John “Rocky” Barrett
Tribal Chairman
Bozho nikan, (Hello, my friend),
Once again, it was a busy summer for Citizen Potawatomi Nation.
We hosted our annual Family Reunion Festival at the end of June, and despite high temperatures, saw a good turnout and many familiar faces.
This was followed at the end of July by the Potawatomi Gathering, which was hosted this year by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians in Dowagiac, Michigan. Several of our employees and Tribal members attended. Next year, Gathering will return to Michigan, with the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan hosting. If you’ve never been to a Gathering, I highly encourage you to attend one. It’s a fulfilling experience to meet our Potawatomi cousins from across the U.S. and Canada and to celebrate our roots and traditions.
Shortly after returning from Gathering, CPN hosted its annual FireLake Fireflight Balloon Festival.
This is CPN’s seventh year hosting the event, which is free and open to the public. The idea first came about as a way to give back to the community and provide a space for families to come together and make memories. It started in 2017, and with the exception of last year when weather kept the balloons from going up, the event has grown every year. It drew a record crowd of 50,000 people in 2022.
This year, we had 25 hot air balloons, vendors, concerts, a 5K and the Outdoor Nation Expo, but we also added camel rides, helicopter rides and a drone show.
If you’ve never made it out to the event before, you should consider adding it to your calendar next year. It’s a great festival that brings a lot of visibility to our Tribe and highlights just one of the ways we are an asset to the area.
I’m proud of events such as these that show just how much our Tribe is growing and flourishing.
Thank you, again, for the chance to serve as your Tribal Chairman. I hope 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),
The summer is quickly flying by, and “back to school” is a current theme all over the state. When I was growing up in Harrah, Oklahoma, classes began the Tuesday after Labor Day. I suppose that practice has vanished forever, at least in Oklahoma. I encountered the beginning of school each year to be an exciting time in my life. I always had butterflies in my stomach when I started back to school. The same was true in college, and even when I began teaching school. It was also that way for me when my own children began school each year. I think of it as a time of extreme excitement with just a touch of apprehension. The mixture must create butterflies.
The Citizen Potawatomi Nation has had a full year of events, and we are barely into August. The last four and a half months are sure to be equally productive. Looking over the year, Sovereign Bank became a billion-dollar bank in January. All four of our newest construction projects (hotel, casino, softball fields and administration building) got underway, either through planning or construction.
CPN has had three longevity luncheons since January to recognize employees with at least five years of service with the Tribe. The next luncheon will be in October. Several of our employees have over 30 years of service with CPN. Our administration is very proud of our employees for their dedicated years of service. On the 27th of April, there was a graduation recognition luncheon for students at all levels who wished to attend the event, which has been held annually for over six years now.
The CPN Annual Family Festival on the weekend of June 29 turned out great! Even though the heat was relentless, the pow wow was held in the arena, which was a blessing to all. The final attendance was 3,757 for the festival. That number includes 2,364 Tribal members and 1,393 guests. Although those numbers are down from previous years, one must take the heat into account. The Oklahoma weather had yielded days of near 100-degree weather prior to the festival.
August 9 and 10 is the date for the FireLake FireFlight Ballon Festival. Twenty-five balloons are scheduled to be at the seventh annual balloon festival. According to the pictures in the brochure, the balloons are gorgeous. If you have never seen a hot-air balloon glow at night, you have missed a beautiful sight. Ten of the twenty-five balloons belong to pilots from Oklahoma. There are also pilots from California, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Texas and Iowa. The balloon meister is from Overland Park, Kansas. This year instead of a fireworks display on Friday night, there will be a drone show, which is something new to many of our people. We are looking forward to this new event. Entertainment, dining and shopping are part of the attractions for the festival. In addition, the Outdoor Nation Expo includes more than 100 vendors with all kinds of animal and fishing exhibits. The balloon festival is expected to attract about 60,000 thousand visitors for the two-day event. Approximately 200 CPN employees will be on hand to run the show.
This is an excellent opportunity to thank our wonderful employees for their work on the two major festivals. They work around the clock to make sure that everything runs smoothly while both our Tribal members and many guests come to enjoy what CPN has to offer during our summer festivals. It is such a joy to work with our dedicated employees. Thank you for allowing me to represent you as our Vice-Chairman.
