aatotankiki myaamiaki (2026)

Tribal code

Ask Donna

What actually matters in this document.

Text

“What the Miami

are talking about”

M I A M I

N A T I

N E W sS

aatotankiki myaamiaki

Myaamia Publications – Vol. 20, No. 1, Summer 20 26 – Section A – News – Noošonke Siipionki Myaamionki

The Miami Tribe has worked to inform myaamiaki of valuable

news and information for the past 45+ years. These efforts

have evolved over time from an elder newsletter produced by

the Title VI program to a robust broadsheet prepared by the

Cultural Resources Office.

The story begins...

Read more on 7B

MYAAMIAKI NEWS

aacimwita akima

‘The Chief ’s Report’ 3A

HISTORY & CULTURE

COMMUNITY

duce Finds Its Way to the... 6C

MYAAMIA CENTER

25 Years 4D

EEMAMWICIKI

Two Myaamia documenta- Joe Halloran named 20th

ries nominated for Emmy Honorary Tribal Member Announcement of 2027 Twenty-one years of eemamAwards 1B

leadership transition 3D

wiciki summer programs 1E

...General Council & Annual

Gathering Week Recap 4A

Red Codes and Removals... 7B Growing More: Myaamia Pro- Myaamia Center Celebrates Cultural Corner 3E

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2026

aatotankiki myaamiaki

MIAMI NATION NEWS is published by the

Sovereign Miami Tribe of Oklahoma for our enrolled

citizens. Aatotankiki Myaamiaki is distributed by mail and

made available for download from the Miami Nation’s

website. A single copy is mailed free of charge to each

tribal household. College students living away from home

may request a copy be mailed to their campus, or offcampus, address.

This publication is printed in Stigler, Oklahoma by Stigler

Printing. Publication design and layout is done in-house

by the Miami Nation Cultural Resources Office staff.

Requests for special articles or publication of community

information, including births, deaths, marriages, family

news, anniversaries, etc., are welcomed and encouraged.

Myaamia Publications

Miami Nation Cultural

Resources Office

P.O. Box 1326

Miami, OK 74355

918-541-1300

mtocro@gmail.com

Editorial Staff

Julie Olds, Madalyn

Richardson, Callie Bowden,

David Costa, Joshua

Sutterfield, Meghan Dorey,

Nate Poyfair, Jordan

Poyfair, Doug Peconge,

Stella Beerman.

Submission Requirements

Photos: Photos submitted electronically should be saved at

a resolution of 300 dpi, sized at standard 4x6 or larger, and

saved in jpg, tif, or pdf formats.

Obituaries, Birth Announcements and other time

sensitive submissions will be amended to show past tense

text unless the family submitting the information expressly

requests the text remain unaltered.

Advertisements: Enrolled citizens of the Miami Nation

who are business owners, artists or crafts persons, etc. are

eligible to receive free ad space once per year. Allotted ad

size is 5” x 5” and should be sized at 300 dpi and saved as

a jpg, tif or pdf file. Ad layouts, or links to download such

from your Dropbox or other cloud storage site, should be

emailed to mtocro@gmail.com.

MIAMI NATION

ELECTED OFFICIALS

Chief: Douglas Lankford

Second Chief:

Dustin Olds

Secretary Treasurer:

Donya Williams

1st Councilperson:

Tera Hatley

2nd Councilperson:

Nate Poyfair

MYAAMIA

COMMUNITY ONLINE

Miami Nation Website,

www.miamination.com

Facebook:

“MYAAMIAKI Miami

Tribe of Oklahoma”

MIAMI NATION

HEADQUARTERS

Physical/Shipping

Address:

3410 P Street NW

Miami, OK 74354

918-541-1300

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 1326

Miami, OK 74355

Public Page, listed as

“Miami Nation News &

Events”

MHMA Page, Listed as

“Myaamia Heritage

Museum & Archive”

TRIBAL CITIZEN IDENTIFICATION

AND ENROLLMENT CARDS

The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Tribal Citizen/

Member Identification and Enrollment Card

card allows for the inclusion of a photograph

of the Enrolled Citizen/Member and also

allows the inclusion of a Myaamia name.

Tribal citizens who wish to obtain the new card

should contact Tera Hatley, Member Services

Manager, at thatley@miamination.com or by

phone at 918-541-1324.

TRIBAL MEMBER

ADDRESS UPDATES:

Contact Tera Hatley at

thatley@miamination.com

or by phone 918-541-1324.

Section A: News

The Chief’s report

Former dirt road paved thanks to the Miami Tribe

Bringing our lands back into trust

2026 General Council Meeting and Annual Gathering

Eight northeast oklahoma tribal nations sign

landmark intertribal wildlife management...

Former Richardville Reserve lands donated to...

Chief Little Turtle Pollinator Park to be constructed 8A

near tribal headquarters

Section B: History & Culture

Two Myaamia documentaries nominated for emmy awards

Ohio History Connection announcement

Myaamia recipe collection now available online

Corn planting at Prophetstown

Presentation to the Rotary Club on Little Turtle Peace Medal

The CREO inherits museum display cases from local...

Announcement for dances at Eiteljorg Museum,

Indiana University Bloomington, and CCDF dances

From ribbonwork to leadership: What’s next...

Red codes and removals: Myaamia survivance in

nineteenth century America

Logan York now serves on the Advisory Council on

Historic Preservation

Indiana Dunes wins tourism award for Best Advocacy

Initiative for their work on...

Celebrating our 20th volume of aatotankiki myaamiaki

Section C: Community

Tribal member Molly Mcguire represents native women 1C

running at the 2026 Boston Marathon

toopeeliyani ‘you accomplished it!’

peenaalinta ‘one who is born’

waanantakhšinka ‘lying quietly’

mihkaweelimaataawi ‘let’s honor them’

Community only dance event and response

From one room to a place of hope

Growing more: Myaamia produce finds its way to the

community

From tribal lands to your table: Discover what’s waiting 6C

at Prairie Sky Market

Scholarships and back-to-school funds

Section D: Myaamia Center

Myaamia Center docuseries wins three Telly Awards

Celebrating 25 years: The 11th biennial Myaamiaki

Conference

Announcement of 2027 leadership transition

Myaamia Center celebrates 25 years of groundbreaking... 4D

Prescott family gift honors elder, supports revitalization... 6D

MHP: 2025/2026 school year wrap-up

MHP: Fall 2026

Community resources

Section E: Eemamwaciki

Twenty-one year’s of eemamwiciki summer programs

Lacrosse into spring at the creo 2026

Summer fun at summerfest in noošonke siipionki

Washington workshop a success!

Cultural Corner

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2026

aacimwita akima ‘The Chief’s report’

Aya ceeki eeweemakiki - Greetings to

all my Myaamia relatives from myaamionki

noošonke siipionki. It is currently kiišiinkwia

kiilhswa, the green corn moon, and the Oklahoma mid-summer heat is hitting triple digits and

keeping us off the lacrosse field. Our summer

community events have come to an end, and,

as we approach the beginning of a new school

year, we are already looking ahead to our Winter Gathering. This year’s gathering will be

held January 29 & 30 in Miami, OK. Be sure to

watch our community Facebook page for community-specific event updates, our public-facing Miami Nation News & Events page, which

will have news and event info for the Gathering

that is open to the public, and, if you haven’t

already, sign up for our new text alert system

to stay up to-date on all event, notification, and

program reminders.

The January 2027 event will be our 30th Winter Gathering. Since the beginning of our cultural revitalization efforts in 1997, this dance

has grown significantly through the years. It

has become a community favorite, with citizens from all over the country traveling home

to participate. I highly encourage all Myaamia

citizens to attend a Winter Gathering whenever

travel is possible. Come and bring your little

ones to hear our winter stories, enjoy cultural

education programs, and dance together. You

will carry home priceless memories and knowledge to share with your family.

Our week-long Eewansaapita Summer Youth

Programs were held in June in Oklahoma and

July in Indiana. There are four learning groups

providing education for all ages with a curriculum based on an annual subject theme. The

Eewansaapita Program was established in 2005

and has become the cornerstone of our cultural

education effort, providing participants a weeklong opportunity to begin learning our language,

dance, games, and history. If you have not participated, or have not brought your children to

participate, I highly encourage you to check out

the information provided on our websites for this

tremendous community resource.

Our National Gathering Week, held in the

last week of June, was, as ever, a tremendous

gathering for our community. Though rain deprived us of our annual community lacrosse

game, our Cultural Resources Offices succeeded in providing indoor presentations and games

for all ages. I especially enjoyed the presentations on stomp and social dances, and my heart

was full watching our community dance on Friday evening, June 26. The laughter shared as

community members learned some new dances

was truly infectious, and the fun of the evening

followed us home. On Saturday morning, June

27, we gathered in our Nation’s Council Building for the duty of our annual Myaamia General

Council meeting.

During the open forum session of the meeting,

many Tribal citizens stood to offer their praise

for our Prairie Sky Market located on Route 66

in North Miami, OK. The market has been open

for one year, and Tribal citizens are discovering

the best quality beef raised on our Tribal farms,

locally grown produce, craft sodas, and the best

sandwich menu in town. If you haven’t visited

the market, you are missing out. Especially this

summer while they have the sweetest watermelon and cantaloupe, peaches, and sweet corn!

When you do shop, be sure to show your Tribal

ID card at check-out to get a discount.

Intertribal Wildlife Compact

For the hunters and anglers in our community, I have some exciting news. Along with seven other Tribal Nations in northeast Oklahoma,

we have signed a new Intertribal Wildlife Management and Reciprocity Compact that creates

a unified framework for wildlife conservation

while preserving each Tribe’s sovereign authority. To minimize confusion, the compact closely

mirrors Oklahoma’s wildlife regulations while

establishing reciprocal recognition of participating Tribes’ hunting and fishing licenses, adopting consistent wildlife regulations, and creating

a shared harvest reporting system, among many

other benefits. Most importantly, each participating Tribe retains its sovereign authority by

maintaining its own reservation-specific regulations and licensing requirements. Eligible

Myaamia citizens may hunt and fish by carrying

only a valid Tribal identification card, at no expense; however, they must register on the Inter-

tribal Wildlife Consortium E-Check System to

become eligible before hunting or fishing. For

more information, please read the “Eight Northeast Oklahoma Tribal Nations Sign Landmark

Intertribal Wildlife Management and Reciprocity Compact” article in this newsletter or visit

the Tribal website for more details.

In addition to these tribal resources, Kolby Lankford, the Miami Nation’s Intertribal

Wildlife Council Representative, recently hosted an episode of the Slick Tree Podcast about

the new Intertribal Reciprocity Agreement. He

was joined by fellow tribal representatives Kyle

Lankford with the Wyandotte Nation and Clint

Kissee with the Eastern Shawnee Tribe.

During the hour-long podcast, they break

down the agreement and explain the who, what,

where, when, and why. They do an excellent job

of making the information easy to understand Akima Eecipoonkwia

and providing a thorough overview of what the

agreement means and why it is important.

