This was necessary due to various comments read online and from other conversations that have recently taken place regarding the validity of our claims. First and foremost, I am not the "woman in CT" mentioned in the recent newsletter. Since Morningstar is not a known paying subscriber, at least under her own name, she must be receiving it from someone who thinks they are doing her a favor.
We are always being asked to proove ourselves. Well, here we go.
Recently comments came to my attention on a blog that we wish to address:
http://www.morningstarstudio9.com/myblog.htm?blogentryid=3402382
Sorry to bring back the issue of politics again, but it seems that some people do not fully realize that the bill to recognize the Abenaki in Vermont has been shelved until the next session of the Legislature. They continue to beat a negative drum, flailing against a list of people that leaves one wondering if they have any friends among their world of enemies.
under direction of Paul In the latest issue of Aln8bak News produced by the Cowasuck Band of Pennacook AbenakiPouliot, there are negative references to the Canadian Abenaki, Chief April Merrill, Fred Wiseman, Nancy Millette, Chief Brian Chevernet, the Elnu group and Roger Longtoe Sheehan, the Senate Committee on economic Development, Housing and General Affairs led by Senator Vincent Illuzzi, spirual leader and pipe carrier Burton DeCarr (who he paints as a defective individual) , Retired Chief Howard F. Knight, and his council: Lucie Caron, Karen Mica, John Davis, Virginia Toetosen; Jim Haskins, the state of Vermont and even an unnamed "woman who lives in CT".
Accusations and name calling are the central theme of the issue, but that is nothing new as in reviewing past issues, the thread has been long standing.Word usage often exaggerates and inflames a situation which is otherwise mundane. Terms such as: self declared, exclusive, exclusionary, to silence us, discriminating against us, sleazy groups, trouble makers, handwriting analysis (by whom?), documents, email messages (as proof), working for the US and Canadian federal governments as an agent and agitator, disrupt by creating dissent, advocated and encouraged violence, use of terms such as AIM, Mafia, et. al, encouraged people to do killings and other illegal acts to disrupt groups, make mockery, seized, underlying agendas, international gambling, land claims, flagrant violator, people are ignorant or oblivious, Abenaki Nation...may collapse, struggle, dubious, lying and back biting, stick a knife in your back, dominance and control, troubling hardships, claiming supremacy, tactics of intimidation, fraud, destructive warrior behavior, member apathy, negative activities...spread like terrorism, nationally organized militant warrior group waging warfare , purposes of dominance and supremacy , hidden agenda, and the list of key words of negativism is endless. Words used to anger or agitate people, make people fearful of others and to separate them. It is little wonder that this man has lost member after member over the years and that his leadership (except for Grandfather Maple) is a revolving door of people being elected and then resigning.
One passage is particularly exemplary of his desire to create fear in the community, but it may backfire. His reference to a "woman in CT" could well refer to a number of Abenaki women living in CT, including his own sub chief and tradition protector, Lynn Menard-Mathieson,who is a CT resident and a woman. By not naming the individual, he has placed Ms.Menard-Mathieson and other Abenaki women in CT in danger because (as he pointed out) such accusations are taken seriously in Indian Country. He has, by his own creation, provided an unsafe environment for others. This could cause serious reprecussions for him when all is said and done. The following is the quote from the Aln8bak News for Jan, Feb, Mar, 2008:
"All of this is bad enough, but it has been reported from Canadian sources, documents, and email messages that a woman in CT has been working for the U.S. and Canadian federal governments as an agent and agitator inside several groups of the Abenaki community. The purpose of which is to gather information and disrupt Abenaki groups by creating dissent. Check the many Abenaki internet "chat-rooms". Several postings have advocated and encouraged violence against any Abenaki or Abenaki group that speaks out about the events that are occurring in our community. She has been directly linked to at least two such acts of violence. This is not unreasonable to believe considering the well documented activities of the FBI wherein they infiltrated groups. (AIM, Mafia, et. al) and then encouraged inside people to do killings and other illegal acts to disrupt the group."
