Snow Riders of The American Indian Nations

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KOASAK ABENAKI CHIEF NANCY LYONS

Vermont's Chief Nancy Lyons of the Koasek Abenaki Nation, was born in Haverhill, New Hampshire, the commerce center for the Western Abenaki Koasek (Cowasucks). Their extended homeland spans from Vermont, New Hampshire to Quebec.

As a member of the Northeast Native community, Nancy worked alongside Grand Chief of the Abenaki Nation, Chief Homer St. Francis of the Mississquoi/Sokoki Band in Swanton, Vermont in the early nineties. Under his orders, she chaired a Tribal Council in New Hampshire.

As a promoter Nancy has represented artists, musicians, and bands from across the United States and Canada. She was instrumental in establishing the Native American Music Awards (NAMMY) and secured a recording contract for Howard Lyons (Mohawk), who went on the win a NAMMY (Indian Grammy).

Sagakwa, New Hampshire's extremely popular Native American Cultural Weekend, was founded and directed by Chief Lyons. For 10 years, the Governor wrote proclamations saluting the event and the First Families of New Hampshire. And in 1996, Congressman Charlie Bass proudly had a flag flown over the Washington Capitol in honor of their Sagakwa Weekend.

In Littleton (NH) Nancy worked as Town Promoter where she boosted tourism through re-establishing the Littleton Opera house as a working cultural facility and organizing the Northern United States National Sled Dog Races. Her projects helped revive their Main Street and brought in over 5..5 million dollars of revenue and economic development.

In 2003 Nancy moved to Chelsea Vermont to help broaden the culture events of her People in the Green Mountains, while working with Sunshine Records, First Nations Music, Sound of America Records, Indigenous People's Music, Simply Natural Water, and First Nations Cola. Her press stories have circled the globe.

In May of 2006, Nancy was elected Co-Chief of the Koasek Abenaki Nation with Chief Brian Chenevert. In April her team met with Governor James Douglas to help further boost Cultural Tourism in Vermont, the states No. 1 draw, while getting the State to finally comply with federal laws allowing the Abenaki to make a living through their arts and crafts, as they have for thousands of years.

"We need to be recognized as Abenakis for our youth to be able to get scholarships in Indian Studies programs at most universities... to be able to compete in out of state Art, Music and Pow Wow Dance Competitions, or sell our arts and crafts as authentic Indian made. Vermont leaders could rectify this by simply complying with federal guidelines used by other states and giving our Native American Commission the authority to determine authentic bands," said Chief Lyons.

One of Chief Lyons dreams that is coming true is NAWIHLA ("returning home") Native American Festival and Pow Wow in Newbury VT/Haverhill NH on June 2-3.

Along with Olympian Billy Kidd (Abenaki), Captain of the Native American Olympic Ski Team, Chief Lyons is working closely with Suzy Chaffee, co-founder of Native Voices Foundation, to give Indian youth a chance to be included in the China and Vancouver Games. "Sports opportunities are helping restore the health and spirit of our First Vermonters/Americans who have a lower life expectancy than eight African countries," said Chaffee,.

At Billy's induction in 2006, into the Vermont Ski Museum's Hall of Fame, Chief Lyons gave him an eagle feather for being the a great role model and inspiring the SnowSports Industries of America to donate $.6 million worth of gear to help create a generation of Native Olympians, including for the Abenaki Future Olympians Program at Cochran Hill, thanks to Suzy and her Olympic teammates Rosie Fortna, CiCi Teague and the Cochrans.

In April, Chief Lyons was a guest of honor with Suzy and other Olympians at Mt Ascutney, where the Chief led a ceremony that made her a hero for inspiring a foot of powder that made their Old Timers Ski Race a magical benefit for the VT Ski Museum. The event gave birth to Chief Nancy's dream of co-hosting at this ideally located resort, a Northeastern Tribal Ski Celebration with her friends from the Pequot, Mohegan, and other Woodland Nations.

PHOTO: Top - Nancy and Shadow