Hownikan Podcast

Potawatomi Fire, the Two-Time TBL Champs by Citizen Potawatomi Nation

During this episode, the Potawatomi Fire's coach discusses the team's championship winning season. We also hear from some of CPN's mental health professionals about post-traumatic stress disorder and follow the CPN Department of Environmental Protection as they perform water quality testing.

During this episode, we'll hear from a marathon runner who donated to a Tribal scholarship fund, celebrate 20 years of the Potawatomi Leadership Program, and look at one-way CPN is making an opioid overdose reversal tactic more available.

During this episode, we'll spend time on a Tribal member's family farm, talk with two Tribal elders for Older Americans Month and check in with FireLake Wellness Center on how they improve CPN employees' health with a holistic approach.

During this episode, listeners meet this year's candidates for Citizen Potawatomi Nation legislative offices for Districts 10 and 11.

During this episode, we'll hear tips and tricks for keeping family heirlooms safe, take a ride on an exciting new piece of equipment for Citizen Potawatomi Nation's industrial park, and visit an exhibit highlighting Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Mary Belle Zook, communications director for the Indigenous Food and Agricultural Initiative, brings together her skills, passions, agricultural background and Tribal heritage each day to help Native farmers and producers.

During this episode, we'll hear tips to increase empathy and de-escalation strategies, and listen back to a Tribal member who was an Olympic synchronized swimmer at the 2012 London games. We'll also hear a cosmological story from the CPN Language Department.

Best-selling writer, ecologist and professor Robin Wall Kimmerer, Ph.D., received a MacArthur Fellowship in 2022 and discusses the decade anniversary of the publication of Braiding Sweetgrass, future plans in light of her most recent honor, and the inspirations and aspirations surrounding her work.

On today's episode, we're talking with an artist whose work proclaims the history of Potawatomi homeland along the Chicago River in downtown Chicago, Illinois, and visit CPN House of Hope's first Jump Start Day, designed to bring domestic violence and abuse services and information to the community in a positive and educational way.

This episode explores language, specifically Bodéwadmimwen (Potawatomi language) in a historical context. We hear from a Citizen Potawatomi Nation musician who paired with a filmmaker to create a music video showcasing the past, present and future of Potawatomi. We also discuss one of the few remaining first language speakers who recently walked on.

During this episode, we'll hear the story of an Indigenous food expert and the many layers of their most recent project and spend time with NFL Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey.

CPN member and Vieux and Johnson family descendant Barbara Wall lives in Ontario, Canada, and works as an assistant professor in the Indigenous Environmental Studies and Sciences Program at Trent University in Peterborough. She feels her Potawatomi ancestry and love of water guided her toward her place in the world as an academic, her research and even inspired her Nishnabe name. She focused her doctoral efforts on reclaiming Potawatomi water practices, specifically as they relate to women.

In honor of Veteran's Day on November 11th, we're dipping into the video archives of the CPN Cultural Heritage Center for recent interviews with veteran Tribal members. They share their war stories, pride in their Native heritage and how their service has changed their lives. Chi migwetch to all CPN tribal members who have served or are currently serving in our Armed Forces. Your sacrifice and dedication will never be forgotten. For more information and to schedule an interview with the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center to share your story, call 405 878-5830.

This episode explores the history and complexities of the simple dish of fry bread and talks with a CPN photographer who traveled North American to capture Potawatomi from all 9 Nations in regalia. We'll also hear from the CPN Language Department about food and hear a recipe for corn pancakes.

This episode explores the Brackeen v. Haaland U.S. Supreme Court case as well as the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978. (Photo: A CPN family celebrates a recent adoption through the Tribal court system.)

During this episode, we'll hear from the 2022 Potawatomi Leadership Program class about their experience and ideas for the Tribe's future, celebrate International Podcast Day and talk to an Oklahoma City musician about his upcoming album.

This episode explores the Native American Career and Technical Education Program and CPN Workforce Development and Social Services Department's efforts to help and enroll students at local tech centers to build their careers and start high-yield jobs.

