Storytelling

Oral storytelling is important to Abenaki history and culture. The stories have different uses and have various origins in their creation. Some stories are historical and help spread awareness of Abenaki history. Other stories are interpretive and used to help teach lessons of reciprocity and respect for nature to others. These interpretive stories are based on historical knowledge. Because of the factual and cultural nature of the Abenaki stories, the word "folklore", often understood to mean or reference fictional or fantastical tales, is inaccurate.

Stories in the Abenaki culture are said to teach lessons. The Abenaki do not see their stories as espousing morals or ethics. Where morals are what an individual believes to be correct and ethics are what a populace has deemed right or wrong, lessons are different. Lessons are stories or teachings that an individual or a larger population can refer to and learn from to determine proper actions toward people or locations.

The practice of reciprocity is important to the Abenaki people and shows up in many stories. Reciprocity is the act of giving to nature what you take for mutual benefit. This practice and mindset originates from and leads to a strong respect for nature.

Winter is a time of storytelling for the Abenaki. As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, the harvest was collected. Nights were spent around a fire playing games and being together. This time was an opportunity for storytellers to elaborate and expand upon stories which may be told year round. As people gathered in wigwams and longhouses with food, stories were told and woven.

Location-Based Stories

There are many Abenaki stories about locations around New Hampshire. A group of students from Worcester Polytechnic Institute helped create signage to share some of these stories. The list of locations may expand in the future.