November 2, 2026 | By the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs
Editor’s Note: This statement refers to an event in Burlington in late September involving a scuffle that targeted a state lawmaker. See this report from WPTZ Channel 5.
This commission is strongly opposed to violence in all of its many forms, including physical, verbal, emotional and sexual violence. We also oppose the use of manipulating public opinion through traditional and social media whose result is the inciting of violence.
We recognize that violence begets violence. The event at Rock Point is just one example of this truism. Years of ongoing violence against Vermont's indigenous population have led to incidents of hate speech and death threats directed at the people this commission exists to serve.
This is not acceptable in what is supposed to be a civilized society.
On Indigenous People's Day, the Education Justice Coalition chose to issue a statement that was sent to many, if not all, teachers in the state. In this statement, they claimed to encourage compassion for those youth who had been taught about their Abenaki heritage. Here are their words:
“What about state-recognized Abenaki children?
There are people who grew up being taught that they were indigenous. There are students in Vermont schools who were raised in a state-recognized tribe. Just as with children who were raised as Zionists or white supremacists, they should be treated with compassion. It is not their fault they weren’t taught the truth. There are people who are willing to lead conversations with these young people to help them unpack their identity. We hope to provide more resources on this as it’s an important issue for educators to consider.”
This is the logic that was behind the creation and use of residential schools, where it was deemed that Indigenous parents were not suitable for educating their own children. Native children were ripped from their families and placed in these schools where many suffered from serious abuse and even death.
The only people that should be leading conversations with our youth about identity are our own people, not outsiders. This coalition seems to feel that they, and educators, can legitimately be arbiters of truth regarding indigenous identity when in reality they have no right or qualifications whatsoever to do so.
This is simply not acceptable.
We support a future where Native people can live openly and authentically without fear and with a strong sense of community.
Signed,
The members of the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs:
Jeffrey Benay
Douglas Bent
Charles Calley
Daniel Coutu, chair
Deanna Edwards
Pat Lamphere
Alanna Ojibway
Linda Savoca
Brian Wiggins, vice chair
The Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs champions the rights and interests of Native American communities in Vermont. Formed through state legislation, the commission acts as both an advisory and advocacy entity. Its mission is to give voice to and strengthen the well-being and cultural preservation of Native American peoples throughout the state.