Chief Douglas Lankford

I highly recommend tuning in to Slick Tree Podcast, Episode 75, available on all podcast streaming woodwork and furnishings hand-manufactured

platforms. It will also be available on itwc.net.

by Tribal Member Jody Gamble. The beautiful

light wood on the courtroom walls and comprisIllinois Legislation

ing the courtroom furniture is enhanced with

We hope for another important event soon: inlay ribbonwork design. The light earth-tone

a United States House of Representatives vote color palette in the court space exudes calm and

in support of the Tribe’s important Illinois land harmony in this important space where the Tribe

claim legislation in House bill H.R. 2827.

ensures due process and fairness in its exercise

In March, I traveled to Washington, D.C. to of jurisdiction and sovereignty.

give testimony in the House Subcommittee on

The Tribe’s District Court holds a criminal

Indian and Insular Affairs. Since then, the bill docket twice a month and family court and civwas voted out of the Subcommittee to the House il dockets once a month, or more frequently as

floor on the Unanimous Consent calendar.

needed. The Tribe holds trial dockets twice a

This legislation, A Bill to provide for the year in the fall and spring and holds quarterly

Equitable Settlement of Certain Indian Land cost dockets to ensure fines and fees are paid

Disputes Regarding Land in Illinois, and for in a timely manner. The Tribe looks forward to

other Purposes, was passed by the Senate by using this beautiful new space in its work to exUnanimous Consent on December 15, 2025. If ercise the Tribe’s inherent authority on its resCongress authorizes this bill, it goes to Presi- ervation lands.

dent Trump for signature.

This historic legislation will grant jurisdic- SAUSA

tion to the Court of Federal Claims to consider

The Miami Tribe and other Northeast Oklaand decide the Tribe’s Illinois land claim. We homa Tribal Consortium Tribes (Eastern Shaware thankful to our Oklahoma representatives, nee Tribe, Wyandotte Nation, Ottawa Tribe,

including current Homeland Security head Seneca Cayuga Nation, and Shawnee) continMarkwayne Mullin (Cherokee), who served as ue to work with our Special Assistant United

first author of this legislation nine years ago in States Attorney, David Youll, a legal profeshis role as Oklahoma Congressman. His sup- sional from Tulsa retained by the Consortium

port for this important legislation continued Tribes to prosecute federal offenses which ocwhile he served as a U.S. Senator for the state cur on the Tribes’ reservation lands.

of Oklahoma. Current House bill author Tom

David Youll brings years of legal experience

Cole (Chickasaw) has been by our side these serving as a prosecutor, judge, and as SAUSA

nine years as well and has battled hard for the in the Eastern District. Funding for this posiTribe to see this bill pass the House through tion is through a Justice Department CoordinatUnanimous Consent as well. The Business ed Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) Grant.

Committee and I are committed to working to

We are pleased to have David Youll worksee this historic legislation pass.

ing with us as our federal representative in the

United States Attorney’s Office. This important

Miami Peoria Reservation Historic Date

position helps ensure that crime on the Miami

An historic record regarding the Miami Tribe Reservation is responded to fairly, makPeoria Reservation occurred in June of this ing the community a safer place for all living

year. On June 30th, 1877, 149 years ago, the and working in Ottawa County.

Quapaw Agency official abstract of disbursement record notes, in flowery formal script by Miami Tribe Trust Land

U.S. Indian Agent H. W. Jones, the Miami Tribe

A goal of the Miami Tribe has long been to

payment of $24,952.03 for its undivided interest restore as much of its original reservation to

in the Miami Peoria Reservation. We celebrate ownership by the Tribe. To date, the Tribe owns

our reservation lands here in Oklahoma while 2,607.7 acres of land within its Miami Peoria

we maintain strong ties to our historic lands in Reservation. 1,788 acres of this land are held

Kansas and our historic homelands in Indiana. in fee simple, which is property ownership giving the owner full rights to use, sell, lease, and

Miami Tribe District Court

pass the property to heirs indefinitely, subject

The Tribe continues to celebrate the re-rec- only to laws, zoning, taxes, and any recorded

ognition of the Miami Peoria Reservation post encumbrances.

McGirt. As you will recall, in the 2020 Supreme

The Tribe has worked hard with its leCourt decision in McGirt vs. Oklahoma, the Su- gal team to transfer sections of land into Trust

preme Court held that reservation lands of the status where the land is held in Trust by the

Five Civilized Tribes were never disestablished U.S. federal government for the benefit of the

by Congress, leaving jurisdiction to prosecute Tribe. Holding land in Trust removes the land

major crimes committed by a Native American from state jurisdiction and taxation and protects

on the reservation to the federal government and promotes tribal sovereignty and self-deterand/or the Tribe – not the state of Oklahoma. As mination. Since 2017, the Tribe has successa result of this landmark decision, the Miami fully moved 16 parcels of land into Trust staTribe assumed jurisdiction for crimes by Native tus. Currently, the Tribe holds 819.07 acres in

Americans on its reservation and the Tribe’s Trust status, with a new fee-to-trust application

criminal court docket increased by 2,000%.

in Indian pending for an additional 22.02 acres.

The Tribe celebrates 2026 as the 20th year

the Tribe has operated its own District and Ap- Indiana

pellate Courts. Making this year for the court

The Tribe continues its important work in

extra special is the near completion of the Dis- Indiana at its Cultural Resources Extension

trict Court remodel project funded through a Office (CREO), which provides programs and

Department of Justice Coordinated Tribal As- educational opportunities for Miami citizens

sistance Solicitation (CTAS) grant. The new under its Cultural Department headed by past

courtroom, jury deliberation room, waiting

areas, and Judge’s Chamber sport beautiful Continued on page 4A >>

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2026

Tribal Leader Julie Olds.

The Tribe constructed a beautiful 8,000

square foot Cultural Center at the Fritz Road

property in Fort Wayne, which the Tribe calls

Peehkahkionki, the beautiful place. A fee-totrust application was prepared for this 45-acre

parcel, and it was accepted into Trust by the

United States on June 7, 2024, marking the historical return of Miami Tribe land within the

historic homelands to Miami Tribe jurisdiction

- for the first time in 178 years.

Another tribal property in Fort Wayne has

recently been submitted to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for fee-to-trust approval. This 22.02acre parcel, consisting of two parcels of land

along the west bank of the St. Mary’s River,

was donated to the Tribe in 2019 by Fort Wayne

resident and philanthropist Brian Johnson. This

land, once owned by Miami Chief John B. Richardville, was received by Chief Richardville as

a land grant from the federal government in

1818. The parcels, once part of lands known

as the Richardville Reserve, were revoked from

Chief Richardville’s ownership when the Tribe

was forcibly removed from Indiana in 1846.

Learning of the historic connection between

the land and the Tribe, Mr. Johnson graciously

offered to donate the land to the Tribe with the

stipulation that it not be commercially developed but remain in a natural state, with the only

brick and mortar approved for construction to be

a tribal community center. The non-gaming feeto-trust application for this parcel is pending.

The Miami Tribe’s friend, Indiana Attorney

General Todd Rokita, has been a great community partner with the Miami Tribe in all its activities in the state of Indiana.

FERC

The Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA)

application for relicensing for the Pensacola

Hydroelectric Project before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) remains

ongoing. FERC has found GRDA responsible

for flooding in Northeast Oklahoma, and these

impacts are a major focus of the relicensing

studies. Back in September of 2025, FERC issued a long-awaited decision on the Tribes’ and

the City’s request that GRDA conduct a “contaminated sediment transport study.” The Tribes

want FERC to take into consideration the negative impact to tribal lands which are flooded

by GRDA activities related to dam operations.

The flood water carries contamination in the

form of zinc, cadmium, and lead, and, when

the waters recede, the contamination settles on

the flooded property. That contamination gets

into the plants and animals that tribal members

harvest – some of which are essential to tribal

cultural practices.

The Tribe provided its formal comments about

the negative impacts to the Reservation to include

impacts to reservation wildlife, vegetation, berries, trees, pecan groves, fish, fowl, water quality,

clays harvested for pottery, bark and textile plants

harvested for baskets and other weaving crafts,

the health of tribal members and the community

in general on the Tribe’s reservation.

The GRDA was to submit a Contaminated

Sediment Transport Desktop Study about impacts to the project area and recently requested

an extension of time after an already generous

180-day extension. The Miami Tribe was joined

by the Ottawa Tribe, the Seneca-Cayuga Nation,

and the Eastern Shawnee Tribe, submitting their

response opposing any further extension and reiterating objections to deficiencies in GRDA’s

purported consultation. The Tribes asserted GRDA’s request should be denied. The Tribe joins

the City of Miami in efforts to hold GRDA accountable for impacts to the community.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki

This publication of our newspaper celebrates 20 editions of news shared with our

community. On behalf of our Tribal Leaders,

I send thanks and congratulations to the Cultural Resources Office for the staff’s excellent

work in generating the newspaper these many

years. And, in respect to our friends at Miami

University, and in memory of a special journalism professor, I must call to our memories

the story of how our newspaper took on a new

look and greatly expanded content after a journalism field school, taught by the late Dr. Hugh

Morgan, visited the Tribe in the late 90s. Dr.

Morgan, with the students in that field school,

gifted us new software from the University for

the layout of a greatly improved paper, and instilled valuable journalism knowledge to our

small staff, allowing the Miami Tribe to create and publish Aatotankiki Myaamiaki (“What

the Miamis are talking about”) – Miami Nation

News. The newspaper has provided the conduit

for sharing news and cultural education to our

dispersed community. We are truly grateful for

this gift and must always remember the story

that made our newspaper what it is today.

To all our students returning to school, and

the parents who are both giddy and sad to see

them walk out that door, remember who you

are. Remember your family and all that has

been done to make your way possible. Remember they are proud of you and want the best for

you. Show your respect to them and do well.

And from your big Myaamia family, remember

Kiiloona myaamiaki – we are Myaamia, and we

wish you well, now and always.

Nipwaahkaako – wishing you well,

Akima Eecipoonkwia – Chief Lankford

IMPORT

CONTACT FOR

PUBLIC HEALTH

YOU

S! YOUR H

IMPORTA

US!

<< Continued from page 3A

Public Health Mission:

Through excellence in public health

nursing practice, we will empower

communities to support a healthier,

safer, and higher quality of life for

members and their families.

The mission of the Community Health

Representative (CHR) is to provide

quality outreach health care services

and health promotion/disease

prevention services to American

Indians and Alaska Natives within their

communities.

Rachel Ramsey, RN

Email: rramsey@miamination.com

Phone: (918) 541-2175

Kaitlyn Luttrell

Email: kluttrell@miamination.com

Phone: (918) 541-1300

THE MIAMI TRIBE

OF OKLAHOMA

Learn more online at

www.miamination.com/chr-program/

Former dirt road

paved thanks to the

Miami Tribe of OK

Staff Article

The 530 Road project, a mile-long stretch

connecting Tribal Headquarters to the Drake

House, took nearly four years to complete from

start to finish. After facing one obstacle after

another, Jim Battese never gave up. He continued pushing forward until the project was finally completed in July.

Today, tribal members can enjoy a newly

paved blacktop road. The Nation thanks Jim

Battese for his dedication, hard work, and perseverance in seeing this project through to completion.

Aerial view of the new 530 Rd. Photo courtesy

of Kolby Lankford.

Bringing our lands

back into trust

Staff Article

For the Miami Tribe, restoring its original

reservation lands to Tribal ownership is more

than a goal, it is a commitment to preserving

our future, strengthening our sovereignty, and

ensuring our lands remain part of the Myaamia

Nation for generations to come.

