872 words, 6 minutes read time.
From the Caledonian Record, Nov 24, 2025.
11/24/2025 Caledonian Record Letter to the editor by Ron M’Sadoques of the Vermont Elnu Abenaki tribe and member of the Canadian Odanak tribe:
“The four, State-recognized Abenaki tribes of Vermont appear often in the pages of newspapers in Vermont and New Hampshire. They are known for hosting cultural events; excellence at crafts practiced from pre-contact times; keeping the language intact and bringing it to the people; storytelling and histories; scholarly research — all of the elements of an old, yet thriving culture. The Abenaki of Vermont have been practicing these skills for generations; from before Vermont declared wrongly, in 1791, that Vermont and New Hampshire had no more Indigenous people.
Sociological, anthropological, and cultural evidence of continued Abenaki presence abound, and can be found in books and newspapers throughout the times from Colonial to present. And the strongest evidence comes in the genealogies and cultural histories that were submitted by the Vermont Abenaki members in the Tribal Recognition Applications to the State of Vermont.
The two Federally-recognized villages of Odanak and Wôlinak in Quebec also have been appearing in the papers. Except, their fame is for a campaign of defamation against the Vermont Abenaki. They have declared themselves the “sole guardians of Abenaki identity”, but are unable to state what authority allows them to make that claim. With a budget from an unknown source, and support from sociologist Dr. Darryl Leroux and blogger (a blogger?)… the leadership at Odanak and Wôlinak set forth about five years ago to discredit the [Vermont Abenaki] tribes. The motivation for the attack is unclear. Odanak states over and over that the Vermont Abenaki have harmed them, but always fail to elaborate or provide an example (https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2023-05-22/review-of-genealogies-other-records-fails-to-support-local-leaders-claims-of-abenaki-ancestry).
Odanak is conducting questionable warfare. The most recent attack is a 731-page report commissioned to Dr. Leroux. Dr. Leroux publishes detailed genealogies which supposedly discredit the Indigeneity claims of a few individuals, including former New Hampshire State Representative Sherry Gould (R). Dr. Leroux – not a certified genealogist himself – charts the results as high “percentage of European ancestry” in all of the individuals attacked (https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/vermont/2025/10/23/abenaki-in-canada-say-genealogy-study-proves-vt-tribes-arent-legit/86820233007/). Blatantly missing from the report are some of the basics: the way these numbers were calculated; the percentages of Odanak members for comparison; and even some sort of proof that this is a valid measure of Indigeneity. Most disturbing is that there are no citations nor bibliography – only a mention of some open Internet resources. And the numbers don’t make sense. Hon. Gould’s 116-page report lists 921 “root ancestors” over fourteen generations. But, going back fourteen generations, one has 32,766 ancestors! Dr. Leroux concludes Hon. Gould has 99.8% European ancestry, but among only the 2.8% of her ancestors available on these open web sites! This is hardly diligent science, and not believable. Contrast this to the diligence required of the Vermont Abenaki to prove they are Indigenous ( Bill Status S.222 (Act 107)). The Vermont Abenaki could never return this volley in kind; besides being a despicable personal attack, this kind of activity breaks many ethical rules of professional genealogists (https://www.apgen.org/code_of_ethics.php).
Odanak also doesn’t want to acknowledge that, given the history I described, Indigenous people have often been listed as “colored” or “white” on their birth certificates (https://www.archives.gov/research/census/native-americans/1885-1940.html , as one example). My own birth certificate lists both my father, who was born at Odanak, and I, as “white”. Can one be certain Dr. Leroux’s resources are correct?
Dr. Leroux is further misinforming us by going on talk shows and podcasts stating that the Vermont tribal leaders didn’t have to submit genealogies. This is very simply false; the vetting process required detailed genealogies of all of the founding members of the tribes. That documentation was sealed after the recognition process to protect the individuals’ privacy.
Abenaki have long been intermarrying with other tribes, colonists, and American and Canadian citizens. Anthropologist William Haviland, in his 1981 book “The Original Vermonters”, attributes Abenaki survival to this genetic diversity, comparing them to other tribes who were lost to history due to inbreeding. The arcane, monarchical European concept of “blood quantum” simply does not apply to the Indigenous.
Today, my biggest fear is that Odanak is setting up criteria by which both the U.S. and Canadian governments can tell near-future generations that such criteria are no longer met, and that there are no more Abenaki. We Abenaki should be experiencing a Renaissance. But these attacks by Odanak are putting into question the legitimacy of ALL Abenaki. No one should believe Odanak’s claims. The process which vetted the Vermont Abenaki is sound, rigorous, and an established standard. The claims of Odanak are based on “because we say so!” and junk science.
Ron M’Sadoques
Elnu Abenaki tribe and member of Odanak tribe
With Vera Longtoe Sheehan, Elnu Abenaki Tribe
Raymond, N. H.”
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