Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s Cultural Heritage Center exists to educate tribal members, the greater Native American community and other visitors about the historical and contemporary aspects of the tribe. 

The Potawatomi, along with the Odawa and Ojibwe, were once living in the northeastern corner of the United States as one people known collectively as Nishnabe. Seven prophets came to the Nishnabe, and each spoke of a fire, foretelling specific eras the people would endure.

Before written word, the Potawatomi passed history down through storytelling. As an ode to one of the earliest oral traditions, the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center begins its 11 galleries with the Seven Fires gallery.

Digital interactive exhibits tell a complete narrative, beginning with Citizen Potawatomi oral traditions, through early ways of life, conflict and forced removals before examining more recent history, including U.S. and Oklahoma history, and ending with the Citizen Potawatomi Nation as it is today.