In spring 2021, Vera Longtoe Sheehan (Elnu Abenaki) met with the students of “Native Presence and Performance: Reclaiming the Indigenous Narrative,” a first-year seminar offered by Middlebury College. After the meeting, Longtoe Sheehan recommended the students interview and write about VAAA affiliated artists. This blog post is one of a series that were created for that project, respectfully submitted by a student who self-identifies as non-Native.
Due to the length of this narrative, it was introduced in three parts over a period of three weeks. This is Part Three.
In spring 2021, Vera Longtoe Sheehan (Elnu Abenaki) met with the students of “Native Presence and Performance: Reclaiming the Indigenous Narrative,” a first-year seminar offered by Middlebury College. After the meeting, Longtoe Sheehan recommended the students interview and write about VAAA affiliated artists. This blog post is one of a series that were created for that project, respectfully submitted by a student who self-identifies as non-Native.
Due to the length of this narrative, it will be introduced in three parts over a period of three weeks. This is Part Two.
Juried Artist since 2013 – Master Artist: Finger Weaving, Jewelry
Linda Longtoe Sheehan
Linda Longtoe Sheehan’s specialty is wampum. She is known affectionately as “Wampum Woman.” She started making wampum belts over thirty years ago and passed her knowledge onto countless young people.
Linda makes wampum belts and jewelry from glass beads, mother of pearl and quahog. Her beadmaking starts with a quahog shell. She cuts it to size and shapes it. Then she weaves her wampum belts using braintanned leather.
Linda learned brain tanning from Mark Humpel, who hosts an annual braintanning weekend. Unfortunately, due to a disability she can no longer make braintan leather herself so she is passing this tradition on to students. In the winter months, Linda teaches them how to scrape the deer hides; soak them in the braintan solution; stretch and dry the hides; and work them until they are soft. Then she cuts it into long strips. Each hide takes about 50 hours.
She has done demonstrations at museums and historic sites throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States. Her work was even requested by the Presidents protocol office.
Artist Statement
I have been designing and making wampum belts, wrist bands, necklaces, bracelets and earrings for over 30 years;. I work with real Quahog, glass and mother of pearl wampum beads. My work has been on display at the Institute for American Indian studies and at Johnson Hall (historic site).
During the winter months, I also make my own brain tan leather which I use for to weave my belts.
Although I specialize in wampum, I also do Traditional finger weaving, eastern center seam moccasins, Quillwork and I twine.
Juried Artist since 2013 – Master Artist: Storytelling, Quillwork, Twined Bags, Leather, Regalia
Jim Taylor – Photo courtesy of Adam Sings in the Timber
I am a Tribal Councilman and citizen of the Elnu Abenaki Tribe of Southern Vermont which recently was granted State Recognition after years of battling with both the State & Federal Governments. I also descend from the Eastern Cherokee my Fathers people who reside in Kentucky.
Artist, Eastern Quillworker, & Wampum, I have been involved with various art forms since I was a small child, with the help from my recently deceased maternal Aunt she fostered the talent the Creator blessed us both with.
I am currently employed as a Graphic Designer designing Police, Fire, Federal, & International Law Enforcement badges; for past 28 years.
I currently reside in Rhode Island with my wife Claudine and two daughters, Ashley age 22 and Jillian age 16 along with our Golden Retriever Abby. My Tribal duties in Vermont do take me away from home many weekends throughout the year which my wife is very understanding. The many reasons are is itโs whatโs needed to build a better future for the next 7 generations of my people; I thank her and my 2 girls for their patience and understanding.
I have been doing Eastern style quillwork for the past 26 years along with other various native related beadwork and crafts and most recently learning how to create wampum beads from quahog & whelk shells. My quill work began when I became more involved with Living History/ Native Interpreting at French & Indian Living History events. The Abenaki played an important role as Allies with the French during that period. As I became more proficient, my quillwork became more sought after by other Living History people as well as other Native people.
My quillwork has been featured in numerous articles and magazines & books; also my work has been displayed in the Mingei International Museum of Folk Art in San Diego, CA, and currently I have an Underwater Panther bag on permanent display in the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, NY. My work has also have been in various local Art shows in RI as well.
I hope to continue doing quill work and to become more proficient in the wampum bead work as well, my hope is to pass this onto future generations of youth within my tribe along with possibly getting future grants to allow me to travel west to Washington State to share how to do quillwork and wampum making with Native Artists in the Communities there with the hope of learning some of their traditional crafts like Cedar Hat making and Cedar carving to share with my tribe Elnu and others here on the East Coast.
