In northern Vermont, a Missisquoi River Basin Association (MRBA) project shares the history and relationship between the Missisquoi River and Abenaki culture through two new educational films. “Exploring Our Cultural Waters” is a collaborative project between the MRBA and Peregrine Productions and was funded by a Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership special programs grant.
The project features vignettes of local Abenaki community members, historians, and archeologists. The “Waters of Our Homeland” video includes interviews with citizens of the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi and the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation. They discuss their relationship with the river, including using it for fishing, travel, clay and flint, and share their perspective on its future.
The second documentary, “Traveling Through Time on the Missisquoi Delta,” showcases Vermont State Archeologist Jess Robinson, discussing the geological and archaeological history of the Missisquoi River delta. He walks viewers through three time periods, detailing the formation of Lake Champlain as it is known today, as well as the archeological findings of these times such as spearheads, pottery, and agriculture.
The videos are accessible on Vimeo and the MRBA’s website.