The Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan is a federally recognized tribe of Potawatomi

Potawatomi

The Potawatomi are a Native American people of the upper Mississippi River region. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a member of the Algonquian family. In the Potawatomi language, they generally call themselves Bodéwadmi, a name that means "keepers of the fire" and that was applied...

 people in Michigan

Michigan

Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....

. They were formerly known as the Gun Lake Tribe or Gun Lake Band. They are headquartered in Dorr, Michigan.

Enrollment

The tribe's enrollment is currently closed to everyone, except newborn babies of current tribal members.

Government

The tribe was recognized by the US federal government in 1998. The current tribal council is as follows:

• David K. Sprague, Chairperson
• Ed Pigeon, Vice-Chair
• Ardis Badger, Secretary
• Coleen Nessner, Treasurer
• Junsun Kegaba Bush (Meskubana), Bradley District Councilperson
• Phyllis Davis, At-Large Councilperson
• Lorraine "Punkin" Shananaquet, Salem District Councilperson

Tribal enterprises

The tribe publishes a newspaper, called The Tribal Tribune. They provided cultural workshops on traditional practices, such as cradle fire from flint, maple sugar, basswood and hemp dogbane cordage, Snowsnakes or Zhoshke'nayabo, and black ash basketry, a traditional art form among Michigan tribes.

Language

The Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Pottawatomi are working with the Pokagon Band and Nottawaseppi Huron Band on a language program, Ggitike’men Ode Zheshmowen (We Grow the Language). Each tribe offers weekly language classes. The Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band's classes are taught by Ed Pigeon and Kevin Finney and are held every Monday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Luella Collins Community Center in Shelbyville, Michigan.

External links

• Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi, official website
• Potawatomi language materials provided by the tribe