Melody Mackin

Enrolled Citizen of the Elnu Abenaki Tribe

Juried Artist since 2013

Image of Melody Walker with hand drum. — Melody Walker

Melody Mackin is an educator, mom, and artist. She works at the Atowi Project. She received her master’s degree in History from the University of Vermont in May 2011. Melody has taught at several institutions an adjunct professor, such as Northern Virginia Community College and taught the History of Western Civilization and US History.

Prior to this, she was an adjunct professor at Champlain College through the EHS Division. Before that, she was an adjunct professor at Johnson State College where she taught “Native American Worldview and Spirituality,” “Native American History and Culture,” and “Abenakis and Their Neighbors.” She gives lectures on a variety of topics, including Abenaki history, women’s issues, and Abenaki political history.

She has done ground breaking research on Abenaki Spirituality and is heavily involved in the Abenaki cultural revitalization movement. She works with museums and lectures in both the K-12 and collegiate level classroom on topics relating to the Eastern Woodlands and indigenous history.

Melody is a traditional finger weaver, photographer, ribbon work, beadworker, and interprets wampum belts.

Artist Statement

I am an Abenaki historian and I am in love with stories. The finished pieces that I create whether it is a beaded bag or a breechclout with ribbon are created with spirit. They tell my story but they also tell the story of my people. In each stitch I think about the hands that have come before me using the same techniques with the same type of materials. Most importantly, I think of the hands that will create the same artifacts in the future and honor the culture that lights the path through time that we all walk. I spend a lot of time teaching Abenaki history and culture but the artifacts that I shape are the physical manifestations of what being Abenaki means to me. They represent pride, generational love, talent, resiliency, and ultimately they tell a story of survival.

Contact Info

Email: [email protected]

Image of finger woven sash by Melody Mackin. — Finger woven sash

Image of breechcloths by Melody Mackin. — Breechcloths

Image of beaded bag by Melody Makin — Beaded bag with spider & web

Weaving a thread through the 7 generations, Melody Walker, TEDx Stowe
Melody Walker gives an incredibly powerful and touching insight into rebirth of the Abenaki Elnu tribe. Finding pride in each other and hope for the future, Melody weaves a beautiful talk about finding one’s place in creation and community.

Exhibits

2017

Alnobak: Wearing Our Heritage. Traveling Exhibit. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum.

Presentations

Native History Month Program Coordinator, Champlain College, November 2016. Lectured in Native American Leadership and completed Cultural Awareness Training for Diversity Programmers
Affirming Traditions Conference Coordinator, Mt. Norris Boy Scout Reservation, October 22, 2016
Camel’s Hump Middle School Lecture/Workshop, Lake Carmi: Abenakis Throughout History and storytelling/drumming workshop over the campfire on September 24, 2016
Mount Norris Boy Scout Frontier’s Camp: Full days of arts and crafts workshops for a week long camp June-July 2016
Abenaki Heritage Weekend Lecture, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum: “Bringing History to Life” on June 27, 2015
Chittenden County School System: Personhood Lecture for educators and parents on June 24, 2015
Mount Norris Boy Scout Winter Camp: Full day of drumming workshops on March 7, 2015 for students traveling from all over New England
Encounter – Vermont Indigenous Culture for the Classroom: Full day lecture on November 9, 2014 for teachers from a variety of schools held at Endeavour School
Abenaki Heritage Weekend Presentation: “Haven Project: Seeds of Renewal,” June 28-29, 2014
Abenaki Spirituality: Class lecture at Middlebury College on January 21, 2014National Native Seeds School,MA: “Seeds of Renewal,” January 2014
Nancy Millette Doucet Memorial Lecture Series Presentations: Various full day lectures twice a semester regarding cultural revitalization topics, 2012-2014
Lead Like a Beaver Speaker Series Presentation: “A Shifting of the Glass: Indigenous Perspectives on Leadership,” December 2013
Echo Center Harvest Fest: “The House That Raven Built Storytime with Melody Brook” & “Fingerweaving with Melody Brook,” November 29, 2013
Champlain College Native American Heritage Month Presentation: “Native American Identity,” November 2013
UVM Native American Heritage Month Presentations: “Walking in Two Worlds” and “Rethinking Thanksgiving,” November 2013
UVM Continuing Education Diversity Series Presentation: “Identity in the Workplace Through an Abenaki Lens,” May 2013
UVM Abenaki Heritage Week Presentation: “Against the Darkness: Indigenous Identity Through the Ages,” April 2012
Lake Champlain Basin Program Love the Lake Series: “Abenaki Heritage Center – Haven Project,” February 2012
VASS Conference Making Sense of the World: “Haven Project: A Virtual Museum,” December 2011
Echo Center Indigenous Summit, Co-Coordinator, November 2011
Old Stone House Museum Time Traveler’s/Children’s Camp: “Abenaki History & Culture,” Summer 2009 & 2010
Lyndon State College My Story Matters Conference: “Walking in Two Worlds: The Wabanaki Experience,” Keynote speaker, April 2009
St. Michael’s College VT Quadricentennial Indigenous Conference, Co-Coordinator, May 2009

Film & Radio

Miricle, Irene, “Changeling, AKA Dawnland.” Miricle Girl Productions. 2009. DVD
Reger, Deborah. Moccasin Tracks . Recorded February 15, 2013. WGDR 91.1 FM . Web
Timrick, Ted. “Before The Lake Was Champlain.” Hidden Landscapes. 2009. DVD
Wiseman, Frederick M. Ph D. “1609: The Other Side of History.” 2009. DVD
Wertlieb,Mitch. “Interview: El-Nu citizen Melody Walker ” Recorded March 27,2009, Vermont Public Radio
“Vermont Indigenous Celebration: Abenaki Singers – Interview with Abenakis Walker & Melody Brook – Abenaki Dancers, Takara Matthews & Josh Hunt.” Recorded July, 11, 2009. Channel 17. Web

Awards

Cum Laude Honors (undergraduate)
ALANA Leadership Award (undergraduate)
2009 Ally of the Year Award from the UVM Greek Community.

