"Pride is an innate trait woven into the fabric of Phyllis Hurlock’s life. As a civilian program analyst working for Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) at Quantico, Hurlock takes pride in her job. She is also a proud member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, a federally recognized tribe of Potawatomi people headquartered in Shawnee, Okla.

If asked, she will answer to Wabnokwe, which is Potawatomi for Eastern Light Woman. Such entreaties are more common in November during National Native American Heritage Month, a time when the nation collectively recognizes the achievements, contributions and rich culture of the First Nations.

“The Potawatomi are traditionally an Algonquian-speaking Eastern Woodlands tribe,” Hurlock said. “We have 30,000 enrolled tribal members, of which one-third live in Oklahoma.”

Today, the tribe has flourished in stature and has an estimated net worth of $400 million. Yet, the path for the Citizen Potawatomi Nation hasn’t always been easy, Hurlock said."

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MCSC Civilian Marine takes pride in Native American heritage (MCSC News 11/27)