Town leans toward acknowledging Abenaki rights, colonial history

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

The Williston Selectboard is considering adopting a “land acknowledgement” that would honor the presence of the original people on the land that is now the Town of Williston — the Abenaki Nation — and acknowledge the oppressive colonialism of European settlers who arrived in the 18th Century.

The statement was presented to the board earlier this month by the Williston Racial Equity Partnership, which researched similar municipal statements around the country as well as the history of the Abenaki Nation in Vermont.

“This is long overdue,” selectboard member Greta D’Agostino said. “This is something our town very much needs to have done and to actively continue to openly acknowledge, that this is land that we have taken. This is very important for our town.”

The discussion mirrors one the board and the racial equity partnership had in adopting a values statement focusing on systemic racism last fall. The board is still considering how best to display and act on that statement (see related story, Page 1).

The land acknowledgement, which remains in draft form, reads, in part: “The Town of Williston respectfully acknowledges the history of the land within our boundaries, noting legal town boundaries are a creation of European colonizers … Williston recognizes that colonialism and the oppression of Native peoples are a current and ongoing process, and we commit to building our collective awareness of ongoing participation and take necessary actions to address the complex issues.

“The Abenaki people tended to live along waterways in Williston, such as the Winooski River, Allen Brook, and Muddy Brook,” it continues. “Higher elavations such as Five Tree Hill and The Lookout in the Catamount Community Forest, were used as lookouts to site herds of caribou or deer.”

If adopted, the board will also need to determine how to promote it, said Pat Brown of the racial equity partnership. In some communities, he said, the statement is read before governmental meetings or displayed in town buildings.

The following Williston and St. George students, listed alphabetically, were recently honored for academic achievements at the collegiate level.

Riley Boucher was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at the University of Maine at Farmington.

Maegan Bruneau was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Champlain College.

Devyn Cabral was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Castleton University.

Natalie Curtis was named to the President’s List for the spring semester at Castleton University.

Gregory Desiato was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Champlain College.