Koasek Abenaki Tribe

https://koasek.org/
Koasek Traditional Band of the Koas Abenaki Nation
Named afterCowasuck, Abenaki word for "young pine tree", Abenaki people
TypeVermont state-recognized tribe
LocationUnited States
Official language
English
Websitekoasek.org

The Koasek Traditional Band of the Koas Abenaki Nation is a state-recognized tribe in Vermont, who claim descent from Abenaki people. The original tribe name listed on the Vermont Act, Sec. 1. 1 V.S.A. § 855 for state recognition is Koasek Abenaki of the Koas Abenaki Nation. Their current name given on their website is Koasek Traditional Band of the Koas Abenaki Nation. Their current symbol has been updated, see their website.

They are not federally recognized as a Native American tribe. Vermont does not have any federally recognized Native American tribes. The Abenaki First Nations at Odanak and Wôlinak in Québec regard this band as a fraudulent Abenaki organization.

Their website (as of 26 Sep 2026) does not name their chief or leaders. Paul "Gwilawato" Bunnell has been known to be the chief.

This organization should not be confused with the Ko'asek (Co'wasuck) Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nation, an unrecognized organization based in New Hampshire, or the many other groups who use the term Cowasuck.

Name

The term Koasek is an Abenaki language term that translates as "young pine tree." Another version of the word, Cowasuck, was applied to a brook that was a tributary to the Sudbury River in Massachusetts.

State recognition

Vermont recognized the Koasek Abenaki Tribe as in 2012. The other state-recognized tribes in Vermont are the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation, Elnu Abenaki Tribe, and the Mississquoi Abenaki Tribe.

Heritage

The Koasek Abenaki Tribe are one of four state-recognized tribes in Vermont. They had 60 members in 2016.

University of Ottawa professor Darryl Leroux's genealogical and historical research found that the members of this and the other three state-recognized tribes in Vermont were composed primarily of "French descendants who have used long-ago ancestry in New France to shift into an 'Abenaki' identity."

In 2002, the State of Vermont reported that the Abenaki people had migrated north to Quebec by the end of the 18th century.

Activities

They participate in Abenaki Heritage Weekend, held at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in Vergennes, Vermont.

501(c)(3) corporation

The Koasek Traditional Band operates a 501(c)(3) named Koasek of Turtle Island, tex exempt issued April 2019 under category: Arts, Culture and Humanities / Museum, Museum Activities (NTEE). As of 26 Nov 2026, no financials have been filed.

Land Gift

In February 2021 the corporation accepted a gift of just over 11 acres of land on 252 Elm Street in Claremont, New Hampshire, which was accepted by Chief Paul “Gwilawato” Bunnell. The donors were Jeanne Kennedy and Rick Bascom. "Local couple Rick Bascom and Jeanne Kennedy decided to give the land to the tribe after seeing the racial strife play out following George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis last summer, Bunnell said. 'During all the turmoil last year they felt they wanted to give one of their pieces of property to native Americans,' Bunnell said. 'They looked me up, and here we are.'" The land will be used as a tribal center.

Property tax

Vermont H.556, "An act relating to exempting property owned by Vermont-recognized Native American tribes from property tax," passed on April 20, 2022.

Notable members

References

Notes

  1. ↑ "State Recognized Tribes". Vermont Commission on Native America Affairs. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  2. 1 2 Laurent, Joseph (1884). New Familiar Abenakis and English Dialogues. Quebec City, QC: Léger Brousseau. p. 208.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Federal and State Recognized Tribes". National Conference of State Legislatures. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  4. ↑ "Odanak First Nation denounces Vt. state-recognized tribes as 'Pretendian'". Vermont Public. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  5. ↑ Reed, Elodie (11 July 2024). "Abenaki Nations address identity fraud again at UN, call for U.S., Canada to support self-governance". Vermont Public Radio. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  6. ↑ Abenaki Councils of Odanak and Wôlinak and Wabanaki council. "The Abenaki of Today Are the Direct Descendants of the Abenaki of Yesterday". Abenaki Heritage. Retrieved 26 Sep 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ↑ Bunnell, Paul. "Paul Bunnell: Tribal Chief at Koasek Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nation". Linked In. Retrieved 26 Sep 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. 1 2 KoasekAbenaki (20 Feb 2021). "LAND DONATION TO KOASEK OF TURTLE ISLAND, INC: Deed Signing". Sovereign Koasek Wôbanaki Band. Retrieved 26 Sep 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ↑ Temple, Josiah Howerd (1887). History of Framingham, Massachusetts. Framingham, MA: Town of Framingham. p. 7. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  10. 1 2 Darryl Leroux, Distorted Descent, page 246.
  11. ↑ Evancie, Angela (November 4, 2016). "Abenaki Native Americans In Vermont Today?". Brave Little State. Vermont Public News. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  12. ↑ Dillon, John (20 March 2002). "State Says Abenaki Do Not Have "Continuous Presence"". Vermont Public Radio. Archived from the original on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  13. ↑ "2019 Abenaki Heritage Weekend". Crazy Crow. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  14. ↑ "Koasek Of Turtle Island". ProPublica. Retrieved 26 Sep 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ↑ Fisher, Damien (11 Apr 2021). "Abenaki tribe plans tribal center on donated land". New Hampshire Union Leader. Retrieved 26 Sep 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ↑ "H.556". Vermont General Assembly. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  17. ↑ Boyd, Janet. "Famous Abenaki - Snow Riders". www.snow-riders.org. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  18. ↑ Saunders, James (5 Feb 2022). "Billy Kidd: America's legendary alpine skier". Rutland Herald. Retrieved 26 Sep 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

Bibliography