These are serious accusations and appear to be an act of desperation on the part of a person who knows they have lost control. The fact that he has incorporated (501 (C) 3 (non-profit organization) his "Band in CT, VT, NY, Calif, Wash., MA, RI, Maine and NH shows that he has little or no understanding of what it means to be federally or state recognized. Any NA tribe or band must be on its homeland and can be recognized only in one state (according to state and Federal law). Beyond that, some are recognized only in one geographical area of a state. They have to have been there since the early 1900s, had continuous governmental influence over its members and had its own continuous governing body. Beyond that, they must prove that they are from similar family roots of the originating NA population.
This group has moved from state to state getting 501(C)3 non profit status which is flaunted as if it means recognition of some kind when, in fact, it has nothing to do with state or federal recognition. Its members have changed rapidly and include members of NA heritages other than Abenaki. There are no records to prove an ongoing and continuous organization in any given area. Therefore, recognition of this "band" is highly questionable which is why other Abenaki groups do not recognize him.
While accusing others of being subversive and supporting violent acts, the very accusations and publications by this group have been in this vain. As owner of a NA message board, I was forwarded "documents" by one of their members who was using an assumed persona. Since I was a teacher, I am familiar with peoples writing syntax and realized who it was. Therefore, I researched the documents and pointed out the discrepencies in them (cut and paste, no signatures, etc.) and refused to post them. So I am all too familiar with "doctored" papers used as "evidence" by these people. Sadly, if the negative energy put forth by this group were turned toward more positive endeavors, they could do many great things, but after years of watching such things, it appears it is only getting worse, not better. This is the kind of thing that casts all of the Abenaki in the shadow of doubt and leads to others not believing in our authenticity. Sadly, by not being a recognized group, we can not stop this nonsense. I see occasional news items where "phony chiefs" and "unrecognized bands" are fined and some jailed, but this group has gone on for years without any type of legal action. It makes one wonder why?
Hopefully, people will see this publication and the actions of this individual for what they are and walk away. One day there will be some form of consequence for the slander and negative spread by the group and many people within the group will be hurt for having been part of it. The lucky ones are the ones who walked away. Thank goodness, I am one of them.
Morningstar
It seems that there is some disbelief as to the authentic nature of these papers we have in our possesion showing an attenpted illegal take over of our business; The Abenaki Nation of Vermont, Inc. In this day and age of freedom of information any person that interested in obtaining the truth could do so however, to make it easier I will post the proof online under "Supporting Documentation".
The Abeanki Nation of Vermont, Inc. was returned to our Tribe through research completed by the Vermont Secretary of State who filed a letter of complaint with the Attorney General due to the fraudulent nature found.
This letter was posted in the Olidahozi chat room for Chief Paul and I to read, along with the rest of the world:
From: "Ret'd Chief Howard F. Knight ,Jr" <wobanaki@...>
Date: April 12, 2008 12:15:25 AM GMT-04:00
To: "Jeanne Lincoln-Kent" <rkent3661@...Subject: RE: Ms LYNN MATHIESON & MR PAUL POULIOT -- PRIVATE
MESSAGE
AS INSTRUCTED
Reply-To: "Ret'd Chief Howard F. Knight ,Jr" <wobanaki@...>
To Whom It May Concern
It has come to my attention that Ms Lynn Menard Matheison of Conn
who is a member of Mr Pouliot's group, and Mr Pouliot who heads the so-
called Cowasuck-Pennicook group, of which she is now the sub-chief
of, as I understand as of new information as of this date, they have
started some more garbage against people .
These two- so called "leaders" of that group to which they belong, have now begun conducting another smear and slander campaign against me, as well as attempting to harass and intimidate the Spiritual Elder of the Abenaki Nation who resides in Swanton, Vt. He is upset as to the personal attacks against him and is quite concerned as to their uncivil and unspiritual ways, deeds and actions against him and others, just becasue he dared to do the right thing for the good of the Abenaki Nation and the Abenaki Peoples, well over a year ago.