While stigma regarding utilizing therapy has decreased, many myths about it as a treatment and the experience itself remain. Dr. Julio Rojas is a Licensed Health Service Psychologist and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor for Citizen Potawatomi Nation Behavioral Health Services with decades of experience helping clients overcome trauma, addictive disorders, substance abuse and improve their quality of life with psychotherapy. He believes discussing therapy as a tool is one of the best ways to tackle myths and stigma to treatment.

This year's Family Reunion Festival at the end of June brought activities back in-person for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic. One of the major attractions for the weekend was the craft classes held in the Cultural Heritage Center. Tribal members talked and shared their stories as they worked on projects together and gained a new skill.

This episode discusses CPN Health Service's new telehealth platform for all Tribal members in the U.S., makes a visit to a recent opioid overdose awareness event held by CPN Behavioral Health and talks with District 7 Legislator Mark Johnson about his reelection in June.

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.

In this very special episode, we're celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the opening of Citizen Potawatomi Nation's Eagle Aviary this June, which allowed visitors in for the first time Family Reunion Festival weekend in 2012.

This episode focuses on Behavioral Health Awareness Month and the societal stigma of having behavioral health issues. We also meet the only Citizen Potawatomi Nation member serving in the Oklahoma legislature and hear about a study on tribal economic impact in Oklahoma.

This year's Family Reunion Festival will be Citizen Potawatomi Nation's first in-person powwow since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic. It includes Grand Entry, contests and inter-tribal dances open to everyone. Experienced dancers and Tribal members Tesia Zientek and Randy Schlachtun joined Hownikan Podcast for a refresher on powwow etiquette.

During this episode, we visit the CPN professional basketball team's first home game, discuss Sexual Assault Awareness Month with a victim's advocate and talk with an apparel designer and CPN employee about Native fashion.

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

This episode discusses the effects of Medicaid expansion on Citizen Potawatomi Nation Health Services, visits a crafting class at CPN's Cultural Heritage Center and provides tips and tricks for credit scores for National Credit Education Month.

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.

During this episode, we visit Bodéwadmimwen classes that are in-person again. We also talk to a Tribal member with experience in the Oklahoma film industry as a costumer and hear from the Oklahoma Gaming Industry Association Chairman about its recent history and future.

During this episode, we'll hear about Oklahoma's Ida's Law as it goes into effect and a new lesson plan on the Potawatomi Trail of Death for K through 12 students. We'll also listen back to an interview with a Potawatomi Navy member who served during WWII to celebrate Veteran's Day.

In this episode, we'll hear about the Potawatomi Fire, CPN's new professional basketball team. We also talk to two Tribal members – one who self-published their first comic book and another who took us on their epic adventure hiking to the top of Mt. Whitney along the High Sierra Trail in California's Sequoia National Park.

In this episode, we'll meet CPN's new District 1 legislator, hear about the new First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City and learn about how the Tribe has dealt with the tumultuous employment sector through hiring events.

Hownikan Podcast - Your source for all things Citizen Potawatomi Nation.

In this episode, we'll meet CPN's new District 11 legislator, Andy Walters, and hear from a graduate student about his most recent project ground mapping Potawatomi presence in the Great Lakes region. We'll also visit this summer's FireLake Fireflight Balloon Festival.

In this episode, we'll hear about the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 and its effect on tribes, discuss the connection between cartography and Indigeneity, and learn the history of an artist who documented the Potawatomi Trail of Death in the late 1830s.

On this episode, we are hearing from a Tribal member who recently received a seat on a White House environmental council, take a trip through the community garden and revisit the opening of the CPN Eagle Aviary.

This episode discusses an award recently granted to the Tribe’s community development financial institution, the story of a Nashville musician who was discovered by Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon and tips and tricks for self-care.

This episode focuses on art and history. We’ll hear from an Oklahoma folk musician and a stop-motion animation artist with new work on Netflix. The Director of CPN’s Cultural Heritage Center also discusses the history of the 1936 Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act.

In this episode, we’ll hear about the history of the Potawatomi census book of 1862 and the Tribe’s efforts to gain ownership, an environmental activists’ stay with CPN during her journey hiking across the U.S. as well as the behavioral health department’s smoking cessation classes.

On this episode, we’ll hear about the history of the now CPN-owned radio station KGFF as it celebrates nearly a century in operation as well as a new program from the Tribe’s housing department to help CPN members become homeowners. The CPN Language Department also tells a traditional story about the creation of North America.

