10/12/2026
Indigenous people are not a thing of the past. We are still here. 🧡🪶
As an adoptee, finding my way back to my Potawatomi roots has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life.
I wasn’t raised knowing my ancestors’ stories, language, or traditions. There was so much I didn’t know about where I came from, and there’s still so much I’m learning.
Becoming a citizen of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation (Citizen Potawatomi Nation), spending time with my community, and receiving my Potawatomi name, Nado’akekwe (She Heals the Earth), have meant more to me than I can really put into words.
There’s something powerful about finally knowing where you come from. About standing on the land your ancestors walked, learning their stories, and realizing you’re part of something that existed long before you.
And for me, that connection has deepened my relationship with the natural world. The more I learn, the more I understand the responsibility we have to care for the Earth and all the life we share it with.
Today, I’m honoring my ancestors, the people who kept our cultures alive through so much, and the Indigenous communities who continue to carry those teachings forward.
Our cultures are not just something to remember. They are something we’re living.
Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day. 🧡🌿
Chi Migwetch.
