John “Rocky” Barrett
Tribal Chairman
Bozho, nikan, (Hello, my friend),
I hope all of you had a pleasant, fulfilling Christmas. I’m grateful for the good wishes my fellow Tribal members sent. It fills my heart to hear from each of you.
It is with sadness that I write of the retirement of Chief District Judge Phillip J. Lujan for health reasons. Judge Lujan was our longest serving elected official. He was our judge before we first amended our Constitution in May 1985, serving as one of the original judges in the Bureau of Indian Affairs Court of Indian Offenses. He was elected as our chief district judge when the first Constitution was amended and served with distinction for more than 40 years.
A member of the Kiowa Nation, his dedication led us to later form the current Tribal Constitution. Without his incentives to make the rule of law our guiding premise in governance, we would still be struggling to maintain constancy and stability, the key to our success and national recognition. We will miss him and wish him a speedy recovery. He is a personal friend and mentor and I fondly recall his humor and good nature. He is a very fair and compassionate man who let those qualities be the distinctive character of his conduct and judgements from the bench.
Progress on projects at Tribal headquarters continues at a fast pace. Unusually temperate weather through November and December led to this blessing. The new FireLake Casino is doing record business, and I congratulate General Manager Joe Garcia. He has a strong and talented group of managers and employees who are the key to our success. We are slowly building business for the new FireLake Hotel, and business will boom when softball season starts at the FireLake Ball Fields and when the season starts for the Potawatomi Fire, our professional basketball team.
The new Tribal headquarters building is in the interior finishes phase, and we look to move into it in March. The building we now occupy will then be taken down to expand our Child Development Center. We have applications from over 500 potential new students for the Child Development Center, and nearly as many for the new Child Development Center we will build on Tribal land in Choctaw, Oklahoma, northwest of Shawnee. This land will also be the home of our dental facility. Citizen Potawatomi who reside in the far northwest portion of our reservation jurisdiction will have more convenient facilities, and the new dentistry will cut down the waiting time we now have.
We completed expansion of the Iron Horse Industrial Park Transloading facility with the working and holding concrete pads and a new section of railroad tracks. Traffic on the CPN Railroad will soon double and more, I predict. Iron Horse Industrial Park will soon have several new tenants besides SPT (Sovereign Pipe Technologies), which is doing great business. Our thanks to General Manager Paul Wetmore for his hard work, along with all of the employees there. The oil and gas boom in the Midland-Odessa region of Texas has created a huge need for the kind of high-density polyethylene pipe that we manufacture, especially the large diameter pipe, and our earnings are reflective of that new business.
The newest phase of Tribal housing is occupied, and the next phase of 18 new homes is nearing occupation. This is the first of many new housing units we will build in the next few years. The federal government has a special new loan through the federal home loan agency, FreddieMac, that will allow for the first time federally guaranteed loans for homes built on Tribal Trust land. Sovereign Bank, which is now the largest tribally-owned bank in the country, will provide and service these home loans. Having these new homes in our community is a great help to our grocery stores, fuel services, utility services and entertainment venues. Those of you who wish to “move back home” to Tribal lands should look for opportunities to take advantage of the quality of life, low costs, no property taxes, availability of Tribal services, and a warm and inviting place to live among your relatives.
Thank you with all my heart for the opportunity to serve as your Tribal Chairman. I hope to make this last four-year term that I am serving one of the most memorable of my career.
Migwetch (Thank you),
John “Rocky” Barrett | Keweoge (He Leads Them Home) | Tribal Chairman
Linda Capps
Vice-Chairman
Bozho (Hello),
Best wishes to you for a great 2026. I feel like the Citizen Potawatomi Nation is positioned for a grand year. One thing that we especially look forward to before long is moving into the magnificent new administration building. It would have been beyond my imagination when I first became involved with CPN 38 years ago that we would ever own a building of such magnitude to hold so many offices. It will be a superb experience for so many employees to be in one location. It will be so convenient and so much more efficient. It will be a true blessing.
