Good Morning, Earthlings!
There has been a lot happening on the Abenaki scene in Windham County lately! I attended a celebration last week of Kchi Pôntegok - Great Falls Petroglyph Project. The BF petroglyphs has just been recognized as a National Historic Site, and received a National Park Service-funded Underrepresented Communities Grant that was awarded to the HPC and Elnu in April 2022. They have a wonderful team of archaeologist, geologist, and local representatives to proceed with more discovery and educational research. I saw the petroglyphs myself for the first time last week, from the south side of Vilas Bridge, near the Postoffice. Look down over the railing and there they are! I thought they were hard to see, but not so! They are believed to be a unique expression, although another site has been found underwater by diver Annette Spaulding at the Retreat Meadows in Brattleboro. These are exciting times!
Rich Holschuh was there, of course, along with Roger Longtoe Sheehan, the chief of the Elena Abenaki and a wonderful singer.
Here is the next exciting event, TONIGHT at 7pm :Talk examines Indigenous presence in Putney PUTNEY — “Kchi Mskodak — At the Great Meadows” will be presented by independent historical and cultural researcher Rich Holschuh at the Putney Public Library on Wednesday, June 29, at 7 p.m. The discussion examines the lasting Indigenous presence in the area from deep time through today and into the future, in answer to questions about relationship to this place: “What stories are present here but not heard, and what can be done about it?" Holschuh, a resident of Wantastegok (Brattleboro), has served on the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs and is a public liaison and tribal historic preservation officer for the Elnu Abenaki, members of the contemporary Indigenous community. The founder of the Atowi Project, an Elnu Abenaki community initiative to affirm Native relationships to the Land and its inhabitants, raise Indigenous voices, and foster inclusion with understanding, his work draws upon indigenous history, linguistics, geography, and culture to share beneficial ways of seeing and being in relationship with place. Masks are required for this in-person program. For more information, visit putneylibrary.org. The Living Earth Action Group core group members have been studying Paul Hawken’s new book, Regeneration. We have decided to study a few chapters and discuss them on the first Friday of every month. For June, we opened this in-person discussion only to our ‘little group’, but we are opening the July meeting to All. This Friday, July 1, 5-6:30pm at the Congregational Church in Westminster West, 44 Church Street. We will meet outside if possible, and if it rains, inside with masks. We would be very happy to have folks join us. Jessie Haas and Michael Daley are leading the discussion, but they say the chapters are so short (one page) that it is not necessary to read them before the discussion. They have not told me which chapters we’ll be discussing, but I know it will be a pertinent and satisfying conversation. I hope you can join us this week and also August 5th, same time same place. Supporting Pollinators: Learn how to create habitat for native bees! Come join the Westminster Conservation Commission for an afternoon session of observing our fascinating local pollinator population such as bumblebees, honeybees, butterflies, native bees, and more. We will also be learning how to create good nesting sites for bees. The event will be held on Sunday July 17th, from 2:30 to 4:30 pm, on Westminster Heights Road in Westminster VT. Please bring a notebook or sketchpad, writing implement, a device with a camera (optional), an insect guide (optional), tick smart clothing and/or bug repellent, a water bottle, and your observational skills. Limited to 15 Participants, children welcome. Snacks will be provided. To register or for more information, please send an email to westminstervtconservation@gmail.com. I hope you are having an extraordinary summer. Peter and I are leaving for Oregon to visit family next week, so I likely won’t be writing another newsletter for a few weeks. In the meantime (and always) : Remember to Be Kind to the Earth by being Kind to Yourself. You are a unique and precious being. You deserve your own kindness and caring, the best care you can give. These are challenging times emotionally as well as every other way. Love your land, love your local wildlife, love your family, your community and especially LOVE YOURSELF. That means different things for everyone. Recognize what YOU need to be happy and love yourself the very best way you can. I think I’ll end with that message. Be Well, Caitlin Adair for Living Earth Action Group
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