Affiliations

Atowi Project
Vermont Abenaki Artists Association
Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs, Vice Chair (2010-2012 and 2016-2017)
Native American Quadricentennial Advisory Committee (2008-2009)
WAOLOWZI Minority Health and Wellness Program (2006-2009)
Vermont Women’s History Project Steering Committee (2005-2007)
Voices Against Violence (2005)

Lina Longtoe

Enrolled Citizen of the ELNU ABENAKI TRIBE

Juried Artist since 2013

Lina Longtoe grew up in a family of artists and was exposed to multiple traditional and contemporary artistic disciplines. As a teenager, she realized so much culture was being lost with the passing of each Elder and sought to record history and traditions from older culture bearers. She began interviewing Elders, Chiefs, and artists.

Her first documentary “Speaking to the Ancestors” was screened at the Vermont Indigenous Celebration in 2009. The documentary chronicled the growing cycle, history of and usages of traditional tobacco.

Following the success of her first documentary, Lina created a short film series, which is on permanent exhibit at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. She has expanded her cultural documentation to the digital photography median as well. Lina’s films & photography have been exhibited in the Mid-Atlantic, New England states, and Canada. Lina also finger-weaves and twines.

Artist Statement

Through film, Lina Longtoe seeks to educate both Native and non-Native people alike through innovative shorts and featured length documentaries. Lina has served as the Elnu Abenaki Tribal Documentarian since she was a teenager.

Much of the Abenaki culture and it’s vast traditions are endangered with the passing of each Elder. Lina strives to record our history at every opportunity.

Her Artisan Spotlight Series and Abenaki Short Film Series are on permanent exhibit at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, located in Vergennes, VT. They have also screened at the American Museum of Natural History, Chimney Point State Historic Site, The Fort at No. 4, ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center and other sites across New England and Canada.

Lina is inspired by her grandfather who is a Culture Bearer of generations who were raised to hide and be ashamed of their heritage. She realized the ongoing threat to the continuity of knowledge about their people, crafts, and oral traditions and decided to help preserve her culture.

Contact

Email: [email protected]

Website: Askawobi Productions

YouTube: Lina Longtoe Channel

Facebook: facebook.com/askawobi

Twitter:twitter.com/askawobi

Image of movie poster called The Other Harvest.

On Going Exhibits

2011 – present. Contact of Cultures, “Abenaki Short Film Series” Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT

2014 – present. Northeast Woodland Fiber Arts, Mt Kearsage Indian Museum, Warner, NH

Limited Engagement Exhibits

2017

Alnobak: Wearing Our Heritage. Traveling Exhibit. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum.

2016

Parley and Protocol: Abenaki Diplomacy Past and Present. Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Farmington, PA.

2015

Parley and Protocol: Abenaki Diplomacy Past and Present. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. Vergennes, VT.

2014

Along the River, Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, Warner, NH
Giona Sezoha G’dakinna: We Paint Our Land, Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, Warner, NH
Traditional Sources, Contemporary Visions – Invitational Group Art Exhibit. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT
All My Relations: Faces and Effigies from the Native World – – Invitational Group Art Exhibit, Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, Warner, NH

2013

Featured Artist at the Nor’Westers and Loyalist Museum, Ontairo, Canada
Indigenous Fibert Art, MacDonell-Williamson House, Ontairo, Canada
Containers. Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, Warner, NH

Film Screenings and Presentations

2009 – present

Abenaki Short Film Series. American Museum of Natural History, NYC, NY

2016

Abenaki Cultural Weekend. Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Farmington, PA.

2012

Presenter, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT
“Meet the Artist” and film screening, Boston Children’s Museum, Boston, MA

2011

Presenter, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT

2010
Presenter, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT

2009

Film Screening. “Vermont Indigenous Celebration,” ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center/Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, VT

In Permanent Collections

“Abenaki Short Film Series,” Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT
Fiber Art Photo Collection,” Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, Warner, NH
Twined Weaving Photo,” MacDonell-Williamson House, Ontario, Canada

Affiliations

Vermont Abenaki Artists Association

Diane Stevens

Enrolled Citizen of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation

Juried Artist

My Love for nature photography was a natural progression of my love for travel. A friend of mine joined the Peace Corps and encouraged me to join her for a two-week adventure in Namibia and Zambia, Africa. Thus began an incredible photographic journey. Vermont’s abundant wild life and beauty have enable me to hone my craft.

Hiking and back water kayaking have led to incredible, yet at times challenging, photographic opportunities. Continued travels in New England, Florida, and Peru have expanded my appreciation of all nature has to offer. I recently won best in color at the Seaba Artists Exhibit.