Bozho
(Hello),
Holiday wishes
Peggy and I would like to sincerely wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We hope that your holiday season is safe and only filled with joy and happiness. It has been a very good year and I look forward to 2018 being even better.
2018 Gathering of Potawatomi Nations
The 2018 Gathering will be hosted by Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation July 29-Aug. 5 in Mayetta, Kansas. I haven’t seen the schedule, but I assume the first part of the week will be the language conference with the other Gathering activities beginning Thursday and continuing through Saturday. As details become available, I will post them in future columns.
Rossville activities
1. The Elders Christmas Potluck is Dec. 8 at the CPN Community Center in Rossville, Kansas. The main dishes will be ham and potatoes with gravy. Join us and bring your favorite holiday side dish or dessert. Please RSVP with Tracy or Pam at 785-584-6171 if you plan on attending.
2. Recently, CPN member Judy Boyles held two gourd painting classes in the CPN Community Center. From my observation, those who participated enjoyed learning a new craft and I was impressed with the artistic talent evident in the final products. This is the first (but not the last) cultural program we plan to offer to tribal members. Watch for the announcement of future classes and programs in the Senior Support Network quarterly newsletter and my monthly column.
Another Horak in the news
Tribal member Wendi Horak of Rossville, Kansas, was recently inducted into Pittsburg State University’s Athletic Hall of Fame and was recognized at halftime during one of Pittsburg’s football games. Among her achievements while playing PSU softball 1992-94 include a school batting average record of 0.461 in 1993. She was a two-time All-MIAA pick and in 1993 helped the Gorillas to a 36-8 record and the program’s first appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament. In 1994, she led her team to an MIAA Championship and another NCAA berth with a 48-5.
Available health care
Recently, I have received several inquiries regarding the availability of health care for CPN members. Unfortunately, there isn’t much available to most of the members in Kansas. However, if you are with driving distance of Mayetta, there is the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Health Center. Any enrolled tribal member is eligible to receive care at this facility. Care to non-Prairie Band members is limited to care that is available in the clinic, which includes basic primary care, radiology, laboratory, pharmacy and dental services.
If you are interested in obtaining further information, you can call the PBPN Clinic at 785-966-8200, or stop by the clinic in person at 11400 158th Road in Mayetta. The clinic is located approximately 3 miles west of U.S. Highway 75 on 158th Road in Mayetta, which is about 25 minutes north of Topeka.
Finally, it has been a pleasure to serve as your Legislative Representative this past year, and I am looking forward to the coming year with enthusiasm.
CPN member wins City Council seat
Iris Holloway, a Navarre descendant, was recently elected to the city council for the town of St. George, a small Kansas town halfway between Wamego and Manhattan. Iris is one of five council members and will have a four-year term. He ran a very successful campaign against five other candidates running for three open seats on the council. The town of St. George has experienced a significant growth over the past few years with the addition of several new sub-divisions with the expectation of another sub-division in the near future.
After his election, Iris stated he looks forward to working closely with his community and other council members to keep his town moving towards that brighter tomorrow. He said he is proud to represent his town and his tribe. He thinks he may be the first Native American City Council member St. George has had.
Migwetch
(Thank you),
Jon Boursaw,
Wetase Mkoh (Brave Bear)
Representative, District 4
785-861-7272 office
785-608-1982 cell
2007 SW Gage Blvd.
Topeka, KS 66604
jon.boursaw@potawatomi.org
Office hours:
9-11 a.m. Tuesdays
3-5 p.m. Thursdays
Other times: please call