Lina Longtoe

Enrolled Citizen of the ELNU ABENAKI TRIBE

Juried Artist since 2013

Image of Lina Longtoe.

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

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