The Native American tribe descended from the Native American tribe that originally owned the Vermont land on which Ben & Jerry’s headquarters is located wants the land back, according to the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream headquarters chief, after the company declared the lands “stolen” as well as the return – He writes Newsweek.
Don Stevens, chief of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation, one of Vermont’s four recognized Abenaki tribes, told Newsweek that they “have always been interested in regaining control of their land,” but the company hasn’t looked into it yet. .
It comes after the ice cream company was asked when it would relinquish its headquarters in Burlington, Vermont — which is located in a part of the American territory that was under the pre-colonial rule of the Abenaki people.
“The United States was founded on land stolen from the Native Americans.”
– the company wrote in its announcement before Independence Day. “This year we are committed to giving them back.”
The statement added that the goal of the Land Back movement was to “ensure that indigenous peoples can regain control of the land their communities have called home for thousands of years,” but the company’s statement mostly referred to land acquisitions from South Dakota. Lakota tribes.
Recognition of historic tribal lands is a divisive issue that raises the claims of Native Americans—whose ancestors experienced persecution and violent displacement—against the status quo of a modern nation with uniform borders.
While some argue that the colonized ancestral lands should be at least partially returned, others say that it is impossible to say which of the various groups throughout history should be returned to the land.
The maps show that the Abenaki, a confederation of several tribes united against a rival tribal confederation, controlled an area that stretched from the northern border of Massachusetts in the south, to New Brunswick, Canada, in the north, and from St. Lawrence. River to the east coast in the west.
This places Ben & Jerry’s headquarters, located in a business district in South Burlington, on the west side of this historic district.
“We have always fought to regain control of our lands and provide opportunities for the advancement of our communities”
Stevens said when asked if the Nolhagan Abenaki wanted to turn the property over to the Native Americans.
Although the chief said the tribe had “never been approached by Ben & Jerry about any options for reclaiming the lands,” he added:
“If and when we are contacted, it will take a lot of discussion to determine the best path forward for all involved.”
Ben & Jerry’s has not publicly responded to calls to return the land on which it is headquartered.
A spokesperson for the Abenaki, who currently lives near Montreal, Canada, told Newsweek that their tribal council will release a statement on the matter after they meet this week.
Newsweek also reached out to the Abenaki Nation of Missiquoi and Elnu Abenaki, both recognized in Vermont, via email Thursday for comment. The other state recognized tribe, the traditional Koasek band of the Koas Abenaki nation, has yet to be contacted.
According to historical records, the Abenaki began trading with European settlers in the 16th century, but their population was decimated by diseases introduced from the ancient world. The Confederation allied itself with French colonists against English settlers in increasing territorial disputes, before many fled to what is now Canada after a series of defeats at the hands of the English.
In addition to the above, Ben & Jerry’s case is also an ironic one because the ice cream company sparked a huge outcry last year when it wanted to stop distributing its products in the “disputed Israeli territories”, i.e. Judea and Samaria.
