Abenaki

The Abenaki are a Native American and First Nations people of the Northeastern United States and eastern Canada. They belong to the Algonquian language family and historically participated in the Wabanaki Confederacy, a regional alliance that also included Mi’kmaq, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot.

Traditionally, Abenaki territory covered parts of the Champlain Valley and surrounding areas in present-day Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and southern Quebec. The group is commonly divided into Western Abenaki and Eastern Abenaki, with dialect differences between communities. Today, Abenaki communities are located in both the United States and Canada, and multiple groups maintain distinct identities and cultural practices.

Language is a central aspect of Abenaki heritage. The Abenaki languages are part of the broader Algonquian family and include several dialects within Western and Eastern branches. Like many Indigenous languages, Abenaki varieties are endangered, but there are ongoing revival and documentation efforts, including language programs, community classes, and educational initiatives.

Historically, contact with French and English colonists during the 16th to 19th centuries brought significant social, economic, and political changes. The fur trade, missionary activity, and shifting alliances affected population movements and governance. In modern times, Abenaki communities continue to preserve traditional crafts, ceremonies, storytelling, and land and cultural rights, while engaging with state and federal systems in the United States and Canada.