Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook - Abenaki People
COWASS North America, Incoporated
840 Suncook Valley Rd
Alton, NH 03809-5206
1-603-776-1090
NEDOBAK Help Line 800-566-1301
FAX 603-776-1091
Email: cowasuck@cowasuck.org
**NOTICE**
Notice to Citizens & Members
If you have not reapplied for Citizenship / Membership or have not maintained your address for our records we will be removing you and potentially your whole family group from our records.
Citizen Application Deadline Set -
All existing Cowasuck Band Citizens must resubmit Applications and documents to replace our stolen Band records by the deadline date of December 31, 2008. A copy of the Application form is available by contacting us or from within our website in the “Forms Section” at www.cowasuck.org.
WITHOUT EXCEPTION - Each family group and or individual member MUST submit an Application, including all family history and genealogical information. Please Note: Incomplete Applications and / or supporting documents WILL BE accepted to hold your “Pending” eligibility status for Citizenship until you complete the Application process.
We encourage you to submit this information on a PC computer generated record such as a CD, DVD, or by Email word document, genealogy data, or PDF file attachment. Paper records are also acceptable, but for security issues, do not send any original family records, pictures, or birth certificates - copies are acceptable.
Please send your Application and documents to:
COWASS North America
Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook - Abenaki People
P.O. Box 52
Alton, NH 03809-0052
(603) 776-1090 / (603) 776-1091 FAX
Email at: cowasuck@cowasuck.org
Citizenship Codification -
1. “Application Deadline Date” - The deadline for submission of Citizenship - Membership Applications is December 31, 2008.
2. “Pending” - All existing Citizens and Members of record within the Band electronic data base as of February 1, 2006 and new applicants following this date will be considered for Citizenship or Membership if the individual or family group maintains a valid mailing address that is on record with the Band and submits a completed application form by December 31, 2008. This status will also include those applications that have partial or incomplete genealogical documentation or documentation that is subject to corrections or additional review for validation. Those individuals that comply with this criteria will be classified as “Pending.”
3. “Active” - All existing Citizens and Members of record within the Band electronic data base as of February 1, 2006 and new applicants following that date will be reviewed for Citizenship or Membership if the individual or family group maintains a valid mailing address on record with the Band and submits a completed application form and all required or requested family history and or genealogical documentation to prove the Indian descendant criteria by December 31, 2008. Those individuals that comply with this criteria will be classified as “Active.”
4. “Inactive” - All Citizens and Members of record within the Band electronic data base as of February 1, 2006 but have not submitted a completed application form and required documents by December 31, 2008 or have not maintained a valid mailing address with the Band will be classified as “Inactive.”
5. “Post Deadline Applications” - Applications for Citizenship from new applicants and “Inactive” status Citizens received after December 31, 2008 will be accepted on a case by case basis depending on the genealogical documentation that is submitted.
6. “Rejected Applicants” - Applicants, that upon review of their documents, do not qualify or otherwise meet the Citizenship requirements of this Band will be notified accordingly. They will be rejected for Citizenship without prejudice and may reapply for Citizenship if additional supporting genealogical documentation is submitted.
7. “Identification Cards” - Band photographic Identification Cards will be issued only to “Active” status Citizens and Members.
8. “Mandatory Requirements for Band Active Status” - All Band Citizens and Members are required to maintain Active Band Status and involvement in the Band by maintaining Citizenship-Membership and Administration Fee Requirements.
9. “Annual Renewal” - Renewal and maintenance of Citizenship / Membership status and related Identification Cards are required on an annual basis based on the individual’s noted expiration date.
10. “Administration Fees” - An annual administration fee of $20 will be accessed to every Citizen family group that is on record per a specific address. This fee will include one complementary annual subscription to the Aln8bak News. Additionally, an administrative fee of $5 will be accessed for every individual Identification Card that is issued or renewed. Fees will be subject to change as determined by periodic review by the Grand Council. These Administration Fees will be waived by contributing 10 hours of pre-approved and documented Band community-event service or management as an officer, director, or agent for the Band.
11. “Non-Compliance of Renewal” - Failure to maintain annual Citizenship status will result in a change of status to “Inactive” and will be subject to filing a New Application. If the Citizen / Member requests reinstatement of status without a New Application, payment of past due Administration Fees will be required.
