John “Rocky” Barrett
Tribal Chairman
Bozho nikan, (Hello, my friend),
We’ve had another great Family Reunion Festival, with new and familiar faces filling the CPN grounds throughout the weekend in spite of a 100-plus heat index. It’s always a pleasure to see our Tribal members coming together to celebrate our history and traditions.
This year, after several heat-related illnesses, we made the decision to hold Grand Entry in the FireLake Arena. With temperatures so high, we can’t risk the health of our elders, so the event carried on in the air conditioning. It was a huge success. Thank you all for being there, and for all who contributed to making it happen.
General Council took place Saturday afternoon, and we once again honored John Anderson, 97, as our Wisest Citizen Potawatomi. Also honored were some of our youngest Tribal members, Oliver Neely and Freidrich “Fritz” Schulte, both 5 months old. The farthest traveled at Festival was Jacob Morrell, who ventured all the way from Hawaii to attend his first Family Reunion Festival.
The Tribal elections saw the approval of the budget, with 1,373 voting in favor and only 68 opposed. We also swore in the winning legislators; District 9’s Paul Wesselhöft was reelected and District 12’s Paul Schmidlkofer ran unopposed. Congratulations to the legislators for their successful campaigns this year.
There is an election trend I would like to see improve in the coming years. With about 39,000 Tribal members, less than 2,000 cast their votes in this year’s election. Our Tribe has gone from an old trailer and $500 in the bank in the 1970s to more than $509 million in assets in 2023, with enterprises such as Sovereign Bank and Sovereign Pipe Technologies. However, none of that happened overnight or without effort or without threats to our Tribal Sovereignty. Through the years, we’ve faced lawsuits that threaten all we’ve built. It is vital to our Nation that our citizens do their part by voting and by selecting good people to run for office. Get out and vote and encourage your family members and friends to do the same.
Thank you to everyone who came to Festival this year and to everyone who helped make it a success. Thank you, also, for choosing me to serve as your Tribal Chairman. It has been a great honor to serve you, and I hope to continue to do so for many years to come.
Migwetch (Thank you),
John “Rocky” Barrett | Geweoge (He Leads Them Home) | Tribal Chairman
Linda Capps
Vice-Chairman
Bozho (Hello),
As CPN Tribal members and employees were preparing for the Family Reunion Festival
before the weekend of June 28-30, a few of us were also preparing for ceremonies for the inurnment of crematory remains of loved ones at the new CPN Columbarium. The columbarium, located just west of our Mission Church, is a new addition to the CPN grounds this year. There were inurnment ceremonies for Lyman Eugene Boursaw, Jr., Richard Vincent Johnson and Martha Jane Johnson, Maida Lewis Stofferahn, Elvin Ray Brock, Sheila Marie Kelly, Dorothy Kathryn Welch and Willard Wilbur Welch. The total is eight for Festival 2024 and my guess is there will be many more inurnments by Festival 2025. I think of it as a peaceful and private occasion, a time for family to congregate for a grieving purpose, but also a time to celebrate their loved one’s life.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Lewis family in celebration of Maida Stofferahn’s life. There were 29 attendees at that ceremony. Many of the family members had not seen each other for several years. I thought it was a beautiful celebration. Maida had experienced a long illness, and her caregiver was there to visit with family. It was a very touching event. A few others beside family attended to help make decisions about their own plans whenever they face the end of time.
It is important for you to know that Trey DeLonais, CPN Tribal member and devoted employee of CPN Public Information Department, is key to the columbarium inurnment process. Kent Bush, the director of the department, has graciously allowed Trey, his senior graphic artist, to be instrumental in the Tribe’s initiative to maintain the columbarium. Trey is the engraver of any urns that are used from our supply, and he also engraves the niches. His work is meticulous. Not only does he do an outstanding job with the engraving work, but he also has a mesmerizing personality that captures the heart of all who meet him. Although he was rushed with his duties for the Festival weekend, he treated each person involved with the columbarium like their project was his sole job for the day.
Trey is, indeed, magnificent like several hundred of CPN’s other employees. We as a Nation can be very proud of our employees’ diligence during the hot and humid weekend of the Festival. It takes a lot of energy to be out in the heat for a whole day. This is especially true when the evening does not give much relief in temperature. The blessing this year was that we held the powwow in the arena. Once again, thanks goes out to both our employees and our Tribal members who helped make the shift to the arena possible. We are fortunate to be surrounded with people that care.