Future work:
I am currently trying to organize a Multi-Eastern Tribal Canoe Journey on the Connecticut River beginning at its head waters in Canada to where it spills out into Long Island Sound. This Journey will be mirrored to the same one held annually out west in Washington by the Salish Coastal peoples. My hope is that this will be a Journey to inspire our youth to make them stronger physically, mentally as well as spiritually; this will be a journey for ALL ages. We along with others here in New England hope to have a smaller version to start with by sometime next year; I urge all eastern peoples / Tribes to contact us if they are interested in being part of this hopefully Annual event. We can be reached via Facebook at Kwinitekw Canoe Journey https://www.facebook.com/groups/248209231873305/ or my Email at [email protected]
2023 Beyond the Curve, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT
2024 Mad River Valley Arts, Waitsfield, VT
2024 Chaffee Art Center, Rutland, VT
2017
Alnobak: Wearing Our Heritage. Traveling Exhibit. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum.
๏ปฟ2016
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.
๏ปฟ2014
First Light: Native American Artists from New England, The Flanagan Campus Art Gallery, RI
Traditional Sources, Contemporary Visions โ Invitational Group Art Exhibit. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT
All My Relations: Faces and Effigies from the Native World โ Invitational Group Art Exhibit. Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, Warner, NH
2013
Like Breathing: Native American Beading and Quillwork. Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, Warner, NH
2012
Quilled Underwater Panther Bag. American Museum of Natural History, NYC, NY
2000
Arrow of the Spirit. Mingei International Museum, San Diego, CA
Publications
Jones, Paul R. โQuillworkers 2: The Tradition Continues.โ Muzzleloader, Nov/Dec 1999, 40
Dubin, Lois Sherr. North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment: From Prehistory to Present Concise Edition, Harry N Abrams Incorporated, NYC, NY. 2003. 71
Juried Artist since 2013 – Master Artist: Author, Film, Fine Art (Painter & Graphic Art), Regalia (Clothing, Sashes, Bags), Twined Bags
Fred Wiseman teaches Wabanaki decorative arts, ceremonial oratory, dance and song based on historical precedent, but adapted for modern venues and audience.
His most recent (2010-) work focuses on the choreography, stagecraft, regalia and ceremonial accoutrements for dances and ceremonies associated with the agricultural and ceremonial calendar, from Winter solstice observances through spring planting ceremonies, to the various sun dances through the green corn and harvest supper observances. However, in the past, he has worked in other media and formats from “fashion shows” to ceremonial gaming, to the crafting of arms and armor.
Fred uses whatever is necessary to accomplish the goal, from set (stage) design to rock and shell carving to clothing to video and printed word.
Artist Statement
I am a scholar and artist whose purpose is to connect the Indigenous Peoples of Vermont and their environs to their stylistic heritage by all means necessary, whether it be through film/graphic arts, the performing arts or the decorative arts. Professional goals and objectives revolve first around repatriation, the converting of written data, or archival music artifacts and imagery held by Euroamerican institutions into formats and systems of knowing usable by Indigenous people and organizations for cultural reclamation and revitalization. Second, it incorporates tradition and revelation as guideposts in this work. Third it incorporates going beyond recaptured tradition to synthesize antique materials and motifs with the contemporary, to envision an alternative, syncretic stylistic world that could answer –“what if Genocide of Northeastern Natives had been less complete?” Southwestern and Plains Native styles rooted in deep time arts tradition flourish in the West, why not allow this to happen in Indigenous Vermont?
My work is not available for sale to the Euroamerican public, it exclusively produced for tribal governments, organizations and citizens and lent or given at no cost to the recipient. The artist’s designs and productions, ranging from regalia to wampum belts and collars belong to the Pleasant Point and Indian Township Governors (ME), The Citizens of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs (ME), the Grand Chief of the Seven Nations at Akwesasne (NY), and the Chiefs and Tribal Councils of Missisquoi, Nulhegan and Koasek (VT).
However, my work has been exhibited and studied over the years at the various venues listed below.
Belt on staff made by Dr. WisemanPaleo-Indian Sea-Mammal hunter, complete with mountain grizzly claw headdress, bladder (imitation) waterproof tunic, Arctic-phase bobcat knife case; hickory, mammoth-ivory and stone repeating harpoon with hemp lanyard. Designed by Frederick Wiseman.Wabanaki (Micmac) style Pipe. Catlinite bowl, ash wood stem, blue jay, yellow flicker and owl feathers, red ribbon.
Exhibit, eventย and performance history:ย
Deep Roots, Strong Branches 2024-2025
2024 Deep Roots, Strong Branches – Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT
2025 Deep Roots, Strong Branches โ Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT
1994ย ย
“The Spirit of the Abenaki.”ย Chimney Point Historic Site. Jewelry and sculpture.
1994-1995ย
“The Light Of the Dawn.”ย Chimney Point Historic Site. Jewelry and woodย sculpture
1995ย
“Shamans, Magicians and the Busy Spider” Rochester Museum of Art. Rochester, NY. Jewelry and wood sculpture.
