Purpose and Goals

The Spirit of Our Purpose and Goals
We the members of the Clan of the Hawk, Inc. in Evansville, Vermont feel it is about time to speak out. We are a large and viable group of Native people of Abenaki descent.

There are other groups and individuals of Native American descent in Vermont that are working just as hard to promote their Native Heritage, so isn't it about time that everyone started to pull together and act with dignity to promote the Native American and Abenaki Heritage? If we did, it would go a long way to making us proud citizens again. Lets all march together for all Native Americans in Vermont.

In the last eighteen years we think some of our goals have been met, but we still have a long way to go.

Our track record is open to all who want to see it.
We invite anyone who, therefore, who wants to see us to-CHECK US OUT!

We love visitors. We love new members and old. We really appreciate those who help, either as volunteers or as donors.

There is no secret in what we are striving for: It is to make a better life for all Native Americans in Vermont and by doing so give us all the courage to stand up and say, "We are proud to be of Native American, Abenaki descent."

We are going to keep working, hopefully closer together in the future, to achieve our goals of being good citizens of Vermont and being true to the Native Heritage which we are so proud of.

"We welcome all Native Americans to come and discuss the issues and your cares. It seems that we should and could be, working together for a common goal, to help our fellow brothers and sisters in the Native Community. This is what we are all working for. Let Great Spirit enter your heart, open up your arms to your Brothers and Sister,” says Chief Lone Cloud.

Legal Statement of Purpose and Goals
The Clan of the Hawk, Inc. is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes.

The stated purposes and objectives for which this organization has been organized are:

1. To provide free educational programs to local schools (with attention to aligning with Vermont's Framework of Standards* and Federal Grade Level Expectations* see note below) and other private and public organizations—the subject matter of these program to include, but not be wholly limited to:
a. The earliest settlement of the North American continent; the social structures –cultural, religious, political, familial, language, and monetary—of all of these early inhabitants;
b. Specifically, the cultural and societal aspects of the Abenaki Tribe and its impact on the State of Vermont, and its connections to Canada;
c. The various skills and crafts practiced by the Abenaki peoples such as drumming, weaving, basket making, and beading;
d. The special social and spiritual practices of these peoples such as talking circles, sweat lodge use and celebratory ceremonies.

2. To provide free, hands-on workshops dealing with the topics listed above, affording a closer level of understanding of the Native cultures. These would include, (but not be limited to):
a. Writing workshops about the movement of early inhabitants, incorporating both Abenaki language and art;
b. Drumming workshops with original Abenaki music and hand made drums;
c. Beading and/or leather bag making using original materials;
d. Weaving such items as dream catchers or baskets.

3. To share examples of these cultural and societal traits by providing free public exhibitions of weaving, drumming, ceremonial pageants and crafts making.

4. To provide the teaching of native culture and ethics with Native and Non-native inmates of local correctional systems, in the hope that this will help them find a firmer basis for their life structure, by recognizing and honoring the ways of these ancient ones.

5. To promote the free exchange, discussion and dissemination of information regarding the history and genealogies of local Native Americans.

6. To preserve the specific history and genealogy of the Abenakis.

7. To provide in its periodical(s) a forum for the announcement of upcoming and/or report of worthy activities and projects of persons, groups, or organizations that further the goals outlined above.

8. To cooperate with other organizations of like interest.

* Links to Vermont's Framework of Standards and the Grade Level Expectations can be found on the Vermont Department of Education website at http://education.vermont.gov/new/html/pubs/framework.html (Please remember to use your 'back arrow' to return to this page!!)

Further - since the additions to our museum and library, it is our goal to develop these, make them available to the public, and staff them with knowledgable caretakers, in the interest of protecting our Cultural Heritage, and encouraging both Native Americans and non-natives alike to study and understand the ways of the First Peoples.

WELCOME...

All are welcome at the Clan of The Hawk, Inc.!