Bozho nikanek
(Hello friends)!
Loss of a dear Potawatomi
The Bazhaw family and our Nation lost a dear elder, Ralph Bazhaw/Nishbonsek (Two Hawks). Ralph was a fine person and much-loved husband, father, grandfather and colleague. He was a good friend to many, including me.
I will miss his prayers and storytelling during our fall feasts, his enthusiasm for sharing our language and culture and his willingness to serve as firekeeper. In October’s issue, Hownikan readers learned about Ralph’s dedication to his Potawatomi heritage. You can download the digital issue and read more about him at tinyurl.com/RBazhaw.
Please keep his family and friends, who feel this loss deeply, in your prayers and wish Ralph, “Godspeed.”
October archives visit
The next visit to the archives of the National Museum of the American Indian, in Suitland, Maryland, is Oct. 5, 2018. As is the tradition now, I host a 12:30 p.m. lunch at Sweet Dee’s before the 1:30 p.m. tour. Sweet Dee’s is in the Resource Center Complex.
Tour space is limited, so please reserve your spot today by contacting me. There is no cost to participants, and you don’t have to be in District 2 to participate – our tour groups have included folks from all over the country.
Palm Beach County meeting
Potawatomi Barbara Little is helping with plans for a lunch and business meeting in Palm Beach County, Florida, to take place Saturday, April 21, 2018 at the Delray Beach Public Library.
As always, you are welcome, even if you don’t receive a mailed invitation; your RSVP is enough. Please check my calendar page (evamariecarney.com) for details on this and other upcoming events, including dates and names of honored families at this year’s Family Reunion Festival the weekend of the last Saturday of June. I will also add details (as they come available) for the Gathering of Potawatomi Nations that Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation hosts at the end of July through early August.
I hope to see many of you in 2018.
Want a Pendleton blanket?
As I write this, I have just four entries for the latest District 2 contest. A winner of a lovely Pendleton blanket will be randomly chosen from the entries. To participate, send your favorite recipes for fall feasts. Please include a note with the recipe relating (1) where you got the recipe (including if it’s original to you) and (2) the types of celebrations at which you serve the dish.
I will print several of the entries in upcoming columns and draw randomly for the prize blanket.
I’ll also include the recipes I receive in a book that I’ll send out as a year-end gift.
The contest deadline is April 15, 2018. You can email, mail or Facebook message me your entries. Multiple entries are welcome, and everyone can enter and win, not just those of us in District 2.
Native nations eligible for Amber Alert funding
Both houses of Congress now have passed bills giving Native nations direct access to funds that will let them quickly post Amber (America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) Alerts to counties within reservation borders. The alerts immediately spread the word about missing children.
As Rep. Andy Biggs, the lead sponsor of the House version, said, this legislation fills “a massive hole in the system when the only areas in the country not protected with Amber Alert access are those in tribal lands … By expanding already-available grants to include tribes,
we are ensuring Indian Country communities have resources that better protect their children.”
Until now, tribal law enforcement agencies had to work through state and local police agencies to get an alert posted. The House and Senate bills, which are identical, will be sent to the White House for signature, and once signed into law, will allow CPN and other Nations to receive funds to improve technology, post our own alerts and do more to keep our children safe.
Please continue to share your thoughts with me and to contact me for any assistance you might need.
Bama mine
(until next time),
Eva Marie Carney
Ojindiskwe
(Blue Bird Woman)
Representative, District 2
2200 North George Mason
Drive #7307
Arlington, VA 22207
Toll-free: 866-961-6988
ecarney@potawatomi.org
evamariecarney.com