News Release
Citizen Potawatomi Nation
In recent years, more Native American tribes across the country are building programs to preserve, maintain and revitalize their traditional languages, including Citizen Potawatomi Nation (CPN). It recently received a federal grant of $82,609 to launch college-level language courses.
The grant was awarded under the Administration for Native Americans’ Emergency Native Language Funding Opportunity program from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families.
Out of 300 Indigenous languages once spoken in the United States, only 175 remain. The Citizen Potawatomi Nation Department of Education formed a team to offer classes on its traditional language Bodéwadmimwen, to higher education institutions.
“We aim to reach our people where they are,” Citizen Potawatomi Nation Language Aide Robert Collins said. “The Department of Education approached colleges with the most Potawatomi enrolled.”
Collins assists five students, one of whom is a CPN tribal member.
“It’s my responsibility to learn how our ancestors communicated,” said East Central University student Cole Rattan. “It’s our job as descendants to keep it alive.”
East Central University, Oklahoma City Community College, University of Central Oklahoma, Rose State College, and Kansas State University are among the institutions offering language classes through Citizen Potawatomi Nation.
“The ability to offer Potawatomi language courses brings the vision closer to a reality for ECU to be a university known in Oklahoma for educating students interested in working with First American communities in areas like language revitalization and Cultural Resource Management,” said Dr. Terry Scott Ketchum, Assistant Professor and Director of Native American Studies at East Central University.
In fall 2022, Collins started using the new digital platform, Tovuti, to virtually instruct students at all five universities. Students can learn the same subject each week despite their geographical distances. Classes begin with the basics and focus on grammar and vocabulary with accurate, relevant content to challenge the students.
The Potawatomi 1 language course at colleges and universities will return in the fall of 2023. The team anticipates offering Potawatomi 2 in spring 2024.
