NEWPORT CITY -- The current effort in Vermont to recognize some who claim Abenaki heritage is a fraud, says a Newport City man who is a member of an Abenaki tribe that has a reservation in Quebec.

Richard "Skip" Bernier, a member of the Odanak tribe, challenged bills by Sen. Vincent Illuzzi, R-Essex-Orleans, and other legislators that would give state recognition to two groups claiming Abenaki heritage.

The Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs asked the Legislature in early January to recognize the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation based in Brownington and the Elnu Abenaki based in Newbury. Other groups, including the Missisquoi tribe in Swanton, are expected to seek recognition as well.

Now there are bills in the Legislature, including two in the Senate by Illuzzi and other senators, to recognize these tribes.

The move for state recognition has prompted a slew of complaints in letters to the editor and in phone calls to lawmakers by some who don't believe these tribes should be recognized or who question their genealogical research.

Rep. Bob Lewis, R-Derby, said Monday he heard those complaints during the weekend. He said he is questioning whether all the claims of heritage are legitimate.

Bernier, speaking at a legislative breakfast in Newport City, said the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs rejected the Missisquoi/Sokoki tribe for federal recognition, and he asked how the Vermont Legislature could have the wisdom to know which tribes deserve recognition and which do not.

"I represent all the real American Indians who live in Vermont," Bernier said. "This is a slap in the face and demeans the sovereignty of the true Indian tribes by awarding recognition to non-Indians."

Other tribes are not being considered for recognition by the commission, he said.

Bernier said he wanted to make this argument to Illuzzi, who is a strong supporter of the commission and its mission to bring Vermont tribes forward for recognition.

The Legislature set up the current commission to evaluate claims of Abenaki tribe heritage, setting criteria under which state recognition could be granted. Gov. James Douglas appointed the commission members.

Illuzzi said the commission named scholars of Native American tribes who researched claims to find native descendants.

"They should be recognized," Illuzzi said in a statement Monday afternoon. He was not at the legislative breakfast.

He said it has taken 17 years of work to recognize those in Vermont with Abenaki heritage. Some are now trying to prevent that recognition, he said.

There's a difference, Illuzzi said, between those who say, such as Bernier, that they are 100 percent Abenaki and those who have Abenaki heritage.

Bernier said the state would be rash to recognize tribes now.

"This will come back to haunt the state in the near future," he said. "It is merely racist and an attempt to prevent the true Indian tribes from becoming recognized.

"This is a smoke screen and an attempt to just muddy the waters," Bernier said, reading a statement at the legislative event. "It is not honest, responsible or fair to be doing the recognition of non-Indians. This is fraud."

Hearings about House bills to recognize the Nulhegan and Elnu bands are scheduled Wednesday before the House Committee on General, Housing and Military Affairs. Scheduled to speak are members of the commission, leaders of the two bands named in the bills, and two experts who studied their claims of heritage.

Bernier said he and other critics have no time to speak at Wednesday's hearings.

Sen. Illuzzi, chairman of the Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs, said his committee will hear testimony in two weeks about S.10 and S.11, the Senate bills to recognize the tribes.

He said there will be many hearings about the bills, giving any critics lots of opportunity to comment.

Lewis, a former game warden, said he has been involved in Native American issues for years. He said he has been hearing complaints from constituents about the recognition bills and the process.

Lewis said he has heard some evidence may have been falsified that is part of a claim of Abenaki heritage.

"I don't know how we'll address this," he said. "If they are Native American, great. Let's make sure they are."

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