Language update: February 2021

Read about what the language department has been working on so far in 20201, including a new cartoon, new posters, this year’s storytelling event and more.

Shop with a Cop brings together community, law enforcement

In 2020, Shop with a Cop raised more than $13,500 with the help of 16 organizations, including Citizen Potawatomi Nation and many local nonprofits, businesses and entrepreneurs. The generous donations provided enough to give more than 130 participants money for gifts.

New, virtual technology removes court system’s barriers

During the coronavirus pandemic, Citizen Potawatomi Nation Tribal Court and other departments welcomed changes and additional responsibilities. CPN’s District Court maintained operations throughout 2020 with no major pauses.

Growth through the ashes of disaster

It took around six to eight months for Shawnee Cleaners & Linen to reopen their doors after a disastrous fire. Throughout the last few years, things have begun looking up for the Yancey family, and in December of 2019, they opened two new locations with the help of the Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation, expanding to three across two cities.

Keeping it ultra-cold: CPNHS rolls out COVID-19 vaccines

Within days of emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration, Citizen Potawatomi Nation Health Services began receiving and administering vaccines to combat the coronavirus in central Oklahoma.

Hownikan Podcast: January 2021

We’ll hear information regarding CPN Health Services COVID-19 vaccine distribution and the 5 love languages for kids and families. Also, a Tribal member who is an author and radio show host talks about his recently found spirituality.

Kchemko gises — Big Bear Moon — at the CPN Eagle Aviary

During this time, many of the CPN Eagle Aviary residents are building nests, and the pairs there have become more territorial and vocal while defending their space. Everyone’s appetite has increased. Many times, they forecast the weather better than the local meteorologists.

Bruno family history

Each month leading up to June, the Hownikan will feature the history and background of each scheduled honored family selected for the 2021 Family Reunion Festival, including the Bruno, Darling, Hardin, Higbee, Lewis, Nadeau, Slavin and Smith families. The first in this series is the Bruno family. Like many French-Canadian settlers with ties to the Potawatomi, the Brunos were once successful fur traders and trappers.

Support from FireLodge comforts new foster parent

While many potential foster parent applicants hesitated during 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, Tribal member Lacey Buettner opened up her home for the first time. After working with FireLodge Children & Family Services, she felt confident in stepping up to the task.

Higbee descendant brings talent, charisma to language department

Attending Family Reunion Festival as a child exposed Ragan Marsee to Bodéwadmimwen for the first time, which inspired her to connect with her Potawatomi culture and language. Today, she serves in the CPN Language Department as an aid, teaching students Bodéwadmimwen.