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HOWNIKAN Nmébnegises | March 2021 Top photo: Mnokme (spring) makes an early appearance at CPN headquarters. Remembering impactful Potawatomi A LOOK INSIDE women during Women’s History Month Page 5 Throughout Potawatomi history, going to do what she needed to help “Because these Potawatomi women were women have contributed to Nishnabé herself, her family and her Tribe.” the ones who were eligible for land communities in innumerable ways. allotments, not their white husbands, Some prominent female leaders While women have always held equal im- they understood that they needed to have since the 1800s include Massaw, portance in Potawatomi society, the cultur- a seat at the table,” Dr. Mosteller said. Watseka, Mary Ann Benache, Joyce al customs did not always translate to po- Able, Beverly Hughes and more. litical and legal dealings with other coun- Although their requests did not tries and entities. But, her cunningness make it into the 1861 treaty, they “Women have always had a central role in and economic approaches opened the door continued pushing for their rights. Natural, sweet gifts of the Maple our life. … Our societies are structured for her to receive political standings other Sugar Moon differently than most Euro-American women at the time could not achieve. Because of these efforts, “we had the cultures historically were. Our society did amendment of 1866 that came back Pages 8-9 not have the same Western understanding “It’s just speculation, but this may be in and changed the treaty to say that that men are at the top. While women why she was noted as a man on the Potawatomi women could be the head 2021 Tribal Election Candidates may have different roles, it doesn’t mean first two treaties she signed,” Norton of the household and that she should be they had to be subservient,” said Dr. Kelli said. “Women did sign treaties, but this able to get a full allotment — not the Page 10 Mosteller, Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s would come a couple of years later as 80 acres or 40 acres, whatever it may Cultural Heritage Center director. more land was being sold and reserved.” be, as a dependent,” she said. “She is not dependent of anybody. She is the head of Massaw Massaw presented herself in fine her household, and her relationship to her clothing. In English artist George white husband had nothing to do with it.” Winter’s diaries, he noted her dark, smooth hair and bright-colored clothes Although not all of the five women had adorned with ribbon applique and officially signed treaties in the past, they silver brooches and stately earrings. had experience with prior negotiations. KGFF serves central Oklahoma with programming and news “The appointment of her dress were “They understood what this process for 90 years expensive, including her moccasins, was about, and they understood that which were neatly made and making this decision to change their handsomely checkered,” Winter wrote. Tribe’s relationship with the federal Pages 18-22 government was one that was going Tribal Executive and She also enjoyed playing card games, to impact them just as much as it Legislative updates and many knew of her expertise. was the men,” Dr. Mosteller said. “She understood the person who she Because of their standings and Pages 23-24 was doing business with, whether Potawatomi cultural traditions, men that was at the card table, doing across the community supported the Walking on a transaction for goods or getting women and their requests. The five George Winter’s sketch of Massaw somebody to pay up. She was not a female signatories’ tenacity forever features her signature fashion. shrinking violet, ” Dr. Mosteller said. impacted Potawatomi women’s ability to NON-PROFIT FIRST CLASS receive the same recognition and power Fight for representation STANDARD MAIL STANDARD As the daughter of Potawatomi Chief as men through the federal government. Wassato and wife of a French fur trader, Massaw’s keen mind and understanding Massaw Watseka was a respected individual of Tribal affairs made her an important within Potawatomi communities. signatory during the Treaty of 1861 “She may have been from an esteemed and its 1866 amendments. Although she had signed treaties in the past, PR SRT STD PR SRT US POSTAGE PAID family, but she was the one who secured US POSTAGE PERMIT NO 49 PERMIT PAID PAID PERMIT NO 49 PERMIT NO 49 PERMIT U.S. POSTAGE NON-PROFIT ORG NON-PROFIT STIGLER, OK 74462 STIGLER, OK 74462 STIGLER, OK 74462 PR SRT FIRST CLASS FIRST PR SRT her place within powerful circles,” said four other women also had a role, Blake Norton, Citizen Potawatomi including Totoquah, Otter Woman, Nation’s Cultural Heritage Center’s curator. Mary Jutions and Pnah-zuea. She had a reputation as Tribal “For the 1861 treaty, I think it’s critical ogema (headman or headwoman) that