The goal of the "Potawatowiki" is to present a comprehensive overview of the variety of Potawatomi spoken in northern Wisconsin, and to serve as a companion to both the published dictionary, Ézhe-bmadzimgek gdebodwéwadmi-zheshmomnan ("How Our Potawatomi Language Lives") and Dr. Hunter Thompson Lockwood's dissertation How the Potawatomi Language Lives: A Grammar of Potawatomi.
On this site, you'll primarily hear three Potawatomi voices: Bill Daniels, Jr.; Jim Thunder; and Mary Jane Thunder. All three worked tirelessly to record hundreds of hours of Potawatomi words, sentences, speeches, stories, and conversations. In time, I hope to add recordings of other speakers from northern Wisconsin, as well as recordings of speakers from Kansas, Oklahoma, and Michigan. All voices appear with permission; if you have concerns, please immediately contact Hunter Lockwood.
Dr. Hunter Thompson Lockwood is the primary author of the Potawatomi Online Grammar. He has worked with Potawatomi speakers since 2010, serving on the team of linguists and Potawatomi tribal members who produced the first authoritative dictionary of Potawatomi. Prior to that, he worked (and continues to work) with Ojibwe speakers on various projects. His dissertation, How the Potawatomi Language Lives, is a grammar of the Potawatomi language focusing on Forest County speakers, published in 2017.
Though produced after years of collaboration with Potawatomi speakers from the Forest County Potawatomi Community, this document does not intend to represent the views of any Potawatomi tribal member or tribal entity.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Nos. 1562774 and 1263888. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.