Today, the Miami Tribe owns 2,607.7 acres

within the Miami Peoria Reservation, including 1,788 acres held in fee simple and 819.07

acres held in federal trust. The Tribe continues

to pursue additional trust land, with a fee-to-trust

application pending for another 22.02 acres.

Since 2017, the Tribe has successfully

moved 16 parcels into trust status. Trust status

provides important protections for Tribal sovereignty and self-determination while removing

the land from state taxation and, in many circumstances, state jurisdiction.

A Major Milestone

One of the most significant accomplishments in

this effort has recently been reached: the final pieces of the Tribal Complex are now officially in trust.

The approximately 33-acre property is

home to the Council House, Powwow Grounds,

Cultural Office, Exercise Facility, and Title VI

Cafeteria. This land is at the heart of Tribal

government, culture, and community, a place

where citizens gather, traditions are celebrated,

and important decisions are made.

Reaching this milestone took several years of

work. A Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Reservation Boundary Survey had to be completed and

approved, particularly because the northern boundary follows the reservation boundary between the

Miami-Peoria and Quapaw reservations.

After years of coordination, legal work, and

patience, the process is complete.

The heart of our Tribal Complex is officially

in trust, another important step in bringing our

reservation lands home.

L to R: Samantha Sharp with the Bureau

of Indian Affairs, Chief Douglas Lankford,

Second Chief Dustin Olds. Photo by Doug

Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2026

Akima ‘Chief’ Douglas Lankford opens the 2026 General Council Meeting. Photo by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

2026 General Council Meeting and Annual

Gathering

Stella Beerman

Communications Specialist, Myaamia Center

The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma held its Annual

General Council Meeting on Saturday, June 27, in

noošonke siipionki ‘Miami, OK’ to hold elections

and share important updates with Tribal citizens. This

year, one seat on the Business Committee and one seat

on the Grievance Committee were up for election.

Election Results and General Council Meeting

Recap:

Elections began at 9:26 a.m., with 171 voting

citizens present. Aacimwa ‘Secretary-Treasurer’

Donya Williams was re-elected to her position as

Secretary-Treasurer, a 3-year term, uncontested. Additionally, Doug Peconge, who also serves as the Kiihkayonki Projects Manager, was elected to serve on

the Grievance Committee.

Elections were also held for the Tribal Ambassador and Jr. Tribal Ambassador, positions for young

female leaders to represent the community at public events. Abigail Pollock was elected as the Tribal

Ambassador, and Aaliyah Ramsey was elected as the

Jr. Tribal Ambassador. Both Abigail and Aaliyah are

long-time participants in the Eemamwiciki Summer

Youth Programs: Saakaciweeta and Eewansaapita.

Before elections began, the meeting opened with

a prayer, the Myaamia community song, and a round

dance, followed by honoring Myaamia Elders, veterans, and the youngest Myaamia person at the meeting.

This year, five people received their elder blankets,

and at only five weeks of age, Tyler Olds was the

youngest Myaamia child present.

Several community leaders also shared important

updates during the meeting, including Akima ‘Chief’

Douglas Lankford’s State of the Nation Address and

Aacimwa ‘Secretary-Treasurer’ Donya Williams’s

presentation of the financial report. Daryl Baldwin

shared updates on the Myaamia Center at Miami University, and Lance Theobald, Myaamia citizen and

CEO of Miami Nation Enterprises, shared updates on

the Tribe’s businesses.

Throughout the meeting, members of the Business Committee raffled off door prizes to the crowd.

Lucky winners left the meeting with Myaamia lacrosse sticks, wool blankets, gift cards to the Prairie

Sky market, and other exciting prizes.

Following the meeting, community members

gathered at the Myaamia National Archives building

The Miami Tribe closed its Annual Gathering activities with Stomp and Social Dances on

Saturday night. Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

to view historical artifacts related to Mihšihkinaahkwa ‘Chief Little Turtle.’ Highlights on display included the 1795 Peace Medal, which the Tribe acquired

last year.

The day concluded with the Miami Nation’s Annual Pow Wow and a new addition this year: community stomp and social dances.

Annual Gathering Week Recap: Tuesday, June 23

- Friday, June 26

While the General Council Meeting takes place

on Saturday, events are hosted throughout the week

for citizens and their relatives to spend time with one

another, celebrating Myaamia culture.

Starting on Tuesday, June 23, Myaamia community members gathered at the Myaamia Makerspace

in the Ethel Miller Moore Cultural Education Center (EMCEC), formerly the Longhouse, for an afternoon of crafting together. Supplies were provided to

work on ribbon skirts, bone-bead necklaces, beading,

wampum, and more! On Wednesday, about 25 people

gathered to learn beadworking and craft a small project with Meghan Dorey, Director of Heritage & Arts

Preservation.

While many events had to be moved indoors due

to weather, Family Day was still hosted on Thursday,

June 25, in the Prairie Sun Event Center. Myaamiaki ‘Myaamia people’ were invited to spend the rainy

eenihiweewaaci! ‘They win!’ The winning Myaamia trivia team. Photo

by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

afternoon playing arcade games, Myaamia games

like mahkisina meehkintiinki ‘moccasin game’ and

seenseewinki ‘bowl game’, and enjoying a meal together.

While the community lacrosse game was cancelled on Friday due to the rainy conditions, Myaamia

people instead gathered for a spirited Myaamia trivia

competition before lunch and cultural education presentations. Sophie Olds and Scott Shoemaker presented on Pow Wow etiquette before breaking into groups

to practice stomp dancing.

Friday evening, community members gathered

back at the Prairie Sun Event Center for dinner and

stomp dancing before everyone went home to rest for

Saturday’s events.

While voting for leadership is a crucial part of exercising tribal sovereignty, participating in Myaamia

cultural activities and deepening knowledge continues to strengthen bonds within the community. This

annual week of events would not be possible without

the support of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma’s leadership, the hard work of employees and staff, and the

support of tribal members, the local community, and

guests.

Looking forward, tribal members should keep an

eye on miamination.com/all-events for more opportunities to gather, learn, and create together, like the

Winter Gathering in January 2027.

Myaamia community members playing mahkisina meehkintiinki

‘moccasin game’ together. Photo by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2026

Newly elected members of Tribal leadership are sworn into their roles by Akima ‘Chief’ Douglas Lankford. (Left to right) Donya Williams, Doug

Peconge, Abigail Pollock, and Aaliyah Ramsey. Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Myaamia elders are honored with a wool blanket after turning 75 years old. Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Miami Tribe youth are recognized during the General Council Meeting. Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2026

Tribal Leaders (Seated, left to right): Chief Robert Burkybile (Modoc Nation), Chief Rosanna Dobbs (Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma), Second Chief

Roy Baldridge (Shawnee Tribe), Chief Glenna Wallace (Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma), Chief Douglas Lankford (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma), Chief

Billy Friend (Wyandotte Nation), Chief Charles Diebold (Seneca-Cayuga Nation; not present), and Chief Cody Hollenbeck (Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma).

Tribal Representatives (standing left to right): Troy Littleaxe Jr., Kyle Foster, Lawrence Mason, Clint Kissee, Kolby Lankford, and Kyle Lankford. Photo

by Doug Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Eight northeast Oklahoma tribal nations sign

landmark Intertribal Wildlife Management and

Reciprocity Compact

Callie Bowden

Media Director, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma

Leaders from eight Northeast Oklahoma Tribal Nations, including the

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, signed the landmark Intertribal Wildlife Management and Reciprocity Compact on Tuesday, Aug. 4, establishing a

unified framework for wildlife conservation, hunting, fishing, gathering,

and trapping while preserving the sovereign authority of each participating Tribe.

The participating Tribal Nations are the Wyandotte Nation, Miami

Tribe of Oklahoma, Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, Ottawa Tribe

of Oklahoma, Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, Modoc Nation, Seneca-Cayuga Nation, and Shawnee Tribe.

The signing marks a significant milestone in intertribal cooperation and reflects a shared commitment to protecting wildlife resources

through Tribal leadership. Drawing inspiration from the longstanding

collaboration among the Five Civilized Tribes, the Compact establishes

a comprehensive framework for wildlife conservation among participating Tribal Nations while respecting each Nation’s inherent sovereignty.

Before the U.S. Supreme Court’s McGirt decision, Native Americans

in Oklahoma generally had to purchase an Oklahoma hunting and fishing

license to hunt or fish in the state. After the decision, tribes were able to

exercise their authority to manage hunting and fishing within their own

reservation boundaries.

These eight tribal nations have chosen to work together by adopting

the same hunting and fishing Wildlife Codes. These codes are nearly

identical to Oklahoma’s regulations, including the same hunting seasons,

bag limits, and other wildlife conservation requirements. These codes

only apply to the participating tribal jurisdictions.

Instead of purchasing a state hunting and fishing license, enrolled

members of participating tribes can now receive a tribal hunting and

fishing license from their own tribe. Each participating tribe agrees to

recognize the licenses and tribal identification cards issued by the other

participating tribes. Eligible Myaamia citizens may hunt and fish by

carrying only a valid Tribal identification card, at no expense; however, they must register on the Intertribal Wildlife Consortium E-Check

System to become eligible before hunting or fishing. Most of the other

participating Tribal Nations recognize their Tribal membership cards as

the required hunting and fishing credential as well; each Nation will also

determine its own licensing and identification requirements.

All participating tribes have also agreed to count harvested game toward the same seasonal bag limits. This means a hunter cannot exceed

the allowed limit by hunting in different jurisdictions. The bag limit follows the hunter, no matter where they hunt within the participating tribal

reservations or the State. Again, it is important to restate that before

hunting or fishing, all tribal citizen participants must register with the

Akima ‘Chief’ Douglas Lankford signing compact. Photo by Doug

Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Intertribal Wildlife Consortium E-Check System.

The Intertribal Wildlife Consortium E-Check System (www.itwc.net)

serves as the central resource for the Compact, providing the complete

Intertribal Wildlife Code, harvest reporting, and other information for

participating hunters and fishermen. While the website includes the full

Code, each participating Tribal Nation maintains and publishes its own

Chapter 4 reservation-specific regulations, which govern hunting, fishing, trapping, and other wildlife activities within that Tribe’s jurisdiction. The complete Intertribal Wildlife Code, including the Miami Tribe

of Oklahoma’s Chapter 4 reservation-specific regulations, is available

on the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma’s website at https://miamination.com/

intertribal-wildlife-consortium/.

Among its key provisions, the Compact:

• Establishes reciprocal recognition of hunting, fishing, trapping,

outdoor recreation, and related permits issued by participating Tribal Nations, subject to federal law and reservation-specific regulations.

• Creates the Intertribal Wildlife Council, with each tribe appointing a representative, to coordinate biological management, conservation

initiatives, annual season recommendations, and future wildlife policy

development.

• Implements the Intertribal Wildlife Consortium E-Check System

(www.itwc.net), providing a unified harvest reporting system for big

game species for licensed participants.

• Promotes consistent wildlife conservation regulations while allowing each Tribe to adopt reservation-specific rules tailored to local

wildlife populations and management needs.

•

Strengthens cooperation among commissioned law enforcement officers of participating Tribal Nations and other individuals

authorized to enforce Tribal wildlife, natural resources, or criminal laws.

