All are Enrolled Citizens of the Elnu Abenaki Tribe
Elnu Abenaki Singers Performing 17th century to contemporary.
Elnu Abenaki Singers
For more over two decades, the Elnu Abenaki Singers have performed across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions. They are invited to sing at events, museums, school, and historic sites They echo the voices of their ancestors, who have lived in N’dakinna (the land) for thousands of years.
The public has come to know the Elnu Singers through their repertoire of Wabanaki songs and chants; their signature Eastern style hand drums and rattles. With each new song comes an explanation of what it means and any historic information with may be related.
The Elnu Singers are of mixed ages. The group includes men, women, and children. They can perform in either modern or traditional clothing from any era from the early
Filmed in night vision at the Jamaica State Park archeological dig. The El-Nu Abenaki Tribe Singers led the public through a night of traditional story-telling and songs. Featured here is one of those songs and the protocol that surrounds it.
Enrolled Citizen of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation
Juried Artist since 2016
Brian Chenevert
Brian Chenevert is the Historic Preservation Officer for the Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe and a talented artist. He is a storyteller, author, and wood worker. who was taught wood carving and whittling by his grandfather at a young age.
He is a history buff whose research helped to revive the traditional Abenaki winter game of Snow Snakes which has now been played annually since 2007. Brian’s hand carves snow snakes, war clubs and rattles decorating them by burning in traditional Wabanaki designs.
For almost 20 years Brian has provided traditional Abenaki and Wabanaki stories for multiple Abenaki newsletters and in 2015 published his first book, “Azban’s Great Journey”, which is a compilation of traditional and original tales of the Abenaki trickster – Azban, the raccoon. Azban’s Great Journey is now available for purchase on Amazon.
Brian Chenevert reading to children
Brian has developed the coloring book Abenaki Animals with fellow Nulhegan Abenaki artist, Francine Poitras Jones. Most recently, they have collaborated on the storybook Swift Deer’s Spirit Game (2019) that was just released.
He is also a drummer and singer who performs with the Nulhegan Abenaki Drum.
Artist Statement
I have always loved working with wood, carving and shaping it into a creation of all your own. I enjoy taking a simple branch and working it into a snow snake which will bring joy to some boy or girl at our annual winter games.
I have been telling and sharing Abenaki stories for many years, providing stories for multiple Abenaki newsletters and culminating in completing my first book about Azban the raccoon. The tales of Azban, in particular, are ones my children loved to hear over and over throughout the years which is what led to him being the topic of my first book.
In 2015, Brian published his first book, “Azban’s Great Journey”, which is a compilation of traditional and original tales of the Abenaki trickster – Azban, the raccoon. Azban’s Great Journey is now available for purchase on Amazon. Brian has developed the coloring book Abenaki Animals with fellow Nulhegan Abenaki artist, Francine Poitras Jones. Most recently, they have collaborated on the storybook Swift Deer’s Spirit Game that was just released.
In addition to woodworking and carving, I enjoy bead work and crafting and have made many pieces which include porcupine quill earrings and chokers, wampum earrings, belts, bracelets, and necklaces.
Enrolled Citizen of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation
Juried Artist since 2017
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As the Education Coordinator the Title VI, Indian Education Grant for the Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe, she provides programs for elementary schools, high schools, and colleges, and she has created the Nulhegan Youth Drummers because she believes that teaching Native American culture to the youth is very important.
Lucy enjoys painting in all mediums, enjoys pottery and many other crafts. She currently has paintings on exhibit at Holland Town office, and her art has been exhibited at T.W. Wood Gallery in Montpelier, Derby Line Days, and other venues .
As a Certified School Nurse Lucy obtained her nursing degree from the University of South Florida, she has worked in the Emergency Room, Intensive Care Units, dialysis unit, school nurse and served as Mayor of Zolfo Springs Florida.
