In celebration of Earth Day, central Oklahoma’s Pioneer Library System hosted a community event focused on pollinators at Boy Scout Park in Shawnee. Citizen Potawatomi Nation tribal member and PLS programming specialist Britt Muirhead organized the family activities; they included a meet-and-greet with the author and a presentation from Okies for Monarchs, an initiative to create and implement the Statewide Monarch Conservation Plan.
Citizen Potawatomi Nation Health Services hosted a community overdose awareness event in May 2022 to increase the public’s understanding of the recent uptick in fentanyl overdoses, sometimes referred to as “the silent crisis.” CPNHS and event organizers welcomed approximately 10 groups and resource centers to discuss fentanyl overdoses as well as addiction treatment, therapy, preventative action during fentanyl overdoses and more.
The June House of Hope column highlights recent efforts in local classrooms to help children develop non-violent communication techniques.
This episode discusses the health and cultural importance of strawberries, and shines a light on the new Potawatomi Fire dance teams. We also talk with a Tribal member and leader who recently became director of CPN’s Workforce Development and Social Services Department.
The youngest Citizen Potawatomi tribal members will have numerous activities to choose from as the 2022 Family Reunion Festival gets underway in Shawnee, Oklahoma. CPN Child Development Center Director Donnette Littlehead outlines the variety of activities offered.
The official start of summer — niben (time of plenty) — begins Tuesday, June 21. Before the invention of grocery stores, it was a key time to harvest and procure food as well as celebrate. During niben, Potawatomi continue age-old traditions of the season that strengthen cultural and personal connections.
This month’s Language Department update highlights several events and programs that will be open to Festival-goers, as well as several online resources.
When people visit the Citizen Potawatomi Nation headquarters for the 2022 Annual Family Reunion Festival, friendly competition is part of the tradition. All contests are open to Tribal members and their spouses, and whether they compete in modern games like softball or traditional handgames, opportunities are everywhere.
With Tribal enrollment expanding, some will honor their ancestry and relatives at the powwow for the first time. Now is a good opportunity for a refresher on powwow etiquette. Rules regarding clothing, personal space and dancing make participating comfortable and fun.
Once part of a brotherhood on the battlefield, members of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Veterans Organization remain a source of support and pride for each other and the community. The group is excited about the chance to reconnect with current members and welcome new ones into the fold at this year’s Family Reunion Festival.