It is no secret that Orleans County has historically, through the present, suffered the highest rates of unemployment and underemployment in the state of Vermont. With a labor force of approximately 13,550 as of March, 1250 of those workers are unemployed, creating a massive unemployment rate of 9.1% ranking the highest in our state. When researching census, economic, and labor data, Orleans County is consistently ranked at, or near, the bottom of all counties in the state, indicating a devastating deficiency of service and outreach to the families and individuals in need of programs that stimulate growth, self-sufficiency, and an overall improvement in life the communities of Orleans County.

The near extinction of Abenaki language and culture in a community with hundreds of Abenaki families is heartbreaking indeed. Presently, most residents of Orleans County have little or no knowledge of the history of the Abenaki, or that we continue to work towards preserving the identity, culture, and organization of our people in the land of our ancestors. Tribal historians and leaders fear that the continued lack of community awareness and cultural revitalization will result in the total loss and extinction of the once thriving Abenaki language and traditions.