Land and Water Conversations
Community Outreach

To learn more about the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, visit www.abenakination.com.
The Franklin County NRCD is partnering with the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi to host a series of conversations led by Abenaki community members. This 3-year series will include 14 events across Franklin and Grand Isle Counties where participants will discuss their priorities, needs, and concerns on:
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​​From these conversations, the Franklin County NRCD will draft a comprehensive Community Priorities Plan that outlines environmental solutions and project ideas identified by and for members of the Abenaki community. This plan will the be finalized with feedback directly from Abenaki community members.
Additionally, the Franklin County NRCD will collaborate with community members to find funding, resources, and assistance to move these ideas forward into action.

Water quality

Recreation

Habitat

Access
Conversation participants will receive:
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$50 stipend per event
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Free dinner!
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Childcare services if requested
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Travel stipend if requested
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Interpretation services if requested in advance
Upcoming Events
Swanton Land and Water Conversations
with the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi
When: Friday, March 14th, 2025 - 6pm to 8pm
Where: Abenaki Tribal Council Headquarters
100 Grand Avenue, Swanton, VT 05488
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When: Friday, April 18th, 2025 - 6pm to 8pm
Where: Abenaki Tribal Council Headquarters
100 Grand Avenue, Swanton, VT 05488
Land Acknowledgement
Franklin County NRCD serves communities within Franklin County, which comprises parts of the Mazipskoisibo (Missisquoi) River and Wintegok (Lamoille) River Valleys as well as portions of Bitawbagok (Lake Champlain). We acknowledge that this region is the homeland of the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi. The Abenaki People have lived here for thousands of years, acted as land and water protectors, and made incalculable cultural and environmental contributions to this region. As an organization working in conservation, it is important to acknowledge the ways in which this land was, and continues to be, positively shaped by the Abenaki People.
European colonizers committed genocide, theft, and ethnic cleansing against the peoples of Wôbanaki (Dawnland) through enslavement, war, and disease. This violent history shapes land use in Franklin County as we know it today. The Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi continues to face oppression and marginalization in Franklin County and beyond. We understand that this land acknowledgement must be accompanied by concrete actions to support the Abenaki People. We hope to grow and learn as an organization and improve our support of the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi in as many ways as possible.
We encourage folks in Franklin County and across Vermont and beyond to stand in solidarity with the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi. For more information, visit: https://abenakination.com/
This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement LC00A01141-0 to NEIWPCC in partnership with the Lake Champlain Basin Program.
