The clatter of tumbling tenpins is a constant for FireLake Bowling Center Director Blake Starr. “I don’t even have to look at bowling pins to tell you what the guy leaves anymore — that’s how long I’ve been doing it,” Starr said as he listened to a ball spin down a polished lane behind him. Read More »
As a child welfare specialist, Bethany Bruno makes tough decisions every day about the lives and futures of children in Oklahoma foster care. She focuses specifically on permanency planning for children at the Department of Human Services Pontotoc County Office in Ada. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Read More »
Amber Curtis, Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s Health Services director of nursing, enjoys telling stories about seeing her job reflected in the community. Knowing her patients on a deeper level and her dedication led to her nomination as one of the Great 100 Nurses in Oklahoma. Great 100 Nurses Foundation selects honorees throughout Oklahoma “based on their Read More »
Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation was recently awarded Large Business of the Year by the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Oklahoma. According to a press release issued by the organization, Business of the Year Awards are given to the businesses that have given both time and monetary contributions through sponsorships, volunteerism and commitment to Read More »
FireLake Discount Foods contributed more than $50,000 to local charities in 2016, a number the company typically matches annually. The tribal enterprise recently assisted Tecumseh Public Schools’ food program and awarded $5,000 to the Community Market of Pottawatomie County. “We believe it makes for a better community for all of us when our people and Read More »
Ron Baker has long been aware of his Native American heritage. It’s woven through his character and his competitive-yet-thoughtful attitude. It also played an important role in shaping his career. Earlier this year, the 24-year-old Citizen Potawatomi Nation tribal member and Navarre family descendent signed an almost $9 million contract with the Knicks and planned Read More »
The stigma’s diminishing, but Lisa Toahty still sees it some. A public health prevention specialist with Oklahoma City Indian Clinic, Toahty is a frequent sight at area health fairs, armed with pamphlets and information about sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and AIDS. Depending on the location, just putting out information on the latter still elicits Read More »
Recent visitors of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s Cultural Heritage Center in Shawnee, Oklahoma, have seen progress made on the museum exhibits, including storytelling videos and cultural interactives. One key creative staff member helping to make new exhibits a reality is CHC audio-visual production manager Shawn Barfield, who began contract work with CPN roughly three years Read More »
It’s a Monday morning like any other. As the third-period tardy bell rings at Wanette High School in Oklahoma, five students casually enter the classroom, grab tablets and take seats next to each other at the round table with their teacher Crystal Caldwell. The teenagers comprise the only class in the only school district in Read More »
For thousands of years, the Nishnabe have made baskets out of black ash trees and porcupine quills. One of the most-used images in basketry is the strawberry because of the cultural significance of the fruit. “The Potawatomi word for strawberry is demen, which is directly translated as ‘heart berry,’” said Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Read More »