Bbon was a challenging time for Great Lakes tribes. Small families moved into the forest seeking shelter from the snow and cold. As resources declined, food that had been collected from the previous month’s hunts, harvests and gatherings were shared. To supplement winter supplies, Potawatomi ice fished, hunted and trapped small game. Meats and fish smoked and dried earlier were …

Potawatomi observed Bkongises in spring, but harvesting bark continued throughout the warmer months as tree sap flowed heavier. The more sap a tree produced, the easier it was to peel its bark. The sap also acted as a safety barrier, protecting the tree from pests and disease after it was peeled. A variety of bark species were harvested, each having …