•

Preserves the sovereignty of every

participating Tribe by ensuring that no provision

of the Compact supersedes Tribal law or diminishes each Nation’s inherent authority to govern

its own lands and natural resources.

“This agreement demonstrates what Tribal

sovereignty looks like in action,” said Akima

Douglas Lankford. “By standing together, we

are reclaiming responsibility for managing our

wildlife resources, strengthening conservation

across our lands, and protecting the rights of our

citizens to hunt, fish, and harvest in a way that

supports both our traditions and our future. This

is about self-governance, stewardship, and ensuring food security for generations to come.”

The Intertribal Wildlife Management and

Reciprocity Compact represents a historic step

toward strengthening Tribal sovereignty, enhancing wildlife conservation, and fostering

Tribal Members (left to right): Kyle Lankford, Wyandotte Nation Intertribal Wildlife Council greater cooperation among Tribal Nations comRepresentative; Chief Douglas Lankford, Chief of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and Chair of mitted to protecting natural resources for future

the Intertribal Council; and Kolby Lankford, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Intertribal Wildlife generations.

Council Representative. Photo by Doug Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2026

Former Richardville Reserve Lands donated to the

Miami Tribe, now becoming a conserved riverside park

in Fort Wayne

Staff Article

Historic land near Fort Wayne, Indiana,

is once again owned by the Miami Tribe of

Oklahoma after a generous donation by a local resident. The Tribe has now submitted a

fee-to-trust application to the federal government, effectively reclaiming about 22 acres

along the west bank of the St. Mary’s River

after philanthropist and Fort Wayne resident

Brian Johnson donated the property in 2019.

“This land is important to our Tribe’s history, and we’re happy it can continue to be

a meaningful part of our story,” said Chief

Doug Lankford. “We’re also excited about

sharing its beauty by welcoming visitors.”

Miami Chief John B. Richardville received

a land grant from the federal government in

1818 that included two tracts of land—once

known as the Richardville Reserve—but

whose ownership was revoked when the Tribe

was later forcibly removed in 1846.

Following the initial conveyance, the land

was subdivided for Archangel Godfrey. In

1894, the land was recorded as owned by John

Godfrey and Mary Ella Hanna. At some point

thereafter, the land left the possession of this

Miami family. Historic aerial photographs of

the land indicate it was forested beginning in

the 1930s.

After World War II, commercial development began in this area, but parcels of land in

the floodplain were excluded from commercial

use and instead used for grazing livestock.

Brian Johnson purchased the two tracts

of land, located in the floodplain on the West

Bank of the Saint Mary’s River, at a tax sale in

2014. Mr. Johnson, a philanthropist and environmentalist, aspired to maintain the lands in a

natural state through a conservation plan with

the United States Department of Agriculture.

After learning of the historic connection

between the land and the Tribe, he graciously

offered to donate the land to the Tribe with

the stipulation that it not be commercially developed but remain in a natural state, authorizing construction of a tribal cultural center

only should the Tribe so wish.

Fort Wayne as seen on a map. Photo from Apple Maps.

“Once I learned more about the Miami Nation and its history, I realized that’s who the

land should belong to,” said Johnson. “This

was really about giving back land to the rightful owners.”

On October 17, 2019, historic Richardville Reserve lands located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, came into the possession of the Miami

Tribe of Oklahoma through the generous and

thoughtful donation by Johnson.

Johnson says he’s benefited too, since the

gift has led him to develop a special relationship with the Tribe. Johnson was invited and

recognized as an honored guest of the Tribe

during the Miami Tribe Winter Gathering in

January 2020 in Miami, Oklahoma, and met

with Miami Leadership and tribal members

during this social gathering.

“I’ve learned so much in this process and

have so much more to learn,” said Johnson,

who was born and raised in the area. “I hope

this donation is one of many future steps to

bringing the local community and Miami Nation closer together.”

“We’re inspired by Brian’s generosity

and very grateful for his gift,” Chief Lank-

Chief Little Turtle Pollinator Park to be

constructed near tribal headquarters

‘Chief Little Turtle’

mihšihkinaahkwa

Pollinator Park

ford said. “His kindness will enhance both the

Tribe and the local community for many generations to come.”

The land donated by Johnson is one of

two properties currently in tribal ownership

within historic Miami homelands. In 2021,

the Tribe purchased 45 acres of land on Fritz

Road in Fort Wayne to operate its Cultural

Resources Extension Office, which facilitates

cultural activities and education for Miami

tribal members in Indiana. On June 7, 2024,

the United States of America accepted the 45acre parcel into trust for the Miami Tribe as a

non-gaming location. The Tribe constructed a

beautiful, state-of-the- art Community Center

for its tribal citizens on this land the Tribe refers to as Peehkahkionki ‘the beautiful land.’

The 22 acres along the river will remain

undeveloped, will be maintained in its natural

state, and will remain wild as a conservation

area. A fee-to-trust non-gaming application

has been submitted for the land as well. The

Miami Tribe plans to clear invasive overgrowth and develop walking trails and a public park for tribal citizens in Indiana and the

community to enjoy the area.

Est. 2026

MIAMI TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA

Staff Article

Miami Tribal leadership has recently approved

the construction of a Pollinator Park behind the

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma’s Headquarters and

National Archive.

On behalf of its citizens, and as sovereign

stewards of Miami Tribe of Oklahoma reservation

lands, including its wild flora and fauna, they recognize in our agrarian society the importance of

pollinators - insects or birds that convey pollen to

a plant to provide fertilization. Over 35% of the

world’s food crops depend on pollination, and in

the United States of America, more than 150 crops

rely on pollinators. Due to habitat loss from urban

sprawl, pesticide use that harms or kills pollinators, climate change disrupting plant-pollinator

timing, disease, and monoculture farming, pollinator populations are declining.

The Business Committee has determined that

creating a pollinator park on the Miami Nation

Reservation will protect and restore habitats and

breeding grounds for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other essential pollinators, which are

vital to both natural ecosystems and human food

security. This pollinator park, with native grasses,

flowers, and pollinators, will provide an aesthetically beautiful recreation location and educational opportunities for Miami Nation Citizens of all

ages and the community. The Business Committee

has determined the Tribe will begin construction

of a pollinator park on the east side of the Tribe’s

state-of-the-art Myaamia National Archives located at 1408 34th Avenue NW in Miami, Oklahoma.

The pollinator park will be named “Chief Little

Turtle Pollinator Park,” in honor of its sixteenthand seventeenth-century famous Miami Chief,

Mihšihkinaahkwa ‘Little Turtle.’

M I A M I

N A T I

N E W S

iiši-mihtohseeniwiyankwi

aatotamankwi

Myaamia Publications – Vol. 20, No. 1, Summer 2026 – Section B – History & Culture – Noošonke Siipionki Myaamionki

Two Myaamia documentaries nominated for Emmy

Awards

Logan York & Stella Beerman

Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, CRO &

Communications Specialsit, MC

“Neepwaantiinki: Learning from Each Other”

“Neepwaantiinki: Learning from Each Other

– Part 1: Tending the Fire,” the first episode of the

Myaamia Center’s docuseries, was nominated for

a regional Emmy. “Neepwaantiinki: Learning from

Each Other” will be an eight-part docuseries that tells

the history of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma while focusing on the community as a contemporary, vibrant

Tribal Nation.

The episode recently earned three awards at the

47th Annual Telly Awards, the world’s largest honor

for video and television content across all screens.

The idea for the series came from Miami University Online, which received an internal grant to

support the production. The project was a collabo- Neepwaantinki, Part 1: Tending the Fire cover. Photo courtesy of Logan York, Miami Tribe of

rative effort, with Miami Online bringing technical Oklahoma.

skills and the Myaamia Center providing the story

and knowledge represented throughout the series.

Zant Director of Miami Tribe Relations at the Myaamia Center, who serves as

“We are so proud of the work that we have done on the docuseries, so it is the docuseries cultural adviser and executive producer. Despite not winning the

wonderful to have it recognized in such a powerful way,” said Kara Strass, Van award, the Myaamia Center hopes the nomination means more people will have

the opportunity to see the docuseries and learn about the Myaamia people, our

work in cultural revitalization, and the relationship between the Miami Tribe

and Miami University.

Hopewell Earthworks: “Stories Written on the Land”

Logan York, serving as our Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, was recently tasked with hosting a documentary titled “Stories Written on the Land.” This

series investigates the history and cultural significance of the Hopewell Earthworks, a remarkable series of ancient structures located in Ohio.

Notably, the documentary highlights the eight earthworks that were inscribed

on the World Heritage List in 2023. This achievement marked a significant milestone, and Logan had the honor of representing our community as a delegate

to advocate for the protection and recognition of these historic sites during the

presentation and deliberation process.

The journey to securing a place on the World Heritage List was nothing short

of monumental. The trip not only celebrated the recognition of these ancient

structures but also served as a platform to educate the public about their historical significance.

“Stories Written on the Land” has made a massive impact, reaching tens

of thousands of viewers and fostering a deeper appreciation for the Hopewell

Earthworks. The documentary has sparked conversations about preserving indigenous history and the importance of honoring the stories embedded in the

landscape.

This documentary uses not only archaeologists and the knowledge they have

gained but also Native people themselves, using their own body of knowledge to

help interpret and assess these sites; even down to what questions should we ask

of these amazing places. It is truly a step in the right direction when interpreting

these sites to bring the descendants of those that built them into the conversation.

Its success has not gone unnoticed; it garnered enough attention to earn a

nomination for an EMMY award at this year’s ceremony held in Louisville,

Kentucky. The awards night was filled with outstanding nominations and deserving winners across various categories. Being Nominated for an EMMY and

being able to bring a Myaamia Voice to this conversation will only help open

more doors for us as a people.

Being part of these celebrations was truly an honor for Logan and everyone

involved, as it highlighted the vital work being done to safeguard our history and

Logan York and his wife get their photo taken at the 2026 Emmy Awards is helping steer the field of archaeology in a new direction. The documentary not

ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky. Photo courtesy of Logan York, Miami only educates but also inspires future generations to protect and celebrate our

Tribe of Oklahoma.

cultural heritage.

Ohio History Connection announcement

Staff Article

The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma is proud

to announce the appointment of Second

Councilperson Nate Poyfair as a newly

elected member of the Ohio History Connection Board of Trustees. Councilperson

Poyfair is the third tribal member to have

served on the OHC Board of Trustees, following Joe Leonard and George Ironstrack

as past trustees.

The Ohio History Connection works to

preserve Ohio history, educates the public

through events, museums, and historic sites,

and works towards connecting people to the

past.

The OHC Promise reads: “Through preserving and sharing stories, we provide a

way for people to connect meaningfully with

Ohio’s past—the places and people who came

before us—through historic sites and museums, preservation, interactive exhibits and

events, and dynamic resources and research.

This experience develops a deep sense of

both individual and community identity, connecting us to one another then, now, and forever.”

Councilperson Poyfair will work alongside other trustees in preserving history, but

more importantly, providing a Native American and Myaamia perspective to potential

projects, events, and repatriations. Second

Chief Chris Samples of the Eastern Shawnee

Tribe of Oklahoma joins Mr. Poyfair as the

other representative of a federally recognized

tribe.

