Earth Day has become a seminal event around the world, with April 22, 2016 marking the 46th anniversary of the movement that channels efforts towards environmental issues. Tribal nations are amongst the country’s foremost leaders in many Earth Day activities given their unique responsibilities as sovereign entities. Citizen Potawatomi Nation is no different in that Read More »

Students from the CPN Child Development Center took first place for their performance of the Potawatomi Morning Song at the Oklahoma Native American Language Fair hosted by the Sam Noble Museum and the University of Oklahoma. For the past four years the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Child Development Center staff has sent one of their classes to the event. In the first year they went CPN Read More »

The following article was originally run on www.Vype.com by author Brad Heath. It is reprinted here with their express written permission. Tecumseh High School junior Kylie Stewart is making a difference in her local community and around the world. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and a student at Tecumseh High School, Kylie Stewart has felt a responsibility to her tribe and her Read More »

By Bree Dunham, CPN Eagle Aviary  The weather finally feels like spring here in Oklahoma. All the birds at the aviary seem to know that winter has completely given way and that we have surely seen our last frost of the season. The ruby-throated hummingbirds arrived the first week of April and there are scissor-tailed flycatchers perched in pairs along the highline wires lining the Read More »

By Tesia Zientek, CPN Education Director  For Native Americans, the Cobell v. Salazar landmark class-action case was historic. Some of you understand the case in painful detail because you or your family was affected. Others may only be familiar with it because of the ubiquitous memes joking about incoming Cobell checks. Still others have no idea who or what I’m talking about. Just in case, Read More »

Across the country, tribal members of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation will walk across stages and receive their diplomas to conclude the 2016 academic year. Among the dozens of graduates concluding their undergraduate studies this academic year are two Citizen Potawatomi at the U.S. Naval Academy. Caleb Anderson and Whitney Heer are both Oklahoma natives and will be among the graduates honored at the Navy Marine Corps Ceremonial Read More »

In recent years, rightwing groups like the Goldwater Institute have made a concerted effort to repeal the Indian Child Welfare Act. Opponents claim the 1978 law, which aims to keep foster children of Native American descent in tribal families and communities, is racist. Those playing the race card appear angrier that the law prioritizes rights of Native families over those who are not. ICWA’s focus on Read More »

By Sarah Lawerance, CPN Fitness Trainer Each year, you can feel the anticipation building at FireLake Wellness Center as the March Madness fitness challenge rolls around. The contest was set up like the NCAA basketball championship bracket and went for six weeks, beginning in March. This year we had 64 participants, including 32 women and Read More »

Preparing for the worst is what emergency responders do best, and a recent exercise held at the Citizen Potawatomi Nation gave local rescuers an opportunity to hone the skills they’ll need when disaster strikes. On May 12, the Pottawatomie County Local Emergency Planning Committee organized an exercise at the FireLake complex to train the local Read More »

By Darin Greene, FireLodge Tribal Youth Coordinator This time of year brings our spring session at the Potawatomi Learning and Cultural Exchange. Our students will have plenty to do this month as school comes to a close. The GET Native program will focus on educating students about several cultures including those living across North America. They will also be exposed to isolated languages of Oklahoma. Tribal Read More »