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),
Family Naming in Richardsville, Virginia. In June I joined Pettifer family members for a family naming. Phyllis Wabnokwe Hurlock, our host, named her mother, the family matriarch, and her son, J.J. Vogltanz. J.J. then named his three children, Madison, Jameson and Jordan. Phyllis’s sister Peggy Msko Gises Hurlock named her niece, Sassy Cooke, who in turn named her daughter, Skylar, and son, Dalton. Phyllis’s husband, Jim, was our firekeeper. It was a perfect summer morning. Migwetch (thank you) to Justin Neely for his naming advice to the family.
Family Festival weekend update; thank yous. District 2 had this year’s championship hand game team! The team consisted of father and daughter Dennis Nawgishgok Johnson and daughter Denise Beil (Clardy family), mother and daughter Jody Gzhadawsot Mattena and Kay Kakendasot Mattena (Navarre family), and siblings George Korzeniewski and Kim Idwe Gishek Pratt (Lewis family). Our seventh team member was “another” Eva, from Seminole, Oklahoma. The Squirrel Creek Singers’ drumming and singing during the competition was terrific. Migwetch (thank you) to all for creating a delightful Friday evening.
The weekend was packed with other events and opportunities to visit with family and friends. Among the highlights was my visit to our Eagle Aviary, during which Jennifer Randell provided updates on the eagles and shared about the birth of two baby golden eagles! On the Monday after the Festival, Legislator Alan Melot and I were fortunate to have the opportunity to visit with Kishko, one of the babies.
Other highlights were tours of the new construction (small hotel, casino, new ballfields and new administration building); a visit to our new Columbarium, which is beautiful in its simplicity; and taking part in naming ceremonies for Brent Korzeniewski (Mésko Mko) and Jessica Kitchens (Bojkwansikwe). I even had my first ever trip to Sonic, at Alan Melot’s urging (he paid!). Only had their lemonade, but it was good to celebrate the connection to Reservation Dogs (cpn.news/sonicconnection).
I was not as diligent about taking photos this year as in past years; those I took are posted to my Facebook page, if you are interested. Migwetch (thank you) to everyone who worked to make this year’s Festival so memorable.
District 2 Fall Feast – please save the date. On Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., we will gather in the social hall, Little Falls Presbyterian Church, 6025 Little Falls Road, Arlington, VA 22207 (littlefallschurch.org). Please bring your favorite dish (with a recipe if you would like) to share. I will provide meat and vegan main dishes, along with beverages. We will visit, begin work on bandolier bags and share a family meal. Children are welcome! The craft will be appropriate for children 10 and up with one-to-one adult supervision. Postcard invitations will be mailed to folks in surrounding parts of District 2, but you do not need to receive a postcard to attend; just RSVP to me, please. Chi migwetch (big thanks) in advance to the folks who have agreed to help with craft instruction – Bob Shaweno Richey and Karen Richey and George, Kathleen, and Brent Mésko Mko Korzeniewski. Brent made a bandolier bag during the Festival; he will be bringing us what he learned. Bob, Karen and Kathleen have been noodling on patterns and materials for some time already. I am so grateful that all are willing to share their expertise and patience with everyone who will take part in November.
Please contact me for any help you might need or to visit. Migwetch (thank you) for the honor of representing 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 nikanek (Hello friends),
Oklahoma
Living in Texas, I have the opportunity to travel to my birth state several times each year. My normal route is on Interstate 35. Just after passing over the Red River, I am greeted with the word LOVE and OKLAHOMA as I am returning home. You see, I am actually entering the state in Love County, and it lightens my day for what may lie ahead for me on this return trip.
Oklahoma has a number of things that are rather distinctive. Yes, it is referred to as Indian Territory, and there are 39 separate Native American nations residing in the state. Some of the crops grown are, of course, corn and soybeans. But also, in days past much wheat was grown and, so to speak, the discovery of oil mid-continent was made after we were forced to move to a land that was deemed all but unfit for the settlers who originally arrived from Europe.
As Oklahoma began growing in the 1820s, the need for travel resulted in many bridges being built to cross the rivers of the state. Prior to the bridges, ferries were used in many places. In 1907 there were seven railroads in Oklahoma that needed to cross the Red River into Texas. Because of the weight of the train engines, a steel “truss” bridge design was created. Each truss had a span length limit of about 100 feet, so many links were needed to cross the river at some points. On State Highway 79 between Waurika, Oklahoma, and Byers, Texas, the span requited 23 links for the 2255-foot distance needed to be crossed.
