 Vermont Celebrates the People
The people who have lived, worked and visited the Lake Champlain Valley over the centuries are as distinct and varied as the region itself. From the Paleoindian groups that populated the valley as far back as 11,300 years ago, to the more recent great nations of the Abenaki, Iroquois, Mahican, and Mohawk; from the early French and English explorers and colonists, to the influx of Revolutionary War era settlers; from the thousands of Canadians who came south during the 19th and 20th centuries, to the region’s newest community members, hailing from Asia, Africa, South America, and Eastern Europe—the people who have made their homes in the Champlain Valley have all contributed to its robust cultural heritage.  The lake whispers of a rich and tumultuous past: battles fought, hardships endured, prosperity created. In 1909, many thousands gathered to celebrate this magnificent body of water and what it has meant to so many for so long. By all accounts it was a stupendous event (albeit arguably lacking with respect to contemporary standards of inclusiveness and cultural sensitivity).
In 2009, throngs will once again gather in this region to pay homage to the source of so much life and livelihood. Our challenge is to create a celebration that not only rivals 1909 but gives the people of 2109 something to look back upon fondly and proudly.
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