There are many tasks to be completed in 2026 by CPN’s competent staff members. Our directors have been working on many projects throughout the Tribe. We are making great strides in programs like education, child development, Indian Child Welfare (ICW) and language, to mention a few. I don’t want to leave any program out, because all our programs are making progress, but these are good examples.
CPN enterprises are also making progress. Sovereign Pipe Technology (SPT), Grand Casino Hotel and Resort, and FireLake Casino have all made good progress in 2025 and are looking at prosperity for 2026. Again, these are examples. We look forward to a tremendous growth year. An awesome undertaking for 2025 was CPN Health Services’ installation of EPIC software, an automated healthcare reporting system. The system sets the stage for 2026 to be the most successful health services year that the Tribe has ever experienced.
I want to point out the painstaking work Tribal Rolls is doing. They are diligently verifying that the 39,627 CPN list of enrolled members follow guidelines of the CPN Constitution. Item (g) ARTICLE 3 – MEMBERSHIP OF THE TRIBE, Section 1 clearly states that “No member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation may hold membership in any other Indian tribe.”
If an enrolled member has parents that are from separate tribes, double enrollment could be a possibility. As an adult, it is the responsibility of each enrolled member to know if they are enrolled in more than one tribe. If we have an adult member who wishes to relinquish his/her membership, it should be their right to do so. If a minor is relinquished by a parent or guardian, that person should be able to apply for membership when he/she reaches the age of 18. At the same time, there are solid guidelines for disenrollment. If a person is enrolled erroneously, that person should be disenrolled.
Our CPN construction, electrical, mechanical and architectural departments are undertaking the enormous tasks of preparing CPN for growth in 2026 and beyond. There is construction in progress at the Grand for dental expansion and other medical services. There is construction in progress at the ballfields for the completion of the championship field. There are plans in the future for construction of a medical facility and other facilities in the Asher area. There are plans to prepare the Tribal grounds for the 2027 Gathering of the Potawatomi Nations in the summer of that year. These projects will depend on the skills and expertise of our employees in the above-mentioned departments. They have a huge undertaking before them.
In addition to the projects listed, the Chairman has plans to begin a ground plan for housing during 2026. This will include more work for the Office of Environmental Health (OEH) and Rural Water District #3, of which both programs are at near capacity.
Thank you for allowing me to share my opinion and observations with you for the New Year. I cherish the opportunity to serve you.
Migwetch (Thank you),
Linda Capps | Segenakwe (Black Bird Woman) | Vice-Chairman | Work: 405-275-3121 | Cell: 405-650-1238 | [email protected]
Steve Livingston
District 1
Bozho (Hello),
As we begin a new year, my mind returns to one of our oldest teachings:
gratitude. Gratitude isn’t a seasonal mindset or something we practice only when things are going well — it’s a daily choice that orients us to our community, our Creator and the responsibilities we carry to one another. This past November offered two reminders of that teaching.
We held our first District 1 meeting in Boston at Harvard’s Peabody Museum. Seeing citizens from across the Northeast, some attending for the first time and others returning after many years, was deeply meaningful. We opened with a traditional song from Asa Peters of the Mashpee Wampanoag. I introduced my family and myself in our language, with my daughter translating, and for some, it was their first time hearing Bodwéwadmimwen aloud. Sharing our language is important to me, and I hope moments like this encourage others to begin their learning journey.
We heard from District 1 elder George Godfrey of the Potawatomi Trail of Death Association, and from Kabl Wilkerson, who helped organize the event and shared his work with Indigenous Chicago. I am grateful to Kabl for his support, to George for traveling many miles and to Dr. Jane Pickering, Dakota LaPlante, and Stephanie Mach of the Peabody Museum for their generosity and partnership. Photos are at cpn.news/guestcam (Code: CPND1-1108).
As we closed with gifts and a final song, what stood out most were the connections. One citizen reunited with a goddaughter he had not seen in years; another shared a recent health challenge and how meaningful it was simply to be among fellow Bodéwadmik. These moments reminded me why community matters and of my responsibility as your elected legislator to help foster it.
