Tribal candidate Q&As and final statements: June 2019 — District 10

In addition to the annual Tribal budget, Citizen Potawatomi voters will cast ballots for three competitive races for Oklahoma’s at-large legislative seats this June. The Hownikan asked the candidates about their backgrounds and reasons for running for Tribal office. David Barrett (incumbent) What makes your platform or candidacy differ from your fellow district candidate? “From Read More »

Tribal candidate Q&As: May 2019 — District 10

In addition to the annual Tribal budget, Citizen Potawatomi voters will cast ballots for three competitive races for Oklahoma’s at-large legislative seats this June. The Hownikan asked the candidates about their backgrounds and reasons for running for Tribal office. David Barrett (incumbent) How would you address the issue of growing Tribal enrollment? Is there a Read More »

District 10 – David Barrett: April 2018

Bozho (Hello), Color and Honor Guard After reviewing what the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Veterans Organization did in 2017, we were busy to say the least. We had an election for the secretary and treasurer positions of the organization. The incumbents Bill Wano and David Barrett both were re-elected to their post. The CPN Veteran’s organization Read More »

District 10 – David Barrett

Bozho (Hello), Recently, I came across an article by Natasha Lees in which she suggested 10 things to be grateful for at Christmastime. She said, “Christmastime is a time for being grateful for all of the things in life that we are fortunate to have.” She recognized that “family is everything. … Just think about Read More »

District 10 – David Barrett

Bozho (Hello), When do you become an elder? What does it mean to become an elder? Does someone assign that position to another individual? Is it due to the age of the person? Or is it based on the wealth of knowledge an individual accumulates over a lifetime? Some American Indian education programs describe tribal Read More »

District 10 – David Barrett

Bozho (Hello), 13-Folds It’s not too late to comment on our last Potawatomi Reunion Festival and our veteran flag ceremony held during the festival. We always have a dignified disposal of unserviceable flags after the inspection of the flags and the recommendation that they to honorably retired from further service. The flags are dipped in Read More »

District 10 – David Barrett

Bozho (Hello), Fears within fear A friend sent me an email asking me what I knew about “genízaros.” I wasn’t aware, so I did a little research. The first article I read was “U.S. Indian Slavery once Thrived in New Mexico,” written by Simon Romero and published Jan. 28 in The New York Times. Romero Read More »