Hallmarks of indigenous societies rooted in choice

After working and researching around the world, Citizen Potawatomi Nation member Raymond Orr accepted a position as an associate professor of Native American studies at the University of Oklahoma. He wanted to be back in the United States and closer to CPN following six years of teaching in Australia. “There are few better places to Read More »

Navy takes Tribal member’s dream off the ground

Most people’s childhood dreams remain unfulfilled, but Whitney Heer, Tribal member and descendant of the Toupin family, has worked to make her dreams a reality. She serves as a lieutenant junior grade in the U.S. Navy. Heer attended the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Rhode Island, the U.S. Naval Academy in Maryland and primary flight Read More »

2018 Family Reunion Festival Winners

Nearly 5,000 recently attended the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Family Reunion Festival held June 29 – July 1 at the Nation’s headquarters. This year’s event honored nine founding Citizen Potawatomi families: Anderson, Beaubien, Bertrand, Bourbonnais, Ogee, Pettifer, Toupin, Wano and Yott. Following tradition, the Tribe honored the wisest, youngest and farthest traveled member in attendance. Bob Read More »

CPN Family Reunion Festival: Honored Families of 2018

ANDERSON Marie (Mary) C. Tremble was the daughter of Therese Archange Morin Tremble Mann and Toussaint Tremble. She married John Anderson Sr. In the 1833 Treaty of Chicago, Marie received $500. John and Marie had three children: John Jr., Peter and Marie Anna Anderson. John Jr. married Elizabeth Hardin, and his brother Peter Anderson married Read More »

What to expect while recording stories and history during Family Reunion Festival

Every year during the Family Reunion Festival, a few Citizen Potawatomi Nation employees set up cameras and invite all ages of Honored Family descendants to volunteer information about their lineage on video. This year’s Honored Families are Anderson, Beaubien, Bertrand, Bourbonnais, Ogee, Pettifer, Toupin, Wano and Yott. This process documents Potawatomi people’s stories, expands Tribal Read More »

Byé bidgek Bodéwadmik gdewigwamem

This month, Citizen Potawatomi Nation welcomes Potawatomi tribal members from across the United States to Tribal headquarters near Shawnee, Oklahoma, for the annual Family Reunion Festival. Byé bidgek Bodéwadmik gdewigwamem, roughly translated, means “Welcome to your home, Potawatomi people.” Between June 29 and July 1, an expected 5,000 Tribal members will participate in cultural activities, Read More »