Flavors of the Native American

The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian in Evanston will be having a  "Taste of Native America" fundraiser on Sunday, February 21, 2010, at now we're cookin at 1601 Payne Street in Evanston.  Tickets are $100.00.

The dinner menu will include black bean and pumpkin soup, spicy elk meatballs made from Wisconsin farm raised elk, wild mushrooms and onion saute on whole grain crositi, wild rice johnnycakes, Navajo fry bread, baked Indian pudding and dried blueberries, raisins, and spices, maple sugar cookies and beverages.

The cooking will be done by super Chef Mary E McMahon, the culinary director of "Now we're Cookin" she is a 23 year veteran of Chicago's finest restaurant's.  Jean Banchet winner of the Best Pastry Chef will be assisting.

Actual article link 

Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi

The Kingman Museum will be having an incredible exhibit called, "Native American Vessels:  Traditions in Transformation.  It will be a temporary exhibit starting February 6, to October 9, 2010.

The opening of the exhibit was on February 6, 2010 and the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi did a honor song of the event.

Link to Kingman Museum

Directions Link

Citizen Potawatomi Nation

The constitution of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. 
 
Constitution Link

Citizen Potawatomi

Leslie Deer and Gary Bourbonnass explains the Citizen Potawatomi Nations, absentee voting process to tribal members.

Cheryl Tooshkenig Mitchell

Cheryl is a great golfer who has been written about in Native American Publications, she is from the First Nation of walpole Island, one of the bands of Potawatomi.  She lives on the reservation that is located on the U.S. border.  She started playing glof when she was 10 years old, she would go with her parents, Bill and Shirley Tooshenig.  Fortunately there is a golf course about five minutes from the reservation.

Cheryl went to Kent State University on a full scholarship and then transferred to Oakland University in Rochester Hills, Michigan.  Her college career is full of awards and recognition.  She was chosen as the Golf Athlete of the week more than once and set most of the schools records for golf.  

Cheryl received her Masters degree in psychology and got help in sponsorship from generous donors and the Seminole tribe in Florida.  Another example of a over achieving Potawatomi, i am amazed at how many Potawatomi have become famous, i have a file of stories. 

To visit her web site Cheryl's web site

Interesting conversation

A conversation that ended up on a alert because it involved the keyword, "Potawatomi scholar" debating the proper use of how to refer to a Potawatomi, traveling with tribal id and casino revenue's, that he obviously will not answer, i will never post anything in regards to inner tribal politics or anything regarding casino conversation's deemed private, or things that would give any of our tribes a bad name.  The conversation also illustrates why i do not like to have comments, i tried and every one wants private information that i do not believe in disclosing.  I only like referencing what has already been printed in the public domain by others.  There is a big difference between speaking to a tribal member and a non tribal member.

Actually very informative and educated Potawatomi coversation link

Wow what a find!

Many times my over 100 specific word search alerts turns up something that really interests me, i came across a blog called "Weather Vane" she was digging in her backyard garden and found some arrowheads and beaded jewelry, she is located on the direct path of the "Trail of death."

The date of her blog is February 7, 2010, and titled "The Kickapoo and Potawatomi."

Her link to see some of the items

Please note that i do not have anything to do with either of the two services listed below i just list them below as a point of reference. 

Authentic Arrow Heads Link
Authentication Services 

 

Potawatomi Regalia

(All items sold are not sold by me)  $400.00

13 pieces of Menominee/Potawatomi museum quality handmade authentic regelia.  Being sold by J. Warrington a member of a Potawatomi tribe.  It was given to Mr. Warrington as a gift from a family that adopted his grandmother.  He used the regalia  set a few times as a jingle dress dancer.  Then saved the items for a few years and had it re-made to fit a six years old boy as a grass dancer.  The type of stitch is called loomwork.  He must now sell the regalia. 

Sale Link

Potawatomi Trail of Death Highway Signs

Back in fall of 2006, the Manitou Chapter and several Indiana DAR officers took part in the deication of 5 highway signs to mark the path taken by the Potawatomi Indians from Indiana to Kansas back on September 15, 1838.  The Potawatomi were marched at gunpoint, many died along the way and that is why it is called the Trail of Death.  Of the 859 Potawatomi who began the Trail of Death, 42 died.

These 5 signs mark the first historic highway signs in the nation for the Potawatomi Trail of Death and are to show that the event was not forgotten and to remind travelers of this event. 

