Following on Pokagon's path

Article published Feb 12, 2010

Following on Pokagon's path

In the nearly two centuries since Leopold Pokagon died, members of the
Potawatomi Indian tribe named for him have focused more on melding into
the larger community than on protecting their unique place within it.

Their native language, their spirituality, their history, grew threatened
much as the bald eagle that once shared southwestern Michigan's forests
with the Indians.

We hope an initiative to revive knowledge of Pokagon history and tribal practices will thrive just as the efforts
have to bring the eagles back from the brink of extinction.

Reconstructing their cultural foundation can help strengthen the band. Modern times
introduced steep challenges, including a soaring rate of diabetes and
low college enrollment numbers.

Spearheaded by its own tribal committee, Pokagon's Promise hopes to build on native language classes
that have been offered for several years to adults in Dowagiac and
Mishawaka, and to children in the band's Head Start program.New
attempts to teach language beyond the classroom, involving whole
families through such activities as immersion weekends, should more
naturally engage additional tribal members.

There's not a minute to lose. In part because earlier generations were punished for speaking
the language, as few as 60 men and women speak the Potawatomi language
today. Among them, only a handful are physically able to teach.

Pokagon's Promise also aims to spread the history of the tribe documented by a
University of Notre Dame doctoral student. And along with the history,
a deeper understanding of spiritual beliefs and practices that in the
past connected Potawatomies more closely with one another and their
environment.

The Pokagons were more fortunate than most Potawatomi tribes in large measure because their patriarch secured a
special agreement in the 1833 Treaty of Chicago that allowed the band
to stay in Michigan instead of being relocated west of the Mississippi
River.

That Pokagons today dwell where generations of their ancestors lived is testament to a leader who maintained a vibrant
tribal society while building harmonious relationships with neighboring
settlers. That's a legacy of great value both to the tribe and our
whole community. We're eager to see contemporary Pokagons preserve and
promote the strengths of their heritage.



http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20100212/Opinion/2120356/-1...