Part of something bigger than herself
Story and Photos By Doug HILL Paige Willett serves in key Citizen Potawatomi Nation post
Paige Willett was still an undergraduate at the University of Oklahoma in 2010 when the career path seeds were planted for where she blooms today . The Broadcasting and Electronic Media major who graduated in 2012 with an OU Bachelor in Journalism is now the Citizen Potawatomi Nation ’ s ( CPN ) Communications Coordinator of Public Information . In the summer after her freshman year Willett was selected to participate in CPN ’ s Leadership Program . The Nation knows they can always hire specialists and technicians but true leaders are not so easily acquired . They wisely identify leaders among their youth and take responsibility for preparing them for those roles . Willett comes from a long line of CPN matriarchs on her mother ’ s side of the family . Her mom spotted the Leadership Program opportunity in the newspaper and encouraged her daughter to apply .
“ I really got involved after being selected for the Potawatomi Leadership Program ,” Willett said . “ It was a full-force nosedive into everything and I learned so much that I had no idea about . It was a wonderful experience and gave me so much pride .”
Willett is well known and admired in Norman because of a high profile presence here for years . While an OU student she was an opinion columnist for the OU Daily and then a Student Operations Assistant at the university operated National Public Radio affiliate KGOU . After graduation Willett worked for a time as a writer at the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department before returning to KGOU radio as Operations Director and “ All Things Considered ” host . Her voice coming over the airwaves is the sonic equivalent of wildflower honey on a warm buttermilk biscuit . Many here also recall Willett ’ s rock star stint as vocalist / percussionist for Norman-based punk rock duo Dadrock . A 2012 Norman Transcript headline reads , “ Dadrock to give Opolis an aural spanking tonight .”
Willett looks back fondly on her OU and Norman education and experiences as good preparation for her CPN responsibilities today .
“ All the places I ’ ve been have built up to where I am now ,” Willett said .“ I had a really good experience at OU . I liked the journalism college and it exposed me to audio production and I got to come to the CPN because of
Knowledge from Paige Willett ’ s formative years in Norman has been essential in her Communications Coordinator career with the Citizen Potawatomi Nation .
that experience . I do audio production for our podcast which is put together like a news magazine program . I got to start that which is really an honor . I worked for the tribe too while I was at OU doing some freelance photography work and pieces for the Hownikan ( Hello Friend ) newspaper . Now I ’ m on its full time staff .”
Since 2019 , Willett has snagged over a dozen journalism awards from the Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists and the Native American Journalists Association . These are for both written and audio content covering arts , entertainment , community , sports and diversity . One of these awards involved coverage at Norman ’ s Jacobson House Native Arts Center of an exhibition of Woodlands artists ’ contemporary work . Barrel racing was Willett ’ s beat for her recognized piece about Potawatomi wins at the 2020 Indian National Finals Rodeo . It ’ s obvious the CPN ’ s visionary leadership program selection over a decade ago and 2017 permanent hire were the right decisions .
“ My job as CPN ’ s Communications Coordinator has been a gift ,” Willett said . “ I love being a tribal member and working for my tribe . It ’ s what drew me to come here . I love using all the skills I ’ ve gotten from all the places I ’ ve been before and being able to tell the tribe ’ s stories .”
14 NormanMagazine . com | MAY / JUNE 2022