By Justin Neely, CPN Language Department Director
Bozho, jayek (Hello, everyone),
We just wrapped up our annual winter story telling event. We had an incredible attendance: 85 in person and 50-100 online (folks online would come and go, so it was harder to gauge). We also record and place it on our YouTube channel. I appreciate all the hard work from my staff who made the whole event possible. We were also honored by several members of the community telling stories. Our Thursday afternoon language class did a skit with props of why the porcupine has quills. Paul Schmidlkofer did the story of why the owl can turn his head around. Finally, my daughters played characters and wearing masks in the story of why there is daylight today. Igwien (Thank you) to everyone who came out and joined us. If you get a chance to hear some of these winter stories, share them with your family but remember that they are to be shared in the winter time. We traditionally believe that in the winter the earth and the spirits are asleep.
We have a number of classes coming up for those who would like to join an in-person or online real time class. We have a number of online class options at learning.potawatomi.org and 7000.org.
Shelly will also have a Beginner 2 class from 5-7 p.m. April 2 at the Cultural Heritage Center. Josey Wood will have a Beginner class from 5:30-6:30 p.m. every Tuesday from March 24 to April 14. I will have an Intermediate course from 5:30-6:30 p.m. every Wednesday from April 1 to May 6 at the Cultural Heritage Center. All of these classes are available in person or online.
This summer we have immersion courses available: a two-week beginner course from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 11-22; a two-week intermediate course from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 1-11; and a youth culture and language camp for ages 6-13 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. July 6-10. For more information, email [email protected].
For Neshnabe people, our new year is the arrival of the first thunders and the arrival of spring. Often, those thunders will try and come back early as the following story tells.
“Why the Thunders Go South”
Once when the earth was still young, the Creator told all the animals to come to a meeting to choose who would be the leader. Many animals thought they would be the leader. Some said turtle, some said the wolf, some said the white giant who lived in the north and some said Thunder.
Lots of animals argued. Finally, only the white giant and thunder were still fighting, so the Creator decided to teach them humility.
The Creator told them they could both be leader. But they would have to learn to be leaders. The white giant would continue to live in the north and have strength over the snow, and Thunder would walk before the rains and live in the west.
When the snows come, the white giant leads them and the Thunder has to go south. To this day, Thunder is still mad he isn’t the only leader, so he rumbles and shakes the ground.
Every year, Thunder has to leave the north and travel south, and he comes back after the snow has fallen, thundering so everyone knows he has returned.