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Rep. Crow Edrick introduces bill for outside review of state tribal recognition and TRC
Summary
State Representative Crow Edrick introduced H.362 to create independent oversight and a third‑party audit of past state tribal recognition processes and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, aiming to include the Odanak and Wôlinak and address harms Edrick says the state caused during earlier recognition efforts.
State Representative Crow Edrick of Burlington introduced House Bill H.362 on April 9, proposing independent oversight and a third‑party audit of the state’s tribal recognition process and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
Edrick said the bill is intended to “create an independent oversight for transparent review of past recognition processes,” and to add the voices of the original keepers of the land, which he identified as the Odanak and Wôlinak. He described the history of removal and displacement following colonization and said the earlier recognition process (circa 2011–2012) excluded those communities and produced state‑caused harms.
The bill would, according to Edrick’s presentation, establish clear conflict‑of‑interest boundaries between the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs (VCNAA) and the TRC and require a third‑party audit to improve accountability and transparency. Edrick emphasized that the bill “does not immediately rescind any state recognition” and is not intended to attack individual identity claims; rather, he framed it as a step toward more inclusive and transparent reconciliation processes.
Committee members thanked Edrick and offered no vote or other formal action during the introduction. The committee did not adopt policy or take a vote on H.362 at the April 9 introduction; the bill was presented for committee consideration and questions.
Why it matters: Edrick said the proposed changes are intended to repair harms he says the state caused by excluding Odanak and Wôlinak voices in earlier recognition work and to prevent recognized groups from serving as the sole gatekeepers in future recognition decisions.
Next steps: The bill was introduced to the committee for consideration and is expected to proceed to hearings and follow‑up questions. No appropriation, motion, or vote was recorded at the April 9 introduction.
