R-207 Page 1 of 1
2024
No. R-207. House concurrent resolution commemorating Molly Davies’s transfer of
350 acres of land in the Town of Wheelock to the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation.
(H.C.R.153)
Offered by: Representatives Roberts of Halifax, Stevens of Waterbury, Bluemle of
Burlington, Brumsted of Shelburne, Burrows of West Windsor, Chesnut-Tangerman of
Middletown Springs, LaBounty of Lyndon, LaMont of Morristown, and Wilson of Lyndon Whereas, since the 1990s, the family of Molly Davies had owned 600 acres of land in
the Town of Wheelock, and Whereas, approximately six years ago, the Vermont Land Trust established a conservation easement over the entire parcel, and a supportive farmer secured ownership of the 250 agricultural acres, and Whereas, Molly Davies sought to transfer the ownership of the remaining 350 forested acres to a new owner, who, in accordance with the already created conservation easement,
would appreciate the parcel for such natural purposes as maple sugaring, as the site features
a maple sugaring house, and fishing on the adjacent Chandler Pond, and Whereas, with these goals in mind, when Molly Davies happened to meet Chief Don Stevens of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation at a Stowe art gallery event,
she broached the idea of transferring the ownership of the conserved land to his band, and Whereas, Chief Stevens was initially skeptical, knowing of insincere historic offers, but Molly Davies persuaded him to walk the land with her, and Whereas, two years later, with the technical support of the organization Abenaki Helping Abenaki, on the propitious occasion of Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2023, this momentous 350-acre land transfer, which did not cost the band any money, was consummated, in the presence of approximately 50 persons, and Whereas, the land transfer ceremony, which is known as livery of seisin or a feoffment,
featured Molly Davies handing an evergreen branch to Chief Stevens and then the passing around of a pipe, which contributed a special fragrance to the festivities, and Whereas, Chief Stevens cherished this joyous moment, as the band secured legal ownership and band stewardship of land it has long held sacred, now therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly commemorates Molly Davies’s transfer of 350 acres of land in the Town of Wheelock to the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation, and be it further Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
Molly Davies and Chief Don Stevens of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation.
VT LEG #374962 v.1