In a state like Oklahoma, with vast distances and an inadequate public transportation infrastructure, having a reliable car is paramount for employees of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. This issue is exacerbated outside of the state’s two major metropolitan areas of Oklahoma City and Tulsa, where public transportation options almost cease to exist. In an effort to assist tribal employees in obtaining reliable transportation while avoiding high-fee, predatory car Read More »

Rhodd family member Lexi Freeman was a member of the 2012 Potawatomi Leadership Program. As an environmental science graduate student at Oklahoma State University, she is studying the American burying beetle, Nicrophorus americanus, the only endangered insect in Oklahoma. She is also using her degree to give back to tribal nations through implementing environmentally-friendly practices. Freeman recalled that the PLP impacted her life in significant ways and Read More »

Citizen Potawatomi Nation member Browning Neddeau, Ph.D. of Seaside, California, organized the second annual Native American Gathering at California State University, Monterey Bay on November 5. An assistant professor of education at the university, Neddeau led the planning, fundraising and helped manage the event with the help of CSUMB’s Native American Students United, Native Advisory Council and Mark Alabanza, assistant director for academic personnel. The gathering attracted more than Read More »

A familiar face around the Citizen Potawatomi Nation recently received notice that she would be honored with an award from the National Indian Health Board, CPN Health Services and Healthy Heart Program Coordinator Torie Fuller MS, RD/LD was named the 2016 Local Impact Award recipient for her service in improving health outcomes in Indian Country. “Your service to Indian Country has been noted by tribal Read More »

The CPN Legislature met on December 8 for their final meeting of 2016, with all legislators in attendance. Following approval of the September 22 legislative meeting minutes, tribal legislators approved the moving of the meeting to December 8. In tribal citizenship updates, the legislature approved resolutions of conditional relinquishment of CPN membership to Calvin Bryce Hollingsworth, Michael Leonard Covington, Jace Daren Hosp and Patricia Ann Tomlin Read More »

Although January is not the peak time for gardening, it is the perfect time to start planning for the 2017 garden. The CPN Community Garden will be moving to a plot of land behind the Sharp House for the 2017 season. “One major benefit to the new location is that the community will have more convenient access. This means that they will not be Read More »

For the month of November, Rekindling 7 Generations youth celebrated Native American Heritage Month with several events centered around the theme, “Traditional is Healthy.” Rekindling 7 Generations partnered with the Etem Omvlkusen UNITY Council to host an NB3FIT Day event. NB3FIT Day is a national event led by the Notah Begay III Foundation. Their goal was to engage 10,000 Native youth in physical activity for a Read More »

As home to the Chickasaw Nation’s Artesian Hotel, Murray County, Oklahoma has been held up as an example of positive relations between tribal nations and local governments that benefit rural Oklahoma communities. Following Election Day 2016, newly elected Murray County Clerk and Citizen Potawatomi tribal member Jill Jones Hall will be playing a leading role in furthering the county government’s role in serving its people. Hall is a Read More »

Fundraisers are a part of life for non-profit organizations, and the format for these vital funds are as varied as the organizations they serve. One CPN member from the Rhodd family, Katherine Brice of Evansville, Indiana, decided to take action using a unique fundraising skill for one of her hometown’s local charities using the tools she had at hand. Brice, a third-degree black belt and Read More »

Following the expanded funding for tribal youth behavioral health, CPN Health Services and the behavioral health department recently added another psychologist to its roster in the fall. Dr. Jessica Brody comes to CPN following her tenure with the U.S. Veterans Administration in Oklahoma City. While the VA had been her professional home for some time, Brody was in search of new career challenges and received CPN Read More »