Why the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Should Join the Bodéwadmi Confederation
In my September 2025 Hownikan article, I mentioned that I would share more about the Confederation on my website — including the Articles of Confederation, the Rules of Order, and my own thoughts on this important topic. What follows is my best effort to do just that. My October Hownikan will be a condensed version of the following.
This piece is not intended to press anyone into making a decision. Rather, it is my effort to lay out my perspective on the Confederation, informed by conversations with many of our citizens, in the hope that it helps foster thoughtful discussion about the Citizen Potawatomi Nation joining the Bodéwadmi Confederacy.
For some, the idea of twelve separate communities working together formally may raise questions. We’ve gathered and supported one another informally, so why take the step of building something new? The questions are asked: “Why do we need a charter? Why build something new? Why not continue doing what we’ve always done?”. These are just a few of the questions I have heard from constituents and leaders alike. I believe all of our leaders have approached these questions with care and concern, weighing them with the seriousness they deserve.
These are fair questions, but the answer is clear: what we’re doing now is not enough.
The first Potawatomi Gathering took place in 1994, hosted by the Wasauksing First Nation in Ontario, Canada, with the aim of revitalizing culture, language, and identity among bodwéwadmik across the United States and Canada. It has since become an annual tradition, hosted each year by a different Potawatomi nation. The annual Potawatomi Gatherings have brought us together to share dance, food, language, and affirm our inherent connection to one another across the bands. And each year, our tribal leaders gather to discuss important topics, but rarely take action together. When we return home, each nation faces the settler’s world alone – negotiating with governments, defending treaties, securing resources, keeping our language alive, and creating opportunities for the next generation of bodwéwadmi. We all push forward, but our strength grows when we work together.
When seven of our fellow Potawatomi Nations signed the Articles of Confederation at the 2023 Gathering, hosted by the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi, it marked a historic first step. For those questioning, “why?”, Article I states the shared purpose: to promote unity, cooperation, and mutual support for the advancement of our people. Article V goes further, empowering us to take on coordinated initiatives such as economic development, environmental protections, cultural preservation, and political advocacy. Some have expressed unease with the word “political advocacy”. But sovereignty itself is political. To be sovereign means we must speak for ourselves everywhere our rights are debated or challenged, and to uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to continue to advocate for our recognition and protection.
These are not empty words; these are commitments we make to each other as sovereign nations and to the communities we serve.
There are examples throughout history that show us the way. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy has endured for centuries. The Blackfoot Confederacy works across the U.S.-Canada border to speak as one. The Wabanaki Confederacy, re-established in 1993, coordinates environmental policy and climate action.
And there are other coalitions we can look to for inspiration:
Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) united four nations around a sacred resource - salmon. Alone, each nation struggled to defend its rights. Together, they became a trusted authority on restoration, science, and treaty enforcement.
The Intertribal Council of Arizona (ITCA), representing 21 tribes, has leveraged its collective voice to influence health care policy, created shared services, and reduce costs - saving money while gaining leverage.
The United Tribes of North Dakota built a college owned by multiple nations, educating thousands of Native students in a space rooted in their culture.
These are working models to look to for inspiration.
Protecting Sovereignty
It’s fair to ask how this will work in practice. What are the goals of the Confederation? Will the Executive Council speak for all of us? Will joining mean giving up part of our sovereignty? The Articles of Confederation are clear on these points.
Each Nation keeps its sovereignty. Article I states that the Confederation exists “to promote unity, cooperation, and mutual support” — not to replace or override any Nation’s government. Every Nation remains fully sovereign and self-governing.
The Executive Council is a coordinating body, not a ruling body. Under Article III, the Executive Council’s role is to facilitate communication, coordinate agreed-upon initiatives, and carry out the collective decisions of the Nations. It does not have the authority to bind a Nation against its will.
Leadership rotates. Article III, Sections 2 and 3, make clear that membership and leadership of the Executive Council rotate among the Nations. No single Nation can dominate or hold permanent authority. This guarantees fairness and shared responsibility. Under this provision, the Citizen Potawatomi Nation would Chair the Confederation in 2027, and remain on the Executive Council in 2028, 2029, 2030, and 2031.
No Nation is bound without its consent. Article V confirms that participation in Confederation initiatives is voluntary. If a Nation does not agree to a specific project or policy, it is not required to take part.
This framework protects sovereignty while allowing us to act together when we choose. The Confederation is not about control - it is about establishing a Potawatomi forum to collectively fortify the porosity inherent to our individual sovereignties. It’s important to remind ourselves that any compromise to the sovereignty of one Potawatomi Nation by the Confederation undermines the efficacy of the Confederation itself. Thus, much like the old days, the Bodéwadmi Confederation requires our collective consent to work.
I also want to recognize that these matters are not simple. I believe all of our leaders have deliberated on the idea of a Potawatomi Confederation with genuine care and proper consideration. Our Nation, in particular, has faced repeated threats to our sovereignty here in Oklahoma - from state encroachments to legal and political challenges over decades. Those experiences have taught us to be cautious, to examine every proposal with care, and to guard our sovereignty closely. Even where we may differ in opinion, I know the concern for our people’s future is shared across all of our leaders.