For more information about the Ohio History

Connection, please visit www.ohiohistory.org.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2026

Myaamia recipe collection now

available online

Haley Shea

Myaamia Center

The Office of Assessment and Evaluation

(OAE) at the Myaamia Center has been working on a project that aims to connect Myaamia

citizens with knowledge about Myaamia foods

in a way that can support their family’s nutritional needs.

Our team has officially launched the project

for the community, so head over to šaapohkaayoni (myaamiaportal.com) and check it out! See

more below on how to access it.

Project Description

nahi miiciona nahi weehsininki: Proper

Foods, Proper Diet is a collection of recipes that

include foods or ingredients that Myaamiaki

‘Myaamia people’ have eaten since time immemorial. This includes things like persimmons,

corn and hominy, rabbit, and more. While these

featured ingredients may be unique, the recipes themselves are recognizable to the general

American palate today, like chili, for example.

To access the recipe collection, create an account on Šaapohkaayoni, the Myaamia education portal, and add the collection titled “nahi

miiciona nahi weehsininki: Proper Foods, Proper Diet.”

In this Šaapohkaayoni collection, you will

see multiple topics that serve as recipe categories. These categories include course descriptions (main dish, side dish, etc.) as well as nutritionally focused categories (gluten-free, low

cholesterol, etc.).

309 N Main St,

North Miami, OK 74358

(918) 541-1444

Ripe harvested persimmons. Photo by Karen

Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Our intention with these categories was to

make it easy for each community member to

find specific types of food. Whether you are

looking for a delicious Myaamia appetizer or an

entrée that’s low in sodium, we wanted to provide labeling that made navigating recipe preferences and dietary needs (ideally determined

in collaboration with doctors and/or dietitians)

simple.

With this goal in mind, it’s important to explain why we included nutrition descriptions for

the recipes in this portal. We are not proponents

of any particular type of diet; we have tested

and eaten all of the foods in this collection and

are excited to share them all with the community. The nutritionally focused categories are

designed for folks to easily feed their families

Continued on page 3B >>

Haley Shea and Gretchen Spenn cooking recipes to be included in the nahi miiciona nahi

weehsininki: Proper Foods, Proper Diet project at the Cultural Resources Extension Office in

Fort Wayne, Indiana, in January 2026. Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and

Miami Nation Enterprises

Employee Positions

If you are interested in working for the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma or Miami Nation

Enterprises, contact us below or look online.

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma

Charla Gibson

Human Resource Officer

cgibson@miamination.com

(918) 541-1364

Miami Nation Enterprises

Donna Smith

Director of Human Resources

dsmith@mn-e.com

(918) 541-2100

www.miamination.com/

employment

www.mn-e.com/careers

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2026

<< Continued from page 2B

while simultaneously meeting their own health

and nutrition needs, and supporting everyone in

the community in living well. (For more specific nutrition information, an explanatory video

can be found in the collection!)

Once you select your desired category, you

will see various recipes that fall within that description. If you want to see all of the recipes

featured in the portal, click “learning resources” in the menu.

It was important to us to prioritize recipes

that are accessible and easy to make for the average person. We have included recipes commonly found at community gatherings, as well

as other recipes that maybe folks have never

had before. This collection was so fun to create,

and it certainly will not stop at our launch. We

hope for this project to continue to grow and

meet the needs of the community over time.

the 2025-2026 Aanchtaakia Graduate Fellow at

the Myaamia Center while pursuing her master’s degree in Miami University’s Dietetic Internship Program. Her expertise in using food

to promote nutrition and health aligned perfectly with this goal, and she has been key to getting this resource up and running.

This project has been attempted on a few

occasions in the past, as community members

seem to really want Myaamia recipes and information about traditional Myaamia foods. However, because a project of this nature is time and

resource-intensive, it never made it to a stage

that was able to be shared with the Tribal Nation. Thankfully, that has now changed.

Future Directions

The most exciting thing about this project is

that it can take many directions; the opportunities

truly are endless. We therefore welcome the feedback of community members to make it a resource

that is helpful for everyone. In the future, we are

already planning on expanding some of the technological features of the collection (like the ability

to save/like recipes, for example), connecting with

Myaamia food systems (like gardens in Miami and

Fort Wayne), publishing a physical cookbook, and

even including ecological information about growing, harvesting, and hunting to support folks’ access to certain ingredients.

Background

This project stems from several factors that fell

into place at the right time. First, the OAE had some

remaining funds in the grant that funded the nahi

meehtohseeniwinki model research. With these

funds, we decided to use what we learned from the

theory-driven side of our research to develop practical resources that community members can use

to promote their own journey of living well. I (Haley) have wanted to engage on a deeper level with

If you have questions, feedback, or ideas

Myaamia foods for a long time, and this felt like about this recipe collection, feel free to reach

the right opportunity.

out to Haley Shea (strassha@miamioh.edu)!

At the same time, Gretchen Spenn became

Myaamia Heritage Award Program students

harvesting paw paws on Miami University’s

campus in 2020. Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami

Tribe of Oklahoma.

Hominy soup, a recipe featured in the

collection. Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe

of Oklahoma.

Cultural Resources Office to present at the

Miami County Historical Museum

November 21st at 1:00 pm

Joshua Sutterﬁeld will talk about the early history of the Miami Nation. He will discuss where the Miami Tribe originated and

highlight early village life for the myaamiaki ‘Miami people’ in the Lower Great Lakes. He will highlight the types of structures found

in and around village sites, as well as the importance of the Miami people's connection to the landscape. You will get to learn about

the diﬀerent types of niikinaana ‘homes’ Miami people lived in, about the Miami lunar calendar, and much more.

Miami County Historical Museum

12 E Peoria St, Paola, KS 66071

Corn planting at Prophetstown

Nate Poyfair

ARPA Noošonke Siipionki Project Manager

In June of 2026, the Miami Tribe Cultural Resources Office (CRO)

was invited by Shawnee Tribe citizen Ryan Conway to participate in a

corn planting event at the previous site and current state park of Prophetstown near Lafayette, IN. In June, I (CRO employee and Second Councilperson Nate Poyfair) travelled to Lafayette to take part in the corn

planting event alongside our Shawnee siblings.

This event, led by Ryan Conway, was directed towards the re-introduction and replanting of native corn that was planted at Prophetstown in

the early 19th century. This specific corn, a ten-row, multicolored corn,

was preserved by Ho-Chunk people for many years, and later returned to

Shawnee people.

During this event, Ryan, an inter-tribal group, and indigenous allies

that included park staff cooked, prepared soil, planted, talked, learned,

and danced together in celebration of the planting. Beginning the day

with soil preparation and planting of seeds, Ryan spoke to the group

about the importance of preserving native corn, the history of Prophetstown, and how we will all move forward in our slow and intentional efforts in reclaiming our traditional spaces and practices within the Southern Great Lakes, especially the Wabash River Valley. Later, we ate dinner

and, as a group, introduced ourselves and shared ideas and thoughts on

inter-tribal efforts in cultural revitalization. As the evening grew dark,

the group moved outside next to the newly planted corn field and had a

social and stomp dance. Surrounded by thousands of fireflies and with

lightning in the sky, we sang loudly for our ancestors and all to hear us.

It was a magnificent couple of hours.

From a Myaamia (and my) perspective, this place was not far from the

Wea town of Ouiatenon and just north of where my family was forcibly

removed, so I had a lot on my mind throughout the day. To the southwest,

I continuously looked through the break in the trees and tried to place

myself in this area in a past world and wondered if perhaps Myaamiaki

had stood in the spots we were standing. Also, working and engaging

with people who were our traditional neighbors, relatives, and friends,

such as Shawnee, Potawatomi, Delaware, and others, was something that

felt important to experience in that space.

Historically, Myaamia people did not play an active role in Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa’s coalition of resistance against the Americans,

centered at Prophetstown. Although Myaamiaki were not significantly

involved in the resistance and later the Battle of Tippecanoe that oc-

Cooking for the workers at Prophetstown. Photo by Nate Poyfair, Miami Tribe

of Oklahoma.

curred in 1811, those that were involved, especially the Shawnee, Kickapoo, Wyandots, and Ottawas, were traditional neighbors and allies. In

the case of the Shawnee, they had lived alongside or within our Wabash

River Valley Villages for many decades at the time of the founding of

Prophetstown.

Prophetstown State Park, which sits just northeast of Lafayette, IN,

and Fort Ouiatenon, where the Tippecanoe and Wabash Rivers meet, is a

2,000-acre state park. It consists of an open-air museum with a Shawnee

village, hiking and bike trails, an aquatic center, a non-profit farm, and a

visitors’ center. Nearby, the Tippecanoe Battlefield and Museum, a National Historic Landmark, marks the site of the 1811 battle that rendered

Prophetstown destroyed and Tecumseh’s alliance scattered.

In the future, the Miami Tribe Cultural Resources Office and Myaamia

Center Staff plan to continue to support Ryan Conway and our Shawnee

relatives in their efforts to continue planting corn and growing the indigenous presence in Indiana. For more information, please contact me,

Nate Poyfair, at NPoyfair@miamination.com, or follow our publications

for future announcements and stories related to Miami Tribe of Oklahoma activity at Prophetstown. Mihši neewe ‘big thanks’ to Ryan Conway

and the Shawnee Tribe for continuing to be strong allies in reclamation and revitalization, and specifically Ryan’s efforts in the inclusion of

Myaamiaki in indigenous-led work in our traditional homelands.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2026

Presentation to the Rotary Club on Little Turtle

Peace Medal

Nate Poyfair

ARPA Noošonke Siipionki Project Manager

In May of 2026, tribal citizen and Miami Nation Enterprises

(MNE) board member Brett Hayes asked me to present on the

return of the 1795 Little Turtle Peace Medal to the Rotary Club in

Miami, OK. Brett is an ex-president and active member of the Rotary Club in Miami, and he wanted the tribe to share our exciting

return of the Peace Medal.

On July 21st, 2026, I presented to a group of around twenty

Rotary Club members on the history, loss, and return of the Little

Turtle Peace Medal. We met at the Montana Mike’s Steakhouse,

and I presented a short powerpoint and answered questions right

after lunch. Brett and I were excited to share our tribal history and

achievement with the Rotary Club, and I was excited to share my

small part in bringing the medal home from California in June of

2025.

The Rotary Club plays an active and positive role in the local community here in Miami, OK, and we are excited as a staff

to have a blooming relationship with its members. Both the Miami Tribe and the Rotary Club work to uplift and support the local community, and teaching them about our achievements helps

strengthen our understanding and bonds with our local neighbors.

The Miami Rotary Foundation can be visited at www.rotaryclubofmiamiok.com. For further information on the Little Turtle

Peace Medal, search for Cam Shriver’s article on the Miami Tribe

blog at aacimotaatiiyankwi.org, or reach out to the Miami Tribe of

Oklahoma’s Cultural Resources Office.

The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Cultural Resources Office

continuously looks for opportunities to support and educate local organizations and other tribes about our history and culture.

We hope that future opportunities to present and work with the

Rotary Club and others continue. On behalf of myself and the

Cultural Resources Office of the Miami Tribe, mihši neewe ‘big

thanks’ to Brett Hayes for working to strengthen the relationship

and understanding between the Miami Rotary Foundation and

the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Nate Poyfair and Brett Hayes with Miami, OK Rotary Club member. Photo courtesy

of Nate Poyfair, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

“The word pecan is derived from pakaani, the word in our language for nut.”

