By Tesia Zientek, CPN Education Director For Native Americans, the Cobell v. Salazar landmark class-action case was historic. Some of you understand the case in painful detail because you or your family was affected. Others may only be familiar with it because of the ubiquitous memes joking about incoming Cobell checks. Still others have no idea who or what I’m talking about. Just in case, Read More »
Across the country, tribal members of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation will walk across stages and receive their diplomas to conclude the 2016 academic year. Among the dozens of graduates concluding their undergraduate studies this academic year are two Citizen Potawatomi at the U.S. Naval Academy. Caleb Anderson and Whitney Heer are both Oklahoma natives and will be among the graduates honored at the Navy Marine Corps Ceremonial Read More »
In recent years, rightwing groups like the Goldwater Institute have made a concerted effort to repeal the Indian Child Welfare Act. Opponents claim the 1978 law, which aims to keep foster children of Native American descent in tribal families and communities, is racist. Those playing the race card appear angrier that the law prioritizes rights of Native families over those who are not. ICWA’s focus on Read More »
By Sarah Lawerance, CPN Fitness Trainer Each year, you can feel the anticipation building at FireLake Wellness Center as the March Madness fitness challenge rolls around. The contest was set up like the NCAA basketball championship bracket and went for six weeks, beginning in March. This year we had 64 participants, including 32 women and Read More »
Preparing for the worst is what emergency responders do best, and a recent exercise held at the Citizen Potawatomi Nation gave local rescuers an opportunity to hone the skills they’ll need when disaster strikes. On May 12, the Pottawatomie County Local Emergency Planning Committee organized an exercise at the FireLake complex to train the local Read More »
By Darin Greene, FireLodge Tribal Youth Coordinator This time of year brings our spring session at the Potawatomi Learning and Cultural Exchange. Our students will have plenty to do this month as school comes to a close. The GET Native program will focus on educating students about several cultures including those living across North America. They will also be exposed to isolated languages of Oklahoma. Tribal Read More »
By Justin Neely, Director of the CPN Language Department It’s been an eventful month for the Citizen Potawatomi Language Department. In April, students who attend the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Child Development Center competed in the OU Language Fair. Our group took first place in the large group traditional song category for pre-K – second grade. The kids sang the Potawatomi “Morning Song,” focusing on singing loudly with Read More »
The local minor league baseball team, the Oklahoma City Dodgers, is slated to play a week’s worth of home games during the Family Reunion Festival. Located in the middle of bustling Bricktown just off of Interstate 40, the ballpark’s ticket prices are affordable – outfield seating tickets start at $10 and there are plenty of restaurants and family friendly entertainment Read More »
Cash prizes are on still on the line for female and male divisions in this year’s pistol match held at BDC Gun Room during the annual CPN Family Reunion Festival. Download the full information and rules sheet here. Download the sign up sheet here. For further questions, contact Charles Meloy at [email protected].
The original 1836 treaty between the Potawatomi and the United States is now on display as part of an exhibition titled “Nation to Nation: Treaties between the United States and American Indian Nations” at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. The treaty will be on display until August 2016. “The history of U.S.-Indian treaties is the history of all Americans,” Read More »