User:Ksherin/Sandpit

Introduction
The Ko’asek (Co’wasuck) Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nation traces the origin of its tribe back over 180 years, originating in what is now called Vermont and New Hampshire. It is a member of the Abenaki and Wabenaki confederation.

The Ko'asek (Co'wasuck) Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nation is a historic and cultural organization with 554 members that owns 26.37 acres in Claremont, New Hampshire used for cultural and agricultural purposes. The Ko’asek band ‘Sagmo’ or chief is an international expert on French and Native marriages who assures proof of indigenous lineage. . The organization is not recognized by the state or federal governments and New Hampshire has no mechanism for state recognition.

History
The name Koasek has evolved through many unions with other clans and tribes, such as the Nolka, Cowasuck of the Coos, Cowasuck of North America, Cowasuck, and Koasek Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nation. These unions have resulted in adding the word “Nation” to our name due to the coming together of so many proud Native People over time. Our well documented history exceeds 180 years and includes 15 recorded chiefs, beginning in 1832, to the present.

The Co'wasuck, (Ko’asek), are an Abenaki people known as the People of the Pines”. Historically, they lived along the Kwenitekw (Connecticut River/Long River) and its tributaries, along what is known today as the central border lands of Vermont and New Hampshire. They are spoken about in Colonial documents dating as far back as the 1600s. Northeast Woodland Tribal presence of this region existed long before European settlement, as evidenced by a nearly 13,000 year old indigenous village found in Keene, NH demonstrating that Paleo ancestors of the Cowasuck, were present in the region from around the end of the last ice age.

Geographic locale
Location. The tribe summered along the Connecticut River at the “Coos” and as far south as Northfield, Massachusetts. Hunting took the tribe as far north as Quebec. Koaseck are also known as people of the white pines. The tribal mailing address is in Alstead, New Hampshire. Tribal lands are located in Claremont NH.

Historically, as is true today, there are a number of bands of the Abenaki People who identify as People of the Pines with some form of the Abenaki word for Co’wasuck or Ko’asek being incorporated into their tribal name. Each band has their own homebase area and enrolled set of members. Each band also has its own Chief and unique set of cultural values, tribal activities, criteria for tribal enrollment, and tribal flag. A listing of many of these groups can be found on the Native Affairs NH website.

Membership
Today the tribe claims 554 enrolled members with representation mostly in New England but including 41 US states and 4 Canadian Provinces. Genealogy and native blood line is required for enrollment.

Tribal Government
The Ko’asek (Co’wasuck) Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nation, is a tribal band of the Abenaki nation with a home office in Alstead, NH. They are currently led by Chief (‘sôgmô’) Paul Bunnell who has held that position continuously since 2011. Chief Paul (‘Gwiliwato’), Abenaki for ‘one who searches for something’ is an internationally recognized and published genealogist who requires native lineage proof

Culture, agriculture and recent tribal land
In 2021, The Ko'asek (Co'wasuck)Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nation, a group claiming descent of the original indigenous population in the region, acquired and was gifted several parcels of local land for use in cultural ceremonies, nature preserves and education along with growing herbs and plants. In 2024 the group claims 554 members and now owns 26.37 acres in Claremont.

They hold annual pow wows, snow snake games, solstice and equinox observances. The band is also active in community engagement and education, cultural research, preservation and language study workshops to help expand tribal and community use of Western Abenaki. In recent years they have been gifted a number of parcels of land in Claremont, NH where plans are underway to build a Community Education Heritage Center on one of them and indigenous farming or traditional seeds and foods on another one. Efforts are being made to protect and preserve as much of the land as possible to allow it to return to its natural state.

The Abenaki Nation and the two major tribal bands in NH have been acknowledged by various NH Governors in Indigenous Proclamations. The Koasek was specifically acknowledged by Governor Lynch in his 2007 Proclamation, and Governor Sununu, in his 2023 Proclamation for Native American Week and is listed with the state of New Hampshire as one of the groups with historical and cultural interests in Native American affairs. While the State of NH does not currently have a recognition process for Native American tribes, their Commission on Native American Affairs is currently assisting to help draft legislation that could lead to a state recognition process in the near future. The Ko’asek (Co’wasuck) Traditional Band of the Sovereign Abenaki Nation is an active participant in that process, as are other long standing native groups from around the state.

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