Announcement for

dances at Eiteljorg

Museum, Indiana

University Bloomington,

and CCDF dances

Staff Article

Owned And Operated By The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma

801 Pine Street, North Miami, OK

918-541-1440

The CREO inherits museum display cases from

local historical society

New display cases at the CREO. Photo by Morgan Lippert paints display cases. Photo by

Claudia Hedeen, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Claudia Hedeen

ARPA Cultural Education & Wellness

Coordinator, CREO

A pair of display cases has been gifted to the

Miami Tribe Cultural Resources Office from

Howard County Historical Society in Kokomo, Indiana. While touring their museum last

spring, Morgan Lippert, Curator of Exhibitions

and Programming at MHMA (Myaamia Heritage Museum & Archives), was offered the cases when the historical society noted they had no

room for them.

Claudia Hedeen, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Lippert arranged transport to the Cultural

Resources Extension Office in Fort Wayne, IN.

She personally worked to give them a myaamia

makeover with a little restoration and fresh

paint. They currently showcase a few indigenous cultural items housed at the CREO, including a beaver pelt and several bark baskets

of ash and birch.

These cases will be part of rotating displays

of cultural items such as myaamia artwork and

pieces following annual cultural education

themes.

This fall, there will be multiple opportunities for tribal members to participate in stomp

and social dances in Oklahoma and Indiana.

On Monday, October 12th, the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis will be hosting a day of

presentations during Indigenous Peoples’ Day

celebrations, which will end with a stomp and

social dance. CRO employee has been asked

by the Eiteljorg to organize the dance, which

will have CRO staff, Myaamia Center Staff,

and local Indigenous friends such as Shawnee

and Delaware citizens in attendance. The Dance

will tentatively start at 2 pm, and for further

information, please reach out to either the Eiteljorg Museum or Nate Poyfair at NPoyfair@

miamination.com.

On Saturday, November 7th, Indiana University Bloomington First Nation’s Educational and Cultural Center will be hosting a Stomp

dance alongside the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, Myaamia Center,

The Shawnee Tribe, and other federally recognized tribes will be in attendance for this

dance. Further information about this event will

be made available closer to the date, but if you

are available and can make it to Bloomington,

pyaalo ‘you come’! Reach out to Nate Poyfair

at NPoyfair@miamination.com for information

about the dance if you plan to attend.

On Thursday, November 12th, the Miami

Tribe of Oklahoma CCDF program, in conjunction with the Northeast Tribes CCDFs, will be

hosting an intertribal stomp dance at the Miami

Nation Council House for all local tribal daycares. This will be the third dance of its kind

and will again be organized, and the emcee will

be Nate Poyfair of the Miami Tribe Cultural Resources Office. This dance, due to the presence

of many children, will require entry approved

by Nate or CCDF staff. Local attendance is limited, so if you are interested in attending the

stomp dance to help the children learn, please

contact NPoyfair@miamination.com.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2026

From ribbonwork to leadership: What’s next at the

Myaamia Heritage Museum & Archive

MHMA Curator of Exhibitions Morgan Lippert presenting on the ribbonwork exhibit with staff from the National Museum of the American

Indian at the annual ATALM conference. Photo by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

Morgan Lippert

Curator of Exhibitions and Programming, MHMA

After almost two years, neehaapiikasiciki: The Healing Threads of

Myaamia Ribbonwork will be coming to an end this November at the

Myaamia Heritage Museum & Archive (MHMA). This exhibit explored

the history and production of Myaamia ribbonwork, the processes that

led to the art form’s dormancy within the Myaamia community, and the

decades-long effort to reclaim and revitalize this practice. More than an

exhibition about an art form, neehaapiikasiciki sought to tell a story of

loss, resilience, reclamation, and healing.

The exhibition marked several important milestones for MHMA. It

was the first time that historic Myaamia ribbonwork had been brought

back to Miami, Oklahoma, for tribal citizens to experience since many of

these pieces were collected and removed from the community more than

a century ago. It was also MHMA’s first exhibition to feature Myaamia

objects on loan from other museums; the exhibit featured four pieces

from the Cranbrook Institute of Science and six pieces from the National

Museum of the American Indian.

The response from visitors demonstrated the profound impact of

seeing these pieces returned to a Myaamia

community

space.

One Myaamia visitor reflected, “Crediting Myaamia women

brings them closer to

us—remembering this

work is their voice has

brought healing and

inspiration to me as a

Myaamia woman.” Another shared, “Seeing

Visitors during the ribbonwork exhibit. Photo these pieces in our own

space is an affirmation

by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

Neepwaantiinki: Stories

from Myaamia

Revitalization Podcast

Scan with your phone camera

to learn more.

of our tribal sovereignty and identity.” A third visitor described the experience as a reminder that, although “parts of this story are sad,” the

Myaamia community is “back on a good path.”

As its title suggests, neehaapiikasiciki: The Healing Threads of

Myaamia Ribbonwork demonstrated how cultural revitalization can

serve as a source of healing and connection. When asked about this, tribal citizen Dr. Nichole Prescott said this:

“Culture is inherently a healing force. It is a medicine as much as

being in community is. Each of us is searching for a way to connect with

who we are as Myaamia people—to manifest and embody Myaamianess. One way to do that is to interact with our history, our ancestors, our

stories as communicated through texts and by things.”

The significance of neehaapiikasiciki has extended beyond the museum itself. The exhibition provided opportunities for MHMA staff to

share the process of developing the exhibition with other tribal museums, including through a presentation at the annual Association of Tribal

Archives, Libraries, and Museums (ATALM) conference last September.

These conversations have allowed us to reflect on the exhibition’s successes, challenges, and lessons learned, while also considering how these

experiences can inform future exhibitions at MHMA.

New exhibit will explore Myaamia leadership

Following neehaapiikasiciki, the MHMA is preparing to open a new

exhibit in late November that examines leadership within the Miami

Tribe. Rather than focusing solely on the individuals who held leadership roles, the exhibit will explore the Myaamia community values that

have shaped and guided leadership across generations. The exhibit will

be divided into five of the eight Myaamia community values:

neepwaahkaayankwi ‘we are wise, conscious, aware.’

eeyaakwaamisiyankwi ‘we strive for (something).’

peehkinaakosiyankwi ‘we are generous, kind.’

aahkokeelintiiyankwi ‘we care for each other.’

neehweeyankwi ‘we speak well.’

These values will serve as interpretive themes to examine the lives and

legacies of Myaamia leaders. Through these values, visitors will discover

how Myaamia leadership through generations has been expressed not only

through decision-making and diplomacy, but also through service, generosity, wisdom, and responsibility to the community.

The exhibit will

feature significant recent acquisitions, including the 1795 Treaty of Greenville Peace

Medal, a bag attributed

to Akima Mihšihkinaahkwa ‘Chief Little

Turtle,’ and a headdress worn by Akima

Katakimaankwa ‘Chief

Harley Palmer.’ The

exhibit will also include a series of video

interviews with Miami

Tribe’s current leadership, each reflecting

on one of the community values and how it 1795 Treaty of Greenville Peace Medal. Photo

informs their approach by Morgan Lippert, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

to leadership, decision-making, and service to the Myaamia community today. By placing

the experiences of past leaders in conversation with the voices of current

tribal leadership, the exhibit will highlight the continuity of these values

across generations and their continued relevance to the Myaamia community today.

We hope this new exhibit will demonstrate that Myaamia leadership

is not simply a story of individuals, but one rooted in relationships, responsibilities, and commitment to one’s community. Ultimately, the exhibition will invite visitors to understand Myaamia leadership through

a Myaamia perspective and to recognize how wisdom, communication,

perseverance, care, and generosity, have helped sustain and strengthen

the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma through time.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2026

wiintanto wiintaakani

‘You read a book!’

dispossession, deportation, and appropriation. Myaamia landowners

contended with innumerable people who alternated between Jekyll and

Red Codes and Removals: Myaamia Survivance in

Hyde, simultaneous manifestations of survival and dispossession. To be

Nineteenth Century America (Norman: University sure, treaties and government agents asserted federal power over the

of Oklahoma Press, 2027)

Miami Nation. But the historical biographies that open the chapters of

Waapanaakikaapwa’s life history can tell us something of what it was Red Codes and Removals demonstrate that local businessmen, county

like for Native Americans to live in the Midwest, a region bent on their clerks, and circuit court judges did the actual work of dispossession.

people’s dispossession. At the time of his birth, he and several hundred They sometimes helped Myaamia people. But more often, the Myaamia

of his relatives lived on

an archipelago

of family

established

by defended

theirinproperty

fromCentury

people America

who knew them intimately.

Stephen

Warren, Red

Codesreserves

and Removals:

Myaamia

Survivance

Nineteenth

treaty and Congressional legislation. Most of these family reserves were

In Red Codes and Removals, I use life histories in all three hometaken from their people,

compelling

those

who

remained

consolidate

lands

to describe how generations of Myaamia people survived suc(Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2027).

ever-smaller pieces of their homeland. Waapanaakikaapwa and his family cessive waves of predatory laws, policies, and people. They made the

moved from the Salamonie

best of their circumstances

River, in Blackford County,

in each of their homelands.

to the confluence of the MisThe Myaamia endured

sissinewa and Wabash rivers

what I call “Red Codes”:

below Peru, when he “could

state and local laws and

just crawl.” Then, in Octopolicies that made it diffiber 1846, the Myaamia were

cult for Native peoples to

split in half by US policyprosper.

The enactment

makers. Exempted kin such

and enforcement of “Red

as Godfroy were now physCodes” enabled white men

ically separated from their

to assume control of Native

exiled relatives, a rupture

American families, their

that divided the Myaamia

children, and their assets.

between Indiana and IndiSimilar in scope to the more

an Territory, the “Coming

well-known Black Codes,

Out Place” and the western

statutory and judicial disedge of the Midwest. After

crimination targeting Nathe 1846 removal the US

tive peoples proliferated in

government insisted that the

Indiana and spread beyond

nation remove again. So, beits borders. The people

tween 1869 and 1885, the

who wrote these laws and

Miami Nation rebuilt their

administered these polilives in what is now Miami,

cies were usually known to

Oklahoma, in the Norththem; they were husbands,

eastern corner of the state.

friends, and close business

They are the sole federally

associates. Everyday rerecognized Miami Nation. Waapanakikaapwa, far left, with his third wife, Martha Jane Logan, and nine of his sistance from little known

far left, with

his home

third wife,

Martha

Jane Logan,

nine

of his eleven

Photo

courtesy

of Myaamia people saved the

eleven surviving children

at their

in Peru,

Indiana,

c. 1905.and

The aftershocks of theseWaapanakikaapwa,

Miami County

Photo

Archives.

deportations are ongoing.surviving

Miami Nation from oblivchildren

at their

home in Peru, Indiana, c. 1905. Courtesy Miami County Photo

Yet despite these policies,

ion. When Myaamia womArchives.

more than 7,000 citizens

en confronted the unanticenjoy the fruits of a cultural fluorescence

that is the ultimate

rebuke

theus something

ipated consequences

of marrying

non-Native men and when Myaamia

Waapanaakikaapwa’s

life history

cantotell

of what it was

like for Native

ideology of removal and the tragic policies that flowed from it.

children survived court-appointed guardians, they made it possible for

What separates Myaamia histories of the nineteenth century from future generations of their people to make a place for themselves in the

Americans to live in the Midwest, a region bent on their people’s dispossession. At the time of

more familiar histories, such as Cherokee removal, is the intimacy of contemporary United States.