12. “Descendant Criteria” - Citizenship is based on the following Indian Descendant criteria:
A. Descendant from a direct ancestor that was historically identified from one of the historical distinct Abenaki or Pennacook groups as defined in the Constitution of the People, Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook - Abenaki People, Greater Abenaki Nation of the Wabanaki Confederation of N’dakinna.
B. Descendant from a direct ancestor that was known to have been born, lived or otherwise was identified as coming from the historical area or areas that one of the distinct Abenaki or Pennacook groups historically came from or occupied as a homeland.
C. Descendant from a direct ancestor that was historically identified as an Indian, Native American Indian, Savage, person from a First Nation, or otherwise known as an indigenous person that was born, lived or otherwise was identified as coming from the historical area that one of the distinct Abenaki or Pennacook groups historically came from or occupied as a homeland. This could and will include, but is not limited to the general ancestral descriptions as specified in our Band Constitution.
D. Descendant from a historically known Indian that may be identified as other than Algonquin but that the Indian lineage from that descendant has lived within the Abenaki or Pennacook homelands for more than three generations and now is historically identified as Wabanaki, Abenaki, or Pennacook.
E. Descendant from any one or more of the above criteria or combinations of the these criteria.
13. “Documentation Requirements” - Band Citizenship & Membership Documentation Requirements:
The following is an outline of the Band Citizenship and Membership requirements to show the initial guidelines which are being used.
All Citizens and/or Members must provide Native American Indian ancestral documentation such as:
A. All Applicants must submit copies of records that demonstrate clear and convincing proof of Pennacook - Abenaki (Wabanaki) Native American Indian descent to Band Authorities such as, but not limited to the following Primary Source Documents: Genealogical Reports, Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Baptism Certificates, Death Certificates, Census Records, Military Records, Social Security Records, Immigration Records, and Passports.
B. Secondary Source Documents: Family Bibles, Published Family historical references-articles, Documented and validated Community or Native American Indian Community recognition records, Family Oral Traditions and Stories that clearly demonstrate Pennacook - Abenaki (Wabanaki) Native American Indian descent.
C. Supporting Source third level Documents: Family Pictures or Artifacts if properly doucumented.
Note: Copies and digital copy files of all documents, records, and pictures are acceptable.
14. “Citizen Requirements” - To be considered as a Citizen you must prove to be:
A. Descendant from baseline Pennacook / Abenaki (Wabanaki) family group (Clan) or individual.
B. Descendant from a Pennacook / Abenaki historical group or individual as documented within the Band Constitution.
C. Descendant from an Indigenous Native American Indian historical group or individual that was historically documented to be resident within our homelands as documented within the Band Constitution.
D. Natural Born Blood Children of “Active” Citizens on Band Records.
E. At 18 years of age, all Citizen children must resubmit their own individual Application for Citizenship. Documentation requirements will be limited to current birth certificates that prove Band family relationship. Failure to do this Application will place that individual on “Inactive” status.
Note: Specially excluded are any existing BIA or DIA individuals, families, or groups of record.
15. “Member Requirements” - To be considered as a Member you must prove to be:
A. Spouses of qualified active Citizens on Band Records.
B. Legally Adopted Children, under the age of 18, of qualified “Active” Citizens on Band Records.
16. “Termination of Status” - Citizen and/or Member status may be changed, rescinded, or terminated due to, but not limited to, any of the following situations, omissions, actions, or facts:
A. Questionable Documentation and/or Admission.
B. Non-compliant Native American Indian ancestry.
C. Records and/or Documents (Incomplete, Missing, or Unknown).
D. Falsification of Records and/or Documentation.
E. Membership within another Native American Indian (BIA, DIA, or other First Nations or Métis) Group.
(Membership in Native American Indian interest or inter-tribal groups is allowed, but must be reported to the Band to determine if such membership is in conflict with the Band Citizen Status Code)
F. Lost Members - Address Unknown and / or failure to notify Band of new address.
G. Spouses in Divorce or Separation Situations other than Death of Spouse.
H. Failure to comply with the Rights and/or Responsibilities of Citizenship or Membership of the Band as determined by Band Council action.
I. Individual or Family Group Requests to be removed from Band records must be done in writing. All Citizens-Members over 18 years of age must individually sign such requests to protect their individual rights.
J. Band Council Action to change status as citizen or member or to be removed from Band records.
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