Next year for our annual Festival, we will be greeted by a new casino, a new hotel and the grandest softball fields in the state of Oklahoma. CPN will be a showplace for all to see. Perhaps we might even get to powwow inside the arena next year. Who knows what gems the Festival will reveal? Thank you for allowing me to serve as your Vice-Chairman all these years.
Migwetch (Thank you),
Linda Capps | Segenakwe (Black Bird Woman) | Vice-Chairman | Work: 405-275-3121 | Cell: 405-650-1238 | lcapps@potawatomi.org
Eva Marie Carney
District 2
Bozho, nikanek (Hello, friends),
June 8 beading class report
We gathered in early June to learn brick stitch beading from District 2 resident Sierra Waterman-Wells/Senajewen. Sierra shared the following information about herself to include with this column: She is from Kansas, spent time in Massachusetts for work, and moved to Maryland (District 2) in 2019. She and her husband moved to Frederick, Maryland, in 2022. That is when she began to consider the Mid-Atlantic her home. She also shared:
“I am a descendant of the Bertrand family. When I was a teen, I was given my Potawatomi name Senajewen by District 4 Representative Boursaw.”
“During the pandemic I began beading again, for the first time since childhood. After making some digital art and beaded pieces for friends and family, I was encouraged to begin my own business. Since starting the business “Senajewen,” I’ve enjoyed hosting and vending at artisan markets, teaching classes, and telling the stories of our people.”
Sierra and I first met in person this March when she collaborated with Washington, D.C.-based Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, which hosted a Native American Art Market. It was a joy to learn from Sierra and to introduce a Potawatomi artisan living in our area to everyone who attended. You can find out more about Senajewen, and view her pieces, at cpn.news/senajewen. I have scheduled our District 2 Fall Feast in Arlington, Virginia, for Saturday, Nov. 9; happily, most of the folks who came to the beadwork are planning to attend the Fall Feast and keep the community feeling going! Other morning highlights included sharing class time with our daughter Elise, visiting from Massachusetts, and listening to Karen and Bob Richey/Shawano and Kathleen Korzeniewski planning out aspects of the bandolier bag craft that will be shared at the Feast. It’s great to have so much talent and so much support among us!
Please know that all are welcome to attend District 2 meetings if you can make the trip.
Washington Post investigation into the hidden legacy of Indian boarding schools in the United States
You can create a free account to access an important investigative piece released at the end of May 2024 documenting firsthand hand accounts (interviews with more than two dozen Indian boarding school survivors who were sexually and physically abused as children) and other evidence “reveal[ing] the brutality and sexual abuse inflicted upon children who were taken from their families under a systematic effort by the federal government to destroy Native American culture, assimilate children into White society and seized tribal lands.” It is a heavy but important read.
The Post’s investigation focused on church-run schools, which was outside the scope of past government inquiries into the boarding schools and the U.S. Department of the Interior’s recent scrutiny into the history of the schools operated or supported by the Department, overviewed in its Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative Investigative Report (cpn.news/biareport). The conclusions are harrowing; the critical need to keep the spotlight trained on these issues so that we “know what happened to our grandmothers, our parents, our family members,” is stated clearly by a key advocate quoted in the piece, Deborah Parker, chief executive of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. “We’ve been lied to. We want to know the truth. We need to begin to heal,” she said.
Accompanying the investigative piece is a nine-slide summary of U.S. policies to “civilize” Native children, which I highly recommend you read as well.
Migwetch (Thank you),
Eva Marie Carney | Ojindiskwe (Bluebird Woman) | ecarney@potawatomi.org | evamariecarney@gmail.com | evamariecarney.com | PO Box 5595 | Arlington, VA 22205 | Toll Free: 866-961-6988
Bob Whistler
District 3
Bozho ginwa (Hello everyone),
Corpus Christi
On Saturday, May 18, a District 3 meeting was held in Corpus Christi. In the meeting, a presentation was made on various new things happening in our Nation. Similar to the Tyler, Texas, meeting, a wooden loom craft was introduced and all in attendance, including the children, participated. The size of the items created allows them to be used as a pad for a cup or glass. The photo shows three of the pads created.
As is our usual practice, we recognize the eldest, youngest and who traveled the furthest to attend the meeting. The eldest was Arron Benick, and he was presented with a saddle blanket. Ironically, his birthday, adding another year, was the next day, May 19. So, we were able to offer him a happy birthday. The youngest was Winn Twardowski, and he was given a blanket also. Vickie Bryan drove the furthest and she was presented with a CPN travel coffee cup. The photo shows the three of them with myself.