Stephen Warren

his birth, he and several hundred of his relatives lived on an archipelago of family reserves

by treaty and Congressional legislation. Most of these family reserves were taken

Logan Yorkestablished

now serves

on the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

from their people, compelling those who remained to consolidate on ever-smaller pieces of their

Advisory Council on Historic

Preservation

www.achp.gov/loganyork

izen of the Tribe. Growing up in Kansas and Missouri, Mr. York regularly attended Tribal events,

stomp dances, and language camps. He has a bachelor’s degree from Miami University (of Ohio) in

Anthropology with minors in History and Archaeology. He went to work for the Tribe in April 2022

after previously working for Rebecca Hawkins, the

consulting archaeologist for the Miami Tribe.

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

(ACHP) is an independent federal agency that promotes the preservation, enhancement, and sustainable use of our nation’s diverse historic resources

and advises the President and Congress on national historic preservation

What led you to your field?

policy. It also provides a forum for inI have always been interested in

fluencing federal activities, programs,

history; it has always fascinated me.

and policies that affect historic propWhen taught correctly, it should faserties. The ACHP promotes historic

cinate everyone. It is the cumulation

preservation to foster the understandof all of humanity’s most remarkable

ing of the nation’s heritage and the

stories; that’s all history is, right? It is

contribution that historic preservation

the story of us. Stories have always

can make to contemporary commucome naturally to me; connecting

nities and their economic and social

with people with stories is easy. But

well-being.

I had not planned my whole life to

The ACHP is composed of 24

be THPO. I went to college starting

statutorily designated and Presiden- Logan York during the in 2016, and until the end of the sectially appointed members from fed- UNESECO meeting. ond semester of my first year, I had

eral agencies, preservation organiza- Photo courtesy Logan not declared my major. I could not

tions, Native American Tribes, and York, Miami Tribe of decide what to do, planning out your

expert private citizens. They recent- Oklahoma.

whole life at 18 is a daunting task. I

ly interviewed Logan York, a Miami

tried out different courses from difNation citizen and Tribal Historic Preservation Di- ferent majors, but I still couldn’t decide. One day

rector for the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. Logan’s I was called into Daryl Baldwin’s office to discuss

story is a great read and offers a personal look at my options. I have known Daryl, and he has been

how his passion for history, archaeology, and the a mentor since I was 9 years old, so it was always

Miami people led him to where he is today.

easy to talk to him. I told him I was always interestThe Miami Nation says mihši neewe, Logan, ed in history but loved being outside and using my

for your dedication to protecting, preserving, and hands. He asked if I had ever considered archaerevitalizing our culture and heritage. We are proud ology, which I had not. At that point in my life, I

of the work you do for our people and future gen- only knew that Indiana Jones did archaeology. (He

erations. Logan’s journey into historic preservation does not do real archaeology!) Daryl recommendis described in the following interview.

ed trying out a class, which I did. The only one I

could get into was “The Archaeology of Power,”

a senior-level class on the archaeology of power

Logan York is the Tribal Historic Preservation dynamics. That was the most challenging class I

Officer for the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and a cit- ever took at Miami University, and it was my fa-

vorite class I ended up taking. It is why I declared

my major, got into a field school, and worked for

an archaeological firm out of Oklahoma for a few

years. I loved it, the study of us in the past, our best

stories, and our relationships with others. One day,

towards my junior year, my firm asked me to monitor an archaeological site, and I happened to meet

the previous THPO, Diane Hunter, there. We talked, and I told her of my interests and my degree.

She asked if I would be interested in THPO work,

to which I said yes. I had always wanted to work

for the Tribe, but I never knew an avenue to pursue

it. We talked the rest of that very hot summer day

and parted ways. I did not see her again for three

or so years.

Eventually, I graduated, moved back home,

and then back to Ohio with my now-wife. I worked

in construction, delivery, and even the medical

field for a while before landing a job at a nonprofit

archaeology firm out of Indiana. I worked there

for about two years, overcoming my fear of public

speaking and getting experience dealing with the

public, and in archaeological studies. After all that time, I got

a call from Julie Olds

that they were opening a deputy THPO

position and wanted

me to apply based on

my conversation with

Diane. I did, and eventually got the position

and apprenticed under

Diane for a little under

Logan York giving a two years before she

presentation

about retired. I took over for

Photo her as THPO for the

myaamionki.

courtesy

Logan

York, Miami Tribe. Every

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. day is different now.

Continued on page 7B>>

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2026

<< Continued from page 6B

Sometimes, I do archaeology, digging in the Illinois sun or studying painted hides in France. Still,

I mostly work on my computer to help protect our

archaeological sites from destruction and to educate the public in any way I can. I wouldn’t trade

how I got here for the world.

ects a year, though I recently learned that number

will be going up quite a bit. For non-Section 106

projects, I work with hundreds of organizations,

from Indigenous Cultural Trails at Indiana Dunes to

new museum exhibits to school curriculum. If it has

to do with Miami people, history, or culture, I probably have a hand in it somehow.

very easy to work with, always looking at the long

term and never trying to force changes too fast because we want all partnerships to be reciprocal and

sustainable. The Miami Tribe will never come in

yelling and screaming especially if you are trying

to do right by us now. Yes, bad things have happened, but what matters now? It is what happens

next. We don’t want

one significant gesture,

which is the end of it; we

want small, sustainable

gestures over time that

might build into something greater. One-anddone events accomplish

little and cost a lot. We

want to work with different groups all over our

homelands and beyond

and do that as easily and

Logan York at an archeological site. Photo steadily as possible.

How do you think

national historic

preservation programs

help your community?

Historic preservation is vital to community preservation; it protects our physical past

with Section 106 work.

Through this national

Why do you think historic preservation

program I can help prematters?

serve the archaeological

I think it matters for us because it helps pre- or sacred sites in our

serve who we are. For Miami, there was a long traditional homelands, courtesy Logan York, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

period of cultural loss, starting with the diseases so that people can betCan you tell us

that swept through our homelands, through our ter connect with themselves and their people. That about your experience advocating for the

wars with Europeans or their Native Allies in lit- connection to place and connection to the past is Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks’ UNESCO

tle proxy wars, to forced removal and boarding missing in many people’s lives, and historic pres- designation?

schools. Many of our cultural practices were forc- ervation allows me to alleviate that as best I can

My experience accumulated in the trip to Riibly taken, beaten, and killed out of us. It is through for my people. Besides the physical preservation yadh and studying as much as possible about these

historic preservation that we have relearned what of our past, I am also in a position to better educate earthworks themselves to better defend them if need

we can. From our language programs that have my people and the general public about Miami his- be. Being selected to be the Miami Delegate to Risuccessfully gotten our language off the extinct tory and culture including material culture, whether yadh was surprising and humbling but much apprelanguages list to lacrosse to hide painting, we are that is directing weaving workshops or helping bet- ciated. It placed a lot of weight on my shoulders,

returning to preserve what we can of our past. It ter direct hide painting we can help continue the re- because I was not just representing Miami people

is not just our cultural past but our physical past. vitalization of our art forms, which once again help to a local library audience but to leaders from the

Preserving archaeology preserves my ancestors’ better connect with one’s past and present. This is entire world. Many were foreign ambassadors of

physical past, which to us is often sacred and de- only possible for our office because of the national different countries, and even a couple of the royal

serving of respect that has usually not been giv- programs that help fund the personnel to get this family of Saudi Arabia. It was a once-in-a-lifetime

en. Through Section 106 of the National Historic done and get it done well.

trip and quite a bit of studying to ensure I was ready.

Preservation Act, we can consult on projects that

However, after 20 years of work, the presentation

might have otherwise destroyed our archaeology, Do you have any advice for novice

went so well that there was no deliberation. They

from mounds to cemeteries to houses, all of which preservationists?

presented, and the eight earthworks were added to

I have managed to save through this consultation

Keep at it; it will get frustrating and challeng- the World Heritage List through a unanimous dework. Physical manifestations of the past are ing, and sometimes you will think to yourself “Why cision and a standing ovation. We got a standing

powerful, not just for Miami people, but for ev- bother?” but you can’t let setbacks get to you. You ovation and a long line of handshakes from many

ery person. There’s a reason that people feel such might be the person who preserves a 2,000-year- of the ambassadors and delegates during the standa pull to places like Stonehenge, the Great Wall old earthwork into its 3rd millennium or a historic ing ovation. It was truly a humbling experience and

of China, or the Hopewell Mound Groups. They building into its 300th year, rather than being torn exciting, and every one of us had tears in our eyes.

are the physical places people connect to, which down at 200. What we do is essential, but good to Glenna Wallace said it was almost anti-climactic,

is really powerful. It connects you to the past that remember, historic preservation is not about the all of the delegates there ready, all of that work after

many people are finding increasingly further away past but the future. It is not about preserving any nearly 20 years to defend these amazing locations...

with the new digital age. Still, culture and com- archaeological site, building, or artifact. It’s about and in less than five minutes it was done. All that

munity are good for mental and physical health. being there to protect something that our future studying further enhanced my interest in the earthThese places are not meaningless piles of stone or will enjoy, to provide future generations the same works and beyond. Not quite what I would call a

earth but robust connectors to our past, and that or better opportunities that we have here and now. waste! Overall, my experience advocating for the

is something that many people can feel the pull Preserving what we can for the benefit of future Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks was an amazof, even if they don’t quite know what they are generations who cannot protect it themselves.

ing once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I would not

feeling.

The ACHP’s mis- trade for anything.

sion is “preserving

What courses do

America’s heritage;”

you recommend for

can you give us an

students interested in

example of how your

this field?

community is preservI would recommend

ing its heritage?

leaning into what inThe Miami Tribe

terests you and you are

of Oklahoma founded

good at. Me? I am good

an entire department

at stories, people, and

within itself to protect,

history. I took mostly

preserve, and revitalize

archaeology and anculture and heritage.

thropology classes, but Logan York duirng the minohsayaki project. That is what our Culsomeone who’s better Photo courtesy Logan York, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. tural Resource Office

TRY OUR SELECT COFFEES

at the business side of

does every single day

things or numbers should take math and business of the year. To protect, preserve, and revitalize

classes with the goal of aiming those learned our culture for our future generations, to give

skills to the benefit of historic preservation. We them the same or better as we have now and

need everyone’s help in this: we need people hopefully much better.

who can run business to make preservation viable; we need ecologists who know what plants What are some of the unique challenges that

to plant that won’t destroy historic buildings or come with your work as a THPO?

archaeology; we need geologists, writers, archiThe most unique challenge that I have faced

tects, and chemists. We need people. What class- beyond the standard resistance to preserving hises you take is less important than your goals with toric resources rather than just destroying them for

them. Yes, take anthropology classes, and history ease of future development is two-fold. One that

and archaeology, but don’t be afraid to take that we are here—most people don’t think of Native

chemistry class or that business class. Those are Americans or their governments as really still here.

things the field needs too.

