When most people hear the name Forest County Potawatomi (FCP), the first thing they often think of is the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino (PHC) in Milwaukee—a major Wisconsin attraction that draws people from near and far. This huge, modern, and beautiful complex provides world-class entertainment, lodging and dining, providing a significant economic boost for the city of Milwaukee in the way of nearly 3,000 jobs. PHC also has a profound economic impact on the Forest County Potawatomi people in the way of healthcare, housing, employment opportunities and more. The Forest County Potawatomi tribe is so much more than many people are aware.
The FCP are the first and second largest employers in Forest County, Wis. They provide over 600 tribal government jobs and over 200 jobs at PHC’s sister facility, Potawatomi Carter Casino Hotel in Carter, Wis. The combined employee base encompasses an approximate radius of 60 miles. This may not seem much to someone living in an urban area, but for a rural area, this is quite a distance to travel— especially in the dead of a Wisconsin winter.
Besides being a major employer in Forest County, FCP also regularly presents financial grants to local law enforcement, EMT/Fire Rescue departments, three school districts and other charitable causes. In fact, Forest County Sheriff John Dennee says, “I have gratitude and appreciation for all of the equipment and personnel that the tribe has donated to us through the years. These donations and assistance have not only helped us patrol the Potawatomi reservation, but the surrounding areas as well. Our continual communication with the Tribal Council and members I feel has been strengthened in recent years not just because of the donations, but more because of our mutual respect.” A willingness to share is one of the tribe’s basic values and their regular contributions to these and other causes has had a significant impact on the surrounding communities.
Another perhaps lesser-known but important benefactor of Indian gaming is the FCP Foundation, also headquartered in Milwaukee. The program focuses on fighting poverty, promoting economic opportunity and equality, encouraging an appreciation of the arts, and addressing critical issues in the inner city. The Foundation is a great help to many and the tribe feels it is their obligation as a responsible citizen of the community to assist charitable organizations that improve the lives of others. Wisconsin counties that have bene ted from the Foundation include Burnett, Ashland, Vilas, Forest, Marathon, Outagamie, Brown, Winnebago, Ozaukee, Washington, Waukesha, Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha.
As an example of the magnitude of the Foundation’s program, over 140 grants to various organizations were made in 2014. (FCP Foundation website) The grant requirements are very specific. Organizations must have a stable operating and financial history, acceptable leadership, an understanding of the Foundation’s mission and focus, and must be working in harmony with the environment. There are a number of other criteria but it is important to understand that the Foundation is very specific yet comprehensive in their choice of charities to support. Again, the FCP believes strongly in the concept of a willingness to share and this tribal venture is certainly a re-election of that cultural value.
One of the most important tenets of tribal culture is a strong commitment to protecting and preserving the natural environment. The importance of this value to the FCP is evidenced by their longstanding and ongoing commitment to assuring clean air, water, and soil for their community. Opposition to the Crandon mining plans and obtaining Class 1 Air Designation for certain reservation parcels were actions which were aimed at assuring these natural resources were preserved for the tribe as well as the surrounding community. In addition to these past activities, there is a dynamic energy policy that has already resulted in a Community Scale Clean Energy Project that consists of the development of solar power for multiple tribal buildings and businesses. This project is well underway in both Milwaukee and Forest County and is an example of the tribe’s intentions to be energy independent and to use renewable carbon-free energy, a concept they feel is important to the ongoing maintenance of the environment.
As part of the Community’s goal of energy independence, energy-efficient improvements are tracked. As of November 2014, it was already noted that the Community’s major energy-using facilities consumed 13.9 percent less energy per gross square foot and had 22.25 percent less associated carbon emissions per gross square foot compared to the baseline year of 2007. (FCP Natural Resources, Comment Letter dated 11-13-2014)
The tribe had already made the change of their workweek from five 8-hour days to four 10-hour days thereby reducing vehicular emissions produced in travel to and from work as well as minimizing energy consumption of buildings and equipment.
In addition to these changes and the focus on solar power, efforts to become energy independent have also involved the development of a bio digester and biogas generation facilities in Milwaukee. (FCP Natural Resources, Comment Letter dated 11-13-2014) Though not yet energy independent, the community has acquired renewable energy certificates from certified green energy resources to more than offset its annual electric energy consumption. (FCP Natural Resources, Comment Letter dated 11- 13-2014)
The FCP have a large natural resources department that is focused on the conservation and development of our common resources through research, documentation, education, outreach, and compliance with environmental regulations. It integrates both traditional ecologic knowledge of the Potawatomi people and western science in its air resources, water resources, solid waste, and wildlife resources programs. It is the belief of the FCP tribe that the health and integrity of the land and its components cannot be separated from the health and existence of the Potawatomi people. Preservation, conservation, and wise use of our natural resources is of utmost importance.
Tribal priorities also include the health and wellbeing of their community members. This priority has resulted in the development of a large health care facility on the FCP campus in Forest County that is soon to be expanded. The original facility was built-in the 1980s followed by a much larger facility that was completed in 2000 and which employs nearly 200 people. (FCP Traveling Times, October 15, 2015 issue) This facility provides a multi-specialty medical clinic, AODA and behavioral health services, a public health department, a pharmacy and optometric services, rehabilitation services, a full dental clinic, a weekend walk-in clinic, and laboratory and radiology services. It serves both the tribal community as well as the public.
An 11,600 square foot addition that will further expand dental and rehabilitation services to meet the community’s growing needs is currently in the works. (FCP Traveling Times, October 15, 2015 issue)
The FCP have weathered displacement, relocation, and poverty and have emerged as a name that has become associated with progress, support of the community, and environmental stewardship as evidenced by their investments in health, wellness, education, the environment, and the future of its people. A beautiful and extensive Cultural Center, Library & Museum serve to preserve the culture of the FCP tribe and honor its past. One of the major efforts put forth by the Cultural Center was their contribution toward the release of the Potawatomi Dictionary Oct. 28, 2014. Preserving language is extremely important to any native tribe. In a similar manner, the tribe now works in the present to preserve their heritage and the environment for the future for their people as well as those of the surrounding communities.
FCP Tribal Administrator Eugene Shawano Jr., sums up the progression of the FCP community by saying, “Yesterday is important because it showed us the roads that our people before us traveled. They suffered so we who are here today can be thankful for the many hard times they faced so we didn’t have to. Today we do what we can to ensure that we do what is good for our people; not to think of just one but the whole. Tomorrow we hope that the Creator continues to bless us and make us humble so that we don’t forget that we are here as a people and not as one. I heard an elder say that what we do and how we do it is the Anishnabe way of life. It’s the life that the Creator has given us to cherish and not forsake; to be here not just to exist, but to help in any way we can. All of us have a responsibility in this life; no one is exempt from helping our community. So in this season that we are reminded to give thanks, let’s not forget the ones before us. For without them, we would have nothing.”
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