Bulletin Board

Official photo, from left to right: Deny O’Bomsawin, Elder from Odanak; Sigwanis L. Lachapelle, Youth from Odanak; Jacques T. Watso, Elected Councillor of the Abenaki Council of Odanak; and Darryl Leroux, Researcher and Professor at the University of Ottawa.

The Abenaki Council of Odanak and the Abenaki Council of W8linak today announce the publication of a comprehensive genealogical report concerning several individuals who present themselves as “chiefs,” representatives, and/or members of alleged Abenaki groups in Vermont and New Hampshire. This research, conducted over an extensive period and based on the examination of thousands of archival documents, leads to a clear and unequivocal conclusion: none of these individuals are Abenaki.

Unequivocal Evidence
The report is based on the analysis of Canadian and American archival sources spanning four centuries, from the 1600s to the 2000s. The findings demonstrate that the individuals studied have about 99% European origins. Individuals were also found to have one or two Indigenous ancestors born before 1650 – none of whom were Abenaki – as well as African ancestry in one case. These Indigenous ancestors lived in the 17th century and today have millions of descendants across North America. Their presence in a family tree does not constitute proof of Indigenous identity and certainly does not make one Abenaki.

To ensure transparency and accessibility, the research team chose a narrative report format, allowing each ancestor to be placed in their historical context and demonstrating repeated European ancestry.

“This report confirms what the Abenaki of Odanak and W8linak have been saying for years: these groups are not Indigenous. It is time for governments, institutions, and the public to recognize this reality and stop legitimizing identity and cultural appropriation that directly harms our people,” stated Jacques T. Watso, Elected Councillor of the Abenaki Council of Odanak.

Among the public figures studied are Brenda Gagne (née Perreta), the so-called Chief of the Missisquoi Abenaki Nation; Joseph Bruchac, a well-known writer and member of the Nulhegan Abenaki Nation and his sister Marge Bruchac, professor emerita at the University of Pennsylvania; Shirley Hook, so-called Chief of the Koasek Traditional Band; and Paul 2 Wilson Pouliot, so-called Chief of the Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook Abenaki. None of these individuals have Abenaki ancestry.

Genealogical Ancestry Results of the Eight Individuals Studied:

• Brenda Gagne (née Perreta): 99.9% European
• Joseph and Marge Bruchac: 99.9% European
• Paul Pouliot: 100% European
• Sherry Gould: 99.8% European
• Shirley Hook: 99.9% European
• Paul Bunnell: 99.9% European
• Donald Stevens: 96.9% European

Why This Matters
The consequences of the identity fraud undertaken by these individuals and the groups in Vermont and New Hampshire are significant. Recognition and support granted to these groups reinforce colonial dynamics by diverting resources, opportunities, and rights that should go to legitimate Abenaki communities. This situation directly undermines Abenaki sovereignty, particularly the fundamental right to determine who belongs to the Nation. It also distorts Abenaki history and lifeways in ways that make it challenging for the Abenaki to communicate a true and proper understanding of their identity.

The Abenaki Councils of Odanak and W8linak call on government, academic, and cultural institutions to acknowledge these findings. The evidence is now established and leaves no room for doubt: continuing to recognize and collaborate with these self-proclaimed groups amounts to supporting identity and cultural fraud at the expense of the true Abenaki people.

To access the full genealogical report: https://abenakiheritage.org/genealogies/