Every November, those in the United States have the opportunity to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. It is a time for Indigenous Americans to celebrate their culture and history and for non-Indigneous Americans to learn and engage with the traditions, languages and stories of Indigenous American and Alaskan Indigenous communities. This presents a special opportunity for those at Andrews University to consciously learn some of the long-lasting heritage and culture of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, an Indigenous community based in southwestern Michigan and northeastern Indiana. It is also a chance for students to harbor authentic relations with the Pokagon Band. (Andrews University acknowledges that our Berrien Springs campus sits on land that was taken from the Potawatomi.)
The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi have a rich history rooted in the Great Lakes region. The Potawatomi initially inhabited lands around Lakes Huron and Superior, later migrating to areas in what is now Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. By the early 19th century, as the U.S. expanded westward, the Potawatomi faced increasing pressure to leave their ancestral lands. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 led to the forced relocation of many tribes, including the Potawatomi, to lands west of the Mississippi River. It wasn’t until Sept. 21, 1994, after years of effort, that Congress officially reaffirmed the Potawatomi’s federal recognition, restoring their sovereignty. This date is celebrated annually as Sovereignty Day by the Pokagon Band and symbolizes their enduring identity as a tribe.
Part of these celebrations includes recognizing their clan identity and ancestors’ presence at modern-day gatherings like pow-wows, at which work and art from community members are often displayed and sold. The Pokagon Band community is home to a vibrant group of artists who blend traditional and contemporary artistic expression. Many artists continue to create using traditional methods, such as black ash baskets, pottery, beadwork, quillwork and carvings. These traditional arts often serve functional or spiritual purposes, with materials sourced from nature. For example, black ash baskets were used for carrying harvests and were weaved together with pieces from black ash trees. The elaborate bead and quillwork are often visible on the traditional dress of dancers (many of whom make their own regalia) participating in pow-wows.
One of the most notable traditional artists from the Pokagon Band is John Pigeon, a seventh-generation black ash basket maker. He has dedicated himself to preserving and passing down this craft, which has been practiced by the Potawatomi for over a thousand years.
“Our people have been making baskets for a thousand years,” he said. “Even without knowing me, my ancestors passed this gift down to me. And I want my grandchildren and their grandchildren to hold onto these things just like I did.”
Pigeon’s work and the work of other Pokagon artists have earned them recognition, including the Michigan Heritage Award and honors from major institutions like the Eiteljorg Museum, the Smithsonian Institution and the Heard Museum.
The Brown family is another well-known name in black ash basket making. Jamie Brown’s large strawberry basket was featured on the cover of the “National Museum of the American Indian” magazine and the Smithsonian purchased it for display. His mother, Jennie Brown, has been recognized with the Daniel “Gomez” Mena Master Apprenticeship for mentoring her son, Josiah, who is following in her footsteps.
John S. Wesaw is a skilled pottery artist as well as photographer, singer and drummer. He likes to harvest his clay from the Lake Michigan area and, as he said, give the material a voice.
Another pottery artist, Kathy Gets Fodness, said, “I like working with clay because it is a way to re-create the things I see, things I love from my life, my travels, from my ancestors in a permanent and lasting way. I want the viewer to connect with my art through his or her own personal experiences and memories. I hope that when using my pottery, you are offered a chance to enjoy something from within, a moment of contemplation and beauty while experiencing the most ordinary of everyday moments.”
These works in varying mediums represent a deep cultural pride and a commitment to preserving and sharing the artistic traditions of the Pokagon Band. Whether it is teaching new generations traditional arts or adapting the community’s deeply rooted ideals into new expressions, the Pokagon citizens continually sustain their connection to their homeland and history. Many of these artworks can be viewed in Pokagon government buildings, Four Winds Casinos and other venues, and they are also sold at pow-wows and art fairs, such as the annual art show at the Pokagon Community Center in Dowagiac.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.