Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
House committee hears sponsors introduce resolution reaffirming state recognition of Vermont Abenaki
Summary
Sponsors introduced JRH 4, a joint resolution that would reaffirm the Vermont General Assembly’s support for legislatively recognized Native American tribes and bands in the state. Sponsors and legislative counsel said the resolution is symbolic, does not change statutory recognition, and remains on the committee "wall" with no hearing scheduled.
Members of the Vermont House Committee on General & Housing on Tuesday heard sponsors introduce JRH 4, a joint resolution reaffirming the General Assembly’s support for the legislatively recognized Native American tribes and bands of Vermont.
Representative Merwicki, Representative Carolyn Brannigan and Representative Kate Logan introduced the resolution and Michael Chernick, legislative counsel, summarized its text and procedural effect before the committee.
The sponsors told the committee the resolution is intended to reassure Vermont’s Abenaki communities after criticism and debate about recognition in the past year. “I felt it was an absurd exercise for First Peoples to have to come to the colonialists who came after the fact and ask for us to recognize them,” Representative Merwicki said, describing why he supported the earlier recognition process and why he backed the reaffirmation. Representative Brannigan said the resolution would not…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
