Two local institutions have recently teamed up to give children throughout the community a chance to learn more about the history and culture of Dowagiac’s oldest residents — and have a ton of fun while doing so.

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi’s Early Childhood Education program recently created a new youth book club, called Neshnabé mbokén, which is intended to share books related to Native American subjects and authors, as well as offer activities and prizes, with local children. The club meets from 4 to 5 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at the Dowagiac District Library, at 211 Commercial St.

This Wednesday, organizers will be reading “Thirteen Moons on Turtle’s Back,” which relays the Native American legend about the 13 cycles of the moon, written by Joseph Bruchac. Children will have a chance to make turtle calendars based on the story following the reading.

Organizers with the tribe’s early childhood education program began working with the library to host Neshnabé mbokén — which means “native books” in Potawatomi — in September, where organizers also read “Thirteen Moons on Turtle’s Back.”

“It gives children a chance to learn more about the Pokagon Band and Native Americans in general, as well as continues to build up their love of reading, learning and knowledge,” said Autumn Laraway, one of the organizers of the Native American book club.

Laraway teamed up Erin Byrket-Burggraf, with the tribe’s parent group, to present the program, after the latter suggested organizing a children’s book club on social media earlier this summer, Laraway said. The official reached out to her and suggested they work together on the project, with the early childhood education program providing funding.

“We [the early childhood education program] are always looking for things that will strengthen families and learning in the community,” Laraway said. “This looked like a great opportunity to do so, and was something we had never done before.”

Next, Laraway contacted Dowagiac District Library Director Matt Weston to see if the downtown building could host the club’s monthly meetings. The two worked together in the past for the “Spring Into Your Local Library” program, which will feature a presentation from a representative with the Pokagon Band at the library every spring.

“Some kids are already coming to the library to work on their homework, so we figured this was another fun activity for them to get involved with while they are there,” she said.

Weston immediately said he was on board with Neshnabé mbokén, paving the way for the club’s first meeting in September, though attendance was rather small, Laraway said. To help encourage more families to visit, organizers will hand out punch cards to visitors, who will receive a prize after attending two sessions.

The club is open to people of all ages, and is free to attend. People may register before attending at pokagon.com/form/neshnabé-mbokén-registration, which allows them to be entered into a raffle for various prizes following each meeting.

In November, the club will read “Grandmothers Dreamcatcher,” by Becky Ray McCain. Guests will make their own dream catchers following the reading.

For more information about the club, people may contact Laraway at Autumn.Laraway@PokagonBand-nsn.gov or Byrket-Burggraf at topash240512@gmail.com.