From the very start, the Words Project worked with Elnu Abenaki representative Rich Holschuh as a member of the original Project Leadership team to prioritize recognition of Abenaki presence and names for things – as evidenced by the equal weight given Abenaki and colonist names of places on Project maps - as a way of expanding awareness of native past and present contributions and being.
The Project worked with Retreat Farm, Holschuh (now of the Atwoi Project) and others to help stimulate placement of a marker recognizing Indigenous contributions at the Retreat Farm near the edge of the flooded ‘meadows’ where rare petroglyphs were submerged and later re-discovered by local diver Annette Spaulding.
Please see the ‘Reclaiming Abenaki Place Name ‘Wantastegok’ at Retreat Farm’ video produced by Donna Blackney for the Brattleboro Words Project about the unveiling as well as the audio stories accompanying the marker at the Retreat Farm site.
Reclaiming Abenaki Place Name ‘Wantastegok’ at Retreat Farm - 5 minute video
The Project shares – through the dedicated work of Professor Drew Lopenzina – awareness of Colrain MA-born William Apess, author of ‘A Son of the Forest and Other Writings’ the first full-length, native American autobiography published in the US, among other incredible works.
Chief Roger Longtoe Sheehan called people together during the Brattleboro Words Project’s Words on the Water Event where Rich Holschuh (behind), Jessica Dolan PhD and others spoke.
From day one, The Common Pot: The Recovery of Native Space in the Northeast and Our Beloved Kin: A New History of King Philip’s War by Professor Lisa Brooks were fundamental guides to the work.
The Project continues to research and seek community participation in many indigenous-themed stories for the Trail, some examples are below:
DORIS SEALE, ALGIERS VILLAGE, GUILFORD: Abenaki author Doris Seale was a writer (A Broken Flute; Ghost Dance: New and Selected Poems), storyteller and Boston children’s librarian for 45 years. She founded Oyate, a Native organization that reviews children’s literature.
FORT HILL: Abenaki Fort built in today’s Hinsdale was excavated in the 70s. Fort Hill Rail Trail in NH is nearby. One source may be Michael J. Caduto, author of “A Time Before New Hampshire: The Story of a Land and Native Peoples.”
GREAT MEADOWS, PUTNEY
BELLOWS FALLS PETROGLYPHS