The Citizen Potawatomi Nation is a Native American tribe in Oklahoma with nearly 27,000 registered members. They operate businesses such as housing, truck stops, and casinos, and own a museum and cultural heritage center. The tribe hosts an annual Family Reunion Festival and their traditional language is Algonquian. Before their forced removal, they farmed and relied on hunting, fishing, and gathering. Women were responsible for farming and childcare, while men were hunters and warriors. Both genders participated in storytelling, music, and traditional medicine.
The Citizen Potawatomi Nation is a Native American tribe living in Oklahoma. The nation’s headquarters is in Shawnee, Oklahoma. There are nearly 27,000 registered members, and the tribe operates a housing authority, truck stop, and two casinos, among other businesses. The tribe also issues its own vehicle tags.
The Mission Band of Potawatomi Indians was originally located in Indiana, but the Indian Removal Act forced people to travel to Kansas in 1833. The Potawatomi call this forced march the Death Trail. The Potawatomi Mission signed a treaty, sold land in Kansas, bought land in Oklahoma, and became US citizens in 1867. At that time they took the name Citizen Potawatomi Nation.
A federally recognized tribe, the Citizen Potawatomi Nation is the largest of the eight Potawatomi tribes recognized by the United States government and the ninth largest tribe in the country. The tribe owns one of Oklahoma’s largest grocery stores, a bank with three branches, and a golf course. In 2006, the tribe opened the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Museum and Cultural Heritage Center in Shawnee. The center houses the tribe’s library and archives in its 36,000 square feet (3,344 square meters).
On the last weekend of June each year, Citizen Potawatomi Nation hosts its Family Reunion Festival. Traditional ceremonies such as the grand entrance, family honors and general council are held. About 5,000 members of the nation participate in the three-day festivities.
The traditional language of the Potawatomi is Algonquian. The Potawatomi call themselves Nishnabec, which translates to “real people.” According to legend, the name Potawatomi was given to the people by the Chippewa and means “people of the place of fire”. The name was given because, according to legend, when the three tribes – Chippewa, Ottawa and Potawatomi – were one, the Potawatomi were in charge of maintaining the fire of the original council.
The Potawatomi people farmed and relied on hunting, fishing and gathering before their forced removal. Festivals were held around the tapping of sugar maple trees in March each year. They lived in wickiups, which were domed shelters framed by saplings and covered with bark.
The women of the tribe were responsible for farming, childcare, and cooking. Crops grown included corn, squash, and tobacco. Men were hunters and warriors. Both men and women took part in storytelling, music, and traditional medicine, and the traditional Potawatomi village head could be male or female.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
