In 1987, risking fines and possibly losing their right to fish, citizens of the Abenaki community of Missisquoi staged Fish-ins at the Missisquoi River where their ancestors had fished for thousands of years, to bring attention to their plight. Lacking recognition by the State of Vermont, the tribe was deprived of the hunting and fishing rights that they relied upon to feed their families.

In the following video, Joe Bruchac candidly speaks about his experience at the Missisquoi Fish-ins.

Works Cited

Abenaki Fish-Ins (Interview with Joe Bruchac). Abenaki Arts & Education Center. YouTube. 2023.