Twenty years ago on Oct. 28, 2003, history was made for the Forest County Potawatomi (FCP) and Sokaogon Chippewa Communities.

Students from Laona and Crandon School Districts attended the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Youth Event Oct. 13, 2023, at the Potawatomi Community Center.

With the end of summer winding down and the fall season approaching it only means one thing to both Native American communities here in Forest County, and that is the start of Manoomin (Wild Rice) harvesting.

It was a perfect weekend for this year’s Meno Keno Ma Gē Wen Powwow: Home of the Woodland World Championship, which was held on Aug. 25-27, 2023, at the Ka Kēw Sē Gathering Grounds (Carter, Wis. Powwow Arboretum).

After a six-year wait, the 10th North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) were held in Kjipuktuk (Halifax), Nova Scotia, July 15-22.

The Forest County Potawatomi Community and surrounding towns joined in on sending off 10 of our local tribal youth to the Native American Indigenous Games in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, on July 13, 2023, at the Potawatomi Community Center.

Lac Vieux Desert Executive Council was welcomed to the Potawatomi Community June 28, 2023, for a tour of the Potawatomi Community Center, the FCP Cultural Center, Library and Museum, Bodwéwadmi Ktëgan (Potawatomi Farm), as well as a meet-and-greet and lunch with the FCP Executive Council.

Laona Rescue has been around for 49 years. January will mark their 50 years.

The Forest County Potawatomi Community welcomed the Hannahville Indian Community Tribal Council and guests on May 1, 2023, to tour their campus, community, and Bodwéwadmi Ktëgan (Potawatomi Farm).

This year’s Gte Ga Nēs graduation ceremony was held on May 25, 2023. Each year it seems that the new class is larger than the year before, and it’s always a very well-attended event.