Bringing Abenaki Knowledge to the Classroom

Fall 2025 Newsletter

This fall, South Hero Land Trust and partners released the Abenaki Foodways Project, a resource for educators about Abenaki agriculture, food, and land stewardship. The W8banaki (Abenaki) Nation, whose traditional territory (Ndakina) includes the Islands and most of Vermont, were a close partner through the development of the project.

SHLT also worked with various teachers, historians, librarians, and other Indigenous partners over the past year to develop and refine the content. The project includes a guide for educators, as well as K-12 lesson plans on subjects such as the 3 Sisters, sagamite soup, and basketmaking, all tied to Vermont teaching standards.

Our inspiration for this project came from the Wabanaki Studies Program, a comprehensive education program for Maine teachers co-created with the Wabanaki Nations. We also received advice from Brianne Lolar, Panawahpskek Citizen, who has been the driving force behind the program.

SHLT worked with the Champlain-Adirondack Biosphere Network to get support and grant funding for this project via the United States Biosphere Network and the UNESCO/Henkel Foundation.

Our project team plans to continue to update the guide over the coming months, including creating new video content and a speaker series. South Hero Land Trust is also incorporating these lessons into our youth and adult education programs going forward, and will be assisting with teacher-training opportunities.

Teachers can download and view materials at abenakifoodways.com Teachers can also sign up for the email list to learn about upcoming events and new content, as well as free kits with books, gardening supplies, and other resources to assist with carrying out the lesson plans from the guide in their school.

Guy Maguire, in center, leading a planting class at Folsom School