The Abenaki Indians Their Treaties of 1713 & 1717, and a Vocabulary

This volume offers a clear‑sighted exploration of the peoples who first inhabited New England’s northern frontier. Drawing on early treaties, vocabularies and the observations of 17th‑century explorers, it strives to set aside the prejudices that have long clouded the record. The author invites listeners to see the Abenaki and their neighboring tribes through a lens of fairness and candor, revealing the motives behind colonial encounters.

The narrative surveys the eight distinct groups that once roamed what is now Maine and New Hampshire, from the Penobscot’s riverine stronghold to the Passamaquoddy’s coastal settlements. It weaves together archaeological clues, oral traditions, and the earliest written descriptions to sketch their social structures, seasonal movements, and enduring cultural practices. Listeners will gain a grounded sense of how these communities adapted to a changing world while maintaining the language and customs that define them today.