On my trip to the Family Reunion Festival this year on I-35, I stopped at the Oklahoma welcome center, which is located at the first exit right after the Chickasaw Windstar Casino you just passed on your right. As I returned to my car, I noticed what appeared to be a long steel structure about 15 to 20 feet high on the north side of the welcoming building. Out of curiosity, I decided to see what this new item was and found that it was part of a truss bridge that had been restored and placed there in memory of another part of Oklahoma history. I am including photos of the various avenues and means of crossing the Oklahoma Red River over time, including one of the truss bridge display. I suggest the next time you travel on I-35 from Texas into Oklahoma, accept their LOVE and see their truss bridge display.
Columbarium
At the legislative meeting following Family Reunion Festival we were advised that staff is working on the procedures regarding columbarium that our citizens desire to be used for their relatives remains. It is my understanding that Tribal Rolls will be the department which will be used to handle this benefit and they should be contacted for any questions.
Namings
At Family Festival we estimated at the large prayer circle there were about 65 in attendance. Of that number, about 28 were given their Potawatomi names. I named one person, and others named from five to seven or eight. Chairman Barrett and Vice-Chairman Capps said they believe this is the largest group they have named at one time.
Correction
Please know that in the July issue I made an error and listed the eldest as being Arron Benick when in actuality it was Rick Attebery, who turned 76 on the 19th and was given a saddle blanket for being the eldest. My sincere apologies to Rick.
Migwetch (Thank you) for letting me serve as your District 3 representative.
Bami pi (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
Tracy Kinderknecht recognized with a shout-out
In early June, our very own Tracy Kinderknecht received a shout-out recognition for her service and job performance as a Community Health Representative (CHR) for CPN’s Senior Support Network. She is a registered nurse and case manager in Rossville, Kansas. Tracy has been with us for over 10 years. She is an exemplary employee who provides excellent treatment and services to our elder Tribal residents in Rossville and the surrounding area. Recently, the Housing Department has been busy conducting interviews for a new Housing Manager and Maintenance Technician in Rossville, and Tracy jumped in and helped where needed. Director of Housing Scott George said, “Tracy wasn’t asked to do these things, but she is the kind of person who steps in when she detects a need. Our Housing Department is deeply grateful.”
I have had the pleasure of working with, and sometimes for, Tracy and I’m always impressed with her devotion and dedication in serving our Elders. Remember the Food Distribution program during COVID? We wouldn’t have been able to serve the number of recipients we did without her planning and direction. I can’t begin to count the number of monthly Elders Potlucks held in Rossville where she has always prepared the main course. Whether it is a home visit or in her office, Tracy provides the utmost in care and advise to our elders.
Why is there an RN in Rossville? We have been fortunate to have a Senior Support Network CHR RN since the CPN duplexes were first opened in 2007. In addition to serving the CPN members living in duplexes this position also serves the high concentration of CPN elders living within a 50-mile radius from Rossville, which spans from Manhattan to Lawrence, Kansas.
The shout-out program is hosted by the Employee Advocate staff and provides an opportunity for a CPN employee to nominate a fellow employee for their performance and dedication.
Affordable Rental Housing in Rossville
The Tribe has 10 rental duplexes (20 units) in Rossville, Kansas, for enrolled CPN Elders and physically handicapped members. Eligibility for housing is extended to enrolled members of any federally recognized Native American tribe. At the time this article was written there were a few units available, but that could have changed quickly. All units are two bedrooms with washer and dryer, stove and refrigerator included. For more information on availability or submission of an application contact the following:
CPN Rossville Housing Office: 785-584-6401
Or the CPN Housing Office in Shawnee, OK: 405-273-2833
Upcoming CPN Elders’ Potluck
Date for the next Elder Potluck held in Rossville at noon is:
Sept. 13, 2024 | Spaghetti & Meatballs | RSVP by Sept. 10
Bring your favorite side dish or dessert. Please RSVP to Tracy at 785-584-6171.
Permanent art exhibit at the trail maker near Olathe, Kansas
Just a quick thank you to all of you who stopped by the art exhibit during the Festival and offered your opinion, and in many cases wrote comments, on what you liked. The committee was scheduled to meet in mid-July to review the opinions and make a recommendation to the Johnson County Commissioners for approval.
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 me 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),
I know you have heard from everyone by now what an awesome Festival we had in 2024. We do write our articles a month in advance but hopefully you had the opportunity to attend this year. It was phenomenal.
There is so much to write about, so I wanted to focus on the Eagle Aviary and the special events occurring there over the weekend.
