Woven Through the Sweetgrass: Memories of a New England Abenaki Family

This book was something I always look for on Amazon and from the Abenakis themselves. ACTUAL voices of and from the Abenakis, objectively and legitimately. Legitimate descendants of Odanak Abenakis whose ancestors have always been in HERE in the Northeast, in Vermont and New Hampshire. Having associated with, and been studying the Abenaki language retrospectively myself, the dynamics here in VT/NH etc for years now, I KNOW when I am looking at a book with such excellent merit and content as to their own history, their language, their culture, their dances, and their ceremonies etc. THEIR SURVIVAL... well, this book is indeed a MUST HAVE for any Northeastern Library or museum etc (and anywhere else for that matter!). The book is an absolute joy to read and I will probably read it many times in the months and years yet again, its that good. I can't say enough about this book. I live for books like this, By Abenakis From Abenakis, About Abenakis. It's definitely a MUST HAVE for School Libraries throughout Vermont and New Hampshire IMHO! We NEED to see MORE of this sort of literary works in the Northeast. From the first page to the last I was like a kid waiting to turn the next page!The one upper photograph on Pg. 118 (that is of Fred Watso) was when he and other Abenakis from and of Odanak or NY were in Highgate, VT, at the Airport.Oh and my local library here in Lancaster, Coos County, New Hampshire, the minute I mentioned ordering this book, Librarian (Barbara) went online and bought one for the Library right away, because I mentioned it to her the day I had ordered it myself. You should too.

This is a wonderful collection of stories, images, and historical information that not only describes a prominent Abenaki family living in Keene, NH but shows how Abenaki identity and the long-distance ties connecting native communities across the northeast, which date back thousands of years, continued into the 20th century. Unlike many Indian families who survived by hiding who they were, the Sadoques family openly embraced their Native identity, using traditions like basket making to not only maintain that identity but to help them survive and flourish in a community where occasional acts of racist cruelty were part of life. This book, based on the writings of Claudia Chicklas and lovingly assembled and edited by her daughters, is an essential work for anyone hoping to understand the survival of the Abenaki people in northern new England, and the history of this region and its original inhabitants.