Potawatomi Bingo Casino Manicure Set

I am not the seller of any of the items sold.  $5.00

New never used, still in the case, was given away at the casino in the 1980's when the casino first opened.  It contains a toe nail clipper, finger nail clipper, nail file and a 4 in 1 knife with a under the nail cleaner, file, bottle opener, screw driver.

The plastic case is green with gold, inside is brown felt and labeled "Heirloom," the instruments are gold colored.  ebay Link

Copper Rock Review

Post Tribune
Member of Sun-Times Media


Mark Taylor gave one of the best reviews i have read about Copper Rock restaurant owned and managed by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi.  When someone talks about things like "Roasted Lobster Bisque" with Cognac and Infused with Triple Cream, or Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with Sweet Roasted Corn Sauce and Melted Leeks or Chicken Saltimbocca, which is Roasted Chicken Breast Filled with Fontina, Prosciutto and Fresh Sage and Brown Sugar.  These things get my interest, since with the current economy as it is, my idea of fine dinning is McDonalds, i guess that i should not complain, i just saw Hati on the news and everyone was running after a food truck. 

Post Tribune Review Link
Copper Rock Video Link

*Prosciutto is used to dry cure ham and widely used in Italy and has a very distinctive taste. 
*Fontina is a Italian cheese made from cows milk.  

what trees do for us!

They not only give us shade and make our neighborhoods cooler, reducing utility bills, but they also add value to a individuals property value, can you imagine buying a home without a tree?  Trees also reduce noise because they filter sound and clean the air from such toxins as carbon monoxide and other dangerous and deadly pollutants.  Trees also help keep our water safe by the natural removal of dangerous and deadly pollutants.

So please next time you hear the word "global warming"  make sure that you realize that it is a political word that has been misinterpreted.  Global warming is a word that sends a negative message to people from rich corporations that spend a lot of money to keep you mis-informed, i would change the this word to "protect trees, keep our lakes safe, protect our wildlife, etc" now what would you think?  Will you please take a few minutes and consider joining?  If not now, maybe later.

Save a tree, protect our water, clean the air link

Huron Band Gaming Regulator Accused of Malfeasance

A gaming commissioner for the Huron Band of Potawatomi is being accuses of having inappropriate relationships with casino employees.

Although having relationships with employees on personal time outside of the casino is not illegal, it is said to be a violation of the rules.  The employee states that it never inter feared with his job performance and the women never filed a complaint.

The person accused is a son of a council person, hopefully he will be given a suspension and can return back to work, currently he has been suspended.  

 

I never knew that we had a coin made by a mint to honor Chief Leopold Pokagon.  Link to coin

Leopold Pokagon died in 1826, he was the leader of the Potawatomi of the Saint Joseph River Valley in Michigan, one of the seven bands of Potawatomi that would adopt his name, his son was the famous writer, Simon Pokagon.  His name, Pokagon, means "the rib" but literally means "something used to shield."

Leopold was a very successful leader and negotiated the treaty of 1833 to allow the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi to remain on the land, while the rest of the Potawatomi were moved west of the Mississippi by the means of the Indian Removal Act of 1830.   

 

FireKeepers Hotel Talks Turn Positive

BattleCreek Enquirer

Travis Hampton of the Coldwater and Kalamazoo based development firm says the new hotel looks hopeful and should begin construction in March if all goes well.

It is said to be a 90 room hotel across the street from FireKeepers on East Michigan Avenue.  The purposed hotel was shot down in late December but now talks have turned positive.


To read the entire story > BattleCreek Enquirer Link

Hannahville boy still in very critical condition

Daily Press

The hannahville boy who was run over by the school bus yesterday, was air lifted to a Milwaukee hospital.  This is the reason why the emergency room closing on the Walpole Island Indian reservation is so important, if it took 45 minutes to get help, many needless deaths will occur.

Police conducting the investigation have concluded that it was just a terrible accident after a careful investigation.

To read the entire story ; Daily Press Link



Chief Joseph Gilbert speaks about the closing of the only nearby hospital for thousands of Native Americans living on the island.

Casinos asked to pay

Capital News Service
Lansing, Michigan,

Some Michigan state senators are asking casinos to help fund scholarships under a new bill that would allow school districts to establish college scholarships for students and graduates from money the districts receive under gaming compacts between the state and Indian casinos.

To read the entire story > Casino News Service Link

Walpole Island a biological treasure

The Observer

The Walpole Island First Nation - Bkejwanog terrotory is recognized as a international biological treasure with five major ecosystem types, tall-grass prairie, oak savanna, Carolinan forest, costal wetlands and open water aquatics.

