Black Ash Pounding Event at Lake Carmi State Park

Cost: No entrance fee on Sunday, June 9th. Day use entrance fee on Monday, June 10th ($5 for adults, $2 for children). 

Bring: Comfortable clothing for being outdoors, close-toed shoes, work gloves if possible. 

The Missisquoi Band of Abenaki and Vermont Forests, Parks and Recreation invites you to join a Black Ash Pounding event at Lake Carmi State Park on June 9th and 10th, 2024.  

Black ash trees (also called brown ash) are heavily threatened by emerald ash borer, a non-native and invasive insect currently detected in Vermont. With your help, these black ash logs harvested at Lake Carmi State Park can be preserved for generations to come as processed splints. 

Both day-long events are open to the public to provide an opportunity for cultural exchange between indigenous peoples and settlers. Kerry Wood and Aaron Wood will provide instruction in pounding black ash to process splints for basket making. The Circle of Courage Drum Circle from the Missisquoi Abenaki will be on hand Sunday all day to support the pounding work and share Abenaki culture. There will also be other opportunities for stories and song and to honor black ash.