Traditional medicine services Available

Traditional medicine services are now being overseen by the Center of History & Culture. If you are interested in seeing Keith Smith for traditional medicine services, he will be available one Friday and Saturday, per month to see tribal Citizens by appointment only. Appointments are taking place in the Government Annex, 58653 Sink Road, Dowagiac, MI.

Symptoms

Though symptoms are most seen in the first few weeks after birth, they can occur anytime within the first year. Emotional, behavioral, and cognitive changes may be caused.

• Feeling of sadness and anxiety

• Sleeping a lot or too less

• Eating too less or too much

• Unexplained aches, pain, or illness

• Anxiety, irritation, or anger for no reason

• Sudden mood changes

• Poor concentration

• Difficulty in remembering things

• Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, and hopelessness

• Recurrent thoughts of death and suicide

• Lack of pleasure in things that were earlier enjoyable

• Feeling disconnected with the baby

Treatment

Postpartum depression is usually treatable with counseling and medication.

If you’re a teen, or you know a teen between 14-17 years old who is looking to make connections with kids of the same age, consider joining this group. Much of the group time is spent immersed in Coyote and Crow. Coyote and Crow is a role playing game (RPG) that takes place in a future science fiction setting where the Americas were never colonized by Europeans, and the societies being explored are all extrapolated from Indigenous cultures.

“The kids love it,” expressed Stacy Young, Behavioral Health Counselor and group facilitator. “Kids create their own characters and make choices and decisions that may or may not work. RPGs provide a safe place for kids to explore, succeed, and sometimes fail. The game provides a foundation for some great peer-to-peer conversations.”

If you would like more information or are interested in the Teen Skills Group, please call the Behavioral Health department at (269) 783-2476 or email Stacy Young at Stacy.Young@PokagonBand-nsn.gov.

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons March

On May 5, Native brothers and sisters gathered in Grand Rapids, Mich. for the annual march in observance of National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness (MMIP) Day. The event, which was co-hosted by the Pokagon Band, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP), and the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, aims to raise awareness and give a voice to all MMIP victims.

Make Your Own and Save

You can save money on many foods by making them at home instead of buying them pre-made. When you buy prepared and packaged foods, you pay for the labor and packaging. Make simple foods yourself. Then set a budget to buy items that are more difficult and time consuming to prepare at home.

Easy Foods To Make At Home

Here are ideas for foods to make at home:

Salads with protein foods: Make tuna, egg, chicken, salmon, or shrimp salads for a quick, protein-packed lunch.

Soups: Cook a double batch of chicken, vegetable, beef, or bean soup. Freeze some portions for later.

Fruit salad: Pre-cut fruit costs a lot. Instead, buy fruits that are in season and cut them up at home.

Vegetables: Avoid pricey, pre-cut vegetables like peeled garlic, sliced carrots, or cubed butternut squash. Prep your own vegetables at home.

Sandwiches: Many pre-made sandwiches are loaded with high-calorie condiments and more than one portion of lunchmeat. Instead, try these make-at-home sandwiches:

• 2 Tablespoons peanut butter with 1 to 2 teaspoons of jelly on whole wheat bread

• 2 Ounces deli turkey or ham, with lettuce, tomato, a slice of swiss cheese, and 2 teaspoons of honey mustard wrapped in a whole grain tortilla or wrap

• 2 Slices low-fat american or swiss cheese with sliced tomato and cucumber and spicy mustard on toasted whole wheat bread

• 2 Scrambled eggs, lettuce, sliced tomato, and 1 slice of low-fat cheese on a whole wheat english muffin

Muffins: Many packaged muffins are oversized and can contain more than 500 calories. Bake your own smaller and healthier versions at home, such as blueberry, banana-nut, or corn muffins.

Side salads: Make your own coleslaw, pasta salad, and potato salad. Use no more than 1 tablespoon of oil or mayonnaise per serving to cut back on fat and calories.

Macaroni and cheese: forget the boxed mixes! Prepare a homemade batch using whole-grain pasta, low-fat milk, and cheese shredded at home.

Salad dressing: Many bottled dressings are loaded with salt and added sugars. Instead, make your own version of balsamic, ranch, or honey mustard dressing.