Another example of community emerged. During the federal government shutdown, many citizens reached out, unsure where to turn as paychecks and assistance were delayed. Much of our Tribal support is limited to the service area in Oklahoma, but the impact of the shutdown stretched across the country.
Former District 1 legislator Alan Melot and I were looking for ways to support those impacted. Together we contacted District 1 citizen Amanda Funk, who runs the Potawatomi-led nonprofit Widoktadwen Center for Native Knowledge, and a community-funded food assistance effort soon took shape. In our language, widoktadwen speaks to helping one another, which is what this effort has done. As of this writing, more than 20 donors have raised over $2,000, already supporting several families!
None of this was done in any official capacity. It was people helping people. Traditionally, our most respected leaders were not those with material wealth, but those who gave of themselves. Our word for chief (wgëma), relates to our word for counting — not just in tallying numbers, but remembering who needed help and ensuring no one was forgotten. Leaders looked after the community: if someone was cold, you offered a blanket; if someone was hungry, you shared what you had. That spirit of giving, whether you have much or little, is what holds our community together.
As I look back, the connecting thread is gratitude. I am grateful for every person who traveled to be with us, for those who donated to help families, and for those who reached out, asked questions and supported one another.
Being Citizen Potawatomi is not only about powwows or material culture, but the relationships we build and the responsibilities we share. My hope for the year ahead is that we carry this spirit of gratitude forward.
Wishing each of you a safe, healthy and hopeful start to 2026.
Steve Livingston | Legislator, District 1 | [email protected]
Eva Marie Carney
District 2
Bozho, nikanek (Hello, friends),
2026 District 2 Calendar
I have already planned a few events for 2026, including a medallion beading workshop taught by District 2 resident and art student Mars Pursley on Saturday, Feb. 21, starting at 10:30 a.m. Mars will teach the two-needle flat stitch. More information is available at cpn.news/mars. We will meet at a conference space in Alexandria, Virginia. There’s space for about 10 people; let me know if you plan to attend! The date for our next Fall Feast is Saturday, Nov. 14, starting at 10:30 a.m. We will be at the Church Hall in Arlington, Virginia. I have posted the addresses and event details to my website calendar, which is the best place to keep up to date on future gatherings.
Unfortunately, upon contacting the staff at the National Museum of the American Indian’s Suitland, Maryland, Cultural Resources Center to request a date to tour the archives and visit with the Potawatomi materials in the collection, I was told that visits cannot be scheduled during 2026. Before the pandemic, this was a regular District 2 event. I am so disappointed by this response and will follow up next year with a 2027 visit. To substitute, I plan to invite folks to join me to tour the Truman Lowe exhibition (cpn.news/trumanlowe) at the National Museum of the American Indian on the Washington, D.C., Mall. The work is spectacular. Watch this space, the District 2 Facebook page and my website calendar for more details as I have them.
Join me at the 2026 Family Festival, which takes place Friday, June 26, through Sunday, June 28, and the 2026 Potawatomi Gathering, which takes place (starting with a language conference) Sunday, July 26, to Sunday, Aug. 2.
For the Family Festival, it is not too early to book one of our two hotels by calling the Grand Casino Hotel at 405-964-7777. Among details of note:
- The Honored Families for 2026 are Acton, Bergeron, Bruno, Curley, DeLonais, Greemore and Slavin
- Powwow and Grand Entry take place Saturday evening, June 27
- In-person voting on candidates and other ballot measures takes place on Saturday, June 27, before General Council and by absentee ballot; all ballots are counted immediately before Saturday afternoon’s General Council meeting, when voters’ decisions are announced
Look for Potawatomi Gathering details on the website managed by this year’s Gathering host, the Forest County Potawatomi Community at cpn.news/fcp and on the Community’s Facebook page (facebook.com/fcpotawatomi).
In addition, I welcome input about good District 2 meeting spots for about 50
people — I am looking for Florida and Arkansas locations most immediately.
