Abenaki culture bearer, master artist, educator, and activist Vera Longtoe Sheehan is a museum educator at the National Museum of the American Indian and serves her community as Director of the Vermont Abenaki Artists Association, a multi-arts services organization. Her combined experience and education allow her to bridge the gap between the Abenaki community and the mainstream world in creating museum exhibitions, educational programs, and events that promote the vibrant culture of her people. Her extensive research of archaeology and other primary resources relating to Abenaki textiles and clothing in Wabanaki territory informs her textile-making process. She is an MA candidate in Heritage Preservation at SUNY Empire State College and holds an Advanced Certificate in Public History, as well as a BA in Museum Studies and Native American Studies also from SUNY Empire State College.