December Hownikan Article
Finding Grace and Gratitude in Community
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.
Many people reached out after reading the Chairman’s update, and I want to address those concerns. I know that when something like that is written, it can leave people wondering what’s really going on. What I can say is this: I’ve always tried to approach this role with honesty, humility, and respect. I care deeply about our Nation and the people who make it all possible every day. We might not always agree, but I believe disagreement doesn’t have to mean disrespect.
The way the Chairman described me and my time in Shawnee doesn’t quite reflect what actually took place, but I’d rather not use this space to go back and forth. If you’d like to know more or get to know me better, I welcome the conversation. Understanding comes through listening and dialogue, and I’ve always tried to be open and accessible. You can find my vote record here: https://www.cpndistrict1.com/vote-record.
I trust our community to decide what kind of person I am. If you ever have doubts, I encourage you to call and get to know me. The person you see in public is the same person I am in private — someone who truly cares about our people, wants the best for our Nation, and tries to lead with integrity. Despite the personal attacks, I forgive the Chairman and wish him good health, peace, and continued success. Extending that grace feels like the right thing to do — and it’s something I hope we all carry into this season.
Now, I’d like to shift to something positive — because there’s a lot of good happening in our community. By the time this is published, we’ll have held our first District 1 Meeting at Harvard’s Peabody Museum. In October, we also launched a community-led beading project with about 20 tribal citizens creating a panel to gift to the Cultural Heritage Center next June. You can read more about it here: https://www.cpndistrict1.com/beading-project
On October 17th, District 1 citizen Kevin Roberts organized a wonderful gathering at the Illinois State Museum, and I thank him for taking the lead in bringing people together. I also want to thank his friend and curator, Brooke Morgan, for spending the day with us.
We started with a behind-the-scenes tour of the ISM Research & Collections Center, seeing Great Lakes tribal artifacts, taxidermied animals, and other collections up close. We ate lunch at Café Moxo, shared stories, and got to know one another. We wrapped up the afternoon visiting a beautiful beadwork exhibit and, more importantly, District 1 citizen Sharon Hoogstraten’s Dancing for Our Tribe photography exhibit, which brilliantly captures the spirit and pride of Potawatomi people across all of our communities.
That day reminded me what community truly is — coming together, sharing stories, and finding joy in our shared identity as bodwéwadmik. I’ll keep working to create opportunities for us to gather, but real community happens when citizens like Kevin take the lead and make it happen.
As we close out the year, my hope for all of us is that we continue finding grace and gratitude — in our families, our friendships, and one another. Thank you for letting me serve you and for the opportunity to get to know you and your families. I wish you all a blessed and joyful new year.