Artist Statement
I have been painting and studying art over the past decade or so. I have been fortunate to work with Bea Nelson and other artists over the years. Painting, I find, softens the soul. It is a peaceful time for me. The outside forces just wither away and I’m focused on the project at hand. It is my happy place. I find I am in tune to the depths and shapes and colors of the forest, plants and animals and in trying to get their likenesses challenging.
Enrolled Citizen of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation
Juried Artist since 2018 – Master Artist: Music
Joseph Bruchac lives in the Adirondack Mountains of New York in the house where his grandparents raised him. An enrolled citizen of the Nulhegan Band of the Abenaki Nation, much of his work draws on his native ancestry.
He and his sons, James and Jesse, work together in projects involving Native language renewal, traditional Native skills, and environmental education at their Ndakinna Education Center (www.ndakinnacenter.org) on their 90 acre nature preserve.
Author of over 180 books for young readers and adults, his experiences include teaching in Ghana, running a college program in a maximum security prison and 40 years of teaching martial arts.A featured storyteller at numerous festivals, including the British Storytelling Festival, Clearwater, Corn Island, and the National Storytelling Festival, his Keepers of the Earth books (co-authored with Michael Caduto), which use traditional Native American stories to teach science, have over a million copies in print.
“His novel CODE TALKER, about the Navajo marines in World War II who used their language to create an unbreakable code, was named by TIME magazine as one of the 100 best books of all time for young adults.”
Enrolled Citizen of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation
Juried Artist since 2016
Jean Burbo is an enrolled citizen of the Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe. She was raised in an atmosphere where art was prevalent. Both her mother and father were artists. Her mother taught arts and crafts to both adults and children. As a result, Jean learned many skills at a very young age. Jean lives in Connecticut, not far from the ocean, with her husband and her “fur baby.” Because she is now retired, she is able to devote much time to her art. She says, “Making art is so relaxing to me. When I’m touching the shells or stringing the beads, I’m taken away to another world. Sometimes, I feel like I am sitting with my Ancestors and sharing my time with them.”
She makes both traditional and contemporary styles of jewelry. Her favorite making chokers and bracelets with hornpipe. While walking on the beach near the ocean, Jean enjoys finding wampum shells and incorporating those found items in her creations. She also uses leather, as well as glass, wooden, and metal beads to finish her work.
Artist Statement
I was born in Massachusetts but was raised in Vermont. My family was connected to Vermont and had been for centuries. I am a member of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation.
As a child, I spent many hours in the woods riding my horse, Cottontail, or walking with my dad while he told me about the beauty and spiritual connection we have with Mother Earth. He would teach me about the responsibility we have to protect and preserve the land. I have never forgotten those teachings, and now they are part of my life.
My ability for making jewelry and crafting came through the teachings of my mother, who was a very talented artist. It seemed like she was always creating something and she would include me; so I learned, at an early age, to enjoy designing jewelry. My jewelry has evolved over the years, and I now include both traditional and contemporary pieces.
Because I believe that wearing traditional clothing and jewelry is in honor of our Ancestors, I always smudge each piece when it is completed. I ask Creator to bless the item as well as the person who will wear it.
Enrolled Citizen of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation
Juried Artist since 2018 – Master Artist: Storyteller, Music, Linguistics/Language Teacher
Jesse Bowman Bruchac
Jesse Bowman Bruchac is an enrolled Nulhegan Abenaki Citizen. He is a traditional storyteller, musician, and Abenaki language instructor. As one of the last fluent speakers of Western Abenaki, he works vigorously to revitalize the language. His efforts have led to the creation of a Western Abenaki website, YouTube channel, Facebook group, and a number of bilingual publications.
Following in the footsteps of his father Joseph Bruchac, Jesse has been visiting schools and universities to share Northeastern Native American traditional stories, music, language, history and culture for over two decades.
