I am a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. My fifth-great grandfather, Abram Burnett, and his family were forced (at gunpoint) to leave Menominee’s village in Twin Lakes, Indiana on the Trail of Death in 1838 and live in Sugar Creek, Kansas. They were the last group of Potawatomi in Indiana to be removed. As a result of my family’s difficult past, I have a unique passion for keeping the traditions and teachings alive.

These are 4 traits that I have gained since I began learning about my Potawatomi heritage

1. I have become more curious about our family’s history.

I grew up listening to my mom speak in front of audiences about our ancestors’ lives, but I didn’t take up an interest in our history until I was a freshman in high school. During the summer before my junior year, my mom, great aunt, grandma, and I drove to Sugar Creek in order to better understand the differences in topography compared to Indiana.

When we arrived, it was obvious why the Potawatomi struggled to survive in such a desolate, flat, dry area of the United States. Many did not survive the winter, though they were incredibly brave. They had to leave their ancestors’ remains in Indiana.

2. I have grown to love dancing

A large part of the Potawatomi traditions includes dancing. It’s common knowledge in our tribe that Natives have a love for food and for dancing!

A common dance at powwows is called the fancy shawl dance in which dancers mimic the butterfly with the movements. They must always carry their shawls around the circle, and they dance in a sort of light stepping motion. I have danced the fancy shawl dance with my mom since I was 9 years old, but my favorite style of dancing is jingle dancing.

I began jingle dancing when I was 16. Jingle dancers participate in order to bring honor to their ancestors, and it is a way of worshipping and praying to Mamogosnan (The Creator) for a loved one. When I dance, I usually pray for someone who is sick or for our tribe.

3. I have a great appreciation for Mother Nature.

In Native cultures, plants and animals are seen as sacred. While they are both useful for food, plants also serve medicinal purposes. I learned a lot about the properties of plants that are used to heal when I spent time in immersion camps (a period of about two to three days in which someone is fully immersed in a tribe’s religious teachings, food, history, and values).

Similarly, I was taught the purposes of animals in our traditions. For example, the eagle is seen as a highly respected animal. It’s the messenger between our people and God. Its feathers are protected against non-Natives under the law and are used to honor someone. I was given an eagle feather when I was young for my bravery in a sweat lodge.

4. I have a deep connection to and understanding of our tribe.

Just about anyone can agree that by identifying with a specific ethnicity or nationality, a certain sense of kinship forms. When I attended the Gathering of Nations in 2016, I felt as though I was home when I was with all of my family. Even though some of us are distantly related, we feel a strong relationship to one another.

I am so fortunate to know my family’s history. At times, it seems as though not many people in this era know or understand their heritage. I am very proud of my ancestors’ stamina and hard work, which they demonstrated after their forced relocation.