Student | Chicago, Illinois 

CORINNE

Bédo wina athë mbwakayék. These beautiful words welcome you to a better understanding of The Pokagon Band. Teaching the Potawatomi language has been the passion of my life. Through our native tongue, we can show the world who we are. Growing up in Dowagiac, I started language classes at age 12, and I’ve been hooked ever since. My dream is to help the language live on and grow by creating an immersion camp for Tribal citizens. As a Ph.D. student in Chicago, I want to make the language more accessible. It’s difficult to learn, but it’s so important for our culture. My grandparents helped lay the foundation for language classes for the Pokagon Band. I now feel it’s my responsibility to help others learn too.

I am Corinne and I am Potawatomi.