Although only a junior in high school at the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, Pettifer family descendant Kyla Risenhoover’s main career goal reaches outside of earth’s atmosphere. She wants to become an astronaut.
When the phone rings in the middle of the night and a Citizen Potawatomi child faces court proceedings potentially placing them in foster care, people like Janet Draper take the call. As the director of the Tribal Indian Child Welfare Program, she and her staff play a vital role in the lives of young Tribal Read More »
Each summer, Citizen Potawatomi Nation selects 10 promising Tribal youths who have finished high school or their freshman year of college for the Potawatomi Leadership Program.The 2018 class traveled from across thecountry and arrived June 15. PLP adviser and Department of Education Director Tesia Zientek welcomed and introduced them to their counselor, Randy Bazhaw. The Read More »
In December at the P.L.A.C.E., the “Get Native” Program involved our youth participating in the talking circle, a traditional Potawatomi practice that helps each participant learn how best to listen and respect the thoughts of others. Each youth has a chance to speak if they want to. Participants also learn traditional Potawatomi stories and teachings, Read More »
In November the Tribal youth will celebrate Native American Heritage Month by starting an Indigenous fitness program. In hopes of helping our youth get in better shape and stay that way, this 30-day program is a physical challenge including squats, bridges, lunges, sit ups, wall sits and planks. The goal is to start small and Read More »
October begins with the Tribal youth program sponsoring “A Walk for Hope,” consisting of a 5k run and a one mile walk to help raise awareness for suicide prevention. We are expecting participation by more than 200 adults and children. This event will be a collaboration between the CPN Health Services, the Indian Child Welfare Read More »
With a successful summer coming to an end, it was back-to-school time for the Tribal youth, who hit the ground running and were excited about the new year. Keeping with the times, the youth also celebrated National School Success Month. Each student and parent did a “My Success Plan,” which includes giving the staff access Read More »
We survived an action filled summer. The Tribal youth will be attending an end of year trip to Arlington, Texas where they visit Six Flags over Texas and Hurricane Harbor. They’ll also take a tour of the Dallas Cowboys footballfacilities. With summer ending and school beginning though, it’s down to business. To get the school Read More »
Today, while more American youth seem to be captivated by the latest technological advancement than the neighborhood playground, one company is working to change thatperception. National non-profit company, KaBOOM!, focuses on providing youth a balanced and active childhood. The FireLodge Tribal Youth program received one of KaBOOM!’s Imagination Playgrounds through a donation from Blue Cross Read More »
July was a very busy at the P.L.A.C.E. as we took a journey to visit the homes of what most people know as the Five Civilized Tribes. Our first journey was to the Chickasaw Nation Cultural Heritage Center where the youth took a tour of the traditional Indian villages dating back to the eighteenth century. Read More »