Long-Delayed Admission to the New York State Bar
Did you read that Ely Samuel Parker, an aide to Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War and a federal government official, finally was admitted to the New York State Bar, 176 years after he was denied entry because he was Native American? According to a New York Times piece published Nov. 19, 2025, Parker was a member of the Senecas, a Haudenosaunee Confederacy nation. He was blocked for admission because he, like most Native people, did not “qualify” for U.S. citizenship. (The Indian Citizenship Act was passed in 1924.) Read about this man’s many accomplishments, as explained by the History Society of the New York Courts at cpn.news/hsnyc, or sign up as a guest to read the Times piece at cpn.news/nyt. I love this Times quote from Lee Redeye, deputy counsel for the Seneca Nation of Indians: “Ely’s story is an inspirational one; it inspired me when I was in college, to aspire to something higher. I hope there is at least one young Native who hears about Ely and is inspired to go into the law and help our people.”
Please Keep in Touch and Continue to Share Family News
What is your family news? Please keep in touch and share your family news as you have it!
Migwetch (Thank you), for the honor of representing you. Happy holidays and New Year to all!
Eva Marie Carney | Ojindiskwe (Bluebird Woman) | [email protected] | [email protected] | evamariecarney.com | PO Box 5595 | Arlington, VA 22205 | Toll Free: 888-849-1484 (voicemail)
Brenda Trevino
District 3
Bozho jayek (Greetings all)!
Our history is full of winter stories that bring reflection and wonder of this planet and our Creator. So long ago, it was winter when the Creator and our fellow inhabitants of the Earth taught us to fish through the ice. It was winter when we learned the sweetness of the maple trees in the form of syrup. We also learned from the animals to save nuts in the fall to use as a form of energy and protein during the winter.
In addition to meeting our physical needs during the winter season, we became closer as a community. As the People of the Place of the Fire, we continued to keep the fire burning for warmth, connection and storytelling.
As we look forward to spring and the promise of new beginnings, let’s keep the fire burning in our hearts for each other. Finding an interest to join or a program to volunteer with that directly supports our Nation, our people and our families is important. Just as the muskrat swam deep to find the soil for turtle island to grow, we can each do our part to bring about something new or to strengthen what is already being done.
By the time this article reaches you, the Corpus Christi Meet-and-Greet will be in the rear-view mirror. The February meeting in The Woodlands will be in front of us. Thank you for our time together. And may the planned district meetings bring us all closer to our family, friends and ancestors who kept the fire glowing for us.
The February meeting will be at the new Kevin Brady Library and Community Center, 2250 Buckthorne Place, The Woodlands, Texas, 77380. The room is reserved from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (program starts at 10:30 a.m.). This is the second of five meet-and-greet meetings through June, with a larger regional meeting in Waco on April 18. The save-the-date calendar for each of the monthly planned meetings in District 3 has been mailed to the address on file by Tribal Rolls. Please RSVP and come one, come all!
Migwetch for allowing me to serve each of you! Please reach out if I can be of assistance.
Brenda Trevino | Mkedewankwetkwe (Black Cloud Woman) | [email protected] | 281-466-7427
Jon Boursaw
District 4
What I experienced in November
Since I first was elected to the Nation’s legislature, I’ve never had a schedule like what I experienced in November. It started with a trip to Washington, D.C., actually Arlington, Virginia. Legislator Eva Marie Carney invited me to give my CPN history presentation at her District 2 meeting. Since her meeting started at 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 8, I flew to D.C. on Friday. After my presentation and lunch on Saturday, I arrived at Reagan National Airport in plenty of time before my flight. Everything went well until I learned of several flight cancellations. About an hour after my original departure time, my flight was canceled. The airline provided a hotel room, and I finally returned home on Sunday, Nov. 9. That accounted for our initial trip to Kansas City and 164 miles. But, there were several more trips to make:
On the evening of Nov. 18, along with CPN member Angela Montgomery, I attended a meeting of the Olathe (Kansas) City Council, where we received a proclamation acknowledging Native American Heritage Month. That was a 182-mile round trip.
