We are proud to be a partner in the development of the American Abenaki Curriculum: A Journey of History and Resilience. Below are links to the press conference video and related informational content, training videos and the curriculum website itself.
Professional Development
Abenaki Arts & Education Center’s Director Vera Longtoe Sheehan is the Curriculum Development Specialist for the American Abenaki Curriculum. As the curriculum developer she presented a curriculum “Walk Through ” at the Press Conference December 18, 2025. Afterwards, she followed up with two free virtual teacher trainings that received wonderful feedback. See videos and training options below.
Videos
Part 1. Before You Begin, Foundational Learning about the American Abenaki Curriculum. Curriculum Developer walks teachers through the process of how they can prepare the curriculum in a culturally grounded way.
American Abenaki Curriculum: Teaching Vermont’s True History. Dan Coutu of the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs describes the American Abenaki Curriculum.
Abenaki Curriculum and the VT Ethnic Studies IRIS Standards Framework. During a live training Vera Longtoe Sheehan answers a question about the connections between the American Abenaki Curriculum and the ACT 1 Ethnic Studies IRIS Framework for Ethnic Studies.
Pathways to Learning
Teacher Training, In-Service Day, and Admin Roll-Out Training Available. Email Vera Longtoe Sheehan at vera.sheehan@abenakiart.org for availability.
Training Options
Presenting Abenaki Culture in the Classroom
Immerse yourself in the richness of Abenaki culture and its continuity through music, history, archaeology, weaving, social justice matters, heirloom plants, and Indigenous knowledge. Led by scholars, historians, and culture bearers, this course presents the vibrant regional culture with roots reaching back nearly 13,000 years and thriving in the present. Through a blend of lectures…
Abenaki DEIA Training
Elevate your organization’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) through our professional development opportunity. It is designed to empower your staff, fostering a more inclusive, and culturally competent workplace environment. Guided by our facilitators, this training immerses participants in Abenaki history and culture. Interactive discussions and immersive experiences, enable your staff to gain genuine…
Embracing Abenaki Culture in the Classroom
Available to be booked for your teachers. Join us for an immersive exploration of Abenaki culture led by scholars, historians, and culture bearers. This experience spans over 13,000 years of history, with discussions informed by music, history, archaeology, weaving, social justice issues, and heirloom plants central to Abenaki culture. Designed with auditing teachers in mind,…
Water is Life Teach-In
In this all-day workshop, Abenaki Arts & Education Center educators will inspire teachers with interactive, media-rich content that links 12,000 years of Abenaki history with 21st-century civic engagement. Participants will pursue a deeper understanding of the region’s diversity through the voices of the American Abenaki people.
Website
The curriculum was created by the American Abenaki community, through a partnership between the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs, Abenaki Alliance, Abenaki Arts and Education Center, the Indian Education Consortium of Franklin and Grand Isle Counties, Missisquoi Title VI Indian Education Parent Advisory Committee (PAC), Circle of Courage Program, and Vermont Abenaki Artists Association
More Information:
Abenaki Alliance: https://www.abenakialliance.org/
Abenaki Arts & Education Center: https://abenaki-edu.org/
Indian Education Consortium of Franklin and Grand Isle Counties, Missisquoi Title VI Indian Education, and the Parent Advisory Council: https://abenakination.com/indian-education-program
Vermont Abenaki Artists Association: https://abenakiart.org/
Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs: https://vcnaa.vermont.gov
Abenaki Arts & Education Center is supported in part by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ Cultural Sustainability program, made possible