17.7 percent cost reduction
Over the years I have served as a legislator, I have seen a couple of times where either an investment cost or expense was handled by the executive branch at a lower cost than expected. When we voted to build our pipe factory there was a federal program where around $1 million for the construction was saved. At our May legislative meeting we passed a resolution for a second use of the same type of federal program, which resulted in a savings in our cost of approximately 17.7% for the new hotel on Hardesty. The executive branch will now file paperwork with the federal government, where they will give CPN a tax revenue credit for $4 million on our $22.5 million dollar cost to build the new hotel.
Many of you may be familiar with the programs used by city and state governments to entice companies to come to their area by offering a reduced and/or no property tax program for several years. It usually amounts to many millions of dollars in savings. Well, the program that the executive committee found is the same thing but offered by the federal government. Since the land on Hardesty is in trust, it qualified for the federal program.
In looking at many past year’s monetary growth by CPN, it has been these types of decisions that for years allowed us to grow by 20 percent or more.
Language class
In May I was in Shawnee twice. Each time I was able to visit the Cultural Heritage Center. On the first trip it was on the second day of the new, eight-week language class just created by our language group. In the third week I was available to sit in on Thursday for about two hours with the class. The class was really moving along and I could see that the students were getting a great grasp of our language.
There were about 11 students in the class. I spoke with our language director, Justin Neely, and he indicated that for future classes, he felt class size would need to be limited to around 15 to 17 students. You may want to keep your eyes open for the next one. For those attending from out of town, they would be responsible for their own housing and food.
As always, I am honored to serve as your representative and voice. I am just an email or call away.
Nagech (Later),
Bob Whistler | Bmashi (He Soars) | rwhistler@potawatomi.org | cpn3legislator@yahoo.com | 1516 Wimberly Ct. | Bedford, TX 76021 | 817-229-6271 | cpndistrict3.com
Jon Boursaw
District 4
2024 Memorial Day Ceremony
For the past several years I have attended the Memorial Day ceremonies and the playing of Taps Across America at the Combat Air Museum in Topeka, only this year was different. A few days prior to the event I was informed that I would be the military veteran who would be the recipient of the United States of America flag and given the opportunity to offer a few comments about the flag. I felt honored to be that veteran. Coming up with appropriate comments that were meaningful for all veterans was not easy, but I’m pleased to share them with you:
OUR FLAG
This message is for my fellow veterans.
Although I have just been given the flag of the United States of America, it is not my flag, it is our flag.
Our flag was with us when we first enlisted or were commissioned.
Our flag has been out in front in countless Pass in Review Ceremonies and Parades.
Our flag was flying over that remote installation at a location we couldn’t find in the International Atlas.
Our flag was with our families when we couldn’t be with them.
And finally we found our flag draped over the casket of our best friend and fellow veteran, who had Walked On.
My Involvement with the Combat Air Museum
I have been involved with the Combat Air Museum for over 12 years. I first served as a volunteer working in the gift shop and now I am a member of the Board of Directors. The museum is located on what had been Forbes Air Force Base located just south of Topeka. The museum opened in the late 1970s. The museum has 46 aircraft representing military aviation history from the First World War to the present time. The earlier aircraft are represented by replicas while the aircraft of the Second World War to the present are the actual aircraft. The museum is open seven days a week. One of museum’s biggest attractions is a computerized flight simulator, complete with a live instructor. Time on the simulator is included in the regular admission price.
Several programs go on throughout the year. These include Young Aviators education classes in the summer, Girls in Aviation, co-sponsored by the Kansas Commission on Aerospace Education, in the fall, and Scout Aviation Merit Badge classes.
I often tell people that I’m part of the museum’s history because although I was never an actual crew member, I have flown in four of the aircraft found in the museum. My first flight in any aircraft was in a C-47 Skytrain when I was an AFROTC freshman at Washburn University. Later, while I was stationed at a Canadian air base, I had the opportunity to have six flights in our USAF T-33, Shooting Star, the first jet trainer. Also, while in Canada I had one flight in a RCAF C-45, the Twin Beech. Finally, while assigned to the HQs U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany, I had approximately 90 flights on the UH-I Iroquois, more commonly known as the Huey. However, each flight was only about eight minutes in length.
Upcoming CPN Elders’ Potlucks
Dates for the Elder Potlucks held in Rossville at noon are:
No potluck in July
August 9 | Beef Brisket | RSVP by the 6th
Bring your favorite side dish or dessert. Please RVSP to Tracy at 785-584-6171.
