Come this June, we will say goodbye to a devoted servant who has led her community with integrity, compassion and respect. Vice-Chairwoman Linda Capps is a woman of character who has led with quiet strength and grace.

What stands out to me most about Ms. Capps is not that everyone agreed with her on everything. That is not what leadership is, and it’s not what made people love and respect her. What made her special was the way she treated people. Over a lifetime of service as an educator, community leader and Vice-Chairwoman since 1990, she built a reputation for showing up, helping others and making people feel seen.

What does it mean to be Potawatomi?  What does it mean to be a Citizen of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation?

Being Potawatomi is identity.  Ancestry, language, ceremony, and survival all define who we are and where we come from. Citizenship is participation in a sovereign government. It’s the community to which we belong. It is how we protect our rights and ensure our Nation continues as a self-governing body with real authority.  

In February, the City of Maumee, hosted a screening of Sugarcane, a film that examines the abuse and lasting trauma caused by Indian boarding schools.  I attended expecting to watch the film as a local resident, but through a series of conversations, I was asked to participate in a post-screening discussion and share perspective as a Potawatomi citizen.

The film is difficult to watch.  Like many stories shared by our elders, it reveals painful truths - forced separation, abuse, and efforts to strip Indigenous children of their identity.  While much of the public conversation around boarding schools focuses on physical and emotional harm, I spoke about another lasting impact that is often overlooked: the loss of language.

I want to share a few updates with our district as we move through winter and toward spring.

In mid-December, I learned that the Eiteljorg Museum would be hosting a quillwork exhibition, Gaawii Eta-Go-Aawizinoo Gaawiye Mkakoons (It’s Not Just a Quillbox), running through the end of March. I began exploring the idea of holding a District 1 meeting there on March 14th, as quillwork is an important part of our history, identity, and material culture.

As we begin a new year, my mind returns to one of our oldest teachings: gratitude. Gratitude isn’t a seasonal mindset or something we practice only when things are going well — it’s a daily choice that orients us to our community, our Creator, and the responsibilities we carry to one another. This past November offered two reminders of that teaching.

As we move into the holiday season, I want to take a moment to reflect on grace, forgiveness, and community.  Whether or not you celebrate, this season reminds us what matters most — family, friends, and the connections that hold us together.

In my October Hownikan article, I outlined what the Bodéwadmi Confederation is and why I believed joining would benefit our Nation. I wrote that piece in late August/early September, just before the publishing deadline. I’m happy to share a timely update: as of our September 25 legislative meeting, the Citizen Potawatomi Nation officially joined the Confederation!

We already participate in intertribal groups like the National Congress of American Indians and the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma. But this alliance is different—it reunites our Bodwéwadmik communities in the spirit of shared prosperity and community.

In my September Hownikan article, I promised to share more about the Bodéwadmi Confederation. This is a condensed version from my website - https://www.cpndistrict1.com/news

For some, the idea of twelve communities working together formally may raise questions. We’ve gathered and supported one another informally, so why take the step of building something new? 

Because what we are doing today may not be enough tomorrow.

After CPN’s June election, Anderson and Hardin family member Steve Livingston was elected as legislator for District 1. Read below for a Q&A where you can learn a little more about him.