“Abenaki Dawn” American Indian Institute. Washington, CT. Jewelry and wood sculpture.
1996ย
“Light from the Dawnland”ย San Diego Museum of Man.ย San Diego, CA. Jewelry and wood sculpture.
1998- 2008
Abenaki Tribal museum, Swanton, VT (All museum installations)
1999
The Great Council Fire Performance. The Akwesasne Cultural Center (NY)
2001ย
โWabanaki Wampumโ Old York (ME) Historical Society. Wampum belts
โNotes from the Undergroundโ Shelburne Museum. Stone wampum, wood
Kanienโkehaka Raotitionhkwa Culture Centre (Kahnawake QC) โSeven and Six (Nations) Exhibit.
2001-2003 New Hampshire Historical Society Museum, various exhibits and event)
2004ย ย ย ย
โWabanaki Memories.ย Missisquoi Valley HS Stone, Wampum, wood.
Museรฉ des Abรฉnakis (QC) (my materials are on permanent exhibit there.)
2005ย ย ย
Great Council Fire Exhibition Museรฉ des Abรฉnakis. Wampum and stonework.
โAgainst the Darknessโ Screened at the Museรฉ des Abรฉnakis (Odanak, QC), March 22, 2005
โAgainst the Darknessโ Screened at Mashentucket Pequot Museum. Mashentucket, CT. Oct. 16, 2005
โAgainst the Darknessโ (35 Minute digital video) Screened at the Vermontย Archaeological Society, Oct. 1, 2005
2007ย
โThe Material Heritage of 17th Century Vermont. Lake Champlain Quadricentennial โWorkshopโ St. Michaelโs College, June 13, 2007
2007-2013
The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, June, Indigenous Heritage Celebration (also my materials are on permanent exhibit there.)
2008
Passamaquoddy Section of the Downeast Heritage Museum, (ME) (my materials are on permanent exhibit there)
2010 ย
ECHO Science Center and Lake Aquarium, Materials of Culture: 10,000 years of Abenaki Attire (also my materials are on permanent exhibit there.)
2010
Indian Township Museum (ME), (my materials are on permanent exhibit there.)
Wapohnaki Museum (ME) โLanguage and Objectโ Exhibit and Discussion.
2011ย ย ย
โBefore the Lake Was Champlainโ Screened at the New England Antiquities Research Association Conference, Burlington, VT. October 2011
2013ย ย ย
โ1609:the other side of history.โ Screened at the Swanton 250th Anniversary
โDinner and a Movieโ Program. Swanton, VT, April 28, 2013
2014ย ย ย ย ย
Traditional Sources, Contemporary Visions โ Invitational Group Art Exhibit. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, VT
All My Relations: Faces and Effigies from the Native World โ Invitational Group Art Exhibit. Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, Warner, NH.
2015
Parley and Protocol: Abenaki Diplomacy Past and Present. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. Vergennes, VT.
2016
Parley and Protocol: Abenaki Diplomacy Past and Present. Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Farmington, PA.
Publicationsย
1987ย ย
Mapping antiques. Maine Antique Digest, Waldoboro ME. Feb. 14-15C.
Folk art and antiques: a different view. Maine Antique Digest, Waldoboro, ME
The case of the peripatetic candleholder. Maine Antique Digest, Waldoboro, ME July 34-35 B.
1990ย ย
Some Queen Anne furniture of the Federal Period.ย Maine Antique Digest, Waldoboro ME
January 1991ย ย
โThe Colchester Jarโ pp. 98-99; โQuillwork trinket box; thimble cover, notions basket and pincushionโ; โBeaded reticuleโ pp. 178-183; โRectangular bark containerโ, pp. 204-205; and โTipi and canoeโ, pp. 216-217. In Graff, N.P.
Celebrating Vermont: Myths and Realities.University Press of New England.Hanover
American Indian Art and Native Americans. Maine Antique Digest, Waldoboro, ME
1994ย ย
Bapwoganal Alnobaiwi: The Games of Wรดbanakik Cedarwood Press. Underhill, VT. 3 figures. 10 pp.
Ngwegigaden, an Abenaki year.(11โณ X 17โณ Three-color poster and accompanying handbook). Cedarwood Press. Underhill, VT
Wรดbanakik. (11โณ X 17โณ Three-color poster map and accompanying handbook) Cedarwood Press. Underhill, VT
We were always here. (9โณ X 17โณ Two-color poster and accompanying handbook) Cedarwood Press. Underhill, VT
1995ย ย
The Gift of the Forest. Ethan Allen Homestead Abenaki Handbook Series # 1. Lane Press. Burlington, VT. 10 figures. 12pp.