Cookie dough: Instead of buying pre-made dough, find an easy recipe that takes minutes to prepare. Freeze the dough in cookie-sized portions so they are ready to bake at any time.

Pancake Mix: The ingredients in pancakes are cheap and take just minutes to measure out. You can mix the dry ingredients (like flour, sugar, and baking powder) ahead of time. Then just add the liquid ingredients, such as low-fat milk, oil, and eggs when you are ready to cook.

Granola: Bake a batch of granola with rolled oats, dried fruits, and nuts. Look for healthy granola recipes using the sites listed here.

Trail mix: Mix dried fruit, unsalted nuts, and whole grain cereal for a quick snack.

Applesauce: Slice and simmer apples in a little water until soft. Then mash or puree the apples into sauce. For more flavor, add cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and a small amount of honey or brown sugar.

Flavored oatmeal: Skip the single-serving packets of flavored oatmeal. Instead, buy plain rolled oats and add your own flavors, such as sliced fruit, peanut butter, or brown sugar and cinnamon.

Dips: Whip up a quick batch of black bean dip or chickpea hummus using canned beans.

Popcorn: In a large saucepan, combine a touch of oil and popcorn kernels to make your own popcorn. Microwave popcorn can be expensive and can be high in saturated or trans fats and sodium.

Recipe sites

Check these sites for budget-friendly recipe ideas:

• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: www.eatright.org/food/planningand-prep

• USDA, snap-ed connection: http://snaped.fns.usda.gov/ nutrition-education/recipes

• What’s cooking? USDA mixing bowl: www.whatscooking.fns. usda.gov

• American cancer society: american diabetes association, diabetes food hub: www. diabetesfoodhub.org

• American heart association: http://recipes.heart.org/en American institute for cancer research: www.aicr.org/healthyrecipes

Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians Elder's Council Indianapolis and Indian Market Trip Notice

June 22 – 25, 2023

Destination: Indianapolis and Indian Market

Departure Information:

• Location: Community Center

• Date: Thursday, June 22

• Time: 9:00 a.m.

Return Information:

• Location: Community Center

• Date: Sunday, June 25

• Time: Approx 4:30 p.m.

Registration: Completed Registration Form

• Pokagon Elders

Beth Warner PO Box 180 Dowagiac, MI 49047

• Beth.Warner@PokagonBand-nsn.gov

• Register in person at Elders Hall 53237 Townhall Road, Dowagiac, MI 49047

Registration Deadline: June 1, 2023

Random Drawing: If the number of Elders and spouses who register for the trip exceeds the number of available trip positions, then a random drawing will be used to select Trip Participants and alternates.

• Location: Administration Conference Room

• Date: June 7, 2023

• Time: 10:00 a.m.

Trip Deposit:

• Single $50

• Married $100

• How to pay: Cash or Check

• Deadline: June 15, 2023

The Contact Person for the trip is Beth Warner, Elders Specialist, (269) 782-0765 or (800) 859-2717.

Team Michigan Bound for Nova Scotia

The community gathered on May 6 at Southwestern Michigan College to watch Team Michigan Basketball scrimmage against current and former players from Dowagiac and the Cassopolis High School Basketball team. The event was kicked off with a beautiful grand entry by Iron Bear Singers drum, the Pokagon Veterans, Little Ms. Pokagon, Chelsey Olsen, Little Mr. Pokagon, Zach Galvan, and Jezlynn Guerrero. Upon completion of Grand entry, Team Michigan and Dowagiac players shook our veterans’ hands and were announced before tipoff. Game one was back and forth until the end of the game where players from Dowagiac came out on top with a 59 to 55 win over Team Michigan. After a short break, Team Michigan took the court again to come out with a two-point win over Cassopolis in overtime.

The boys had a great experience as this was their first time playing as a team against other teams. The Pokagon, Dowagiac, and broader community showed up and the support was priceless. Everyone enjoyed food, fun, and entertaining halfcourt shots during half-time of the first game. Between the Fundraiser game, the Go FundMe, and other donations received from Pokagon Band Elders Council, Youth Council, and Tribal Council the boys have raised a total of $5,346.00 that