During this episode, we’ll hear about CPN Health Services COVID-19 vaccine distribution and learn 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.

This month, we talk to CPN child prosecutor Lisa Herbert about the Tribe’s court system, hear about the annual Shop with a Cop charity event and learn about credit counseling services from the Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation as well as learn words for winter in Potawatomi.

This episode includes a look at new international business prospects with CPN, a story of Thanksgiving donations from employees, a visit to a Tribal member’s boot-making workshop and a recipe for traditional corn pancakes.

During this episode, we’ll hear from Citizen Potawatomi Nation Health Services’ Chief Medical Officer regarding COVID, learn about a CPN veteran included on the Cultural Heritage Center’s Wall of Honor and talk to the producer of the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort’s Emmy-winning music program.

This episode discusses how to combat habitual stress from the pandemic, the history of the Oklahoma land runs, and how to teach a dog commands in Potawatomi.

Two CPN staff members join this episode to discuss critical resources their departments offer, including CARES Act funding. We also hear from artists who cultivated a unique art exhibit that brings 12 Citizen Potawatomi and Anishnabe artists together for a spark of beauty during a pandemic.

In this episode, we talk to CPN’s Tribal Court Chief Justice about current civil rights issues, hear from a Tribal member about an unexpected turn in her employment, and learn how CPN Department of Education funding helped a student discover more about himself and his passions.

The episode takes a look at the history of Native Americans and infectious disease, how the CPN human resources department has adapted during the coronavirus pandemic and a new United States Department of Agriculture program helping get food to Tribal members in Kansas. We’ll also learn some words for bugs and insects in Potawatomi just in time for the summer. Amo – bee; Zazbakwdokét amo – honey bee; Wangenos – ant; Gwakwadé – grasshopper; Bojkwanshi – dragonfly; Jikskotmosi – cricket; Mémégé – butterfly; Kwe mnedoshé – lady bug; Oje – fly; Mnedoshé – insect; Mosé – worm; Skemé – mosquito; Wawatési – firefly; Wemkwoyane – caterpillar; Éspiké – spider; Wézhigawet éspike – black widow spider; Éspikwabuk – spider web; Asawe – loust

This episode is all about COVID-19. Tribal members around the world tell us how their lives have been affected and changed. We’ll also talk to CPN’s lead doctor heading the Tribe’s efforts against COVID-19 and learn a few phrases in Potawatomi that apply to social distancing. Gégo zam nibwekén beshoch! Don’t stand too close!; Ngo’en I gdon. Cover your mouth.; Ngo’en I gdon epich jachamyen. Cover your mouth when you sneeze.; Zam manek bmadzejek ibe. There are too many people over there.; Gzibinenjen! Wash your hands!; Gshatgen! Stay home! (Telling one person); Gshatgek! You all stay home! (Telling more than one person); Gégo dagneshikén. Don’t touch me.; Gégo dagnakén o kekyat. Don’t touch that elder.; Nasena ezhechkeyen. Be careful what you are doing.; Nasena gishpen Gde-zhya odanek. Be careful if you are going to town.; Ni pi je ezhyayen? Where are you going?; Cho nde-zhyasi ngoji. I am not going anywhere.; Wisnedawewgemgok nde-zhyamen. We are going to the grocery store.; Gme gishek gda-bgedna o séma mine madmoyen. Every day you should put down some tobacco and pray.

During this episode, we’ll learn about the relationship between humans and butterflies, and hear from a Tribal member who has been exploring her ancestry and Tribal culture. CPN Language Department Director Justin Neely also teaches Potawatomi words about spring. Waskonédo – flower; Tkep – spring; Mokjewen – bubbling spring; Mnokme – Spring (as in the season); Gtegan – garden; Gte'gé – He or she gardens; Ogeni waskonedo – rose; Demen – strawberry; Nenwesh – milkweed plant; Mémégé – butterfly; Mdemoze-ngwabjegen – rainbow; Gmowen – raining; Kwansegebisa – downpour; Kiwgemek – storm cellar; Jigwé – thunder; Jigwe wepojgewen – thunder bolt; Pskazhé – bloom; Wawyasto – tornado