Veterans Report: May 2023

The May 2023 CPN Veterans Report highlights expanded medical benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. This month’s meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 23, at 6 p.m.

Barrett receives community recognition

Citizen Potawatomi Nation Chairman John “Rocky” Barrett recently received recognition from two Oklahoma organizations. Barrett will serve as a director on the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and Gaylord-Pickens Museum board. He was also inducted into the Shawnee Educational Foundation’s Hall of Fame.

Elders share perspectives for Older Americans Month

May is Older Americans Month — a time to acknowledge the contributions of older individuals in their communities. The Hownikan interviewed two Citizen Potawatomi elders about their role in the community and their advice for the younger generations.

Wellness Center offers employees holistic health

Whether someone is starting from scratch, or they are an experienced fitness enthusiast, Leslie Cooper said the CPN Wellness Center is ready to help Tribal employees meet their fitness goals.

Leading plant ecologist and author named MacArthur Fellow

Best known for her 2013 book Braiding Sweetgrass, Citizen Potawatomi Nation tribal member Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer is a plant ecologist, educator and writer. Dr. Kimmerer was named as a MacArthur Fellow in 2022, and hopes to use the fellowship to work on her next book.

Melott family history

To highlight some of the CPN archive holdings at the Nation’s Cultural Heritage Center, the Hownikan is featuring photographs and family history of every founding Citizen Potawatomi family. The Melott family was profoundly influential in the founding of present-day Wanette, Oklahoma.

Skin Deep: Potawatomi artist adds Indigenous flair to tattoos

Indigenous cultures across the globe have used tattoos as status symbols, to represent religious beliefs or just for adornment. One Potawatomi artist proud to share her spin on Indigenous tattoo art is Shelly Wahweotten, an enrolled citizen of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and owner of Analog Electric Tattoos in Oklahoma City.