The Right to Examine the Evidence Without Fear
The incident at Rock Point has now received press attention. I have released a video statement providing my account of what occurred on my InstaGram page.
An individual who arrived at the private, invitation-only gathering was arrested and charged with simple assault following a physical confrontation with me. That criminal case remains pending, and the court will determine criminal liability.
The larger public issue must also be addressed.
The gathering at Rock Point was part of an ongoing effort to provide legislators and community members with an opportunity to hear directly from representatives of the Abenaki First Nation at Odanak, historians, policymakers, and local allies. We intended to examine the historical and genealogical evidence underlying Vermont’s 2011 and 2012 state-recognition decisions and consider future legislative action.
I remain committed to bringing this conversation to my legislative colleagues.
A full evidence-based policy review is legitimate and necessary legislative work. It should examine the evidence Vermont relied upon, the evidence it disregarded, the people invited to participate, and the sovereign First Nations excluded from the process.
That review must recognize and respect the sovereign rights of the Abenaki First Nations at Odanak and Wôlinak. Indigenous nations have the right to determine their own citizenship, represent themselves, and participate meaningfully when governments make decisions affecting their identity, history, people, and homeland.
The Abenaki Council of Odanak issued a press release following the Rock Point incident condemning the use of violence and supporting those working to bring this evidence forward. Their statement should remain central to the public discussion.
Vermont Allies to the Abenaki First Nation at Odanak have also issued an open letter asking the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs to publicly condemn physical violence, threats, intimidation, and deliberate disruption. The letter asks the Commission to affirm that individuals and organizations have the right to gather peacefully, including in private and invitation-only settings, to examine evidence and consider public policy.
Odanak Open Letter to the VCNAA
People will disagree about Vermont’s recognition decisions. Those disagreements make a serious examination of the evidence more important. Everyone must be able to access information, hear from the sovereign Abenaki First Nations, ask difficult questions, and participate in public-policy discussions without fear of threats, intimidation, or violence.
That is the standard I will continue to defend.