Bidgén! (Come In!)

Wiwkwébthëgen in our Potawatomi language loosely translates to “bundle,” or “place where sacred items and knowledge are kept.” Wiwkwé'bthëgen (listen to its pronunciation below) is an open digital platform that seeks to share information and teachings about our Potawatomi culture. The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians are a federally-recognized tribal nation with homelands in the states of Michigan and Indiana. We are a part of the greater Potawatomi Nation, whose Bands are spread throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. We are the Keeper's of the Fire: Bodwéwadmi. 

Our Potawatomi culture is constantly changing and growing, straddling the thin line between living in the ways of our tribal ancestors and being an integral member of the global community. It is our hope that Wiwkwé'bthëgen will not only benefit our own people, but enlighten the world of the beauty, strength, and longevity of Bodwéwadmiwen: our Potawatomi way of life. This site is an extension of the Tribal Historic Preservation Office within the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians Department of Language and Culture. For more information, please visit the Pokagon Band website.

Wiwkwébthëgen Cultural Management System (CMS) provides:

  • Local cultural protocols to provide granular access parameters for digital heritage content;
  • Flexible templates that adapt to various indigenous stakeholder needs;
  • Traditional knowledge fields customizable for curating content alongside standard Dublin Core metadata fields;
  • An innovative set of Traditional Knowledge licenses that work with traditional copyright and Creative Commons licenses to better serve Indigenous needs; and
  • A safe, secure, free and open source platform for managing digital cultural heritage materials online and offline

 

Do you have items you'd like to donate or have scanned to share with our archives? Complete this form to let us know, and we'll reach out to discuss further.