PIDRO CARD NIGHT

FRIDAY, JULY 14 7 P.M. – 10 P.M.

Pidro is a card game that was heavily played in our Potawatomi communities throughout Michigan and Wisconsin. It’s a game that has almost been forgotten. Come out and learn how to play this game that our parents and grandparents used to play.

Contact AmyJo.Morseau @PokagonBand-nsn.gov with any questions regarding this event.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Food and refreshments are provided

HISTORY & CULTURE ACTIVITY ROOM

Catching Up with Our Elders & Veterans

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Elders had quite a whirlwind of activities over the past two months. They started their adventures with a fun trip to Chicago, enjoying the sights and sounds of the city. Following that, they embarked on a deeply meaningful journey to Mt. Pleasant, Mich., for the 89th Anniversary of the Mt. Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School closing—an important and sacred time for reflection.

And to add a touch of friendly competition, on June 13, our Elders engaged in the spirited Pokagon Band Elders Olympics—a chance for some good-natured games and camaraderie. It was great to see Roger "Koosh Koosh" Williams make his way back to the competition after being unable to participate for several years. The games tested the Elder's skills with various activities, including a lacrosse toss, putting, hockey, corn hole, shuffleboard, basketball, and monster Jenga.

Migwėtth to the Elder's Council and Social Services for providing the healthy food that complimented the competition. Fun and games are good for the soul!

The Veterans have been busy, as well. The Veterans Memorial Golf Outing hosts a Sponsor's Dinner on the eve of the outing. Our veterans were present to hear Casey Church, a fellow veteran elder and special honoree, speak to the crowd. The following day, several of our veterans attended the Veterans Memorial Golf Outing – they played, volunteered, or provided moral support.

Not missing out on the community spirit, our Veterans enjoyed participating in Dowagiac's Memorial Day parade, proudly representing their heritage and paying tribute to those who served.

Our Elders and Veterans truly know how to make the most of their time and contribute to our community in various ways!

On Sunday, June 25, recent Pokagon graduates were celebrated at Silver Creek Event Center in New Buffalo. The Honoring Our Graduates banquet takes place to honor those past and present graduates. Migwėtth to John Warren for providing the Drum and Invocation, and to Blaire Morseau, the keynote speaker.

Community Garden Season is Here

Have you taken advantage of any of the community gardens on tribal properties? Currently, Kowabdanawa odë kė is caring for community garden beds in five locations on tribal properties. Do you live in a tribal village? If so, there is a community garden in your backyard. Along with community garden beds being located at each of the tribal villages in South Bend, Indiana, and Dowagiac and Hartford, Michigan, additional garden beds are located between the Administration building and PHS on the Rodgers Lake Campus and several small beds are located at Zagbëgon.

Each location, aside from the Hartford village garden bed (being composed of one long bed with one arm) has at least two raised community garden beds, some of them with multiple arms for additional room to grow fresh foods.

Kowabdanawa odë kė’s seasonal gardener, Jill Byrket, and summer intern, Sierra Carpenter, care for the garden beds multiple times per week to keep the plants healthy and provide for their best ability to produce delicious foods.

The community garden beds are your beds. Stop by any of the community garden beds to enjoy fresh, in-season, fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Each garden has signage near the bed that is updated regularly, letting you know what is fresh and available for harvesting. What’s ready for harvest now? Basil, rosemary, and some onions are ready right now in the garden beds. By the time you are reading this, some of the zucchini should be ready for picking as well.

Come out and enjoy your community gardens.

Do you have feedback you would like to provide regarding the community gardens? Email Kowabdanawa odë kė at PokagonDNR@PokagonBand-nsn.gov.