So what kind of opportunities can the Confederation offer:
A Unified Voice in Courts and Legislatures
When threats to our sovereignty arise, as they always do, our 12 nations could act together, filing joint briefs, lobbying with one voice, and shaping the laws and court decisions that affect us all. A single tribe asking for a meeting can be overlooked. Twelve governments, representing tens of thousands of citizens across states and provinces, carry weight that cannot be ignored.
It is about leverage.
Coalition building has always been at the heart of Indigenous survival and sovereignty, and it is a successful and proven strategy for increasing political leverage.
At the Great Lakes Tribal Economic Summit, held at Gun Lake Casino on September 16th, Diane Cullo, who serves as the Assistant Administrator for the SBA’s Office of Native American Affairs, spoke about why confederations and coalitions matter when working with the federal government. She reminded us that it was the Native Farm Bill Coalition — a group of more than 170 tribes and Native organizations — that pushed to include 63 different provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill, all designed to benefit Tribal Nations and Native producers. Those wins simply wouldn’t have happened if each tribe had gone it alone. As she put it, “You are stronger together than you are independently.” That lesson applies well beyond agriculture: when tribes come together, whether at the statehouse or in Congress, their voices carry more weight.
Protecting Land and Water
As Bodwéwadmik people, our identity is tied to the waters that have sustained us for generations - from the Great Lakes and their shorelines, to the rivers, streams, and watersheds that flow through our territories today.
Our Nations are each connected to unique landscapes. But water ties us all together - historically, and as a people today.
A Bodéwadmi Confederation could coordinate stewardship across these lands and waters:
Defending our Great Lakes from pollution, invasive species, and harmful development.
Restoring rivers and wetlands in our homelands for fishing, hunting, wild rice, and medicines. The Pokagon band has been doing this for years with the Dowagiac River Restoriation Project and the Nottawaseppi Huron Band have been restoring wild rice (mnomen) along Nottawa Creek.
Negotiating as a united front with governments and corporations on pipelines, water rights, and energy projects that threaten our lands and waters. Today, the Great Lakes Water Compact does not require tribal consultation or representation. At a recent meeting in Chicago, the Prairie Band Potawatomi was the only tribal nation present. As of 2019, just one intertribal body - the Chippewa/Ottawa Resource Authority (CORA), representing five tribes - held observer status. Our history as Bodwéwadmik is inseparable from the Great Lakes, and it is essential that our Nations have a voice in decisions that affect these waters.
Building sustainable futures by aligning our environmental policies, conservation programs, and climate strategies across state, provincial, and national borders.
Protecting Our Ancestors and Sacred Heritage
Working together also means standing united on issues that go to the heart of who we are. One of these is the return of our ancestors and sacred items under laws like the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) in the United States and related processes in Canada.
Each of our communities have fought, often alone, to bring home ancestors from museums, universities, and private collections. These efforts are slow, complicated, and oftentimes met with resistance. The Bodéwadmi Confederation could work collectively toward:
Coordinating legal and cultural expertise so no Nation stands alone in negotiations.
Pooling resources to identify, track, and repatriate remains and sacred items more effectively.
Speaking with one voice to museums, universities, and governments, showing that the Potawatomi people are united in protecting our heritage.
Creating a Confederation Repatriation Office or Task Force to assist all twelve Nations in this important work, or at least find opportunities to streamline collaborative efforts. Raphael Wahwassuck spoke to this very issue at our recent gathering of political leaders at the Gathering.
Shared Language and Culture
Our language and our ceremonies are at the core of who we are as Bodwéwadmik. They carry our worldview, our history, our identity, and our responsibilities to one another. Without it, we risk losing the very heart of what it means to be bodwéwadmi.
Each of our Nations has made efforts to preserve and revitalize language and culture, but too often we work in isolation and with limited resources. My passion is in language revitalization, and I’ve spent years studying and learning our language. When I ask other tribal leaders if they think we are successful in our efforts, they all shake their heads in the affirmative. However, when I speak to our language teachers, learners, and advocates, they are exhausted. The pay is often limited for something so critical to our identity. We have knowledgeable people willing to teach, but resources are stretched thin. We can and should do better. If we coordinate sharing and improving resources, materials, recordings, and ceremonial knowledge, we could accelerate the growth of the next generation of speakers. We need to listen to our teachers and adequately fund our language programs, apprenticeships, and cultural camp opportunities.
Building a Potawatomi Economy Together
Article V of our Confederation framework prioritizes economic development as a key responsibility. Each of our Nations already has its own businesses, enterprises, EDCs, and investment arms. Imagine if we began linking those assets together, rather than operating them in isolation.
Together, we could:
Create stronger trade and supply networks by connecting our enterprises - from hospitality to energy to agriculture — so that dollars circulate within the Potawatomi economy.
Coordinate procurement and services to reduce costs on things like insurance, health care, technology, and construction - freeing resources for reinvestment in our people.
