Niben [Summer]
Niben was the time of plenty. Villages converged to dance, celebrate and play games, strengthening the bonds among Potawatomi people and culture. With an abundance of natural resources, our ancestors tended to their fields, gathered fruit, nuts and wild plants, and harvested a variety of animals for food, tools and clothing. What was not used, shared or traded was stored against the following winter. Many thanks were given to the mnedok (spirits) for the resources they provided during this vital season.
Summer provided the ability to travel long distances by land and water. Using birch bark canoes, Potawatomi could paddle hundreds of miles to communicate and establish trade with foreign tribes. Naturally disputes would occur, leading to violent raids and conflicts. Rarely did Potawatomi engage in war outside of the warmer months.
Citations
Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center