On the next evening, Nov. 19, Angela and I were invited to a dinner meeting of the Johnson County Park and Recreation District Board of Commissioners where we were again presented with a proclamation. The proclamation read: “In recognition of this heritage month we affirm our commitment to collaborate with Native individuals, families and tribal communities to enhance awareness, understanding and appreciation of Indigenous contributions to our social, cultural and natural environments.” Add 178 miles to our travel.
On Monday of that same week, I was notified that on Sunday, Nov. 23, I was to be honored as a Native American Veteran during the Kansas City Chiefs game as part of their Salute to Service Day. I informed the person who contacted me that there were others more deserving of this recognition than me. As it turned out, it was one of the greatest moments I’ve ever experienced. My first thought was that I wanted my son, Drew, who lives In Westbrook, Maine, to share this moment with me.
Here is how the day went:
- We had VIP parking just a few minutes from the stadium.
- We had seats in what is called the Founder’s Suite, which offered food, beverages and front row seating.
- Midway through the first quarter of the game, I was asked to accompany an escort who would take me down to the playing field.
- When we arrived at the tunnel leading on to the field, I was met by two Chiefs cheerleaders, who would lead me onto the field.
- A timeout was called few minutes later and we proceeded out on to the field.
- Then a video began to appear on the “big board” at each end of the stadium which projected a few photos while a narrative of my career was read.
- At the end of the video there was a sound that I will never forget and that was the roar from 80,000 fans.
That weekend there were three round trips. Drew’s flight arrived at midnight on Saturday (164 miles), to the stadium on Sunday (166 miles) and back to the airport on Monday (164 miles). That means we drove a total of 918 in less than a month.
Upcoming CPN Elders’ Potlucks
Date for the Elder Potlucks held in Rossville at noon are:
Feb. 13 | Breakfast | RSVP by the 10th
Bring your favorite side dish or dessert. Please RSVP to Tracy at 785-584-6171.
Migwetch (Thank you),
Jon Boursaw | Wetase Mkoh (Brave Bear) | [email protected] | 785-608-1982
2007 SW Gage Blvd. | Topeka, KS 66604 | Office Hours: Tuesday 9-11 a.m. | Thursdays 3-5 p.m. | Other times as requested
Mark Johnson
District 7
Bozho nikanek (Hello friends),
The arrival of the New Year always gives us all a chance to reflect on the past and to look forward to the future. 2025 was a difficult year for many of our members and I am not sure I am sad to see it go, but I have chosen not to dwell on the difficulties but to look at the perseverance that has made our Tribal Nation one of strength and resilience. It never ceases to amaze me how fast the new year seems to roll around, my eternal optimism in the good that exists in the world, and the prospects of what challenges the new year will bring. 2025 was a banner year as a Tribal Nation, as many new projects were completed and new milestones were reached. The new FireLake Casino and Hotel opened, along with improvements to the ballfields. The new administration building is well on its way to nearing completion and should be open by mid-2026. A few in our Tribe have questioned why we feel it necessary to continue the diversification and growth of our Tribal enterprises. With the growth of our Tribal population nearing 40,000 members, we need to keep growing to keep the ability to provide benefits like scholarships, mortgage assistance and health aids, for example, that many have come to depend on. I believe we have made great improvements towards meeting the current needs of our members and growing smartly to meet the needs of our members in the future.
Regardless of what you do or where you live, everyone has a responsibility to help make our community, our family, and our Tribe better, stronger and more vibrant than it was when we arrived. With that said, I would like to announce that I will be seeking another term as your representative for District 7. The honor and trust that you bestowed on me originally in 2010, and in re-electing me since, is never taken lightly or for granted. I hope I have earned your trust.
I have said many times over the years that it is refreshing to be a part of a government that works. The Citizen Potawatomi Nation has been able to successfully defend itself against those who would like our sovereignty to be taken away. It is a job that will never be done, but is dependent on a strong, dedicated and focused legislature and executive branch. You have that with your currently serving legislature.
