For the last two decades, relations between some Abenaki people have fractured. Meanwhile, a bill has been introduced in Vermont's legislature to change how the state recognizes native tribes.
This was highlighted recently during a brief altercation between a Vermont legislator and a member of the Vermont Missisquoi Abenaki.
Members of the Abenaki of Odanak First Nation were in Burlington recently for a meeting. When members of the Missisquoi tribe approached the venue, independent Vermont House Rep. Troy Headrick of Burlington stepped outside to block their entry.
“As I was doing that one of the members sort of shoulder checked me as he as he was trying to walk by and then he took a step backward and shoved me with both hands, making pretty firm impact on my chest. And he made a couple verbal threats including some profanities that I won’t use. At that point I backed up,” Headrick said.
Don Stevens is chief of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki in Vermont. He was not at the meeting, but is not surprised there was an altercation.
"Unfortunately, there’s bigger things at play here than just this incident.”
In 2011, the state of Vermont recognized two Vermont Abenaki tribes, and then in 2012 it granted recognition to two other groups. They have not received federal recognition. Across the border in Quebec, the Abenaki First Nations at Odanak and Wôlinak are recognized as First Nations by the Canadian government.
In 2025 Headrick introduced a bill that would change how the state recognizes Native American tribes.
“I have been publicly well aligned with the Abenaki First Nations at Odanak and Wôlinak who were excluded from the processes by which the state of Vermont conferred identity onto various groups here in Vermont. And that state recognition process is in conflict with international standards," Headrick said. "So I’ve been spending a few years now trying to convince my legislative colleagues that we need to revisit the state recognition process.”
But Stevens questions why Headrick is pushing the legislation.
“We had proven ourselves based on their criteria to their satisfaction," Stevens said.
The bill introduced by Headrick has been in the Committee on General and Housing since February 2025.
Editors' note: This article has been updated to remove unsubstantiated reporting.
