The Smith family history traces back to northern Illinois and an interpreter named Countryman. The family would go on to establish the Smith’s Ferry in Kansas before being removed once again to present-day Oklahoma.
Members of the Pambogo family were among the Potawatomi leaders who insisted the U.S. government recognize the rights of Potawatomi women to control their land holdings. This action would help create a foundation for future generations of Potawatomi.
The Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s Cultural Heritage Center provides resources to keep the Tribe’s history safe and accessible for generations to come. To highlight some of the archive’s holdings, the Hownikan is featuring photographs and family history of every founding Citizen Potawatomi family. Read the Negahnquet family history here.
The Nadeau family helped establish St. Marys mission and later were among the first Citizen Potawatomi to settle in Indian Territory.
The 2024 Honored Families are Darling, Hardin, Higbee, Levier, Lewis, Nadeau, Negahnquet, Pambogo and Smith.
Intertwined with the Bergeron family history, the Lewis family history is one of endurance and leadership in the face of removal. Wesley Lewis worked to establish the first schoolhouse, post office and cemetery near present-day Wanette, Oklahoma, and his descendants continued to develop infrastructure in the area, serve as community leaders and preserve Potawatomi history.
To highlight some of the CPN Cultural Heritage Center’s archival holdings, the Hownikan is featuring photographs and family history of every founding Citizen Potawatomi family. The Higbee family traces its roots back to the St. Joseph River Valley and has a long legacy serving as teachers, medical professionals, CPN employees, Tribal leaders and more.
A discussion at the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Family Reunion Festival has motivated members of the Tescier family to ensure that Potawatomi history is included in a Harrah, Oklahoma, historical society’s museum. The land for the town’s original site was donated by Tribal member Louis Navarre, who was first to arrive at his allotment in the 1870s.
To highlight some of the CPN Cultural Heritage Center’s archival holdings, the Hownikan is featuring photographs and family history of every founding Citizen Potawatomi family. The Hardin family has a long history of service to the Nation, through elected and volunteer leadership, military service, trades and more.
The earliest communities in what would become Oklahoma were born from the hard work and generosity of families like the Darlings. The Hownikan traces Darling family history through archival records at the CHC.