Contact Information
If you are not receiving emails from me, it is because I do not have your current email address or what I have is incorrect. All you need to do is email your email address.
Megwetch (Thank you),
Jon Boursaw | Wetase Mkoh (Brave Bear) | jon.boursaw@potawatomi.org | 785-608-1982 | 2007 SW Gage Blvd. | Topeka, KS 66604 | Office Hours: Tuesday 9-11 a.m. | Thursdays 3-5 p.m. | Other times as requested
Gene Lambert
District 5
Bozho (Hello),
As long as life goes on, we are constantly learning by choice or life experiences.
Writing these articles every month has taken me places I would have never thought of going. It does heighten the awareness of the world around us once we learn its significance.
I can only hope you find the chosen subject matter as interesting as I do. On occasion, I have encouraged you to Google something only because you cannot effectively cover some subjects with a 600-word article.
Given where we are with the fourth of July there are so many places one could direct oneself.
I have chosen the Star or the “Star Blanket,” discovering the significance to which I was unaware of its depth. If you are out there quilting, you would probably have even more valuable knowledge than those I am citing.
Google defines it as, “It is used to honor, protect, and celebrate the individual. Receiving a star blanket brings good dreams, prosperity, and protection. The star does not only represent the Morning Star but it’s also known as the Creator’s Eye, therefore when the Creator is with you, covering you, you are forever safe.”
Each of the individual diamonds that makes up the star design represents a piece of knowledge that the child will learn throughout its lifetime. The eight points of the star provide balance, with two points in each direction (north, south, east, and west) symbolizing our grandmothers and grandfathers, and day/night.
The Star Blanket represents the basic use for daily survival along with the honor of a gift with such special significance.
This sounds a great deal like the acknowledgement of the four directions as we remember in every ceremony. Of course it would be representative of the blanket.
Wow! Do we want to know more about this?
Chairman Barrett often talks about the importance of a blanket to the Native American culture. As he says, “It was used as a saddle, cradle for a baby, a bundle with which to gather and of course as a pillow or blanket for your sleeping comfort.”
The Star Blanket represents the basic use for daily survival along with the honor of a gift with such special significance.
You might see this blanket pattern honoring a graduation, on the top of sweat lodges, birth of child or the loss of someone who has walked on.
Wikipedia says, “Anthropologists (such as Bea Medicine) have documented important social and cultural connections between quilting and earlier important pre-reservation crafting traditions, such as women’s quill-working societies and other crafts that were difficult to sustain after hunting and off-reservation travel was restricted by the US government. Star quilts have also become a source of income for many Native-American women, while retaining spiritual and cultural importance to their makers.”
The Star Blanket has been around since the 1800s. There are many names for the quilt. Some call it the Variable Star, the Eastern Star or the Western Star. It would depend on the geographical location.
While the stars in the blanket are not of the same significance as the flag, it has always been uplifting imagery. You can see the constellations found in history, respect the stars and what they represent on the flag, blanket, or a student’s homework, it is always considered excellence.
So, in the meantime, keep reaching for the stars and continue until it is your time to walk back up the Milky Way to the North Star.
Your legislator,
Gene Lambert (Eunice Imogene Lambert) | Butterfly Woman | glambert@potawatomi.org | 270 E Hunt Highway Ste 229 | San Tan Valley, AZ 85143 | Cell: 480-228-6569 | Office: 480-668-0509
Rande K. Payne
District 6
Bozho Nikanek (Hello friends),
What a great time I had at the Temecula gathering on June 1. It was nice to meet some Tribal members for the first time. I’ve had the opportunity to get to know several Tribal members and their families over the years, and it was great to see them again.
After the invocation, we watched a presentation spotlighting progress on our newest enterprises. Aerial photos gave a bird’s eye view of how well construction is coming along on the new hotel and casino. They also provided a good reference point for where they are situated in relation to the rest of the Tribal grounds along Hardesty Road. CPN Tribal Legislation recently approved a resolution allowing for $4 million in New Market Tax Credits to be used in reducing the out-of-pocket cost of construction of the hotel. This was great news!
An overview of Sovereign Pipe Technologies operations explained how it began, how it is performing today, and the future forecast. A video presented by CEO and General Manager Ronnie Wear provided a more in-depth look at SPT’s scope of operations. I appreciate District 3 Representative Robert Whistler sharing the video. SPT manufactures high density polyethylene pipe at its facility in Iron Horse Industrial Park. Their finished product is shipped to customers throughout the United States.