The ecosystem of Walpole island supports over 60 of Canada's most rare plants.  The walpole Island Heritage program is working to protect the conditions so many generations will enjoy the environment through educational programs.
(Click on the title of this story for the entire article)

Closing of the only near by hospital. 

Walpole Island the First Nation Chief Gilbert pleading for help about the closing of the only emergency room within 45 minutes of thousands of Native Americans who live on the island, hopefully no one has a heart attack because that is way to far to save them.  I have spent the entire day writing every news blogger that i know to start writing about this story.

SOS postcard link
SOS Newspaper coverage link
SOS Newspaper coverage link 
Phone listings for First Nation link 
 
  

Chief Meta

Answering an email request for more information on Chief Meta.

The leader whose village was near the North bank of the Cedar Creek bank, Chief Meta's village was called  Muskwawsepeotan, which mean's "town on the old red wood creek."

The village was settled sometime after 1795, when the Potawatomi tribe first moved into northeastern Indiana from the St. Joseph's River of Lake Michigan near what is today, modern South Bend.  The site was then abandoned after it was ceded to the United States along with all the other Potawatomi lands in the area by what is know as the treaty of 1828.

Chief Meta was a very prominent spokeperson for his Potawatomi tribe.  Although he was not known as a powerful clan elder, his skill as both  an orator and a warrior gained him much respect and brought him great influence and respect within his tribe.  Chief Meta was the active leader during the historical Potawaomi war of 1812.  His bravery during war left him with a scar on his right side of his face and also made use of his right arm, useless.  Chief Meta was shot by a solider while he was out scouting General Harrison's army near Fort Wayne in 1812.  Despite the useless- ness of his arm Chief Meta risked his life to save his people and said, "I would rather die than return from battle without my rifle."

After his injuries, Chief Meta could not return to battle but continued to serve his tribe at many negotiations.  His often serious and uncompromising nature earned him the name, "the sullen one," an very ironic thing because his literal meaning of his name is "kiss me."

Chief Meta was  tall, about six feet, and scarred, his looks are described as "unpleasant" but "striking."  Chief Meta was in his forties when he gained his reputation as the tribal spokesperson......
(To reach Friends of Meta click on the title of this story)


Potawatomi who can help add any information please drop me a email at tweetybird@hushmail.com  i have contacted the cultural educators who can better answer any questions that may be media related.

bohzo (Scott)
John Low answers these types of questions johnlow@illinois.edu  
Please copy and paste email link if you have any media orientated questions. 

I would also love you to write on your topics when ever you feel the desire, we would love to learn what you could share with us.

Megwetch
(Thank You)  

Four Winds Casino Piggy Bank

Someone is selling a Four Winds Casino Resort piggy bank for sale on ebay for $5.00.  Four Winds Casino Resort is owned and operated by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi.  Anything for sale i am not the seller, i just think when i come across something neat i should say something.
(Click on the title of this story to get more information)

Coyote in Love with a star

 

Written by

Marty Kreipe de Montano

and

Tom Coffin

 

A coyote gets lonely in the wide open spaces of the Potawatomi Reservation in Kansas, so he moves to New York City in search of work and a special friend.  There he quickly gets himeself a job as a Rodent Control Officer at the World Trade Center.  But he becomes homesick, so at the end of the day, he escapes the crowds and hurries back....

Children's book written by members of the Prairie Band of Potawatomi.  On ebay for $5.95 plus shipping.

Link For Book

Hannaville boy gets run over by a bus

TV6 Upper Michigan's news source says that a nine year old boy whose name has not been disclosed was ran over by a bus this morning on his way to school.  He is a member of the Hannahville Indian tribe.  (one of seven Potawatomi tribes)

He was running across a parking lot when he slipped and the bus driver didn't see him.  Many other children that are tribal members that witnessed the accident are receiving counseling. The accident is under police investigation.

John Potoskey

Very well known and recognized John Potoskey of the Grand Travers Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indian tribe got his job as general counsel eliminated after serving the Native American community for 23 years in land mark court decisions.  And also taught Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Appeals court judge, Matthew Fletcher the ways around Native American law.
(Click on the title of this story for landmark court cases reviewed by Pokagon Appeals Judge and MSU professor)

Megwetch

(Thank You)

Fort Dearborn the novel

A book of great importance to the Potawatomi because it tells the story of before Chicago existed, it was a place called Fort Dearborn.

Fort Dearborn brings to life one of the beginnings of one of the worlds best cities with a story for the Potawatomi.  A struggle and clash by different people, told by Jerry Crimmins in a real drama that led to a event known as the Fort Dearborn massacre that happened in 1812, more than sixty solders and civilians died in a battle that Pokagon Band of Potawatomi member John Low teaches about at the University of Illinois in American Indian studies, a must read for Potawatomi that have a desire to learn about the truth and not truths of Fort Dearborn.

