Customer Reviews

The Voice of the Dawn: An Autohistory of the Abenaki Nation

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Un livre très bien structuré traçant de manière étonnemment efficace les grandes lignes de l'histoire et de la vie des abénaquis d'il y a 13 000 ans jusqu'à aujourd'hui. Tout y passe: la période pré-coloniale, les premiers contacts, les guerres et l'exile, la reconstruction et l'espoir en l'avenir. On retrouve également des appendices forts intéressants sur la toponymie, les herbes médicinales et sur les ressources éducatives disponibles (livres, musées, films, articles, etc.). Les notes bibliographiques et la bibliographie ouvrent la voie aux personnes qui souhaitent approfondir certains sujets plus précis. Vraiment, un excellent point de départ à toute recherche sur les abénaquis. La vie ayant malmené les liens que j'aurais pu entretenir avec mes ancêtres abénaquis, ce livre vient combler un vide important dans ma vie. Merci monsieur Wiseman!

A very well structured book that draw concisely but so efficently the history and life of abenakis from 13 000 years ago to today. Everything's there : pre-colonial period, first (heavy) contacts with europeans, wars and exile, reconstruction and hope for the present and future. The appendix are also very interesting (place name, herbal medicine, educational resources) and the bibliographical notes and bibliography are a good place to find new paths to explore. For a clear and inspiring overview of who are the abenakis, this is the book to read! For me this book have been a second chance to learn more about my ancestors even if life (or should I say death) has cut the tread that linked me with them a generation ago. Thank you Mr. Wiseman!

This book is highly recommended for the historian as well as the general audience with an interest in the Abenaki Nation and what is now known as Vermont. Through careful research, Frederick Matthew Wiseman offers an in-depth autohistory of his Native American roots (which are seemingly invisible in the modern world). In addition to clear and concise narrative, he compliments the piece by his offering of photos and illustrations. This piece of writing is vital to the understanding of New England, the foundation and concepts of its very existence, a piece of the puzzle that helps to create the whole.

If you are remotely interested in Abenaki heritage - yours or otherwise - this is an absolute must read. I thought I knew something about Abenaki history and their interface with early French trappers & then the English. This was a tremendous eye opener making me realize how little I knew and how much of that was simply wrong or naive. Written for the serious student by a scholar, it is still easily absorbable by the interested non-academic. Could not be more pleased that I found this!