Potawatomi
Like Ojibwe, Potawatomi is another algonquian language. The Wisconsin tribe is the Forest County Potawatomi.
Name
“Potawatomi is pronounced "Poh-tuh-WAH-toh-mee." It means "fire keepers." That refers to their traditional role in the Council of the Three Fires (an alliance with their Ojibwe and Odawa neighbors.) Potawatomi was not originally a written language, so you may sometimes see it spelled Potowatomi or Pottawatomie instead.”
Neshnabé is what the Potawatomi call themselves.
Language
There are 7 remaining native speakers of Potowatomi.
Bodéwadmimwen is the Potawatomi word for their language
Language Revitalization Efforts
Jim Thunder, one of the few native speakers, has been instrumental in this process. He has created an online course that covers language basics with sound clips. The creation of an alphabet was important for the education and utility of the language.
“(He tells) stories in his language, which the tribe publishes, and twice a week, he guides an eager group of adults through the long process of mastering the challenging Potawatomi tongue. “Our language is vast,” he says. “I tell them to speak to each other as much as they can.”
Thunder, the Potawatomi elder, says his parents and elders told him that when their language is no longer spoken, the tribe will cease to exist – a comment echoed at other tribes around Wisconsin.”
Image credit: https://www.fcpotawatomi.com/news/wete-yathmownen-real-stories-potawatomi-oral-history/
Learn Words and Phrases!
Bozho — Greeting, hello
Iwgwien ("ee-gwee-EN") — Thank you
History
Unless otherwise cited, information comes from Indian Nations of Wisconsin: Histories of Endurance and Renewal Patty Loew (2001)
Overview
They left the Eastern Seaboard with the Ojibwe and Ottawa over 500 years ago. These three nations made up the confederacy called “Council of the Three Fires.”
Early on, they lived in the greater Great Lakes region, but as a result of the 17th century Beaver Wars, they moved into modern-day Wisconsin.
Their success in war and trade was boosted by their efficient, sleek canoes that could move much faster than those of others. They allied with the French and served as an intermediary between them and other Great Lakes tribes. However, following the French defeat in the French and Indian War (and a rough patch of stifled trade), many of the Milwaukee-area bands had a preference for the colonists’ cause in the Revolutionary War.
They signed 42 treaties, more than any other nation, with the US government. by 1829, they had lost 70% of their original land. This was a way of paying back the debt they had dug themselves into from a seasonal profit/deficit cycle.
During the early 1900s, there were a lot of “strolling” bands, those who did not get annuities from the government because they refused removal, and thus were quite poor.
“Around 1880, a group of Potawatomi settled in an area near Blackwell and Wabeno in Forest County. This group was the origin of the Forest County Potawatomi Community.” Said community was created in 1913, and in 1988 they gained reservation status.
Image Source: https://dpi.wi.gov/amind/tribalnationswi/fcp
Social Structure
Though they are patrilineal clans, there are close connections between children and maternal grandfathers. Marriage always occurs outside one’s clan, sometimes even with Ojibwe and Ottawa. This strengthened relationships and cooperation.
“In addition to the clan structure, there was also an additional division of the people which cut across families and clans to create two opposing groups based on their order of birth within the family. Within each family, the odd-numbered children ( for instance, first, third, and fifth) were assigned to the “senior side,” while the even-number children were in the “junior side.” These groupings operated in games such as lacrosse and in some ceremonies and rituals. Rivalries between these groups were sanctioned and, through fierce competition, allowed some release of tension in some social situations.”
“Traditionally, the Potawatomi probably did not have a chief of the entire tribe, but under some circumstances, such as intertribal warfare or overall agreements, these village leaders might select a single man from one of the villages to speak for them with a single voice.”
Image source: https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Image/IM5227
Environmental Stewardship
“They were the first American Indian nation to use wind power to create all of their nation’s electricity”
Image source: https://www.energy.gov/indianenergy/articles/forest-county-potawatomi-recognized-renewable-energy-achievements
Casino and Population
The Potawatomi Hotel and Casino is one of the largest casinos in Wisconsin, and is a large source of revenue for the tribe. With this money, they are able to fund community development projects. This has made them one of the most well-off tribes in the state, along with the H0-Chunk. They are now looking towards ways that they can help other nations in the state. In 1998, they decided to share some of their revenue with the Red Cliff from a prior alliance. With only ~ 1,300 people and a 100% graduation rate, they are relatively stable.
Image source: https://www.paysbig.com/frequently-asked-questions
Additional Sources:
http://www.mpm.edu/content/wirp/ICW-152
https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS4361
https://wisconsinfirstnations.org/current-tribal-lands-map-native-nations-facts/
https://dpi.wi.gov/amind/tribalnationswi/fcp
https://www.glitc.org/tribes-served/forest-county-potawatomi-community/