Missisquoi Abenaki Public Art Donation

At a glance

• What: A request from Burlington City Arts (BCA) for the Council to accept a donated work of public art (a totem pole, referred to in public comment also as a statue) from the Missisquoi Abenaki Nation, valued at $20,000, and to spend up to $25,000 on site preparation.
• Status: The motion failed 1:11 on a roll call on May 18, 2026.
• Next: No further action is recorded in these minutes.

Detail

The recommended motion: to approve and authorize the Director of BCA to accept a public art donation as described in Attachment A, with a total value of $20,000 from the Missisquoi Abenaki Nation; to facilitate site preparation up to a maximum of $25,000; and to execute all necessary documents upon final review by the City Attorney's Office. REIB Director Perkins and BCA's Colin Storrs were online for the 25-minute item.

Sanchez-Parkinson moved and Carpenter seconded. Roll call: aye, Carpenter; nay, Barlow, Bergman, Broderick, Grant, Litwin, McKnight, Neubieser, Sanchez-Parkinson, Schachter, Singh and President Traverse. The motion failed 1:11, which includes the mover voting nay. The minutes record no Council discussion.

Public Forum earlier that evening drew about 25 speakers whose listed topics concerned the statue, totem pole or Abenaki public art, including Representative Troy Headrick, Chief Brenda Gagne and Denise L. Watso. Brooke Fleischman's listed topic was opposition to a statue donation by state recognized tribes; the minutes do not record other speakers' positions. A related resolution on Advancing Indigenous Equity, Recognition, And Community Partnership (sponsors Sanchez-Parkinson and Schachter) was removed from the agenda at Sanchez-Parkinson's request.

Sources

• Minutes, City Council, May 18, 2026: https://burlingtonvt.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=20144)

Log

2026-05-18 - City Council

Item 7.4. Motion to accept the donation failed 1:11 on a roll call. Large public forum turnout on the topic.