Language update: May 2022

The May 2022 language update highlights the Department’s preparations for Family Reunion Festival, work on children’s books, and a variety of class offerings at local schools and online.

Being and doing Potawatomi

Tribal member Kevin Roberts shares his journey to understanding what it means to say “Bodewadmi Ndaw!”

Hownikan Podcast: April 2022

This episode visits the CPN professional basketball team’s first home game, discusses Sexual Assault Awareness Month with a victim’s advocate and talks with an apparel designer and CPN employee about Native fashion.

Language Update: April 2022

The April language update recaps the Winter Storytelling Event held in March, and tells about maple syruping, a process traditionally undertaken in April.

Language update: March 2022

This month’s update from CPN Language Department Director Justin Neely discusses the winter storytelling event held in March and tells the story of Wiske mine Zisbakwet (Wiske and Maple Syrup).

Hownikan Podcast: March 2022

This episode explores Potawatomi spring traditions, visits the Potato Dance World Championship and shines a light on Epilepsy Awareness Day.

Language Department offers in person and online resources

In 2021, the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Language Department once again began offering in-person classes after more than a year of virtual learning due to the pandemic. Since many Tribal members live across the country, they continue to use online platforms during every session. Tribal members find connection through in-person and online offerings, and pass on what they learn to their families.

Language Update: February 2022

CPN Language Department Director Justin Neely gives a language update for February 2022 which discusses course work at Shawnee Middle School and teaching at the CPN Child development center.

Hownikan Podcast: January 2022

During this episode, we visit with an author about her new book that tells stories from a Tribal elder’s childhood, a domestic violence prevention specialist about National Stalking Awareness Month and a historian about the 155th anniversary of the last treaty CPN signed with the federal government.

Bodéwadmimwen now offered to Shawnee Public Schools sixth graders

Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s Language Department began offering Potawatomi classes to public school systems in 2017 after the curriculum met Oklahoma state standards for a world language credit. The department expanded to Shawnee Middle School in 2021. At the beginning of the academic year, it presented sixth graders the option to take Potawatomi as a 9-week elective course.