As a musician he has produced several albums of Abenaki music. These include collections of traditional songs using drum and rattle, and Native American flute music. He has opened for such notable acts as The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, and at Woodstock ’94. He won the Best Storyteller Competition at Indian Summer in Milwaukee in 1995. In 1996 he toured Europe as a member of the Abenaki Drum from the Odanak reservation in Quebec. Jesse has also acted as consultant, translator, composer, and language coach for programs on AMC, National Geographic, and PBS.
Jesse began learning stories, songs, and language as a child from his father, as well as elders his family would often visit in Vermont, Maine, the Adirondacks, New Hampshire, and Canada. He began studying the language in earnest at the age of 20 from Cecile Wawanolette in 1992. He studied with her, and dozens of other speakers at the Abenaki reservation of Odanak, Quebec for over a decade. He has continued to learn and teach the language with Cecile’s son Joseph Elie Joubert.
In the fall of 2018 he began co-teaching a course in Wabanaki languages alongside renowned Eastern Algonquin linguist Conor Quinn at the University of Southern Maine.
Greetings! My name is Jesse. When I speak in the Abenaki language I am so happy (my mind and heart are good). Do not allow your own hearts to be troubled. For while you are in the world, you are the light of the world. Teach these words to your children, share them when you sit in your homes, when you travel about, when you lay down to sleep, and when you rise. Take good care of yourselves, travel well, and find peace within yourselves and among each other!
Vermont Abenaki Artists Association (VAAA) is a Native American arts organization that serves the public by connecting them to Abenaki educators, artists from the visual and performing arts as well as literary genres.
MISSION STATEMENT: Our mission is to promote awareness of state-recognized Abenaki artists and their art, to provide an organized central place to share creative ideas, and to have a method for the public to find and engage state-recognized Abenaki artists. We do this by presenting public programs, cultural events, and museum exhibitions that educate the public in understanding Abenaki art and culture.
Since 2013, VAAA has partnered with leading museums, colleges, and cultural organizations across Vermont and the Northeast, including Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Mt Kearsarge Indian Museum, Institute for American Indian Studies, Middlebury College, and many others.
Connect with us to stay up-to-date and be part of a dialogue that embraces the past, present, and future of Abenaki art.
Supported in part by Vermont Humanities, The Vermont Arts Council, and NEFA – the New England Foundation for the Arts’ Cultural Sustainability program, made possible by the Wallace Foundation.
Silver cuffs by Paul-René Tamburro
Donations are processed securely through our fiscal sponsor, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. You’ll receive a tax-deductible receipt by email.
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Step into the captivating world of our artists, where you’ll find a treasure trove of visual narratives that speak to the heart and soul of the Abenaki culture. The stories and artistic expressions of state-recognized Abenaki artists are at the heart of our association. With diverse backgrounds and a shared passion for their heritage, they bridge the gap between tradition and innovation. Browse these virtual galleries, where art defies the constraints of time, and culture resonates through brushstrokes, carvings, weavings, and more. Your visit to our artist pages promises not only inspiration and connection but also a profound appreciation for the enduring artistic spirit of the Abenaki people.
Join us in sustaining our mission of preserving Abenaki culture and fostering artistic expression by making a meaningful donation. Your support directly contributes to our impactful programs, enriching events, educational initiatives, and the creation of new exhibitions. Together, we can ensure the continuity of this invaluable cultural legacy.
Step into a world of creativity and culture – visit our Exhibits page for detailed information on current exhibitions, including locations and dates. Immerse yourself in the vibrant stories waiting to be explored.
Expand your knowledge and access valuable resources by visiting the Abenaki Arts & Education Center website for comprehensive Abenaki educational information and teacher resources.
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Beyond the artwork, Vermont Abenaki Artist Association (VAAA) organizes public programs, cultural events, and museum exhibitions that educate and inspire. By engaging with us, you’re not just experiencing art – you’re becoming part of a vibrant community that values tradition, creativity, and connection.
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Vermont Abenaki Artists Association is supported by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ Cultural Sustainability program, made possible by the Wallace Foundation.
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