Nulhegan Band

of the Coosuk

Abenaki Nation

Stewards of N’dakinna, Guided by Lineage and Tradition

Nulhegan Band Heritage

A Legacy of Waterways

& Traditions

The Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe is rooted among the lakes, rivers, and forests of N’dakinna’s northern range, with its headquarters located in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom in Barton, Vermont. We are one of the largest Abenaki tribes in existence today.

Historically, our family bands were semi-nomadic and deeply place-based, living and traveling throughout our broader Western Abenaki territories as our ancestors did—particularly along the region’s waterways. These ancestral homelands, known as N’dakinna, encompass present-day Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, parts of New York, and southern Canada.

Our connection to this land transcends language. It is both our birthright and our responsibility to advocate for our citizens and to protect our ancestral territories. We remain committed to honoring and stewarding N’dakinna, ensuring that its distinct character, beauty, and vitality are preserved for generations to come.

"It is our birthright and obligation to advocate for our citizens and lands throughout our ancestral territories."

Family & Tribal Continuity

Lineage and tribal structure are central to the identity of the Nulhegan Band. Our history lives within the family narratives passed down through generations, preserving our culture and ensuring its continuity through time.

Historical Timeline

The timeline progresses from left to right.

Ancestral Roots

Our family bands were semi-nomadic and place-based people, traveling throughout our greater Western Abenaki territories (N'dakinna) especially amongst its waterways.

Territorial Stewardship

Traditional homelands include Vermont, New Hampshire, Canada, Maine, Massachusetts, and parts of New York. Our connection to this land is our birthright and obligation.

Resilence Through Change

Maintaining family and tribal continuity throughout historical shifts, preserving the lineage and culture of the Western Abenaki.

1772-1775

Henry  Tufts documents his life living among the Coosuck Abenaki. He lived  among several family bands that ranged between Lake Memphremegog and Lake  Umbagog with Old Philip, Mali Orcutt, Swasson, Susap and Tomhegan. 

Winter 1783-1784

An Abenak named “Foosah” claims to have killed 27 moose and large #’s of beaver and otter at Barton Pond in VT

Winter 1779

Captain  Susuap and a small band of Abenaki join settlers in Troy, VT and build  their winter camp on the river. They sell baskets, birch bark cups &  pails while there. Molly Orcutt was among them and doctored many of the  settlers while living next to them. 

Autumn 1788

Pierre  Sales de La Terrière while traveling by the Abenaki on Lake  Memphremagog on his way from Three Rivers to Harvard Medical School,  notes in his memoirs “This road is so frequented by the savages, that,  from distance to distance there are huts made that each one repairs and  maintains in turn: they serve all people……The head of the family came  from salmon fishing and moose hunting…..provided us with enough flesh  and well-smoked fish for the rest of our trip.”

June 30, 1796

Coosuk  Chief Philip sells over 3,000 square miles straddling the border to  four men; Thomas Eames and 3 associates that called themselves the  Eastern Company. The price was a simple promise to keep Philip and his  two wives well fed and clothed for the rest of their lives and allow all  other band members fishing and hunting rights on the land in  perpetuity. This deed was signed by Phillip, Molly Mussell, and  Mooselock Sullsop.

 The  3,000 square miles included: from Umbagog and Mooselookmeguntic Lakes  in the East (the headwaters of the Megalloway and Androscoggin Rivers;  South to the junction of the Ammonoosuc with the Connecticut; West to  the western shore of Lake Memphremagog up the Clyde and along the  Nulhegan; and North to the junction of the Salmon and St Francis Rivers.

This  land sale was actually illegal since the Federal Non-Intercourse Act of  1791 prohibited any agency other than the US government from buying  Indian lands within the territory claimed by the United States (as about  half of this parcel did.) Also in 1793 the Continental Congress wrote  up a law forbidding private citizens to buy land from the Indians. The  state of NH had a similar law on the books as early as 1719.

June 1812

A band of Abenaki is reported living at Owls Head Mountain on Lake Memphremagog in Potton, QC 

1907

An  Abenaki burial ground is dug up during the excavation for Barton  Academy (now Barton Graded School). No record of what happened to those  artifacts appears to exist. 

August 15, 1957

John  C. Huden, in his book “Indian Place Names in Vermont”, mentions a band  of Abenaki called Nulheganocks living in the Nulhegan River Basin of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.  Huden lists his informants as Stephen  Laurent, Amboise Obumsawin, Alice Masta Wawanolett and Oliver Wawanolett of Odanak, QC 

June 25, 1978

The  first record of a 20th century repatriation and reburial of Abenaki  remains takes place in Center Harbor, NH. *From 1978 to the mid 1980’s  there were in-depth discussions with Stephen Laurent, Homer St. Francis  and Richard Phillips about the repatriation of Abenaki burials in NH. 

November 15, 1980

The  first record of a repatriation and reburial of Abenaki remains takes  place in VT after a set of Abenaki remains is discovered at the Putney  Historical Society in Putney, VT. Blackie Lampman and Richard Phillips  ask Beverly Bolding of Goffstown, NH to facilitate the repatriation. 

May 3, 2006

The  Vermont Legislature recognized the Abenaki as a “Minority Population”  within the State of Vermont under Statute 853. This entitled the Abenaki  protections as a disadvantaged race of people. However, since there  were no recognized Abenaki Indian Tribes in Vermont, there were  “legally” no Abenaki people under the law. This was an attempt to  recognize our people without recognizing tribes which of course we would  not accept. 

March 16, 2008

The  Vermont Indigenous Alliance is formed by Elnu Tribe, Koasek Tribe,  Missiqoui Tribe and Nulhegan Tribe of Abenaki with the purpose of  unifying the tribes and pursuing official state recognition from the  state of Vermont. 

April 22, 2011

 Nulhegan  was officially recognized by the State of Vermont as an Abenaki Indian  Tribe and accepted our territorial boundaries contained within our  petitions. 

December 12, 2012

The  Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe officially takes ownership of the first tribal  forestland in 200 years with the purchase of a 65-acre parcel in Barton,  VT. 

January 1, 2013

Wabanaagig  TV from the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network in Canada produces  the movie “The Vermont Abenaki – A struggle for recognition” which  documents the struggle for Vermont State recognition and culminates with  the celebration of recognition at the first annual Nulheganaki. 

August 19-22, 2015

The  annual Wabanaki Confederacy Conference was held in Shelburne, VT. This  was the first time the Confederacy was hosted by the Western Abenaki of  Vermont in 200 hundred years. The Seven Nations of Canada Confederacy  Nations also attended this important gathering. The Abenaki are the only  Nation who is in both Confederacies.  

December 20, 2016

Chief  Don Stevens and the Nulhegan Abenaki tribe reach a settlement agreement  with the US Dept. of the Interior granting the Nulhegan Tribe, Elnu  Tribe and Koasek Tribe the legal right to possess, carry, use, wear,  give, loan or exchange among other Indians without compensation, all  federally protected birds as well as their parts or feathers. November  8th, 2018 Chief Stevens was able to add the Missisiquoi Tribe to the  settlement agreement. 

November 9, 2019

Through  the efforts of Nulhegan Abenaki Chief Don Stevens the grand opening of  the Abenaki Nation Cultural and Historical Exhibit occurs at the  Burlington International Airport. 

Current Mission

Actively stewarding N'dakinna so that its uniqueness and beauty will be protected for future generations to come.

Official Tribal Resources

“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

Chief Donald Stevens

Chief of the 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.