To start with, the birth of a baby golden eagle was the topic of discussion for everyone. People from all over the country are planning a visit to see one of the first baby golden eagles born in captivity.
The directed attention to the caretakers of our magnificent birds and the love they have for the honor at hand is my focus.
The facility is managed by Jennifer Randell and Bree Dunham and has been since we opened. As a matter of fact, I believe they had the original concept for the Aviary.
Focusing on them and their work is what brings up the subject of this article.
No one could love what they do more than those two. You can see the love and care they have for our eagles in their actions and words they choose.
When you are planning your next life experience you want to pay particular attention to what that is. I used to tell my students with a lost perception of what their dream job might be. I always asked, “When you could do anything and unsupervised as a young person, what kinds of things did you do?”
Create and/or develop a new beginning for yourself as they did. It was nonexistent when they began, but they believed in its worth and pursued until complete.
Sometimes our direction gets lost with age and we forget about the things we used to dream about. We are more focused on how to pay the bills and what you enjoy gets lost.
Now, Jennifer and Bree are obviously on their right path. They love what they do and it makes them feel purposeful. It shows! It appears it was a position created just for them.
There is undoubtedly a calling for you too. It is never too late to change that.
If you love what you do you never work a day in your life. That should be our goal instead of “how much money does it pay.”
I have copied from the Aviary website why we have an Eagle Aviary and what their position requires.
What a wonderful contribution to our people, gratitude to the process of nature and acknowledgement of the Creator’s work.
Concentrate now on 24/25 to give life to your dream.
Eagle Aviary
“The Citizen Potawatomi Nation Eagle Aviary offers a permanent home to eagles rescued from the wild that have been injured and cannot be rehabilitated and released. In Potawatomi culture, eagles are a sacred animal that fly so high they deliver prayers to the Creator. While only a handful of Native American aviaries exist in the U.S., this facility is the first of its kind to incorporate culturally significant elements into the facility design.
Aviary staff pride themselves on practicing sound husbandry to provide these birds permanent homes in an environment created with enrichment intended to replicate a portion of their wild habitat. They specialize in educating community members about eagles and other raptors, providing naturally molted feathers to tribal members and giving these birds their best lives.”
Take care of each other and live your best life!
Love you all,
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),
The drive to the Family Reunion Festival proved to be challenging. As if three hours of road construction delays between Flagstaff, Arizona, and Amarillo, Texas, wasn’t enough, there was a torrential downpour slowing traffic to 30 mph. Combine that with losing two hours due to the time change makes for a long day. Traveling with my 9-year-old and 12-year-old grandsons and my two sisters made driving affordable. Leaving California, the price of gas drops an average of $1.20 per gallon. I opted for stopping in Flagstaff and Amarillo, but you could save money if you don’t mind 12-hour days behind the wheel. Air travel has become so expensive. We traveled comfortably with our luggage in a minivan. Traveling by car made bringing family along much more affordable. I would encourage families contemplating attending a Festival in the future to consider this option.
It was great to see all the folks from District 6. I think this year had the most people from District 6 attending that I can remember. Many of you I had just seen in Temecula, California, earlier in the month.
We had three Tribal members from District 6 named at this year’s Festival. Patty Sarratt and Shelley Grey were named by Vice-Chairman Linda Capps along with their sister Decinda Sarratt from District 3. The sisters are Ogee/Weld descendants. I had the honor of naming Loretta Gray. Loretta is a Negahnquet descendant. The Negahnquet family was one of the honored families this year.
Jake Morell from District 6 in Hawaii was recognized as the Tribal member that traveled the farthest distance to attend Festival. Congratulations, Jake!
The Darling family was one of the honored families this year. I am a Darling descendant. I met the Curtis Huffmire family from District 6 who are also Darling descendants. I believe our great-grandmothers were sisters. It was nice meeting the Huffmire family, and I look forward to getting to know them better.
Construction projects abound on Tribal grounds. Jackie Gamble, our Construction Department Director, took members of the Legislature on a tour of all the projects currently in progress. Work on the new Tribal headquarters building is underway. We watched as 80-foot-deep holes for piers were being drilled and filled with concrete for the foundation of the multistory structure. Next stop was the new casino. Exterior finish work has started as interior work is at a fevered pitch. Ducting for the HVAC system is nearly complete. Fresh outside air is brought in and either heated or cooled and ducted to outlets in the floor. The dirty air is pulled into overhead ducts and exhausted outside the building. The smell of cigarette smoke will be virtually non-detectable. On to the new 126-room hotel. The exterior is mostly wrapped and close to completion. The interior is framed and most of the plumbing, electrical and drywall is complete. We should be open for business early next year. Then it was on to the new ball fields. The dugouts and snack bar structures are up. Work on lighting is underway. Grass has been replaced with artificial turf at the older fields. The lighting will be replaced with new LED energy efficient lights. When completed, our ball fields will be a draw for collegiate level softball play.