Interested readers that can't get the book right now please read John Lows article in the Chicago magazine.Fort Dearborn article link

(Click on the title of this story to see more about the book)

   

Muskegon casino in future

Tribal leaders from Little River Band of Ottawa Indians is looking into putting a casino in  Muskegon County.  The U.S. Supreme court has paved the way for another tribe's casino in Wayland, Michigan.

To read the entire story M.Live Link

 

New tribal police officers.

The Huron Potawatomi earned federal recognition in 1995 and was founded in 1995 and Craig Schwartz is the Chief of police in charge of policing the tribes 120 acre Pine Creek Reservation.

Huron Potawatomi hired Dennis Aven, a retired East Lansing policeman who was an investigator for the tribes gaming commission at the casino.

Huron Potawatomi hired Duane Sprague, a former lieutenant with the Vassar Police Department.

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi hired Ryan Shields who worked for the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odewa Indians.

Prairie Band of Potawatomi

A visit to the Prairie Band of Potawatomi reservation that is called "Shab-eh-ney, it is located in North East Kansas, originally from the Great Lakes region but were removed to West of the Mississippi back in the 1800's.  It sits on 1,280 acres of some of the countries most beautiful land.

The video is called "We are one spirit" or "Tsonkwadiyonnat" made through the lens of Alex.  Created November 11, 2008 for cultural awareness.  The music is from one of the World's most recognized Potawatomi bands called "Midnight Express."  A personal favorite of mine, I am actually listening to it as I post this. 
(Click on the title of this story to visit the main site)

LED Light Show

Forest County Potawatomi own and operate Potawatomi Bingo located in Milwaukee.  When you first enter the casino a incredible light show will present itself, using 700 individually programed lights.

I would have picked some different music to go with this but no one asked me.  The language being sung is not Potawatomi. 
(Click on the title of this story to see the main web site) 

Real Potawatomi music

Created by Marty Peck

Benefits of Native American Casinos

Matthew Wesaw, Chairman of

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi

"We will assume the role of building a tribal government that will assist in breaking the cycle of dependency through improved programs in healthcare, education, housing, economic development, and increased stipends.  A tribal citizen, who has good self esteem, good health, an education, and a job, is a tribal citizen who has pride in being self sufficient and taking care of their family.  This can be a very difficult task and without strict oversight, we can easily find ourselves overspending if we move to fast." 

Native American casinos create programs like elders meals, transportation for home bound elders, burial for those that can't afford to have a proper burial, vocational training, educational programs, language education, police protection, fire protection, emergency services........ 

Grand Traverse Chippewa and Odawa Tribe

Listing on Craigslist for $52.00

Agnes Rapp (1920 - 2003), a member of the Grand Traverse Chippewa and Odawa Tribe of Indians, learned to weave strips of black ash wood into basket designs from her Odawa stepparents, John and Dela McSawby.  "They were into baskets all the time... so I grew up with basketry, you know... I would cut up the material (black ash splints) on the floor and crisscross 'em and tie 'em up with string and stand ' em up and pretend I'd made a basket."  The family sold their baskets for food money during the Depression.  By the time she was ten, Agnes was regularly helping Deliah make baskets and even filling oders on her own.  "I got an order for myself to make little round baskets with handles and when I got those finished the money was mine and I bought a pair of shoes."

In 1939, Agnes married Michael Rapp, a Pokagon Potawatomi from Southern Michigan.  They first lived in Leland and then, during World War II, moved to southwest Michigan because Michael got a job in a defense plant in Benton Harbor.  They both joined a group of Potawatomis who regularly met at a community center in Dowagiac to make baskets.

Agnes Rapp is a master black ash basket maker and exert from her book describe her love of culture.  Her baskets are represented in many museums and private collections, including China.
(Click on the title of this story for the entire article)

Hannahville Indian School

 

The mission of the Hannahville Indian School is to give a education through the promotion of the Potawatomi values, traditions and history.

Teaching of the Potawatomi language is an essential part of the curriculum and learning of the language begins at kindergarten.

Hannahville Indian school even has it's own monthly newspaper called firm, fair & consistent.

Click to see the newspaper

Weekly tobacco ceremonies take place once a week.  Tobacco is a very important plant to the Potawatomi, we believe it was a gift from the spirits.  Potawatomi make frequent offering to the spirits.  Spirits are often our planet, Mother Earth , and everything on our planet like the animals and water.

