(Host) The House has voted to extend state recognition to the Abenaki people.
Representative Francis Brooks says the bill is not intended to have any effect on the tribe’s attempt to win federal recognition.
But he says the legislation is official acknowledgement that the Abenaki were the first Vermonters.
(Brooks) “And so today, we take a group of people who have lived her for years, no, for centuries. And this organization called the state of Vermont will hopefully recognize them.”
(Host) The bill has already passed the Senate. It’s up for final approval in the House tomorrow.