women were signatories because and prominent entrepreneur near it was such a shift with land ownership Lake Keewawnay in Indiana. becoming the new basis for authority and power,” Dr. Mosteller said. “She was a woman of her time,” Dr. Mosteller said. “She absolutely saw the The Treaty of 1861 laid the groundwork world around her and understood the kind for Potawatomi to receive allotments of business that would make her successful. and the opportunity to become U.S. … She understood what the people and citizens or remain living communally the circumstances of her time and place on 11-square-miles. It separated the needed, and she made the most of that.” 2,170 Kansas Potawatomi into two distinct groups, with 1,400 choosing Before the Potawatomi forced removal on allotments. Each Tribal member The City of Middleport’s name the Trail of Death, Massaw ran a successful received parcels of land based upon change to Watseka continues her business out of her two-story home and their community and family standings. legacy for generations to come. had the same ranking as men during numerous treaty negotiations and signings. During this time, Potawatomi women, Watseka — Watchekee — (Overseer) was represented by Massaw, Totoquah, Otter a prominent Potawatomi woman during “Massaw could read a room,” Dr. Woman, Mary Jutions and Pnah-zuea, the 19th century. She was the daughter Mosteller explained. “She could read petitioned for the ability to receive the writing on the wall, and she was head of household recognition. Continued on page 3 2 MARCH 2021 HOWNIKAN Oklahoma middle schoolers’ work lifts off into outer space As sixth graders, Citizen Potawatomi Nation tribal member Addison Taylor and her science partner Mayzie Burke won the chance to send their experiment to the International Space Station. The two became friends after teaming up in class at Summit Christian Academy in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Their STEAM teacher Stephanie Bradley focuses on curriculum that brings together science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. She encouraged her students to enter the annual Tulsa Research Kids competition. In 2019, the Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance worked with the DreamUp organization to offer three Oklahoma teams the opportunity to send their projects to the ISS. “It was the chance of a lifetime,” Bradley said. “Not many times can you watch students release something into Burke (left) and Taylor prepare their experiment for its trip to space. We do projects all the time, and the International Space Station. (Photo provided) sometimes you’re like, ‘OK, put it in the trash.’ And this time, we get to say, NASA initially scheduled the flight Bradley and both girls’ parents helped ‘OK, put it on a rocket. We’re going to for the summer of 2020; however, the them prepare for each competition, shoot it to space,’ and I’m so glad.” pandemic delayed it several times which included repetition of their throughout the year. On Dec. 6, 2020, presentations to improve their public Port to port the experiment launched on a Falcon speaking skills. Six judges oversaw 9 rocket as part of a service mission to the final round and decided whose Taylor and Burke both share interests in the International Space Station — a full experiments went to space. science and outer space and decided to year after the Tulsa Research Kids event. enter the contest. Taylor’s father works “Whenever we first got up there, at Aerospace engineer and NASA astronaut at the Port of Muskogee off the Arkansas “When we first found out we’re actually first (I) was nervous,” Burke said. Col. Paul Lockhart presents Tribal River in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where going to space, we were so excited. “And then once you just get into member Addison Taylor (right) and semi-trucks, barges and trains load and And then over time, we just got more it, and then everyone is just used to Mayzie Burke medals for winning the unload. One day, they were discussing excited to finally go,” Taylor said. you. You are used to just talking.” Tulsa Research Kids competition in a product he often uses called WearFlex January 2020. (Photo provided) — a synthetic rubber compound. She, Burke, their families and Bradley Practicing helped Taylor as well. all saw the rocket launch at the Kennedy think outside the box,” Taylor said. “If something goes wrong, he uses Space Center outside of Orlando, Florida. “It felt more calm, like I know “You can do it, no matter what.” WearFlex, and it helps fix cracks, what I’m doing and won’t get The girls received their experiment leaks and holes, and tires and belts “As soon as it actually happened, I was stumbled up, and … I have Mayzie back at the end of January 2021, and and all sorts of stuff,” Taylor, a like, ‘Wow, we’re really going!’ because to help support me,” she said.