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Aln8bak News
The Aln8bak News is a newsletter representative of the Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook Abenaki People. It has been in publication since 1993, and operates on a quarterly schedule of distribution. The newsletter is printed in Alton, NH, and all issues since 2003 are archived on the Cowasuck Band of Pennacook Abenaki People website.

Layout
The cover page contains a green tree insignia as its background. The newsletter begins with the Abenaki translations of the three months of the given quarterly issue. This section is followed by four seasonal words or phrases pertaining to the season of the given issue. In this section there is also an image, generally of wildlife, relating to the seasons.

Each Newsletter begins with a small section detailing the headline articles of the issue, which segway into the latest news on “Tribal Actions and Government, COWASS North America, The Abenaki Nation of Vermont”. This section includes sub sections that elaborate on the overarching topic.


 * Band Grand Council Actions

For example, in Volume 2010/Issue 2, page 1, the article under this sub section discusses a “Citizen Agreement,” which was a consensus that they request an annual citizenship fee of at least $25 per household to allow basic Band operations to continue, including the Aln8bak Newsletter. This sub category also expresses the need for more citizen involvement in the Band, as well as the need for people to become leaders in the Band. It seems that in recent history, the Band has run into many difficulties creating a foundation to gain rights and recognition, revealing the need for more awareness and more of a following of and interest in the newsletter.[2]
 * Meetings – Bodawazin


 * Citizenship & Geneology Committee


 * West Cost Council Report


 * Aln8bak News

An example from Volume 2010/Issue 2, page 4 under this sub category states that the price of printing and mailing the newsletter is over $20 per year. [2]
 * Contributions


 * Band Headquarters Progress Report


 * Ik8ldimek Program – Prison Outreach

This sub category on page 3 of Volume 2010/Issue 4, the newest issue available on the web, gives the PO Box where inmate correspondence should be sent to, allowing inmates to connect with those who have the luxury of remaining free on the outside. [3]
 * Federal Report


 * Treasurer’s Report

An example of this from this sub category in Volume 93/Issue 1 states, “Except for a few donations, the Coos Council is not being funded. Up to present, the Band expenses were shared by the retired Chief, Council Chief, Tribal Genealogist, and Tribal Judge. On average the combined expenses per month were estimated as follows:” and continues to say that Tribal calls between VT & MA cost $500, postage costs $150, travel costs $100, legal documents cost $100, and stationary (paper, envelopes, etc.), copies, membership, and computer costs are all $50 each. [1] Following the federal report The Aln8bak Newsletter covers a variety of community news and events basket making activities, educational programs, to current Minority Public Health Activities. This section is detailed with pictures from these activities held. From this section the reader is brought to the section discussing current Indian Politics in Action. Following this is a section seen multiple times between sections titled “Native Words By: Ed Where Eagles Fly”, which is an inspiring quote involved with Abenaki heritage or ideals. In the proceeding section there is a page devoted to a specific plaint, fruit, or tree used by Abenaki for medicine. The section is appropriately titled “Medicine Bag – Nebizon Mnoda”. The reader is given the Abenaki translation, for example “Blueberries – Zatal”. The article pertains historical information, specifications and facts, and its use as medicine in Abenaki Culture.

The Newsletter also contains light hearted content such as a crossword puzzle in the native Abenaki language, recipes for cultural foods, a word-search containing Abenaki words with their given translation, and a section devoted to a specific bird. Each issue has a new bird and is the image that is displayed on the back of each issue.

The closing of the newsletter is titled “Speaker Speaks” written by tribal chief Paul Pouliot. In this section Paul discusses what is currently going on in his life, tribal concerns, and a basic run down of what he has been involved with doing since the previous issue.

On the last page of each issue is a schedule of upcoming Cowasuck Band Activities and a cut out section informing the readers how to send in donations. In an interesting segment of page 14 of Volume 2010/Issue 2, Paul calls out for the younger generation of Pennacook / Abenaki people to become more involved in the Band. “As the Band leadership gets older and older there are few younger people willing to become out future leaders.” It seems that this trend in young individuals extends from culture to culture. “If this trend continues we as a Band and People will be no more.” [2]