Vermont Indian commission clashes with state

Tuesday, February 20, 2007  

The Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs says it should have the authority to decide which tribes are recognized in the state.

Chairman Mark Mitchell, a member of the Abenaki Nation, said the commission has to know which tribes are recognized in order to ensure Native artists are complying with the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990. The law prohibits the marketing of goods as "Indian" unless they were made by a member of a state or federally recognized tribe.

The state, however, wants the commission to stay out of the matter. Deputy Attorney General William Griffin said it's up to the state, as a whole, to decide which tribes are recognized.

Last year, the state Legislature passed a law to recognize the Abenaki Nation. The move came after the tribe was denied recognition by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Get the Story:
State, new Commission on Native American Affairs at odds (The Burlington Free Press 2/20)

Relevant Documents:
Summary of Acknowledgment Cases | R. Lee Fleming Declaration

Only on Indianz.Com:
Federal Recognition Database V2.0 (May 2005)

Relevant Links:
Abenaki Nation - http://www.abenakination.org

Related Stories:
Editorial: State recognition honors Abenakis (05/04)
Abenaki Nation nears recognition in Vermont (04/06)
Abenaki Nation seeks aid for recognition effort (11/15)
Abenaki Nation to fight recognition ruling (11/11)
Cason rejects recognition for Abenaki Nation (11/10)
Big workload looms for BIA on federal recognition (07/26)
Abenaki Nation recognition bill advances in Vermont (05/12)
Abenaki Nation presses case for state recognition (05/05)
Bill to recognize Abenaki Nation advances in Vermont (04/15)
State removes 'Abenaki' from tribe's contract (03/31)
Abenakis press Vermont for state recognition (02/16)
Bill in Vermont seeks to recognize Abenaki Nation (02/14)
Tribe's endorsement of Clark a criticism of Dean (01/13)
Abenaki chief wants NCAI to know Dean's record (11/20)