With few fluent speakers of the Potawatomi language among the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, the language department faces a unique challenge to teach and preserve the language of our ancestors. This is being implemented by acquiring and documenting as much of the Potawatomi language as possible and passing this knowledge on through on-line and in-person classes.
To ensure the survival of our ancestral language, learning must start with our young. Currently, the language department is using a comprehensive curriculum for the children that attend the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Child Development Center. This curriculum includes puppet shows, cultural stories in Potawatomi and cultural teachings on video.
Bodéwadmimwen Mission Statement Netem ode Bodewadmimwen Department enedwendemak gode bmadzejek eajtowat mine kiktowat mine nedkiktowat ode zheshmowen. Wje nigan igwan nedwendemak bmadzejek gégo zégzekék ekiktowat ode zheshmowen Wegwendek gishpen emjineshnabemoyan nesh je eajtowat ode zheshmowen gishpen ebidgewat naganwgemek anake Wegwendek eyewat.
The Goal of our department is the promotion, perpetuation, and use of the Potawatomi language. It is our vision to see our language used again in a variety of settings not just spiritual but everyday life. This requires people to not be afraid to make mistakes and to simply use the language whenever they are add the tribal buildings or wherever they are.
Justin Neely
Director of Language
Phone: (405) 878-5830
Email: jneely@potawatomi.org
Samuel Navarre
Assistant Director of Language
Phone: (405) 878-5830
Email: snavarre@potawatomi.org