Free Republic

The protesters who uprooted a 9/11 memorial display at a liberal arts college in Vermont claimed they were defending Abenaki tribal lands and taking a stand against U.S. imperialism.The Abenaki tribe’s response? “Disgusting.”Don Stevens, chief of the Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe, said his tribe did not approve of the actions taken by five people–including one student–at Middlebury College last week. (RELATED: Student destroys 9/11 memorial, citing U.S. imperialism)“We didn’t know anything about this and if we had we certainly wouldn’t have sanctioned it,” he said in a statement to The Addison Independent.The 9/11 memorial display consisted of 2,977 flags placed in...

The governor signed a law Wednesday granting recognition to Abenaki Indians, a move long sought by tribal members who celebrated with drumming, song and prayer on the Statehouse steps. Supporters said the law makes tribal members eligible for college scholarships, grants and the right to sell crafts labeled as Native American. They also said the state's validation of the existence of the Abenaki and all American Indians in Vermont ... Detractors feared state recognition would lead to federal recognition and possibly land claims and gambling casinos in Vermont... In 1976, the tribe also won state recognition, but the ruling was...