Nebizun: Water is Life

Nebizun: Curatorial Statement

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).

Nebizun: Water is Life – Gallery Views

Nebizun: Water is Life – EXHIBITION SCHEDULE

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

2026

  • May – July, Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society, 2 Duane Ct, Middlebury, VT 05753

2025

  • May to October , 2025 – Chimney Point State Historic Site, 8149 VT Route 17W, Addison, VT 05491

2024

  • May 1 to October 15, 2024 – Ethan Allen Homestead, Burlington, Vermont
  • January to April 2024 – Bixby Memorial Library, Vergennes, VT
  • 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

  • November 19 to mid-March 2023 – Institute for American Indian Studies, Washington, CT.
  • 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.

Nebizun: Water is Life – RELATED RESOURCES

Nebizun: Water is Life – News

Nebizun: Water is Life – 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)
  • Aaron York (Missisquoi).

Special thanks to Lake Champlain Maritime Museum for the loan of fishing equipment from the Frederick M. Wiseman, Ph.D. family.

Thank you to our partners and supporters!

nefa - New England Foundation for the Arts
New Hampshire Humanities

Abenaki Arts & Education Center is supported by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ Cultural Sustainability program, made possible by the Wallace Foundation.