Their attempts to malign, harass, accuse, intimidate, smear and > slander the Spiritual Elder, and myself (This time, trying to accuse me of using a 501(c)3 Tax exempt organization for personal profit and gain) are very much like the ones that Mr Pouliot conducted against me and others in the Koasek (Cowasuck) Band in late 2006 and early 2007, with the aid of his so-called lawyer Mr Bachrach, at that time, only this time they both seem to be directly involved in doing what is goin on, themselves making the charges.
I am tired of the many years ( since about 1993) of constant and repeated lies, accusations and other extreme polemics of a derogatory and negative nature against others who are not involved or who are past or present victims of his, and her, hated because we as Abenaki refuse to bow down and worship Mr Paul Pouliot who many of us feel and believe to be a Meglamaniac with "Delusions of Grandeur" and "a legend in his own mind".
Due to these most recent and aggegious accusations, slander and smear campaign of lies, innuendo and other crimes against me and others
in his rantings and ravings over the past few days to people who have no part in this matter and the issues that he and Ms Mathieson have been raising, I have the following to say here and now and once and for all.
To Mr Paul Pouliot and to Ms Lynn Menard Mathieson, You have done enough lying, slander and other crimes of your vicious, vindictive cruel, self-centered narrow minded falsehoods and other illegal and immoral actions and deeds.
Therefore. if you feel that you are right and that you can actually prove the accusations that you have been speading against me and others, both in 2006 & 2007; and again now, in a Court of Proper Jurisdiction. Let's end this farce and fraud that you are committing once and for all.
Mr Paul Pouliot of 840 Suncook V, Alton, NH 03809, and Ms Lynn Menard Mathieson,a legal resident of Conn., but illegally using ( under
Vt State Law) the address of a seasonal campground address (180 Campbells
Bay Rd, #37, Swanton, Vt 05488 as a permanent address, I hereby openly
challenge and dare you to immediately file your claim in a said
Court of Proper Jurisdiction in regards to this matter and let us see
how much truth there is in your "behind a person's back" accusations really have and how true they are, because your lies, innuendos and other crimes against the true Abenaki Peoples is ending here.
I will await ten business days from Monday the 14th of April 2008 for your response of what your plans are to my cjallenge stated in the paragraph above. It must be in my hands on the 10th business day from Monday the 14th of April, otherwise, I will recheck all of my options and take appropriate actions to an adequate and proper resolution of your negative ways and the many false accusations and other crimes against various Abenaki individuals and the various Abenaki bands and groups that you have maligned, smeared with accusations, slandered and etc,that you and your lackeys have committed against them, and against myself, in the past and as is presently underway by you and yours.
Remember, you both have 10 business days to have a response in my hands or I will begin my actions to resolve this matter once and for all. For Your Information, Mr Pouliot, and Ms Mathieson, copies of this letter will go to those who need to know, as well as forwarded to various Forum chat sites so that the true Abenaki People will know exactly what you are doing and how you are doing your nasty deeds, and that I will stand up to you both, as I am not, and never have been nor will I ever be intimidated by you and your lackeys.
I only ask of the Abenaki peoples for prayers for my health to hold up while I undertake the "housecleaning" that for so long has been needed and long overdue but never done due to fear of being physically or mentally injured.
Your belligerence was displayed at the Vt State Senate Hearing in March 2008 at the Vt Abenaki Recognition Hearing in Montpelier, which was witnessed by so many people, both State of vermont officials and people visiting the hearing. What a lack of respect you and your supporters showed to all those who were present, and you call yourself an Abenaki? And a Leader? What a joke that display was!
I pray that the effort will not be long or take too long. Any who wish to join me who have been the victim of this "pretender" chief and his strong arm tactics troublemakers who I consider to be goons and lackeys, and who wish to join with me against these would be "control freaks" of the Peoples, you are welcome to support me with your prayers and whatever support that you can provide once I find out exactly what I need to be successful in this matter.
Respectfully Yours,
Howard
bravenet.com