Sunday, July 10, 2011

Vermont and Minority Recognition

*My grandfather was 1/4 Abenaki so it makes me happy to see this :) His mother was half Abenaki and Irish (O'Hara)and had to give him up for adoption directly after he was born. He struggled with his own identity while growing up but I am fond of the memories I have with him at the powwow gatherings along the CT river that runs its course throughout New England.


On April 22, 2011 Vermont officially recognized two Abenaki Bands; the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk-Abenaki and the El Nu Abenaki Tribe.

The Vermont Elnu (Jamaica) and Nulhegan (Brownington) bands' application for official recognition was recommended and referred to the Vermont General Assembly by the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs on January 19, 2011 as a result of a process established by the Vermont legislature in 2010. Recognition allows applicants to seek scholarship funds directed to American Indians and to receive federal "native made" designation for the bands' arts and crafts. [10] The Koasek of the Koas (Newbury) band and the state's largest band, the Missisquoi, have also requested recognition. [10]

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Slowing Down

I have returned from a trip up east to visit New England, my birth place! The trip was wonderful and my son, now 8 weeks old, really enjoyed himself. It was a week full of firsts for him; first long road trip, first swim in the pool, first boat ride and swim in the CT river at Hamburg Cove, first trip on a metro train, first trip into a city (the Bronx), first trip to a zoo! He is now exhausted and has been sleeping long hours through the night and the day. Luckily this gives my husband and me some time to ourselves!
Everything has me thinking-I’m thinking about poetry. Poetry came easy to me last year. It poured out of me. I’m not saying it was good. Just that it poured. Like Morton salt. It seems tougher to write now. I have to slow down to write poetry...slow down.

Slowing down
to think and to write...
slowing down
to appreciate the day
and the night
slowing down
to catch up
relax and breathe

Learning to live slowly is a difficult thing in this day and age!