We also learned about Sovereign Bank. It is the largest Native American owned community bank in the U.S. It serves customers via multiple locations, including a loan production office in Midwest City, Oklahoma. CPN recently purchased the 18-story building where the loan production office operates. A picture of the building showed just how beautiful it is. It is a distinct landmark in the Oklahoma City skyline.
As Vice-Chairman Linda Capps wrote in her May Hownikan column, the columbarium is complete. Aerial photographs gave everyone a look at the completed project and where it is situated on Tribal grounds. The columbarium has 400 niches. Each niche can hold two urns. Anyone considering having cremains inurned at the columbarium can contact Tribal Rolls for more information.
My perspective of the book, The Seven Generations and The Seven Grandfather Teachings, was given. Author James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw beautifully lays out the significance of these teachings in Anishinaabé culture. It was a fun and interactive discussion and learning experience.
As is tradition, our wisest Tribal member in attendance, Mary Jenkins, was honored with a beautiful Pendleton blanket. Mary is a Francour descendant and resides in Temecula. The future of our Tribe is acknowledged by honoring our youngest Tribal member in attendance. Berlin Lawrenz is a Beltran descendant. Berlin resides in Upland with her sister and parents Chris and Lillian Lawrenz. Our farthest traveled Tribal members were Amber Vasquez and her three children. They are Kennedy descendants, and they reside in Visalia.
I was pleased the meeting was well attended. I was more impressed with how engaged everyone was. Thanks to all who came and demonstrated how much you love your Tribe! My heart was overflowing as our time together came to a close.
I would like to thank everyone at Tribal headquarters who assisted with everything I needed to put the event together. There’s not enough space to name everyone but you know who you are. My sisters Sharon and Karen are my traveling companions and help with whatever needs to be done. I love them dearly and greatly appreciate their support. To the Tribal members who came early and helped set up, thank you! Thanks Chris Lawrenz for volunteering to pick up the food!
Wisdom from the Word: “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.” – Hebrews 10: 24-25
Jagenagenan (All our relations)…
I am grateful for the privilege to serve as your representative.
Migwetch! Nagetch (Thank you! Later),
Rande K. Payne | Mnedo Gabo | rande.payne@potawatomi.org | 31150 Road 180 | Visalia, CA 93292-9585 | 559-999-5411
Mark Johnson
District 7
Bozho nikanek (Hello friends),
With the recent wave of high school graduations, I have received a couple of questions concerning the Native American Opportunity Plan offered through the University of California (UC) system. Citizen Potawatomi Nation students in California graduating from high school and considering enrolling or who are currently enrolled in the University of California system, can apply for and take advantage of this program that ensures that in-state systemwide tuition and student services fees are fully covered for California students who are also enrolled in federally recognized Native American, American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. Currently these students make up about 0.5% of enrolled students in the University of California system. This plan applies to undergraduate and graduate students. Students with greater financial need can qualify for even more grant support to help pay other educational expenses (like books, housing, transportation, etc.). Campus fees and professional degree supplemental tuition are not part of the Native American Opportunity Plan. This program, unfortunately, does not extend into the California State University (CSU) system.
To be eligible for the Native American Opportunity Plan, students must meet all the following criteria:
- Must be a current or newly admitted University of California undergraduate, graduate or professional school student.
- Must be a California resident for tuition purposes.
- Must be an enrolled member in a federally recognized Native American, American Indian and/or Alaska Native tribe.
- Must be enrolled in a qualifying UC degree program.
- Undergraduates must apply for financial aid by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), if eligible for federal aid, or California Dream Act application.
The goal of the UC Native American Opportunity Plan is to make college more affordable and accessible for California’s Native American students. This plan will ensure that in-state systemwide tuition and student services fees are fully covered for California residents who are members of federally recognized Native American, American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. The plan applies to new and continuing undergraduate, graduate and professional school students in state-funded degree programs who don’t already qualify for financial aid that covers their tuition. Students may contact the UC financial aid office, graduate division or Native resource center on their selected campus for additional information.
Schools in the University of California system include UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara and UC Santa Cruz.
Once again, I would like to say what an honor it is to serve you as your District 7 representative. As always, give me a call, and I will be happy to work with you on any questions you may have or provide you with additional information you may need to access Tribal benefits that are available to you. Please also take the time to give me a call or send me an email with your contact information so that I can keep you informed of the happenings within the Nation and district.
