The Abenaki People originally lived throughout much of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Currently, they are recognized only as "Canadian Indians", with the exception of the Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, & Maliseet (all Eastern Abenaki) in Maine. Focus is on Western Maine, which is loosely defined as west of the Kennebec River. An estimated 1,890 people that make up the Abenaki Nation live in Quebec.

Abenaki call themselves Alnanbal meaning "men." The name "Abenaki" - spelled variously as: Abenaqui, Abnaki, Alnanbal, Benaki, Oubenaki, Wabanaki, Wippanap - originated from a Montagnais (Algonquin) word meaning "people of the dawn" or "easterners."

Early contacts witht he Abenaki were with European fishermen, sadly at least two major epidemics hit the Abenaki during the 1500s. An unknown sickness occured sometime between 1564 and 1570 and typhus hit the Abenaki in 1586. Just prior to English settlement of Massachusetts in 1620, saw anpther three separate epidemics sweep across New England and the Canadian Maritimes. Maine was hit very hard during 1617 (75% mortality), and the population of the eastern Abenaki fell to about 5,000.

There were less than 1,000 Abenaki remaining after the American Revolution. The population has currently recovered to almost 12,000 on both sides of the border.