Vice-Chairman and Secretary-Treasurer are also on the ballot this year, and I would strongly encourage you to learn about each candidate and their qualifications for the job — the leadership that they provide in the executive branch and our Nation is invaluable.
Once again, I would like to say what an honor it is to serve you as your District 7 representative. As always, give me a call and I will be happy to work with you on any questions you may have or provide you with additional information you may need to access Tribal benefits that are available to you. Please also take the time to give me a call or send me an email with your contact information so that I can keep you informed of the happenings within the Nation and district.
Migwetch (Thank you),
Mark Johnson | Wisk Mtek (Strong as a Tree) | 559-351-0078 | [email protected]
Dave Carney
District 8
Bozho, jayek (Hello, everyone),
Happy New Year! 2026 has all the promise and opportunity of every new year’s beginning. I am very hopeful for the future of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation as we head into the new year.
I spent a week in mid-November 2025 at the annual National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) held in Seattle, Washington. It was an honor to represent our Nation at this event. There were approximately 2,400 attendees from across the United States.
Getting there and getting home was a special challenge in the dark, rainy mornings in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Highway 5, speckled with accidents and highway patrol. One morning, the hour-and-fifteen-minute drive from Olympia, Washington, to downtown Seattle took over two and a half hours!
Each conference day began with a well-attended general assembly. Each one of these sessions had a general theme and some very prestigious speakers. There were government representatives from local Native nations, city of Seattle officials and representatives of the Trump administration (HHS and Treasury). Prior to every session, there was an invocation delivered by a different Native speaker. It was wonderful to hear so many different languages worshipping the Creator.
Afternoon and evening sessions covered a variety of topics affecting Indian Country. I attended lectures on topics ranging from tribal sovereignty, the missing and murdered Indigenous women crisis and safeguarding Native American intellectual property.
Tuesday morning, I enjoyed an excellent breakfast hosted by UNITY, United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. This organization is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The core mission of this organization is youth leadership development, community service, advocacy, networking and mentorship. An impressive panel of young people introduced themselves and shared a little about their involvement with UNITY and their future leadership aspirations. Two of the participants were Potawatomi (one from Pokagon and one from Prairie Band).
As a delegate to the National Congress of American Indians, I was able to vote both for CPN and for myself. There was the election of officers and over 100 resolutions, mostly in support of NCAI recognizing and affirming the rights of tribal nations and calling on the administration and federal government to fulfill their obligations.
Thursday morning had attendees electing officers for two-year terms. Initially, there were three candidates, so a special run-off election took place for the role of president. In the end, the following individuals were elected:
President: Mark Macarro (incumbent), Chairman of the Pechanga Band of Indians
1st Vice President: Brian Weeden (incumbent), Chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
Recording Secretary: Christie Modlin, Secretary, Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma
Treasurer: Ashley Cornforth, Secretary/Treasurer, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.
Friday morning, attendees voted on the resolutions and elected officials were sworn in.
During the general assembly on Thursday, the Citizen Potawatomi Nation was honored along with five other tribes by the Harvard Kennedy School. The Nation’s 700-acre Iron Horse Industrial Park was recognized as a model to expand commerce in Indian Country. An interesting and informative presentation was made by Vedrana Milakovic, MBA, CPN director of planning and economic development. As an example of the other honorees, one was the Cherokee Nation for collaborating on a new College of Osteopathic medicine with OSU.
I am looking forward to seeing tribal citizens in both Oklahoma and throughout District 8 in 2026.
As always, it is my pleasure to represent you,
Dave Carney | Kagashgi (Raven) | [email protected] | 360-259-4027
Paul Wesselhöft
District 9
Bozho, nikan (Hello, friend),
Indian Citizenship Act of 1924
The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads:
“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” The amendment was enacted in 1868 under President Andrew Johnson.