Wisdom from the Word: “So the people of Israel did everything as the Lord had commanded Moses. Each clan and family set up camp and marched under their banners exactly as the Lord had instructed them.” Numbers 2:34
Jagenagenan. Migwetch. Nagech (All our relations. Thank you. Later),
Rande K. Payne | Mnedo Gabo | rande.payne@potawatomi.org | 31150 Road 180 | Visalia, CA 93292-9585 | 559-999-5411
Dave Carney
District 8
Bozho nikan, (Hello friend),
The 2024 Citizen Potawatomi Family Reunion Festival was a good time for all who attended, despite the stifling heat (heat index of over 104 degrees). As usual, the highlights for me were seeing the Nation’s progress as we diversify the financial base (enterprises) for future generations. This includes a new FireLake Casino facility to replace the 1980s facility, a new, family friendly hotel and expanded softball facilities that will allow for tournaments to be hosted. These investments in the Nation’s future are funded by ARPA monies.
The columbarium is now receiving remains! Over the Festival weekend, some of our citizens’ ashes were inurned. This is a beautiful and peaceful place, in the shape of a Native medicine wheel. There is currently one medicine wheel, and this can be scaled to as many as seven medicine wheels at this site.
Another highlight was, of course, the Eagle Aviary, where a 5-week-old Golden Eagle resides (very rare to have one born in captivity). It really is an amazing and special place for all Tribal members to be proud of.
Friday night’s traditional hand games were very well attended with record participation; there were 18 teams – the most I’ve ever seen. District 8 was able to field a team comprised fully of Pacific Northwest citizens Bill Briton, Mark Briton, Tricia Briton, Tricia Briton, Lisa Allen, Kare Bairch, Rachel Maker and Selah Bellschiedt.
The powwow dancing and Grand Entry Saturday night were moved into the air-conditioned arena this year in response to five citizens being hospitalized last year due to heat-related illness.
If you couldn’t make it to Oklahoma, consider coming to a Northwest meeting!
Hopefully, you have received a postcard in the mail, an e-mail from me or seen the invite on Facebook.
The Tribal Rolls department is very protective of our citizens’ privacy. They do not provide legislators with names and addresses. I have occasionally received a “heat map” showing dots representing Potawatomi throughout my district. This is the logical basis for deciding on where to have district gatherings. If you do not receive e-mails from me, please reach out and let me know where you are from.
Also, I have asked this of District 8 citizens before – if I named you in the past, please send me a quick e-mail with your name, Tribal ID number and the Potawatomi name you received. I am cross checking with Tribal Rolls to make sure these are recorded. And, of course, if you named someone, please feel free to give me that info also so I can verify it with Tribal Rolls.
It is my honor to serve as your Legislator,
Dave Carney | Kagashgi (Raven) | dcarney@potawatomi.org | 360-259-4027
Paul Wesselhöft
District 9
Bozho, nikan (Hello, friend),
It is with gratitude and humility that I extend my appreciation to Oklahoma Potawatomi for trusting me as your representative. I thank you for your support and friendship through the years. In our national legislature, I take my governmental responsibility very seriously and your values and concerns are my own.
The Citizen Potawatomi Nation is destined to be the eighth largest tribal nation in America. Our nation is more than a billion-dollar tribe. We are not only financially prosperous, but we stand as an excellent governmental example to other tribal nations throughout America. We are probably the most stable and secure Native American nation. I am proud to tell people about our tribal achievements.
I believe the next several years will be some of the greatest years for our nation. My hope has always been that all our many enterprises will out earn our gaming operations. That’s my goal as a representative. And I have always championed more and higher value scholarships for our youth. I am here to represent you, and my personal email is reppaul@gmail.com. Please converse with me if you have any questions or issues. Again, I thank you for your trust in me.
Migwetch (Thank you),
Paul Wesselhöft | Naganit (Leader) | reppaul@gmail.com | pwesselhoft@potawatomi.org