Wรดbanakik, the Ancient Land of the Dawn. (18โณ X 24โณ Four-color map and accompanying handbook) Cartography by Kevin Ruelle. Horseman Press. Burlington, VT
Wild Plant Foods of the Abenaki. Ethan Allen Homestead Abenaki Handbook Series # 2. Lane Press. Burlington, VT. 12 pp.
Abenaki Clothing Ethan Allen Homestead Abenaki Handbook Series # 3. Lane Press. Burlington, VT. 7 figures. 12pp.
An Annotated bibliography and resources list for Abenaki studies. Cedarwood Press. Underhill, VT. 22 pp.
ย ย โNew Abenaki Booklets available.โย in The Oracle.ย Summer, 1995.ย Ethan Allenย Homestead.ย Burlington VT.ย p. 3.
โA view from withinโ Vermont Humanities. Winter 1994-95. Vt. Council on the Humanities, Hyde Park, VT. p. 6.
1996ย ย ย ย ย
History in beads.ย Historic Roots. Pp. 25-30ย Montpelier, VT.
1997ย ย ย ย ย
Linda Pearo, Frederick Wiseman, Madeline Young and Jeff Benay.ย New Dawn:ย The Western Abenaki, a Curricular Framework for the Middle Level. Franklin Northwest Supervisory Union Title IX Indian Education Program, 14 First St.ย Swanton, VT 05488
Wobobial. (18X26 pictorial poster and accompanying handbook)ย Abenaki Tribal Museum.ย Lane Press, Burlington
2000ย ย ย ย The Abenaki and the Winooski.ย Inย L. Krawitt.ย The Mills at Winooski Falls. Onion ย River Press. Pp. 7-10 Winooski
2001ย ย ย ย
The Voice of the Dawn University Press of New England.ย Hanover, NH.
2003ย ย ย ย
โAbenakiโ, โAbenaki Heritage Daysโ p. 31; โMahicansโ pp. 194-195;
โMissisquoi Villageโ p. 207;
โWinoskikโ 327 in Duffy, J, S. hand and R. Orth. Vermont Encyclopedia University Press of New England, Hanover
โTruthlessโ. Seven Days, Sept. 10-17, 2003. p. 4A
2005ย ย ย
The Wabanaki World Vol. I : Decolonizing a taken prehistory of the Far Northeast University Press of New England
Blom, Deborah, James Petersen and โโ โRepatriation and Monument Road:
Abenaki and archaeologists efforts to find a solution.โย In Jordan Kerber.ย Crossย Culturalย Collaboration. University of Nebraska Press
2008ย ย ย
โChangelingโ Video, Miraclegirl Productions. 1522 Harvard Street Apartment 5, Santa Monica, CA (Producer)
โCalumet to crisis and back.โ (Video) Franklin Northwest Supervisory Union Office of Indian Education (Producer/Director/Filmographer)
2009ย ย ย ย ย
At Lake Between. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Basin Harbor, VT, Champlain Tech Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Basin Harbor, VT
โ1609: The other side of history. Wรดbanakik Heritage Center, Swanton, VT (Producer/Director)
ย โ1609: Quadricentennial Curriculumโย Lake Champlain Maritime Museum lcmm.org/navigating
2010ย ย ย ย ย
Baseline 1609. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Basin Harbor, VT
โBefore the Lake Was Champlainโ Hidden Landscapes Productions 1 Hewins Farm Rd., Wellesley, MA (Co-Producer)
โThe New Antiquariansโ Hidden Landscapes Productions 1 Hewins Farm Rd., Wellesley, MA 02481 (Co-Producer)
2011ย ย ย
____ and Melody Walker. The Abenakis and their Neighbors: Teachers and Interpreters resources. Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs. Montpelier, VT.
2012ย ย ย
Reclaiming Western Wabanaki Ceremony: A Handbook for Cultural Revitalization. Wรดbanakik Heritage Center, Swanton, VT Indigenous Vermont Series 2012:8. 313pp.2013
Theo Panadis sings Wabanaki songs. Wรดbanakik Heritage Center, Swanton, VT Indigenous Vermont Series 2013:4. CD
Wabanaki Confederacy political and ceremonial songs. Wรดbanakik Heritage Center, Swanton, VT Indigenous Vermont Series 2013:5.
Wabanaki Songs: Fun, Dance and Ceremony. Wรดbanakik Heritage Center, Swanton, VT Indigenous Vermont Series 2013:6
Lets Learn Abenaki Songs I. Wรดbanakik Heritage Center, Swanton, VT Indigenous Vermont Series 2013:8.n.d. P
Proposed K-12 Curriculum on Indigenous Vermont Studies Manuscript housed in the Wรดbanakik Heritage Center archives
