Language update

Submitted by Justin Neely, CPN Language Department director Bozho jayek (Hello everyone), By the time this comes out, we will have hosted our annual Winter Storytelling event. We also broadcast it live on Facebook this year. You should still be able to access the archived version by joining the group Potawatomi Language, and then finding Read More »

Seasonal storytelling event, expanded online learning options highlight new year

Submitted by Justin Neely It’s always busy this time of year in Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s Language Department. By the time you receive this issue, children in the Child Development Center will have performed “Run Rudolph Run” and “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” in Potawatomi for the annual Christmas program. Growing interest We just wrapped up Read More »

Language with Justin: November

Submitted by Justin Neely It’s been a busy fall for Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s Language Department. We are offering a 10-week beginner class 5:30-7 p.m. every Wednesday through Nov. 22 at the CPN Cultural Heritage Center in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Students learn songs and play games as part of the learning process. Some Potawatomi-language games we have Read More »

Bazhaw shares Potawatomi language in everyday life

Ralph Bazhaw, a member of the Bergeron family, recently participated in a Pentecost service at his church, Faith Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, North Carolina, using the Potawatomi language. “I am proud of my Potawatomi heritage, and I love to express myself as a Potawatomi at every opportunity,” Bazhaw said. “My minister Karen Ware Jackson is Read More »

Online courses help Georgia-based family learn ancestral language

Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s Language Department has a small but dedicated staff of teachers who over the years have sought out new and technologically friendly ways of bringing the Potawatomi language to members. The fact remains that with headquarters in Oklahoma, many Citizen Potawatomi found themselves struggling to learn the language of their ancestors. However, through Read More »

Language with Justin: February 2016

Lots of exciting things are going on with the language department. On Wed., Feb. 24 we will be hosting our third annual Winter Storytelling Festival at the CPN Cultural Heritage Center from 6-8 p.m. We will have food and refreshments and all are welcome. We hope you will come out and listen to some of Read More »

Language with Justin: January 2016

Weather Terms: Traditionally when a storm approaches, we take a pinch of tobacco in our left hand and say a prayer asking the Creator to watch over us. We then place that tobacco on the north side of a tree, or, if we are near water, we might place it in the water. They say Read More »

Language with Justin: December 2015

Mno gishget Jesos ga nigit mine mno weponget.(Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the CPN Language Department). As always, it gets kind of busy around the holidays. Our new online ‘Beginner I’ self-paced language course met with great success. So far we have had over 245 students join and have had our first student Read More »

Language with Justin: November 2015

As we move into fall, the language department has been busy. We have already released our Beginner I self-paced language course. To access the course go to http://language.potawatomi.org. Once you sign up, you have to wait for us to confirm you. By the time this edition of the Hownikan comes out we will have released Read More »