Hannahville Potawatomi is one of the seven bands (tribes) located in the heart of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  They came to be when long, long ago an alliance known as the "Three Fires" was started by three brothers who shared similar lands and backgrounds.  All were of the Anishinabe and lived in the eastern part of North America.  After numerous wars and migrations, the tribes moved to the Great Lakes area.  The oldest brother, Chippewa (Ojibwa), was given the responsibility of Keeper of the faith.  The middle brother, Ottawa (Odawa) was the Keeper of the trade, and the youngest brother, Potawatomi (Bode'wadmi) was responsible for keeping the Sacred Fire; hence the Potawatomi name, "Keeper of the Fire."

(Click on the title of this story to see the school handbook)

Protect Mother Earth

Photo from Forest County Potawatomi

The Potawatomi nation has taken a leadership role in the development of both federal and state rules regarding mercury emissions and methyl mercury formation.

On the federal side, the Potawatomi nation submitted comments objecting to the "CAMR" rule, which would have allowed for significant mercury deposition "hot spots" to occur and mercury emission levels considerably higher than required to protect human health.  As a result of the comments submitted,  the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia recently overturned the CAMR rule as contrary to federal law.

On the state side, The Forest County Potawatomi comments in favor of Wisconsin's new mercury rule, which appropriately required 90 percent reduction in mercury emissions from power plants.  The Forest County Potawatomi Community funding of research by Dr. Watras was also instrumental in adding incentives to the rule to not only reduce mercury but also sulfate and other emissions. 
(Click on the title of this story to learn more)

Will you please join Facebook link

Gun Lake Casino's Last Steel Beam

A large crowd gathered to watch the last steel beam get hoisted in the air, it was decorated with an American flag and a small pine tree.  After a large crane maneuvered the last beam in place...To continue reading

To see the long journey for the Gun Lake Potawatomi to be able to build this casino that will pay for elders care, cultural development, education and many needed service please Click this link 

Photo by Charlotte Weick

FireKeepers is using Twiter now

 

FireKeepers is now using Twiter Click to see an example

(To visit FireKeeper's main site click the title of this story)

To see all the photo's link

 

Back View photo by Casino Connection International

 

Inside View, photo by Casino Connection International

,

Grand Traverse Band Distribution

 

Peshawbestown, MI

The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Distribution Report.

Link To see and compare with your tribe

I had did not ever realize how youthful Chairman Derek J. Bailey looks, Mr. Bailey Link

 

$100,000 Giveaway Official Announcement

 

Copper Rock Steakhouse

New Buffalo, MI
Celebrate Valentine's Day at Four Winds Casino Resort by Winning $100,000 Worth of Diamonds

New Three Course Copper Classics Dinner at Copper Rock Steakhouse
(Click on the title of this story for the announcement)

 To see the new three course classic dinner click this link
To see the new Winter dinner menue click this link

Chief Leopold Pokagon

My Brothers Fruit
by
Martin Overniser

I have over 100 Google and Yahoo search alerts for just about everything that you can imagine regarding all seven bands of the Potawatomi and the leaders of the tribes, so I have to filter through what is news worthy.  One such story came from a blogger named Martin who wrote about a story about Chief Leopold Pokagon.  This is an exert of his writings:

Chief Leopold Pokagon sold a large area of Chicago to the United States government back in 1833 for three cents an acre.  Then the Chief said he had spent many years trying to get paid for the land, and even met with two presidents, Lincoln and Grant to no avail.
(To read the whole story please click on the title of this story, his story is dated Sunday, January 31, 2010.  Titled Albert and Max at Chicago World's Fair-1893)

This map below shows our original homelands. 

Photo by Forest County Potawatomi

Dowagiac Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Pow Wow

Geneva History Center

 

Staff Report

 

American Indian expert Meg Bero will be conducting a lecture called "Native Americans of Illinois" at 7 p.m. Thursday, February 4, 2010 at the Geneava History Center, at 113 S. Third Street.

Bero is the curator for the Schingoethe Center for Native American Studies in Aurora University.  Her lecture will include Chief Waubonsee's people, the Potawatomi , who lived in the Fox River Valley.

Admission is $5, $3 for members and students, for more information, call (630) 232-4951 or visit genevahistorycenter.org.

I write this because many Potawatomi still after all this time still live in this area.
(Click on the title of this story for the original article)

Click this link to see some art from Schingoethe Center

Also don't forget to watch John Low, Pokagon Band of 

Potawatomi he now is a Professor at the 
University of Illinois.