Enrolled Citizen of the Elnu Abenaki Tribe
Juried Artist since 2013
Roger Longtoe Sheehan is the Sagamo (Chief) of the Elnu Abenaki Tribe and a talented Abenaki artist, Native musician and educator. He makes use of all of these talents, in Abenaki Living History events.
Having spent most of his life researching Woodland Indian history, he takes great joy in sharing it with others. He does speaking engagements, performs Wabanaki music and Story Telling for people of all ages.
Roger is a self-taught artist. He does many Native crafts, but is known as an amazing soapstone pipe maker. He gathers Vermont soapstone and carves animal effigy pipe bowls and hand whittles wooden pipe stems. He also carves wood burls and makes pre-contact style bone tools; 17th and 18th century style knives, war clubs and tomahawks.
Roger has lectured, performed and done demonstrations at museums, historic sites and schools, all over the Northeastern and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.
Artist Statement
My family and I are members of the El-Nu tribe of Abenaki. We are also members of Woodland Confederacy, a native living history organization. I have been participating in Native Living History for over 30 years; researching and practicing my Native culture since I was a kid. I did my first talk/lecture when I was in 7th grade and was asked to come back and lecture for several years after.
I create museum quality pieces of the 17th and 18th century arts and crafts of the Eastern Woodland Natives. Examples would be knives, hand carved stone effigy pipes, war clubs, deer & moose hair roaches, silver broaches and earrings. I also create rattles, spears, tomahawks, noggins, moccasins, and many other native things of wood, metal and leather.
I am available for presentations, demonstrations and lectures on Abenaki culture. My presentations can include: History, Storytelling, Singing and Drumming; basic 17th and 18th century living skills; and modern Abenaki bush craft. Additionally, I do traditional tattooing for male Tribal members. The old way, no electricity.
Contact
Address: RR 30 Box 261
Jamaica, VT. 05343
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://roglongtoe.tripod.com/
Exhibits (select list)
2009 to present
Contact of Cultures,Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT
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
- 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, Institute for American Indian Studies, Washington, CT
Presentations (select list)
2016
- Abenaki Cultural Weekend. Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Farmington, PA
- Demonstrator. Ft. at # 4, Charleston, NH
- Annual Native American Weekend, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT
- Abenaki Encampment, “Jamaica Old Home Days,” Salmon Hole, Jamaica, VT
2015
- Demonstrator. Ft. at # 4, Charleston, NH
- Annual Native American Weekend, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes,VT
- Abenaki Encampment, “Jamaica Old Home Days,” Salmon Hole, Jamaica, VT
2014
- Demonstrator. Ft. at # 4, Charleston, NH
- Annual Native American Weekend, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT
- Abenaki Encampment, “Jamaica Old Home Days,” Salmon Hole, Jamaica, VT
2013
- Demonstrator. Ft. at # 4, Charleston, NH
- Annual Native American Weekend, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes,VT
- Abenaki Encampment, “Jamaica Old Home Days,” Salmon Hole, Jamaica, VT
2012
- Annual Native American Weekend, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT
- Demonstrator. Ft. at # 4, Charleston, NH
- Abenaki Encampment, “Jamaica Old Home Days,” Salmon Hole, Jamaica, VT
2011
- Annual Native American Weekend, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT
- Speaking To The Ancestors Abenaki Gathering, ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center/Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, VT
- Demonstrator. Native American Month Presenter. University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
- Abenaki Encampment, “Jamaica Old Home Days,” Salmon Hole, Jamaica, VT
2010
- Annual Native American Weekend, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT
- Winter Celebration. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center/Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, VT
- Abenaki Encampment, “Jamaica Old Home Days,” Salmon Hole, Jamaica, VT
2009
- Vermont Indigenous Celebration. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center/Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, VT
- Native American Month Presenter. University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
- Abenaki Encampment, “Jamaica Old Home Days,” Salmon Hole, Jamaica, VT
- 17th century Abenaki Weapons Technology.” St. Michael’s College, Burlington, VT
- Wabanaki Music Program. Champlain College, Burlington, VT
- Story Telling. Univerersity of Vermont, Burlington, VT
- Wabanaki Music Program. Flynn Theater, Burlington, VT
2008
- Annual Native American Weekend, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT
- Native American Month. University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
- Native American Month Presenter. University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
- Abenaki Encampment, “Jamaica Old Home Days,” Salmon Hole, Jamaica, VT
2007
- Annual Native American Weekend, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT
- Abenaki Encampment, “Jamaica Old Home Days,” Salmon Hole, Jamaica, VT
Publications
- Foulds, Diane. “For Abenaki Descendants, an ancestral revival… Adding a native focus to the Champlain festivities,” Sunday Boston Globe, Travel M6, May 3, 2009
- Nelson, Emily. “Heritage Slideshow.” Recorded July 13, 2008. Burlington Press 2008
- Wiseman, Frederick M., Ph D. “VERMONT STATE RECOGNITION AND INTERPRETING THE “WESTERN WABANAKI EXPERIENCE,” The Wôbanakik Heritage Center, Vermont 2011
- Wiseman, Frederick M., Ph D and Melody Walker. “The Abenakis and Their Neighbors.” Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs. Last modified 2010
Film & Radio
- Miricle, Irene, “Changeling, AKA Dawnland.” Miricle Girl Productions. 2009. DVD
- Reger, Deborah. Moccasin Tracks . Recorded September 14, 2013. WGDR 91.1 FM
- Schulmeisters, Lina L. “Artisan Spotlight: Roger Longtoe.” Askawobi Productions, 2012
- Timrick, Ted. “Before The Lake Was Champlain.” Hidden Landscapes. 2009. DVD Tod
- Wiseman, Frederick M. Ph D. “1609: The Other Side of History.” 2009. DVD
- The American Revolution
Affiliations
- Woodland Confederacy
- Native American Quadricentennial Advisory Committee (2008-2009)
- Vermont Abenaki Artists Association