Sweetness and Success for Zisbakwtokéwnëget (Maple Sugaring Season) 2025

A sweet favorite made its yearly and limited debut at the 18^th Annual Flapjack Friday event on Friday, April 18. Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) Tribal Members, employees, and community showed up in droves for a pancake breakfast complete with Zisbakwet (Maple Syrup) that is collected from maple trees, boiled and filtered to perfection, and bottled right on the Pine Creek Indian Reservation every spring.

Attendees were given appetizers of Maple Syrup popcorn and Maple Syrup root beer while everyone was signed in and given a chance to sign up for the various activities to take place later on during the event.

From there the invocation was given and a traditional hand drum song was sung, and then all Elders were invited to fill their plates first. Soon the whole Community Center was feasting together, enjoying the pancakes, bacon, and breakfast sausage cooked by FireKeepers Casino Hotel staff, and of course the delicious Zisbakwet, courtesy of the hard work of Robert Williams, a Tribal Member and NHBP Environmental Technician II.

Activities began towards the end of the meal, starting with a raffle emceed by Tribal Elder and NHBP Communications Coordinator Brad Simmons. Prizes included gardening goods, camping items, and Pine Creek Farms t-shirts, and an abundance of these items were given away thanks to each attendee receiving a ticket for the drawing just for showing up. Big ticket prizes included bottles of Maple Syrup, which were auctioned off as well as included in the grand prize drawing.

Those still hungry and feeling up for a little friendly competition after breakfast were able to participate in the annual pancake eating contest, which saw three to five competitors in each of the following age groups: 12 and under, 13-18, and 19 and up. Prizes were given to each winner, but the real treat was getting to enjoy another stack of delicious flapjacks!

The 50/50 Raffle concluded the event, incredibly bringing in just shy of $1000, half of which was split with lucky winner Tabatha Gordy while the other half was donated to the NHBP Violence Against Women (VAWA) Office.

Many thanks to the amazing NHBP team members who oversaw yet another successful Flapjack Friday, and here’s to another amazing event next year!

Follow the link for a gallery of more photos from this event: https://nhbp.passgallery.com/-flapjackfriday2025/gallery