10/30/2026
This month, we hosted Telstar Middle School students and THS Field History students at the Mountain Center to participate in educational and cultural workshops led by experts from the Abenaki First Nation of Odanak.
We are incredibly grateful to Jacques Watso, Martin Gill, and Conor Hawk Cubit for sharing their knowledge, skills, and culture with these students through engaging, hands-on learning experiences! Students explored traditional Abenaki foodways with Jacques and Martin by making bannique bread and enjoying a delicious bean and corn stew featuring moose and deer meat generously donated by local hunters.
During a forest detective workshop led by Conor, students connected ecological learning with the Abenaki language, practiced identifying trees and plants, and looked for signs of local wildlife on our trail systems. Students also had the opportunity to examine traditional baskets, beadwork, and instruments, and they also shared their own artwork created as gifts for our guest teachers.
The workshops ended on a joyful note as our guests led students in a singing and dancing session. Together, students and guests danced in the rain to traditional Abenaki music - a memorable celebration of learning, connection, and community!
The food created in the cooking workshop also helped to feed our community at Tuesday evening’s Neighbors Feeding Neighbors community supper in Bethel, where Jacques, Martin, and Conor shared an Abenaki welcome song to open the meal.
Kchi Wliwni to Jacques, Martin, and Conor for your generosity, passion, and patience - and for creating such meaningful opportunities for these students and our community to learn, connect, and grow. We are so grateful for this collaborative learning experience on traditional Abenaki territory!
