Abenaki bill wins preliminary Senate approval
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By Lisa Rathke Associated Press - Published: May 14, 2005
MONTPELIER — The Abenaki Indians' long campaign for state recognition won a historic victory Friday with preliminary approval from the Senate.
The Senate unanimously supported a bill that recognizes the Abenaki as a minority in Vermont. The measure will be up for a final vote next week.
"What this means more than anything to the Abenaki ... is that it's one step closer to a state which will celebrate its original Vermonters," said Jeff Benay, chairman of the Governor's Advisory Commission on Native American Affairs.
"We've worked long and hard for this," said Debbie Bezio, a member of the Coos Cowasuck band of the Abenaki. "The different tribes have come forward one at a time, and it's time it went forward. I think we're all happy."
Senators supporting the measure urged their colleagues to do what they said was right: to vote to acknowledge the existence of many bands of Abenaki in Vermont.
"This bill intends to recognize the Vermont Abenaki people for who they are and stop denying the obvious. We should no longer deny their existence," said Sen. Vincent Illuzzi, R-Essex-Orleans, chairman of the Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs Committee, where the bill originated.
Sen. James Leddy, D-Chittenden, said he couldn't remember a more important vote in his Senate career than to recognize a people for who they are.
"To deny recognition is in some way to deny a heritage, to deny a people," he said.
Supporters say state recognition would make the Abenaki eligible for education grants and allow them to sell and label their products as Native American.
Critics, including the attorney general's office and the governor, fear state recognition could lead to federal recognition, and possible land claims and bids for casino gambling.
Sen. Richard Sears, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said his committee amended the bill to allay some of those fears by adding a line that says state recognition does not give the Abenaki claims to lands or any other rights not included in the bill.
He also said research by the legislative counsel showed that state recognition was not vital to federal recognition.
"But it is vital in terms of our recognizing the Native Americans who lived in Vermont long before our ancestors arrived," Sears said.
Fred Wiseman, who has presented evidence to lawmakers about the existence of the Abenaki, praised the committees for independently reviewing the issues.
He said the late Sen. Julius Canns, R-Caledonia, first talked to him about state recognition in 1996 or 1997.
Canns died in February.
"It's a shame that Julius had to pass before this had to happen," he said.
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