Susan McKevitt lives in Bradford.
On February 3rd, I along with many attended a hearing before the State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs committee of the NH House in support of HCR 7, requesting recognition of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation. After an hour and a half of testimony, it’s not clear what the committee will do.
There were many who spoke, including a rather vocal group opposing, most affiliating as Abenaki and some not, such as the Sierra Club and the New London League of Women Voters. Those speaking in favor I found clear and articulate, and their tone was gentle, inclusive, and respectful. I mention that because it was in sharp contrast to those who spoke in opposition. In fact, one couple was cut off by the chair who otherwise was very considerate of all the speakers, as those presenters were not only aggressive, scattered, and factually incorrect, but got personal by attacking the prime sponsor of the resolution.
I do not profess to understand the complexities of Native people seeking state recognition or the huge differences between federal and state requirements. I did learn that the latter is much less onerous and totally within the state’s purview to determine any rights/responsibilities of any band should they obtain it. (Let me make a hopefully obvious observation; I find it beyond bizarre that the original people of what became New Hampshire upon European boundary setting should need to request recognition at all. But perhaps that’s just me.)
Three items kept coming up for me from the opposition. (Others raised concerns but in truth, I could not figure out based on their testimony what their reasons were to be opposed, including the Sierra Club, the New London League of Women Voters, and one woman who detailed her parents’ military history and stated she grew up in Oklahoma).
One had to do with vetting, that is, who determines who is a New Hampshire Nulhegan tribal member. A second had to do with what New Hampshire state recognition would mean for the Vermont Nulhegan. And the third was why is the resolution only asking for recognizing this band and not the others that also exist here in New Hampshire.
As to the first, I understand that there are perhaps two ways to establish one’s Native identity: through a paper trail (European style as when we apply for dual citizenship for example) or through kinship as Natives have done over the millennia. (The other called “blood quantum” is used by Europeans and adopted by some tribes, usually when there is money involved. But that’s another story.)
The second regarding harming Vermont Nulhegans was presented erroneously. When Vermont recognized the four bands in their state, including the Nulhegan, the application process said the band could not be recognized anywhere else at the time of application. Those opposing HCR 7 said if New Hampshire recognized the Nulhegan they would lose their Vermont recognition. That is not true and there was documentation submitted to the committee from the Vermont AG’s office stating such. Regardless, those opposed continued to make this erroneous point.
And finally, the opposition wondered why the resolution only addressed this one band and not all the Abenaki Bands. There is no general council for the Abenaki. Each Band has its own leaders, rules, and kinship. Each band individually needs to apply directly to the state. That last point needs to be reinforced clearly. No one has the right to include others who in fact may not wish to be included. By asking for themselves, the Nulhegan Band resolution could be an opening of the path for others who wish to come forward. Recognizing one in no way diminishes or negatively impacts the rights of others to do the same. In fact, it helps pave a way for them.
I truly empathize with the representatives who sit on this committee who now need to wade through the documentation that was presented and come to a decision. My hope is that the resolution passes. Given the questions asked by the committee members, my inclination is that they will retain the bill and try to figure out what to do next. An impartial committee could be established to craft a process by which any band wishing to be recognized would be required to follow.
What would be key, however, is that whoever sits on any such committee truly be objective and not already determined to prevent individual bands from seeking recognition for vindictive, personal, or any other reason.