During each Family Reunion Festival, a special group of Tribal members proudly leads the Grand Entry procession during the powwow.

The members of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Color Guard carry the traditional eagle feather staff and the flags of the Tribe, country and branches of the U.S. military.

The Color Guard draws its members from the CPN Veterans Organization. The Veterans Organization was formed on June 9, 2009, in Shawnee, Oklahoma. All enrolled CPN veterans are eligible to join.

The Color Guard represents the tradition of Potawatomi warriors who protected their communities. The members of the guard know that Native Americans volunteer for the armed services more than any other group.

“We’ve always had warriors who protected their lands, their villages,” Veterans Organization Treasurer David Barrett said. “We’ve traditionally been warriors from day one. It’s the sense of belonging to our land and our society.”

Barrett said they always welcome new members who would like to participate. There is no fee to join, and even CPN citizens outside of Oklahoma have joined, he said.

Rich symbolism

The Color Guard uniform is rich with symbolism, Barrett said.

A blue and red vest is worn with the red half over the heart. A maple leaf symbolizes the Potawatomi’s ancestral Woodlands home. Vests can also include patches to represent the branches of the military and other honors. A bolo tie and bandolier with a tobacco pouch is added.

Members also wear a ribbon shirt with the medicine wheel colors of red, yellow, black and white. These colors represent the four directions. Blue is added to complete the color scheme of the U.S. flag.

The uniform’s design was first proposed by Michael Kennedy and debuted during Grand Entry on June 20, 2007, during the powwow. Barrett said Nathan McKay finalized the design and Peggy Kinder sewed the first vests.

During a military funeral service, a black ribbon shirt with gold ascots and a beret are added to the ensemble, Barrett said.

Community presence

In addition to their role during the Family Reunion Festival, the Color Guard has become a recognizable presence in the community by participating in many local events.

“My favorite part of community events is interacting with the people at the parade, especially young kids and their parents,” Barrett said. “When they see the American flag and put their hand over their heart…that is why we do what we do.”

In the last 15 years, they have been present at more than 250 events across the state. Some of the events include the Oklahoma 4-H Championship for precision air rifles, American Legion-Rubin Rivers, Rolling Thunder Organization, Tecumseh Title VII Native American Youth Program, Tecumseh Frontier Days parade, Wewoka Sorghum Day parade, Senior Day at the Oklahoma Capitol, Department of Human Services Senior Day, the Oklahoma State University Powwow in Stillwater, Tecumseh High School Veterans Day, Intertribal Emergency Management Conference, Guthrie Land Run Day and many others.

Barrett said the group usually attends 20 to 30 events annually where they bring in five flags or all 11 flags.

Honoring the flag

Among their most cherished activities is honoring the U.S. flag, a symbol each member holds dear, Barrett said.

“For many it symbolizes respect, honor and freedom. For others, the flag represents reflection, courage and sorrow,” he said.

The group performs the retirement of worn or damaged flags. When a flag has become tattered or frayed, it cannot simply be thrown away, Barrett said.

After the flags are inspected and deemed worthy of their service, they are respectfully burned during a ceremony.

The group also visits local schools and explains the significance and history of the flag. While many children learn the basic facts about the U.S. flag, the Color Guard presents a more detailed history, he said.

They also share the flag folding ceremony, in which a series of 13 folds are performed, each with words or phrases to honor the flag and its significance. A secular script can be used, but a Christian script is typical for most funerals.

At a veteran’s funeral, a folded flag is presented to the veteran’s family to honor the memory and service of the deceased. These flags are later displayed in the home by the loved ones, continuing the tradition of honoring the flag and service to the country.

Pride and fellowship

The Color Guard’s visibility isn’t limited to local events. Barrett and other members look forward to attending the Gathering of Potawatomi Nations, hosted each summer by one of the nine tribes of Potawatomi.

“When you see all the eagle staffs, the American flags, the tribal flags come in, your heart just swells. It is the highlight of my year,” he said. “There’s a pride that when you put on that uniform, you represent the Citizen Potawatomi.”

Barrett invites any interested CPN veteran to join. For more information, contact Barrett at [email protected] or 405-275-3121.