The controversial phrase is, “and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,” which is the subject of heated debate, and the exact meaning will probably be determined by the Supreme Court. However, that’s my article’s subject. I want to address U.S. citizenship of Native Americans.
Native Americans and their children did not become U.S. citizens until Congress passed the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924. Some interpreters believe that there would have been no need to pass such legislation if the 14th Amendment extended citizenship to every person born in America, no matter what the circumstances of their birth, and no matter who their parents are.
The Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 was signed into law by President Calvin Coolidge. The inspiration of the act came about because some 12,000 Native American male soldiers served the United States honorably and bravely during WWI. Many more Native Americans, men and women, served at home by working in war industries and buying war bonds.
The act reads, “That all non-citizen Indians born within the territorial limits of the United States be, and they are hereby, declared to be citizens of the United States: Provided That the granting of such citizenship shall not in any manner impair or otherwise affect the right of any Indian to tribal or other property.”
The act also paved the way for tribes to become recognized nations where their members would become citizens of two nations: tribal and the United States. I’m a citizen of two nations and three if I include my citizenship in Heaven.
There was a major failure of the Indian Citizenship Act. The act did not grant Native Americans full citizenship for the right to vote. Some states forbade Native Americans, as well as African Americans, the right to vote. It was not until the Voting Rights Act of 1965, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, that all legal barriers at the state and local levels were abolished.
As bonafide citizens of two nations, the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and the United States of America, we have the blessed right to vote and determine the future of our nations and homeland. It’s inexcusable that any adult Native American has not registered to vote and voted.
Migwetch (Thank you),
Paul Wesselhöft | Naganit (Leader) | [email protected] | [email protected]
Andrew Walters
District 11
Bozho (Hello),
At this beginning of a new year, we must look behind us, into the past, to see our future. The past charts our course to some extent. We can always re-set our sails and tack a course of our own making, or we can remain steady on course. The choice is ours — that thing called “free will.” Where we are today is a product of many yesterdays, and years, in the past. The past for our Tribe has been, in the long term, one of growth, identity and sovereignty. We have come, to say the least, from humble beginnings. Our ancestors came to Oklahoma with a dream. William Henley said it most poignantly when he wrote, in part, “I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.” That was our ancestors’ dream, their belief, their dearest desire: to live in a place where they could prosper and grow, where their families would for generations live and build. A place of their own, for their people. A place where they commanded their fate.
After the series of displacements from the Great Lakes, through Illinois and Kansas, our ancestors found themselves here in Oklahoma, living on land bought from their collective savings and land sales. This land taken from the Seminole by the U.S. government as punishment for their part in the not-so-distant Civil War became home.
It was hard for them. The Oklahoma summers were unforgiving. The work was hard. There were times when giving up and letting the dust of the “white man’s wrath” have the land back seemed the best.
The winters were cold and bitter, worse than in other places. Before, there had been trees for wood and hills to find shelter from the winter’s bitter bite. But here, there was nothing to hold winter back but, as the old saying goes, “a three-strand barb wire fence, and two of the strands were broken.”
Some became “Indian Okies,” moving to California. Others moved to other states and began to build new lives away from the “reservation.” From those scattered ancestors, a Tribe grew. Like a tree spreading its roots. Tribal members from around the U.S. and the world came together, clinging tightly to the soil of their shared heritage.
We have, since those humble beginnings, become a Tribe of nearly 40,000 members. Through the efforts of the past, we, the descendants of these brave people, have succeeded in building a sovereign empire of business, Tribal assets and people. And we continue to grow, to change. After all, life is change. In our existence, we have learned that the successful contemporary Native American Tribe must adapt. We must adapt to a new and ever-changing world of challenges and pitfalls. The art is to do that without losing our traditions, language and soul. We must dig deeply into that same soil of shared heritage that feeds our growth, to cling to the fruits of our endeavors, and watch our young people blossom in the knowledge of who they are and where they came from. Cora and I wish you all a wonderful, love-filled new year.
Bami pi (Until later),
Andrew Walters | [email protected] | [email protected]