The below examples are the front and back of a real photo postcard acquired by the CHC archives in summer 2015. Despite the message on the back’s lack of political correctness and cultural sensitivity, the image is a great example of how Potawatomi people were still practicing traditional spirituality near Shawnee as recently as 1912. Read More »
Tribal members and their families are given the opportunity to work on regalia and share techniques with fellow Potawatomi at Festival each year. During Friday and Saturday of the annual event, theCultural Heritage Center hosts regalia making classes where items such as shawls, moccasins, medallions and bandoliers are crafted. “We’ve really tried to make our Read More »
Great Lakes Stickball Player by George Catlin 1835 [Smithsonian American Art Museum.] The first known six-sided dice dates from 3,000 BC Mesopotamia in what is now northern Iraq. The first horse race in America took place in the year 1668. Gambling and sport have been a part of the human identity for as Read More »
During the Family Reunion Festival, Powwow Arena Director Coby Lehman instructs participants on proper etiquette and what is acceptable to wear inside the arena. Lehman often passes out pamphlets that thoroughly explain proper powwow attire. While trying to adhere to these standards may seem daunting, the Cultural Heritage Center and FireLake Gift Shop can provide Read More »
As the Citizen Potawatomi Nation has grown in recent years, concerns about Potawatomi traditions and practices have come to the forefront in many conversations amongst Tribal members. Though many traditions are passed down from family elders, those living twenty first century lifestyles may feel like it’s a difficult task to adhere to practices developed Read More »
Bozho Jayek, It’s an exciting time in the language department. We are working hard on a self-paced online language course. The idea behind the course is that a person will be able to access the course anywhere in the world at any time they want to learn Potawatomi. As part of the class there are Read More »
We have many upcoming events in the language department to talk about as we push towards spring after a cold Oklahoma winter. First off, the development of our self-paced language online class is coming along well. We are still anticipating a summer 2015 opening. The class will have 40 topics organized with 10 lessons in Read More »
As temperatures drop and people head back inside, the opportunity to learn more about the Tribe shouldn’t be lost until the next powwow season. Books by Potawatomi authors and chronicles of the Tribe’s history are available to Tribal members, both in the CPN jurisdiction and across the nation. CPN Cultural Heritage Center Curator and Archivist Read More »
Festival is right around the corner and by the time you receive this edition it will be here. First I would like to share some of the exciting accomplishments of the CPN Child Development Center children who are taught by the Language Instructor Randy Schlachtun. We are very proud of Randy and the kids’ accomplishments Read More »
It was the flood no one saw coming. Surveillance video from inside the Long Room at the Cultural Heritage Center shows the floor rising in a dome shape.Within an hour, several inches of water came seeping through the concrete base and out the opened doors. Several months have passed since the eerie day that left Read More »