Nebizun: Water is Life

painting of wildlife that need water to survive — **Artwork:** *Water is Life* by Francine Poitras Jones. Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe.

Nebizun (alternately spelled Nebizon) is the Abenaki word for medicine and the root word Nebi is the Abenaki word for water. The rivers and tributaries of N’Dakinna (our homeland) were our highways for traveling and the water itself is important to the species of fish and other wildlife that is necessary to our way of life. As stewards of the environment Native American people know the importance of having clean water. The Abenaki people know and understand the importance of water in everyday activities related to foodways and healing powers of water. Nebizun: Water is Life draws its inspiration from Native American Grandmothers who have been doing water walks to pray for the water, and the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act.

Read the longer Curatorial Essay

This exhibit is presented in partnership with the Vermont Abenaki Artists Association and the Abenaki Arts & Education Center.

We wish to acknowledge the scholars and culture bearers whose contributions informed present and prior versions of this exhibition: Chief Nancy Milette Doucet (Koasek), Robert Goodby, Ph.D. (Archeologist), Sherry Gould (Nulhegan), Rose Hartwell (Elnu), Rich Holschuh (Elnu), Rick Hunt, Melody Makin (Elnu), Norm M’Sadoques (Elnu), Jess Robinson, Ph.D. (Vermont State Archeologist), Jim Taylor (Elnu), and Frederick M. Wiseman, Ph.D. (Missisquoi).

EXHIBITION SCHEDULE 2022 through 2024*

*To request more details about the exhibit or to schedule the exhibition at your venue, email vera.sheehan@abenakiart.org

2023

April 1 to July 2023 – Bennington, Museum, Bennington, VT
July 22 to October 15 2023 – Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, Warner, NH.
September to December 2023 – University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT.
November 2023 to Spring 2024 – Bixby Memorial Library, Vergennes, VT.

2022

May 15 to October 15, 2022 – Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT.
June 18 to October 15, 2022 – Brattleboro Museum of Arts & Culture, Brattleboro, VT..
November 19 to mid-March 2023 – Institute for American Indian Studies, Washington, CT.

EVENTS

2023

March 9, 2023 — Water is Life with Abenaki Artists Association. Clean Water Conversation. Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation, Water Investment Division. State of Vermont.
April 1 — Curatorial Talk, Bennington Museum, Bennington, VT.
July 22 — Gallery Talk, Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, Warner, NH.

2022

June 18, Saturday, 5 p.m. — Opening Celebration of Summer Exhibits
June 18 & 19, 2:00 p.m. — Gallery Talk, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
June 24, Friday, 7 p.m. — Nebizun Celebration & Curator Talk
July 29, Friday, 10am to 2:00pm Abenaki Free Arts, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum.
August 3, Wednesday, 10:00am – Virtual Abenaki Free Arts for Little Ones. On Zoom. Registration required.
August 3, Wednesday, 3:00pm – Virtual Abenaki Free Arts for Little Ones. On Zoom. Registration required.
August 6, 11:00am-3:00pm — Water is Life: Abenaki Free Arts, Brattleboro Museum of Art & Culture.
August 11, Thursday, 7 p.m. — Abenaki Cuisine Demo: Chef Jessee Lawyer

NEWS

Five exhibits to open at BMAC on June 18
Exploring Abenaki relationships to water. The Deerfield News. June 23, 2022.
Brattleboro museum offers online Abenaki cooking demonstration. Brattleboro Reformer. August 10, 2022.
Abenaki art exhibit flows through the Maritime Museum. Addison Independent. September 8, 2022.
New Exhibit Nebizun: Water is Life @ Institute for American Indian Studies. Connecticut Travel. January 7, 2023.

RELATED RESOURCES

FEATURED ARTISTS

Charlie Adams (Elnu), Vicki Blanchard (Nulhegan), Joe Bruchac (Nulhegan), Bill Gould (Nulhegan), Francine Poitras Jones (Nulhegan), Jeanne Morningstar Kent (Nulhegan), Melody Walker Makin (Elnu), Lucy Cannon Neel (Nulhegan), Hawk Schulmeisters (Elnu), Breanna Sheehan (Elnu), Linda Longtoe Sheehan (Elnu), Chief Roger Longtoe Sheehan (Elnu), Vera Longtoe Sheehan (Elnu), JES (Elnu), Chief April St Francis Rushlow (Missisquoi), Dorothy Tondreau (Elnu), Amy Hook-Therrien (Koasek), and Aaron York (Missisquoi).

Special thanks to Frederick M. Wiseman, Ph.D. for the usage of his family’s fishing equipment.