Through interviews and recorded reflections, Chief Don Stevens
shares the lived history, responsibilities, and continuity of the
Nulhegan Abenaki people.
Oral history preserved
Vermont Byways - Speaking with Chief Don Stevens
01/11/23
As Chief of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation, I was grateful to join host Juliana Anderson on Vermont Byways, a program celebrating Vermont's people, places, events, and community spirit. This conversation explores our deep, unbreakable connection to the land, our mission as place-based people, traditional ways of living, stewardship responsibilities, and the ongoing work to reclaim and share our heritage.
We begin with our tribal mission statement: "Our connection to this land cannot be described in any language. It is our birthright and obligation to advocate for our citizens and land throughout our ancestral territories." I explain how Abenaki people are inherently tied to this place—Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, parts of Canada, and Massachusetts—viewing Mother Earth as a nurturing, feminine entity that provides sustenance like a mother to her children (food from the soil, water from springs). Our holistic worldview contrasts with European concepts of ownership via deeds; we see land as shared with all life forms (trees, animals, plants), requiring stewardship to maintain balance in the web of life, not exploitation. Pre-contact life was nomadic: seasonal movements between wintering grounds (in pine areas for hunting deer/moose) and summer riverbank sites for growing corn, beans, squash, and gathering, allowing resources to replenish. Territorial stewardship existed through family bands and mutual respect, without rigid borders. We discuss historical disruptions—European arrival, displacement, wars, disease, and alliances (e.g., French and Indian Wars)—that eroded our stewardship role. Today, we reclaim it through land acquisition (e.g., 65 acres in 2012), access agreements for gathering, public lands use, food security programs, language revitalization (via the Abenaki School at Middlebury College), and partnerships. Challenges include historical trauma (e.g., Vermont's eugenics/sterilization programs in the 1930s), discrimination, implicit biases (e.g., stereotypes about casinos or "drunken Indians"), and the need for youth reconnection to nature amid modern distractions. Positives highlight uplifting efforts: feeding communities, exercising hunting rights, preserving language, and fostering pride in heritage despite a small population (around 4–10,000 Abenaki in Vermont).
This interview educates viewers about Abenaki identity, our unbreakable bond to the land as birthright and duty, and the importance of stewardship for all beings and future generations. It counters misconceptions from historical erasure and stereotypes, shares our pre-contact nomadic harmony with nature, and highlights modern advocacy—through recognition, land efforts, cultural revitalization, and community support—to fulfill our covenant with creation as good stewards. By advocating for clean water, food security, language preservation, and youth connection to the "source," we promote a mindset shift from individualism to communal, holistic care of the environment and people.
In times of climate crisis, resource strain, and calls for equity, Abenaki teachings offer vital lessons: viewing Earth as Mother demands reciprocity, balance, and protection of the web of life—not just human needs. Our seasonal stewardship model shows sustainable living; our mission to advocate for land and citizens inspires decolonizing approaches to ownership and justice. For Vermonters and beyond, it fosters understanding of indigenous presence, resilience amid trauma (e.g., eugenics, displacement), and positive contributions like food programs and language revival. Reconnecting youth to land builds future guardians. This dialogue bridges divides, encouraging respect, partnership, and collective upliftment for a healthier, more harmonious world.
Vermont Byways - Talking with Chief Don Stevens about education and today's events for Indigenous People
01/25/23
As Chief of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation, I was honored to return for a second interview on the show Vermont Byways, hosted by a thoughtful interviewer who explores the rich tapestry of Vermont's people, places, and history. In this conversation, we delve into the deep roots and ongoing story of the Abenaki people—our ancient connections to the land, rivers, and mountains of Vermont, and how we continue to steward this place we call home.
The interview covers the identity and history of the Nulhegan Band, explaining our name's origins in the Abenaki language—meaning "people of the wooden fish traps in the pines who see the first light of day." We discuss how Abenaki names are tied to places, like the Nulhegan Basin in the Northeast Kingdom, and how European settlers adopted and sometimes altered these names. We touch on our nomadic heritage, the absence of reservations in the U.S. for Abenaki people (with some reserves in Canada), and the challenges of state versus federal recognition. Topics include land acknowledgments by institutions like the University of Vermont, their limitations without real action, and positive partnerships, such as with Middlebury College, which has granted us access to 6,000 acres for traditional gathering and hunting. We address disparities in education, health, and economic opportunities for indigenous people, the dehumanizing effects of cultural appropriation (like sports mascots and costumes), and the need for equity in scholarships, healthcare, and community resources. The discussion ends on a hopeful note, emphasizing education in schools, environmental stewardship, and the holistic Abenaki worldview that protects all living beings.
