Making your own regalia

Native Americans have a long history of making their own ceremonial garments – or regalia – and continue that tradition today. In the months prior to June, both men and women meet at the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center to create one-of-a-kind designs for themselves and their families to wear during powwows and the Family Reunion Festival.  CHC employee Leslie Deer leads a class that Read More »

Terry Clapp continues educating children

One Citizen Potawatomi member is using his knowledge and talents to invest into the lives of young children. Terry Clapp has written two children’s books that help kids understand nature and conservation. His first book – “Eloy the Elk and His Desert Friends” – was written for the Arizona Elk Society in 2009. The second – “Eloy the Cactus Elk” – was written as Read More »

CPN Education update: May 2017

Being a CPN college advisor, you give a lot of help, resources, and information to students, but rarely do you get to see the full fruits of your labor. On April 9, I got to see just that. I had the opportunity to witness CPN tribal member Trae Trousdale commit and sign to attend Oklahoma City University for the fall of 2017. Trae received Read More »

Darian Towner turns internship into full time position

One of the nine spring interns at Citizen Potawatomi Nation secured a full-time position because of her six-week internship. Darian Towner, who received a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in psychology from Texas A&M University, moved to Oklahoma after she graduated to pursue an internship at House of Hope. “I’m really thankful for this opportunity,” Towner said with a smile. “My director– Tiffany Barrett Read More »

Adame seeks to regain seat in D4 as challenger in 2017

In Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s legislative District 4, which encompasses the State of Kansas, challenger Theresa Adame will face off against incumbent Jon Boursaw. This will be the third time that Boursaw and Adame meet in a legislative race. Adame’s parents are both from the Rossville-Topeka, Kansas area. She grew up in Topeka and graduated from Hayden High School. She married soon after, moved to Wichita Read More »

Boursaw seeks to retain seat in what may be another tight D4 race

In Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s legislative District 4, which encompasses the State of Kansas, incumbent Jon Boursaw will face off against challenger Theresa Adame. This will be the third time that Boursaw and Adame meet in a legislative race. Adame won a narrow election in 2009 by 14 votes, while Boursaw won by an even narrower margin of three votes in 2013. Born in Topeka, Boursaw Read More »

Jett named as one of Oklahoma’s most admired CEOs

The Journal Record recently honored Shane Jett as one of the state’s most admired CEOs. The Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation director was one of only four honorees to be recognized in the nonprofit category.  “It’s incredibly rewarding to be recognized with so many other fine leaders of Oklahoma organizations,” said Jett. “I think this honor reflects the work of my great staff and the support Read More »

Tribal member Lavon Hill turns 104

District 4 Legislator Jon Boursaw stands with Lavon (Lybarger) Hill and Chairman John “Rocky” Barrett during a meeting in Kansas. The chairman, along with Vice-Chairman Linda Capps, visited Lavon in Ft. Scott, Kansas for her 104th birthday.

Castaneda runs on promise to give back

In 2013, no opponents filed to run for the tribe’s highest office. This year, Shawnee, Oklahoma’s Steve Castaneda has filed against longtime incumbent John “Rocky” Barrett.  Castaneda was born in Wapato, Washington, a town located on the reservation of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. Castaneda’s family’s original allotments were south of the town of Tecumseh, Oklahoma. His grandmother left Oklahoma after his Read More »

Barrett points to tribe’s success as testament to his leadership

Set to run for the Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s highest executive office is a familiar face to many CPN members around the world, with John “Rocky” Barrett on the ballot for the office of tribal chairman at the June 2017 election. Born in 1944 in Shawnee, Oklahoma, Barrett’s father, a U.S. Navy Underwater Demolition Team “frogman,” was serving in Iwo Jima at the time of his Read More »