HOWNIKAN Aptebbongises | December 2019 Top photo: The CPN Christmas tree at the Red Earth Museum Warm up during bbon (winter) with in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. traditional Potawatomi stories and games A LOOK INSIDE During bbon (winter) Potawatomi have Page 4 participated in a variety of activities Jett receives leadership award for centuries, including games like snow snake, storytelling and more that bring the community and families Page 8 together to pass time and stay warm during the coldest months of the year. Just as the Potawatomi moons serve as guideposts, like April’s Zisbakwtoke gises (Maple Sugar Moon), wintertime serves as an opportunity to reconvene and rest, preparing for the busy months to come. Tribal election notice for 2020 “That’s the whole concept of ‘Indian time,’” said Citizen Potawatomi Page 12 Nation Language Department Director Justin Neely. “Certain seasons are when you pick berries, when you harvest corn, etc. So, there were also certain time periods where you just hung out with your family.” Participating in Potawatomi traditions preserves culture for generations to come. Europeans often looked down on the Gwzege’wen (bowl and dice) the color and number of die. The game FireLake Discount Foods concept of resting and taking time to continues until each player has missed becomes Blue Zones-certified share stories and foster kinship during Although wintertime is the only season twice or someone reaches 12 points. the winter. However, still to this day, the to play snow snake, learning other season serves as an opportunity to tie games — like Gwzege’wen — can Bowl and Dice points: serve as entertainment and fellowship Pages 16-22 families and communities together. 2 white and 6 black die = 1 point Tribal Executive and year-round and are not limited to “Basically, in the wintertime, we have a the right weather conditions. 1 white and 7 black = 5 points Legislative updates lot of free time,” he said. “They always say that in the winter, the spirits are Traditionally, women are the only ones 8 white or 8 black = 8 points Pages 23-24 asleep and the earth is asleep. It’s a who can make and keep a Gwzege’wen 1 white and 7 black = 11 points perfect time for winter storytelling (bowl and dice) game set, but Neely Walking on and a perfect time for playing games said both men and women can put 2 white and 5 black = 12 points together the necessary items. and maybe sitting around the fire.” A standing effigy = automatic win Snow snake Equipment includes a wooden bowl, All white = automatic win six circular die and two animal- Although Oklahoma’s winters based game pieces often reflective All black = automatic win often are not cold enough to hold of the owner’s dodem (clan). Learning and playing traditional games onto precipitation, many Nishnabé “It doesn’t have to be a wooden bowl, serves as a chance for CPN members to communities still living around engage with their Potawatomi heritage. the Great Lakes participate in bbon but that’s usually what it is. A lot (winter) games like snow snake. of bowls really curve, so it might “It’s an activity that’s really good for kids be nice if you have one with a flat to be able to learn to play games,” Neely “Snow snake is a game where basically, surface inside it,” Neely said. PR SRT STD PR SRT US POSTAGE PAID said. “And it’s nice to have something PERMIT NO 49 PERMIT STIGLER, OK 74462 they take snow and mount it up, Deer and other antlers sawed off into that you can pass on. Stories and little pushing it together to make a track, games are things that anyone can if you will,” Neely explained. thin circles, about the thickness of a quarter, serve as the die. Individuals definitely pick up and share with their nieces, nephews, grandkids, that way A pathway with snow walls personalize their game pieces by painting they can feel like they’re doing their approximately 2-3 feet high serve or applying copper and other metals part to help continue the culture.” as the playing field, just tall enough that differentiate one side from the to provide adequate structure. other, which also determines points. Storytelling “And then they’ll carve these sticks, and “Then usually there are two little Since the spirits rest during bbon everyone will get in a line and throw effigies, which are little animals — it (winter), sharing oral traditions about them to see who goes the farthest,” could be an eagle, bear; it could be a key spirits is central to Potawatomi he said. “They may water the track turtle — and basically, the idea behind culture, including Wiske — also known down to ice it up, but the idea is to it is you toss them up in the air,” Neely as Nanabozho — the Trickster. see who can throw it the furthest.” explained. “You want to keep them in the bowl, but when they come back “These stories are fundamental to how Many take the time to carve their down, you get points based on how our ancestors saw the world and how stick, or snake, to reflect their many blacks versus white, and there we continue to see the world and our personal beliefs, clan and more. are a couple ways to get points.” relationship with the earth,” Neely said. “You want to make sure that our “It’s like regalia; people add their own Birth order customarily helps define teams, children and our grandchildren have an flair to it,” Neely added. The Citizen separating the mjigwewes (first-born) and opportunity to see how their grandparents Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage kishko (second-born), with equal numbers or great-great-grandparents saw the world.” Center’s gallery Gete Neshnabek of players on each team. Participants take Zhechgéwen features a digital version turns casting, or flipping the die inside of snow snake and bowl and dice. the bowl. Players receive points based on Continued on page 4 2 DECEMBER 2019 HOWNIKAN Tips to incorporate an Indigenous diet in 2020 Food often serves as the center of every on ourselves and work on the people culture. However, since colonization, who already have those choices.” Indigenous food systems have been stripped from Indigenous people across Holdbacks the world. In America, federal policies “There is a difference between survival removed many Native Americans from and thriving, and right now, a lot their lands, which in turn, caused them of folks I feel like are caught in that to lose connections to the plants and survival mode,” DeerInWater said. animals that sustained Indigenous people since time immemorial. This Also, because so many communities have disconnect influences overall health not had those connections to traditional and wellness, which manifests as fare, it can be harder for individuals to mental illnesses, diabetes and other have an open mind and open taste pallet. negative health-related outcomes. “People are so accustomed to commodity “There is also a lot of healing that can be foods that they become acclimated to done with changing those food habits. that and resistant to Native, pre-contact Food policy is definitely there to break foods, or traditional ancestral foods,” the connection and the relationship DeerInWater said. “I myself eat fry we have with the land. And we can see bread, but making that your daily thing the consequences of that in our health,” is probably not the wisest health choice.” said Kaya DeerInWater, Bodewadmi Learn about seasonal and traditional crops — like persimmons — by attending a Widoktadwen Gtegan (Citizen Potawatomi Bodewadmi Widoktadwen Gtegan (Citizen Potawatomi Community Garden) work party. Minimizing consumption of processed Nation Community Garden) assistant. food decreases sugar intake. One easy “That is what’s most concerning. devoted a lot of effort and energy and transition is exchanging soda for water. Incorporating Indigenous agricultural What are we leaving our kids?” intention into them, making sure each systems into food policy can address “That’s a shift that could help you in Peak of freshness of those happened, not only because public health issues while simultaneously it was important to them, but it was the long run, or all the way scaled up healing Native Americans physically, to buying a head of broccoli instead One way to adhere to pre-contact also a necessity,” DeerInWater said. emotionally and spiritually. of buying a pound of meat. That kind traditions is to eat seasonally, which of thing can also help your health as For those who have an opportunity Sacredness also increases the nutritional well as the food system,” he said. bioavailability of food. to strategically spend their grocery Colonization profoundly affects budgets, consumer dollars can have an While changing to an all pre-contact “Like with berries being ripe in the Native America’s sense of community. impact on markets. Making conscious foods diet may be impossible for Harvests were only done by hand and summer,” DeerInWater explained. decisions to purchase only what is everyone, DeerInWater encourages often served as social gatherings. “Typically, you’re moving around, you exchanging one non-traditional food do a lot of activities in the summer in season can help create changes for its traditional counterpart. “People enjoyed each other and still when it’s warm, and having a lot of across Turtle Island and the world. enjoy doing it,” DeerInWater said. “It’s Pantry switches about this bigger aspect, which is just about connecting with the land, One easy switch includes opting connecting with Creator and Mother for sunflower oil that withstands Earth, Father Sky, all of those things, and high temperatures instead of recognizing the spirit in everything.