This interview aims to educate Vermonters and beyond about the true history and presence of the Abenaki people in this land we've never ceded. It seeks to bridge gaps in understanding, challenge misconceptions from historical erasure and stereotypes, and advocate for meaningful actions—like scholarships, land access, and health services—that uplift our community. By sharing our stories, we foster dialogue on indigenous rights, cultural respect, and collaborative efforts to address past harms, such as eugenics programs and forced assimilation.
In today's world, where climate change, social justice, and cultural preservation are critical, this video underscores the Abenaki perspective as vital to Vermont's future. Our traditional knowledge of living in harmony with the land—viewing rivers, mountains, and all creatures as relatives—offers lessons for sustainable stewardship that benefit everyone. It highlights ongoing progress, like legislative acts for indigenous education in schools and partnerships with colleges, while calling for equity to close health and economic gaps. For our people, it's a step toward healing and empowerment; for all, it's a reminder that Vermont's beauty and resilience are intertwined with Abenaki heritage. Watch to learn how we can build a more inclusive, respectful path forward together.
Vermont Byways - A Conversation about Spirituality with Chief Don Stevens
03/08/23
As Chief of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation, I was pleased to join host Juliana Anderson for this thoughtful discussion on Vermont Byways, a program dedicated to highlighting community-building, altruism, and the stories of people and places that often go unnoticed. This interview focuses on the spiritual traditions and worldview of the Abenaki people, drawing from our deep, place-based connection to the land and the Great Mystery of life.
The conversation opens with Juliana sharing a personal childhood memory of discovering a significant petroglyph site (a large rock outcropping with ancient carvings, possibly of suns, figures, or animals) that was later covered by a government pavilion and turned into a tourist attraction, diminishing its original sacred, intimate communion with nature. We explore how this mirrors broader experiences with indigenous spirituality: sacred places like petroglyphs (e.g., at Bellows Falls, now underwater) were ceremonial sites for offerings and respect to spirits of the earth, not tourist spots. I explain Abenaki spirituality as place-based—holy sites are inherent to the land itself (rivers, mountains, rocks, forests), not buildings or fixed structures. We discuss tools and practices: the sacred pipe for honoring with tobacco smoke, wampum belts (made traditionally from quahog shells, now sometimes clay for affordability) used in ceremonies like naming, where belts symbolize family support, purity, the circle of life, and spiritual naming. I describe our seven directions framework (beyond the common four winds), tied to life stages—from conception and maternal love in the east/south, to medicine and personal path in the west, wisdom from elders/grandfathers in the north, earth burial, spirit ascension, and the inner fire/mystery at the center. This holistic view emphasizes interconnectedness: all beings (plants, animals, humans) are part of the web of life created in Gluskabe's (our transformer figure) dream state, interdependent yet distinct, requiring balance and harmony. We touch on ceremonies (flexible, spirit-guided connections) versus repeated rituals (e.g., pipe handling), healers with specific gifts (not "shamans," a stereotypical term), pipe carriers like myself facilitating spiritual guidance, and seeking direction through quiet reflection, offerings, intuition from ancestors, and openness to spirits always present.
This interview aims to share authentic Abenaki spiritual teachings, counter misconceptions from historical Christianization and cultural erasure, and reclaim the sacred intimacy of our practices that can be lost when places become commodified or misunderstood. It educates viewers on our worldview—rooted in reciprocity (giving tobacco to receive guidance), relational harmony with all creation, and personal, intuitive connection to the Great Mystery—without dogma or fixed locations. By discussing tools like wampum belts, the seven directions, and the web of life, we seek to foster respect, understanding, and appreciation for indigenous ways of being that emphasize stewardship, balance, and listening to ancestors and nature.
In an era of environmental challenges, spiritual searching, and efforts to decolonize perspectives, Abenaki spirituality offers timeless wisdom: viewing the land, waters, creatures, and people as interrelated relatives demands care for the whole web of life, not just human needs. This holistic approach—honoring places inherently sacred, seeking guidance from seven directions across life cycles, and maintaining balance—provides insights for sustainability, healing, and community. It reminds us that spirits and ancestors guide us constantly through intuition and offerings, encouraging openness and reciprocity. For Abenaki people, it preserves and revives cultural roots amid historical disruptions; for everyone in Vermont and beyond, it invites reflection on our shared mysteries of life, the land's holiness, and living in harmony. Watch to reconnect with the profound, everyday sacredness around us.
“We honor our ancestors by caring for the land, uplifting our people, and walking forward in partnership.
When we recognize the truths of the past and choose respect in the present, we ensure that future
generations—Abenaki and non‑Abenaki alike—can stand together on this land in a good way.”
— Chief Don Stevens, Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation
Copyright 2026. Chief Donald Stevens. All Rights Reserved.
Dedicated to the preservation of Nulhegan Abenaki culture and the well-being of its
citizens.