Indigenous Peoples of Vermont

Learn about the tribes and bands, state recognized tribes, history, and records for the Indians of Vermont.

The most prominent early Indian tribes in Vermont were the Abénaki and Mahican. The western Abénaki Indians were composed of subdivisions including Sokoki, Missisquoi, and Cowasuck. Most of the Indian tribes have disappeared from Vermont through warfare, disease, or migration.

Tribes and Bands of Vermont
The following list of American Indians who have lived in Vermont has been compiled from Hodge's Handbook of American Indians... and from Swanton's The Indian Tribes of North America. Some may simply be variant spellings for the same tribe.


 * Abenaki
 * Mahican
 * Missiassik
 * Pennacook
 * Pocomtuc

World Cat has the book, "The original Vermonters : native inhabitants, past and present."

Vermont State Recognized Tribes

 * Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation
 * Elnu Abenaki Tribe (See Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe of northeast Vermont.)
 * Koasek Abenaki Tribe
 * Mississquoi Abenaki Tribe

History
For the history of American Indians in Vermont, see:


 * Calloway, Colin G. The Western Abenakis of Vermont, 1600–1800. The Civilization of the American Indian Series, v.197. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1990. This contains a chronology of the tribe and a good bibliography of sources.
 * Haviland, William A. The Original Vermonters. Hanover, New Hampshire: Published for University of Vermont by University Press of New England, 1981.  This history includes information on the Abénaki and Mahican tribes in Vermont, an index, and a bibliography.
 * Vermont Indians FHL book 970.1 D228v
 * Government and Religion of the Virginia Indians. By Samuel Rivers Hendren. FHL| 497312|FHL book 970.1 H384g and FHL film 1550318 item 1 WorldCat

Repositories
The New England Historic Genealogical Society has resources on New England Native peoples.

Vermont Historical Society Library - You can find articles about Vermont Indians in the VHS publications Proceedings of the Vermont Historical Society (1860–1943), Vermont Quarterly (1944–1953), and Vermont History (1954–present). These periodicals and the Periodical Source Index (PERSI), which could be used to find articles on Indians, are discussed in Vermont Periodicals.

Records
The majority of records of individuals were those created by the agencies. Some records may be available to tribal members through the tribal headquarters.They were (and are) the local office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and were charged with maintaining records of the activities of those under their responsibility. Among these records are:


 * Allotment records
 * Annuity rolls
 * Census records
 * Correspondence
 * Health records
 * Reports
 * School census and records
 * Vital records

For Further Reading
See also American Indian For Further Reading.


 * FamilySearch Catalog Places search for
 * Vermont Military Records for a list of forts
 * Vermont History
 * Vermont Indian Tribes - (AccessGenealogy)
 * Ne-Do-Ba - Historical Genealogical assistance with topics relating to the Wabanaki People. Learn more.