Migwetch (Thank you),
Mark Johnson | Wisk Mtek (Strong as a Tree) | 559-351-0078 | mark.johnson@potawatomi.org
Dave Carney
District 8
Bozho nikan, (Hello friend),
As you are reading this, I hope everyone is enjoying summer activities
and great weather. There is nothing quite like a Northwest summer! I hope we get some of that amazing weather soon because so far, it has just been a teaser day here or there. As I write the July column (in the first week of June) I am drying out from a soggy camping trip to the beach. Having lived in the area for the last 25 years, this was not completely unexpected. Locals call it “blue tarp camping.”
On May 21, I was able to spend the day with my sibling and fellow CPN Legislator, Eva Marie Carney (District 2), for an all-day road trip to Pendleton, Oregon. The Wildhorse Foundation, a community benefit fund established by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), hosted their annual recipients at Wildhorse Resort and Casino.
Eva Marie’s non-profit, The Kwek Society, received a grant award in 2023 from this foundation and is hoping to receive more contributions in the future. The Kwek Society’s mission is to end period poverty among Native girls and women and so far has provided supplies in 18 states. Learn more at kweksociety.org.
Attending the awards ceremony and seeing the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla reservation was worth the 11-hour round trip drive from Olympia, Washington. In addition to being fed an amazing surf and turf lunch and hearing from foundation board members and award recipients, we toured their heritage center/museum, had a look at their hotel and casino and fueled up at the tribal gas station. It was fortunate that we sat with two of the foundation board members, John Turner, who is not only vice chairman of the foundation but the current mayor of Pendleton, and John Shafer, an Umatilla County commissioner. We learned about the area, and they learned about The Kwek Society.
In just a few weeks I’ll be attending the CPN Family Festival in Oklahoma and hope to see many of you there. In August I will be visiting with many of you in Idaho and Montana — really looking forward to that!
I am pleased to say that I have had some new contact from citizens in Minnesota and the Dakotas recently. Please consider e-mailing me if you are in my district and I don’t have a way of contacting you.
It is my honor to represent District 8,
Dave Carney | Kagashgi (Raven) | dcarney@potawatomi.org | 360-259-4027
Paul Wesselhöft
District 9
Bozho, nikan (Hello, friend),
The New Heavens
In earlier centuries, I can imagine my Potawatomi relatives peering into the dark night sky and wondering what are all these lights? How did they get there? What is their purpose? As they gazed, mystified, upon the sun, moon and stars scattered as far as they could see, their thoughts were not unlike our own.
Early Native Americans were a spiritual people, and like us they had their own metaphysical questions. No, their concepts of religious reality were different from ours, but we have the advantage of time, experience and advanced education. It’s a historical fact that many Potawatomis converted to Catholicism and were taught by priests. Even the priests were not knowledgeable of many astronomical facts.
These are some of the empirical scientific facts that our Potawatomi ancestors were not knowledgeable of: That dark night sky causing them to wonder holds billions, perhaps trillions, of stars, planets and moons. They did not know that there are billions, perhaps trillions, of galaxies and even more planets.
They did not know that new stars and galaxies were being created in their time as well as ours. They were not aware that these galaxies are expanding, being pushed outwards by a dark energy force that overcomes gravity, and this expansion is occurring at an accelerated speed; and these galaxies are destined to the furthermost region of the cosmos.
Our Native American ancestors did not know that if you reverse, or rewind, this expansion of galaxies, it logically brings all galaxies and matter back to one point in size and time, which is the beginning of the universe. That the universe had a beginning is acknowledged by virtually all scientists. Some scientists call this first spark the Big Bang. Other scientists and theologians call it the Creation. To be fair to our ancestors, this knowledge of a beginning of the universe was not known until late in the 20th century.
Our Potawatomi ancestors had questions, as do we. They asked why there are so many lights in the night sky. What is their purpose? We ask what the purpose is of trillions of galaxies and even more coming into existence? What is the purpose for these galaxies expanding at a higher speed than in the past? Will this expansion continue? Will it speed up or slow down? What is this dark energy force that overcomes gravity and is pushing these galaxies outward?
And, of course, there are many more planets than galaxies. Could some of these planets exist with the highly fine-tuned perfect conditions for life and creatures and even some kind of advanced human-like life? Are we alone in the universe? If not alone, what do our astronomical neighbors look like? Are they more intelligent than we? Will we ever communicate with them? These are our questions and, like our Potawatomi ancestors, answers and speculations can be as dark and cloudy as the midnight sky.
Migwetch (Thank you),
Paul Wesselhöft | Naganit (Leader) | reppaul@gmail.com | pwesselhoft@potawatomi.org