Promote Native-owned businesses and entrepreneurs across all our Nations, ensuring that opportunities reach our citizens no matter where they live.
Collaborate on cultural tourism and heritage initiatives that draw visitors to Potawatomi homelands while strengthening our shared identity.
Share expertise and knowledge - whether in finance, governance, or technology - so that the lessons learned by one Nation benefit all twelve.
Take advantage of unique assets within our Nations - such as CPN’s tribally owned Sovereign Bank and the foreign trade zone at Iron Horse Industrial Park — to create financial tools and trade opportunities that other Potawatomi enterprises could tap into, expanding market access and reducing barriers to growth.
Many of our Nations have already made impressive strides in diversifying beyond gaming — through Potawatomi Ventures, Prairie Band LLC, Waséyabek, Mno-Bmadsen, and Gun Lake Investments. There is tremendous opportunity to learn from those successes. Each Nation has unique strengths and advantages, and by working in earnest partnership we could unlock new investment opportunities and find real cost savings
Health and Social Advocacy
Like the Intertribal Council of Arizona (ITCA), we could coordinate on health, education, and housing programs - making sure Bodwéwadmik everywhere benefited from shared capacity and stronger political influence.
Right now, every community rightfully works to meet the needs of its own citizens, but too often we duplicate efforts or face the same challenges in isolation. By working together, we could:
Share health resources and data to improve health outcomes and access to care .
Partner on housing programs to expand options for elders and families.
Coordinate education and workforce development so that Bodwéwadmi students and workers can access opportunities across all twelve Nations.
Advocate collectively for federal policies that expand funding and services for our people.
A Global Presence
A Confederation would allow us to act together internationally — at the United Nations, in global climate talks, and in Indigenous alliances worldwide.
What does that look like in practice? Right now, there are active efforts to end the institutionalized discrimination that comes from the Termination Era, including the 50% blood quantum rule for border crossings back into the United States. Under Section 289 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. § 1359), tribal members are oftentimes denied entry if they cannot prove they meet this outdated standard. This is inconsistent with federal law, which recognizes each Nation’s right to set its own standards of citizenship, regardless of blood quantum. The result is that our people - whose homelands span the U.S.-Canada border - face barriers to moving freely in our ancestral lands.
Together, through a Confederation, we would have the leverage to push for change. We could stand behind measures like the Tribal Border Crossing Parity Act, which seeks to update the law and bring it in line with both tribal sovereignty and basic fairness.
The Canadian First Nations
I’ve also heard questions about including Canadian Nations and navigating different political systems. First Nations in Canada do not exercise sovereignty in the same legal framework as federally recognized tribes in the U.S. But our relatives didn't stop being Potawatomi when they escaped removal. There are countless historical documents, ethnographies, and family relationships and stories of Potawatomi families found in Beausoleil, Walpole Island, Wasauksing, Kettle and Stony Point, and other Ontario communities. Many families, especially after the War of 1812, chose to remain in Canada rather than face U.S. removal, continuing ties formed through alliances with Tecumseh and the British. Our relatives in Ontario carried language, ceremony, and community through the same struggles we did. The 1833 Treaty of Chicago was signed by the “United Nation of Chippewa, Ottowa, and Potawatamie Indians,” showing how closely our peoples were tied. Colonial governments tried to divide and erase Indigenous nations. The Confederation is about undoing that division.
In Closing
Why a formal confederation? Because it transforms an idea into a living institution. The Bodéwadmi Confederation does not erase our sovereignty — it protects it by giving us clear processes for cooperation. It allows us to move from largely symbolic council meetings at our Gatherings into meaningful action, cooperation, and governance.
I know our leaders have weighed this question with care. CPN has faced numerous threats to its sovereignty in Oklahoma, which makes us cautious and deliberate; I respect that others may view this path differently.
This isn’t about giving up sovereignty. It’s about using it together to protect our people and our future.
As one of the largest Potawatomi nations, with nearly 40,000 citizens, we bring a perspective that reflects the wider Potawatomi diaspora. We have built a strong and diversified tribal economy. From banking and healthcare to manufacturing and enterprises, we have the experience and resources that can strengthen the entire Confederation when shared.
Other Potawatomi Nations have also built impressive economic development arms that should be recognized as assets for all of us. The four Michigan Bands — Gun Lake, Nottawaseppi Huron, Hannahville, and Pokagon have created an economic portfolio that includes energy, manufacturing, and professional services. These investments not only provide revenue for their own communities but could serve as building blocks for joint ventures, shared contracts, and cooperative supply chains across the Confederation.
We carry a unique history. Our families were among the first to reorganize after removal and allotment, proving that self-governance could be rebuilt and sustained even under the hardest circumstances. We need not hesitate out of fear of losing independence. Instead, we can move forward with confidence that together we may achieve more than any nation alone. Above all, that was the mantra I heard from several panel of speakers at the recent Great Lakes Tribal Economic Summit.
The Confederation is moving forward. The question is whether we, the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, will help shape it from the beginning or step into something built without our input. It’s my hope that we meet this historic moment and help build a future worthy of our ancestors and grandchildren.
