Tips for the college process Have a list of wants and needs: I had a wish list a mile long of things that would be cool to have at school, from college towns to club sports to small campuses. To make this list I talked to family, friends, current college students, counselors and teachers to determine what I am going to need Read More »

Those who have been convicted of felony offenses often face challenges in moving on with their lives after they have served their time. Many ex-felons face systemic obstacles to housing, transportation and employment after their convictions, resulting in a recidivism rate that stretches criminal justice budgets at the state and local levels. Burdened by a ballooning prisoner population and budget shortfalls resulting in widespread understaffing of Read More »

Despite searing July temperatures on the first official day of the 2016 Gathering of Potawatomi Nations, more than 2,000 tribal members and their invited guests from the nine Potawatomi tribes traveled to Shawnee, Oklahoma to celebrate the annual event. For the eight tribes outside of Oklahoma, a “short” drive for members of the Prairie Band Potawatomi proved to be the easiest journey to Citizen Potawatomi Nation headquarters. Read More »

All photos from the 2016 Gathering of Potawatomi Nations are available online at cpn.news/gpn16photos    

This article was originally printed in Raising the Bar, the publication of the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia. It is reproduced here with the WBA’s and the author’s permission. In an earlier piece published here, I provided an overview of two cases before the U.S. Supreme Court during its 2015 Term. Those cases, in substance, challenged the ability of Native nations Read More »

The Oklahoma Tax Commission will continue its attempt to unlawfully collect sales tax from the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. The case, which began in 2014, is now headed to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. The tribe requested arbitration after the OTC filed a complaint in its Administrative Proceedings Division on May 28, 2014 seeking to revoke permits for sales tax, low point beer and Read More »

Bozho, The CPN Veterans Organization has had a very active summer and it’s not over yet. In June the CPN Veterans Organization’s Color Guard presented the colors at the FireLake Arena for the Shawnee-Tecumseh Indian Education’s Student Craft Market and Powwow. The emcee was Cortney Yarholar, co-emcee was Lord Stormwalker, the head singer was Ryan Goodfox, arena director was John Soap and host Northern Drum was Read More »

Following a 4-4 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, the courts of Native American tribal governments will retain their authority to hear lawsuits brought by tribal members against non-tribal enterprises. The case, Dollar General vs. Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians upholds a decision from the U.S. Fifth Circuit of Appeals affirming the right of the Choctaws’ tribal court to hear a lawsuit brought by a tribal Read More »

In May 2016, the Hownikan noted the spring graduations of two Citizen Potawatomi from the U.S. Naval Academy. While two graduates of one of the nation’s service academy is laudable, a third tribal member who walked with the class of 2016 went unmentioned. The staff of the Hownikan recently spoke with that third Naval Academy graduate, Jacque Kennedye, about her experience at Annapolis and plans for Read More »

More than 3,000 Citizen Potawatomi travelled to Shawnee, Oklahoma for the annual Festival, a slightly lower number than usual, due in part to many tribal members choosing to attend the Gathering of Potawatomi Nations which took place at CPN in late July. As always, tribal activities, both art contests and sporting, took place amidst a flurry of food, family and festivities. In the Read More »