenaki tribes of Vermont.
The celebration, hosted by the Nulhegan tribe of the Abenaki and Stowe Vibrancy, marks the third year of observation for the holiday since Vermont officially redesignated Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day in 2019.
Vermont is the first state in the Northeast to have officially made this change.
Booths lined Mayo Fields with educational opportunities about the Abenaki peoples and offered trade goods ranging from dreamcatchers to homemade cheeses and furs.
Food stalls were located near the stage set for an afternoon concert with performances by Blues Hall of Fame Inductee Joe Lewis Walker, the Vermont Jazz Trio, musician Dave Keller and singer Bella Sances.
Chief Don Stevens of the Nulhegan Abenaki led the event’s drum circle and dancing celebration.
Running a booth dedicated to teaching the Abenaki language was Steve Foltz from Springfield, Massachusetts, whose Abenaki name is Atien.
“I think it’s incredibly important for the Abenaki community both here and in Canada to reawaken the language and the culture,” Atien said. “This is the language of the land that we live on, and I think when people can speak it with any level of competency it really changes their perspective about where we are and that we were here in the beginning.”
Tribal Historian and Director of the Nulhegan Cultural and Historic Preservation Department Brian Chenevert was also present at Saturday’s celebration.
“I love the fact that we can say that Vermont is the one state so far in the Northeast that has recognized [Indigenous Peoples’ Day] as a state and not just as a town or city,” said Brian Chenevert, tribal historian and director of the Nulhegan Cultural and Historic Preservation Department. “It’s great, and the fact that they’re willing to put this event on for us is incredible.”
Chenevert said he is hopeful that events like the Indigenous People’s Day Rock! Celebration will continue to grow both in Vermont and in the surrounding areas.
“I’m excited to see this grow as more people get to know about it,” he said. “I think people are looking to Vermont to see that it’s already been and how it can be done, and also on how to bridge some of the difficulties on why there is such a staunch wall to changing Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day.”
And for some of the out-of-state attendees, the event was a hit.
“When we were looking at festivals and things to do while we are staying in Stowe, this one popped up and this was just something we all wanted to come and see,” said Kathi Jensen of Lake Tahoe, California. “I think they’ve done a nice job, I hope this grows for the organization doing it, because this has lots of potential.”
Bettina Graf from Pacifica, California agreed.
“I think just being able to be grateful for the people that respect our land and nature in a way that I think we’ve somewhat forgotten and just the ceremony of living and being human to human, I just really wanted to witness this,” she said.
Debbie Baldwin, also of Lake Tahoe, California, said she was happy to see Indigenous People’s Day celebrated because it meant people were ready to talk about issues faced by indigenous cultures.
“I love seeing all of the children here because their parents brought them here,” she added. “This tells me that their parents are teaching them to respect other people’s heritage.”
Chenevert gave some suggestions for how people that missed the celebration could still enjoy the day and help support Indigenous peoples.
“Talk to people and learn,” he said. “It’s important, whether you live in Vermont or elsewhere, to find out who lived where you are in your city or your state, and learn about them, and if you can’t find out anything, reach out to them—they’ll be happy to answer.”
There are four recognized Abenaki tribes in Vermont, the Nulhegan in the Northeast Kingdom, the Elnu in the southeast corner of the state, the Koasek in the Newbury area and the Mississiquoi of Lake Champlain.
Funds raised will be given to Abenaki Helping Abenaki, a nonprofit organization focusing on improving Abenaki peoples’ health and general well-being.