Brattleboro Historical Society‎Words Project Roundtable: The Abenaki and Early European Contact

This month, Leadership Team members ​Rich Holschuh​ (​Vermont Commission for Native American Affairs​) and ​Joe Rivers (Brattleboro Historical Society) will give a ​presentation and lead a discussion​ ​exploring indigenous Abenaki​ sites, experience, and use of their 12,000 year-old ​Algonquian dialect ​in the context of first contact with Europeans in the Brattleboro area, which they call ​Wantastegok. Roundtable participants are invited to share their knowledge of ​Wantastegok​, Abenaki history, and Algonquian language and enjoy native-inspired refreshments​ during this​ f​ree program​.

students participate in the research, writing, recording and posting of local history. Joe received his undergraduate degree from St. Michael’s College and his graduate degree from Castleton State College.

Rich Holschuh is a Windham County resident (Wantastegok/Brattleboro, VT) of Mi’kmaq and European heritage and an indigenous cultural researcher. He serves on the Vermont Commission for Native American Affairs and as a public liaison for the Elnu Abenaki Tribe, representing with governmental agencies of oversight such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the Vermont State Department of Historic Preservation (DHP). He also interfaces with other tribal groups, corporate entities, other local and state agencies, civic groups, and public and private educational institutions, providing outreach and building connections.