
Indigenous Peoples’ Day Rocks!
Saturday, October 10, 2020 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. – Rescheduled for Sunday, October 11, 2020
(Rain Date Sunday, October 11, 2020)
Town of Stowe Mayo Farm Fields, Weeks Hill Rd.
In partnership with the Barr Law Group and John Fusco, Stowe Vibrancy celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Our first celebration features Native American recording artist and Grammy winner Joanne Shenandoah. The event includes a blessing by Chief of the Abenaki Nation, Abenaki drummers, Native American singers, authors and storytellers, and musical performances by Dave Keller, John Fusco and friends. Click here for more event details.
For social distancing compliance the event accommodates circular seating groups of up to eight. Reservations are required. Tickets must be purchased in quantities of 8 in order to sit with your friends or family. Individual or small parties of guests will be paired in circles in accordance with State of Vermont social distance mandates. Circles are spaced 10’ apart. Individuals or smaller groups will not be combined with more than one other group of attendees. Click here to purchase tickets.
A HUGE thank you to our sponsors and partners, the generous contributions of our 2020 donors, the incomparable Joanne Shenandoah, members of the Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe, musicians and performers, and you the attendees of this event.
Fire Keepers (Gifts of $1000+)
Allies (Gifts of $500 – $1000)
Friends (Gifts up to $500)

Jesse Bowman Bruchac, is a Nulhegan Abenaki citizen, traditional storyteller, musician, and Abenaki language instructor. As one of the last fluent speakers of Western Abenaki, he works vigorously to revitalize the language and culture. His efforts have led to the creation of a Western Abenaki website, Youtube channel, Facebook group, and a number of bilingual publications.
As a musician he has produced several albums of Abenaki music, including traditional drum, rattle and flute. He has opened for The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, and performed at Woodstock ’94. He won the Best Storyteller Competition at Indian Summer in Milwaukee in 1995. Jesse has also acted as consultant, translator, composer, and language coach for programs on AMC, National Geographic, and PBS.
Jesse began learning stories, songs, and language as a child from elders and his father Joseph. He has traveled throughout the United States visiting schools and universities to share Northeastern Native American traditional stories, music, language, history and culture for over two decades. He continues to learn and teach the language, including at the University of Southern Maine.
Bryan Blanchette, a Nulhegan Abenaki artist, brings 10,000 year old traditions in music and performance into a 21st century setting. A contemporary song may be sung in an Algonquian language, or a traditional pow wow song might be fused with Euro American musicology. His music is the continuation of millenniums of music tradition of the land that flourished before America was America. Beautiful music and Abenaki heritage combine to create one of New England’s most original artists.
Blanchette’s musical talent is unquestioned. Whether singing at a pow wow or performing solo at Vermont’s Flynn Theater, his voice makes listeners stop and take notice. He plays multiple instruments, writes his own music and lyrics. His contemporary music is critically acclaimed throughout New England.
His group,The Blackhawk Singers, are extremely popular and have performed internationally to critical acclaim. They have released two CDs.
John Fusco, award-winning writer and film maker in the film and TV industry, has written more than a dozen major-motion pictures and TV series. He is widely known for his works that explore the American West and Native American rights issues and protection of sacred Native American sites. John received the Humanitarian Award and Best Film Award at the in 2003 American Indian Film Awards.



