New Familiar Abenakis and English Dialogues : The First Vocabulary Ever Published in the Abenakis Language

"The writer hopes that many of the white people will be glad to avail themselves of the advantage and facility thus afforded to them for becoming acquainted in some measure, and with very little trouble, with that truly admirable language of those Aborigines called Abenakis, which, from the original word Wôbanaki means; peasant or inhabitant from the East."

At a time when the Abenaki had little to no written documentation of their language, Joseph Laurent, Chief of the Abenaki reserve of Odanak, came forth to produce a translational dictionary, that was both the first of its kind and one of a kind. Unique in its approach to translation, New Familiar Abenakis and English Dialogues is a linguistical journey intertwined with Abenaki culture that offers a study of Indigenous names and naming conventions, the Abenaki alphabet and modifications of verbs, as well as an essential key to understanding the pronunciations of the words therein.

Professionally typeset with a beautifully designed cover, this edition is a classic of Native and Indigenous literature reimagined for the modern reader.

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Joseph Laurent (1839-1917) was an Abenaki Chief, author, entrepreneur and teacher. While Laurent is known for leading the Abenaki reserve of Odanak as well as establishing a trading post in Interval, New Hampshire, he is most recognized as the author of New Familiar Abenakis and English Dialogues. Published in 1884, the book would serve as Laurent’s crowning achievement–being the first dictionary to translate the Abenaki language to English as well as being one of the first literary productions of the Abenaki tribe in general.