David Joe Barrett is a native of Tecumseh, Oklahoma, and descendant of Marguerite Bourassa, Mnitoqua “Spirit Woman,” a full blood Potawatomi who married Leon Bourassa who was a boatman for American Fur Co. and clerked for his uncle Joseph Bertrand. His Potawatomi name is Mnedobe, meaning, “Sits with Spirit.” He has served as the legislator for District 10 since June …

John A. Barrett, Jr. is a native of Shawnee, Oklahoma, and a graduate of Shawnee High School. His Potawatomi name is Kiweoge, meaning, “He Leads Them Home.” Chairman Barrett has served as an elected official for the Citizen Potawatomi Nation since 1973 when he was first elected as Vice-Chairman. Tribal Chairman since 1985, Barrett is the eighth generation of his …

Jon Boursaw is a native of Kansas and a descendant of the Bourassa and Ogee families. His Potawatomi name is Wetase Mkoh, meaning, “Brave Bear.” He has served as the legislator for District 4 since June 2013, when he beat incumbent Theresa Adame to represent Tribal members of Kansas. Jon is a descendent of two early Potawatomi leaders: Joseph Napoleon …

Bobbi Bowden is a native of Choctaw, Oklahoma, and descendant of the Trombla Family. She carries on the name Pkuhshnoqua, given to her great-great-grandmother Rozetta Trombla Bowden has served as the legislator for District 13 since June 2008, since the CPN constitution was ratified in 2007 to include representation for the entire United States. Prior to that, she served for …

As Vice-Chairman of Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Linda Capps holds the second-highest elected position in the Tribal government. Vice-Chairman Capps received a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in 1975. She also attained her Master of Science in Education from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1986. In 2014, she was awarded an …

Dave Carney was born New Jersey and descendant of Narcisse Juneau. His Potawatomi name is Kagasghi, meaning, “Raven” that was given to him by Chairman John “Rocky” Barrett. He has served as the legislator for District 8 since June 2009. One of four children, Carney grew up in various places around the country including Pennsylvania, Alabama and Southern California. He …

Eva Marie Carney was born in New Jersey and is a descendant of Josette Vieux Juneau. Her Potawatomi name is Ojindiskwe, meaning “Bluebird Woman.” She has served as the legislator for District 2 since June 2008, She took office as the first elected representative for the area that comprises the 13 mid-Atlantic and Southern states and the District of Columbia. …

Mark Johnson is a native of Sanger, California, and descendant of the Vieux and Johnson families. His Potawatomi name is Wisk Mtek, meaning, “Strong as a Tree.” He has served as the legislator for District 7 since August 2010. Louis Vieux was his great-great-grandfather, and Jacob Johnson his great-grandfather, who was married to Sophia (Vieux) Johnson. Both men at various …

Born in San Jose, California, Gene Lambert is a descendant of the Navarre and Melot families. Her Potawatomi name is Memegwe, meaning “Butterfly Woman” or “One Who Sees Good in Others.” She now resides in Arizona after four years residency in North Dakota. Lambert has served as the legislator for District 5 since June 2008, the first elected representative for …

The son of a U.S. government employee, Rande Payne was born in Sioux Lookout, Ontario, Canada, while his father was on deployment. Sioux Lookout is an Ojibwe First Nation community that derived its name from a hill overlooking the English River where Ojibwe warriors would watch for Sioux canoes. When invaders were spotted, women and children were alerted to run …