Ray Lussier Wabanaki Family History Center and Reading Room
Located at Feather's Discount, 4 Main Street, Orleans, VT. Hours are 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday thru Friday, Saturday 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon. Donations accepted.
In the spring of 2006, Chief Looking Glass again honored the Clan of the Hawk with another incredible gifting loan. He sent all of the books in his Native American research library to be cared for in a new library at the clan.
This wonderful collection includes 8 volumes of the Dictionnaire Genealogiques Des Familles Canadiennes, Purreville-Odanak, Napierville, Comte’ de Missiquoi, Richelieu, Drumonville, and many, many more. The birth and marriage records from many reservations in Canada, going back into the 1600’s are in this research collection of over 85 volumes.
In a council resolution at SNEIC, Lussier said, “ Whereas, The Clan of the Hawk of Evansville Vermont under direction of my blood brother Chief Ralph Swett has distinguished itself by carrying on many Abenaki traditions, visiting schools and teaching the younger generation, hosting Pow Wows, Gatherings etc., making available a Museum of Abenaki as well as other tribal histories and involving itself in Community outreach programs. Be it hereby Resolved: In the name of Abenaki Unity, I Hereby entrust to The Clan of the Hawk my Books, Repertoires and other pertinent Documents for the introduction of the Wabanaki Family Resource Library and Reading Room in Evansville Vermont.”
Mr. Jerome Kelly gave us, for the Clan Reference Library, over 100 beautiful books on Native Americans, their history, culture and crafts.
These two gifts are a priceless addition to the collections of the Clan and represent an amazing link to our past.
These genealogical records are fragile and will have to be handled with special care. Archival museum rules will be in effect.
This library is an invaluable resource for those wishing to trace their lineage back to Native American ancestors.
82 of the 84 books have been scanned and are on disk. These CD's will be available for use in our library. The CD's will make research easier and protect the original records from over handling.
As more funds become available the books will be re-copied and placed in protective archival sheets to help their integrity.