PROJECT SUMMARY

This project is built on the work of many; of research institutions such as University of Vermont & Middlebury College, Indigenous scholars in Vermont including Frederick Wiseman and Nulhegan Chief Don Stevens, community gardens such as the Abenaki Heritage Garden in Burlington, Vermont and the Seeds of Renewal Project, ethnobotonists including Nancy Sidell and Mohawk ethnobotonist Steve Mccomber, among others. Most significantly, it's built on the ancient knowledge of the original Vermonter's and their strong relationship to the land. Thank you for sharing your stories and taking care of our land.

I can attribute most of the data included on this map to Frederick Wiseman's book, "Seven Sisters: Ancient Seeds & Food Systems of the Wabanaki People & the Chesapeake Bay Region"—which is the first of this kind, as there is little academic literature covering the food systems of the Wabanki tribes, specifically in Vermont. This map is only the beggining of capturing Vermont's Indigenous Food History, and is meant to be shared with Abenaki community and scholars, as well as farmers, gardeners and researchers, in order to built on this dataset. The story is continuous, as many of these crops are still grown, gathered & honored today.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

According to Frederick Wiseman, Vermont's native ethnohistory has been greatly ignored by scholars, and traditionally researchers "espoused the narrative that [Vermont's] Abenaki had either fled to Canada or completely assimilated" (Wiseman, p.10) Others refer to Vermont's Abenaki as nomadic groups without permanent settlements due to the harsh winters and short growing seasons. Extensive research of Vermont's indigenous seeds and archaeological digs have proven otherwise.

After over 30 years of research on Indigenous communities in Arizona and Vermont, Wiseman writes in his book "I had uncovered facts that clearly indicated the Abenaki people walked the way of the seeded earth and relied on the sun, rain and soil for their plant-based nutrition, lived in permanent settlements and organized themselves in a form of social complexity that was required to tend their fields and feed their communities" (p. 40).

This history is complex, and unfortunately at times political, noting that Vermont's four Abenaki bands were not recognized by the state until 2011. However, this map is a gateway to learn about Vermont's earliest land caretakers— and the food that they continue to grow today. This is particularly important as the climate crisis continues to warm our planet and we must rely on localized food systems.

DATA, PROGRAMMING & DESIGN

This original dataset was created by Sarah Annay Williamson, a photographer, visual storyteller, and graduate of The New School of International Affairs. Her research, design and GIS skills focus on human rights, labor, Indigenous history, and environmental justice.

All photos not attributed by
Sarah Annay Photography

RESOURCES

Thankful for the contributions of knowledge and history from all four of Vermont's Abenaki Bands:

Missisquoi Band Website
Nulhegan Band Website
Koas Band Website
Elnu Band Website

And research institutions, land protectors & scholars:

Frederick M. Wiseman and his book, "Seven Sisters: Ancient Seeds & Food Systems of the Wabanaki People & the Chesapeake Bay Region"
Available at Earth Haven Learning Centre

UVM Place-based Landscape Analysis
Vermont Archaology
Poultney Historical Society
Vermont Indigenous Heritage Center
Sokoki Sojourn Blog
Seeds of Renewal Project