Pokagon Band Citizens Elect New Tribal Council Chair

DOWAGIAC, MI--(Marketwired - Feb 10, 2014) - Pokagon Band Citizens elected John P. Warren as the new Tribal Council Chairman in a special election on Saturday, January 25. The special election was held following the retirement of the past Chairman in October, 2013. John Warren served as a member-at-large on Council from 2006-2011, and has served as Council Treasurer since 2011; he resigned that position before his official swearing-in on Saturday, February 8.

After taking the oath of office, Warren will also assume the position as Chairman and CEO of the Pokagon Gaming Authority Board, which oversees the Band's casino properties including Four Winds New Buffalo, Four Winds Hartford and Four Winds Dowagiac.

Born and raised in South Bend, Ind., Warren has served the Pokagon Band in some capacity for most of his adult life. While on Council prior to federal recognition, he worked with Notre Dame's Law School to create the first draft application that led to the reaffirmation of the Band's sovereignty in 1994. As Treasurer, he directed the implementation of quarterly financial reviews, key performance indicators, and financial policies and procedures for the developing Tribal Government.

Culturally, Warren has traveled the U.S. and Canada educating others about the Pokagon Band and Potawatomi culture. He is a traditional dancer, and a singer and drummer with the Ribbon Town Singers.

He holds an Associate Degree of Applied Science in Business Administration from Ivy Tech Community College and is a veteran of the U.S. Army and Indiana National Guard. He and his wife of 37 years currently call Granger, Ind. home, and have three children and nine grandchildren.

About The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians
The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians' sovereignty was reaffirmed under legislation signed into law by President Clinton in September of 1994. The Pokagon Band is dedicated to providing community development initiatives such as housing, education, family services, medical care and cultural preservation for its approximately 4,800 citizens. The Pokagon Band's ten county service area includes four counties in Southwestern Michigan and six in Northern Indiana. Its main administrative offices are located in Dowagiac, Mich., with a satellite office in South Bend, Ind. In 2007, it opened Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Mich., followed by Four Winds Hartford in 2011 and Four Winds Dowagiac in 2013. More information is available at www.pokagonband-nsn.gov.