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 d...

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 ded...

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 quali...

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.