To a lot, we are almost fictional, these mysterious

people of the past that aren’t still here if they ever

Do you have a favorite preservation project?

were, but we are still here and were never a people

What about it made it special?

of the past, just people with a past. They don’t even

My favorite project so far is our Minohsayaki think of trying to work with us because we aren’t

Project, or our “Painted Hides” Project. It is a revi- quite real in many people’s heads. Even when peotalization project for the Miami and Peoria commu- ple recognize that we are still here, they are terrinities to study four original Painted Hide robes and fied to try to work with us. I do mean that people

hopefully bring the art form back from dormancy. are scared, generally for two reasons. Because they

For us, historic preservation encompasses more are worried about doing the wrong thing, they don’t

than just protecting places and things; it also means know how to reach out to Tribes, so it is better safe

learning from them and using that past, physical or than sorry, and they don’t reach out. Some I have

otherwise, as scaffolding for our future.

found are scared to reach out because they are worried we will come in screaming and pointing finCan you tell us what you are working on

gers. That we are tough to work with because of all

right now?

the bad things that’ve happened to us. However, I

I work on thousands of projects. If we are talking generally pride myself on being very friendly and

Section 106, we are reviewing roughly 4,000 proj- understanding. Most partners will agree that we are

How does what you do relate to historic

preservation?

That is all that I do, whether I am preserving

physical archaeological sites through Section

106 consultation or educating the public, both

Tribal citizens and the broader public, on Miami history, culture, language, and ecology. We

preserve the past for our future here.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2026

Indiana Dunes wins tourism award for Best Advocacy Initiative for their

work on the indigenous cultural trail

Jared Nally

Deputy THPO

After over a decade of partnering with the

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and the Pokagon

Band of Potawatomi Indians, Indiana Dunes

Tourism has been recognized with the 2026

Indiana Tourism Award for Best Advocacy Initiative for marketing budgets under $500,000

a year for their collaborative work on the Indiana Dunes Indigenous Cultural Trail.

In a post announcing the award, Indiana

Dunes Tourism said, “This project was never about promotion. It has always been about

creating space for Indigenous voices, building meaningful relationships, and working together to better reflect the full story of the Indiana Dunes.” Indiana Dunes Tourism began

working with both tribes in 2015, eventually

leading to the discussion and planning of the

Indigenous Cultural Trail.

Indiana Dunes Tourism hosted the Miami

Tribe of Oklahoma staff, back in August 2025,

to visit the new Indigenous Cultural Trail.

The trail features Miami and Potawatomi language, educational signage, and designs created by and with tribal artists as well as two

large limestone turtles carved to reflect both

the Miami and Potawatomi lunar calendars.

“By collaborating with the Pokagon Band

of the Potawatomi and the Miami Tribe of

Oklahoma, the project presents Indigenous

knowledge as a contemporary, living part

of the Indiana Dunes experience rather than

a distant history confined to textbooks. The

trail surrounds the Indiana Dunes Visitor

Center, which welcomes more than 225,00

people each year. This placement ensures that

Indigenous perspectives are not peripheral,

but central to how people first encounter the

Dunes,” said the Indiana Tourism Awards application.

In addition to the outdoor visitor experience, the Indiana Dunes Tourism giftshop

sells Indiana Dunes Indigenous Cultural Trail

merchandise. The proceeds of ICT merchandise go directly toward the ongoing maintenance of the trail.

Group of myaamiaki at Indiana Dunes. Photo courtesy of Logan York presenting. Photo

Indian Dunes Tourism.

courtesy of Indiana Dunes Tourism.

Group photo of those presnt for the Indiana Dunes Tourism award ceremony. Photo courtesy of

Indiana Dunes Tourism.

Celebrating our 20th volume of

aatotankiki myaamiaki

Staff Article

The Miami Tribe has worked to inform

myaamiaki of valuable news and information

for roughly the past 50 years. These efforts

have evolved over time from an elder newsletter produced by the Title VI program to a robust

broadsheet prepared by the Cultural Resources

Office.

In the Myaamia National Archive, we have

our earliest recorded newsletter beginning in

the 1980s, with written evidence for earlier editions beginning in the 1970s. The oldest newsletter in the archive is titled “Omaumeg News,”

published and distributed by the Miami Tribe of

Oklahoma under the Title VI program.

This program, designed to assist tribal elders by providing hot lunches each weekday,

also took the initiative to inform elders and

the community by mailing them relevant tribal

news and information.

Early newsletters included tribal nation

news, songs and poems, and program information but were relatively short by design. This

continued for nearly 2 decades, changing the

name a few times before being standardized as

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki in late 1998.

Students from the Miami University Field

School visited that year under the leadership

of Hugh Morgan and worked with then secretary-treasurer, Julie Olds. Journalism students

taught a few Miami Tribe of Oklahoma staff

how to use a desktop design program. They created a template and began filling it with a variety of articles.

That first edition states, “The title is derived

from the Miami language and is representative

of the advancements in the language recovery

efforts; it replaces the former title Oumamik,

which is a Chippewa and Ojibway word meaning people of the peninsula. There is no word

for “news” in the Miami language, but Aato-

tankiki Myaamiaki, meaning ‘what the

Miamis talk about’ presented itself as a

fitting title to the newsletter.”

Today, we know that “Oumamik”

actually translated to “the miami

people” and the word for “news” is

“aacimwioni.” The orignal newspaper update, and our present day

knowledge, both display the incredible results of revitalization efforts

and the growing relationship with

Miami University over the past

25+ years.

“Along with the new title comes

a new, wide-range plan for distribution. Formerly available only

through subscription, the newsletter will now be sent to those 18

years and older who are heads of

Miami households throughout the Vol 1. No. 1. from

United States… The newsletter 1998. Photo coutesy of the Myaamia

will be sent either twice or four National Archive, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

times a year and will look much

different when it’s delivered.”

This standard has served as a foundation Today, the newspaper is available online, with

for the newspaper over the past 28 years under two larger printed editions in the summer and

the leadership of Julie Olds, now serving as the winter and two smaller e-editions in the spring

Cultural Resources Officer. During this time, and fall.

the Cultural Resources Office has collectively

What began as a small tribal newsletter

worked to gather news, refine the design, and has grown into a large newspaper and adapted

create a reliable resource for the community.

to technology, making it more accessible than

Stories are not limited to the various depart- ever.

ments of the Miami Tribe or projects; they also

While it continues to evolve, the Miami

invite articles from community members living Tribe and Cultural Resources Office are dediacross the United States and beyond. Heart- cated to continuing this publication for the benwarming stories of those overcoming great per- efit of the Myaamia community, near and far.

sonal challenges, the notable accomplishments We believe, as that first edition of Aatotankiki

of tribal members in their own careers and com- Myaamiaki stated, “These changes all have a

munities, graduations, births, obituaries – all goal: to bring the members of the Miami tribe

find a place in Aatotankiki Myaamiaki.

together despite being separated by the miles.”

Recent surveys indicate it remains one of

the most reliable sources for news and updates.

M I A M I

N A T I

N E W S

meenapiyankwi

Myaamia Publications – Vol. 20, No. 1, Summer 20 26 – Section C – Community – Noošonke Siipionki Myaamionki

Tribal member Molly McGuire represents native women

running at the 2026 Boston Marathon

Community Submission

Molly McGuire

When more than 24,000 runners gathered in

Hopkinton for the 130th Boston Marathon, one

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma member stood at the

starting line carrying both personal determination

and the stories of Indigenous women nationwide.

Molly McGuire was selected to represent

Native Women Running (NWR) at the 2026

race, bringing cultural visibility to one of the

most recognized marathons in the world. The

Boston Marathon, held April 20, is the oldest

annual marathon and part of the World Marathon Majors. This year, NWR was allotted two

bibs and received 42 applications from Native

women across the United States and Canada.

“Since 2022, NWR has been building intentional space for Native women at Boston,

especially first‑time marathoners,” said NWR

founder Verna Volker (Navajo). “Watching

them step into this historic race was powerful

and affirming of why this work matters.”

Throughout the weekend, NWR continued to

strengthen partnerships with running organizations and sponsors, including Teva, and Tracksmith, which provided gear and hosted the team

at a film screening. NWR representatives also

attended the Running USA Annual Conference,

connecting with leaders who support the growth

of Indigenous representation in the sport.

ry of the Boston Marathon for nearly a century. Ellison “Tarzan” Brown, a member of the

Narragansett Tribe, won the race twice in the

1930s and remains a celebrated figure. Today’s

Native runners, including McGuire, carry that

spirit forward while creating visibility for future generations.

The Race and the Journey

While elite athletes competed at the front of

the pack, thousands of runners—including McGuire—embodied the endurance, commitment,

and community that define the marathon.

Reaching the start line represented years of

training, personal sacrifice, and the support of

family and community.

McGuire has completed the three U.S. races

of the Abbott World Marathon Majors: Chicago, New York City, and Boston. She has also

finished a full or half marathon in 47 states and

expects to complete her 50th state in June 2026

at the Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon in Alaska.

She is on track to complete her 100th half marathon by the end of 2027.

Culture on the Course

McGuire honored her heritage on race day

by wearing a custom running ribbon skirt made

by fellow tribal member Tabitha Watson. Ribbon skirts hold deep meaning for many Indigenous women, symbolizing strength, resilience,

and cultural identity. Wearing one at Boston

Running With Purpose

brought visibility to Native culture with every

Native Women Running is dedicated to up- mile.

lifting Indigenous women through running,

community, and storytelling. Its presence at Community and Ceremony

Boston helps ensure Native runners—who have

Native runners gathered in Hopkinton the

long been part of distance‑running history—are day before the race to share stories, offer a land

seen and supported on the national stage.

acknowledgment, and take part in a blessing

McGuire joined a team of Indigenous wom- at the start line. These moments grounded the

en recognized during race weekend, each bring- marathon in community and tradition.

ing her own reasons for running and her own

connection to culture and community.

Partnerships and Support

NWR’s presence in Boston was supported

Continuing a Legacy

by partnerships with Teva and Tracksmith. The

Indigenous athletes have shaped the histo- team also participated in the third annual Native

Molly McGuire and teammate at the Boston marathon. Photo courtesy of

Molly McGuire.

Molly McGuire displaying her medal after

completing the Boston Marathon. Photo courtesy

of Molly McGuire.

runners’ gathering hosted by the 26.2 Foundation and the Ohketeau Cultural Center, creating

space for connection and community during

marathon weekend.

Representation Matters

For organizations like Native Women Running, participation in the Boston Marathon is

more than a race—it is a step toward greater

visibility and inclusion for Indigenous women

in endurance sports.

By representing NWR, McGuire and teammate Missy Hendricks (Mescalero Apache)

demonstrated that Native women belong on every starting line, including one of the most historic in the world.

As McGuire crossed the finish line on

Boylston Street, her achievement reflected not

only personal strength but also the resilience

and pride of her community. She returns home

grateful for the chance to run on behalf of Native women and for everyone who helped create

space for Indigenous representation at this historic event.

Molly McGuire and teammates at the Boston Marathon. Photo courtesy of

Molly McGuire.

Feeling inspired by our community story?

Share your story with us at MTONewspaper@miamination.com

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2026

toopeeliyani ‘You accomplished it!’

Myaamia Center

staff recognized

for student-athlete

education

Community Submission

Sam Leonard Johnston ‘Pacana’

Sam is a 2026 Sunnyside High School graduate, and a proud Miami member. He is named

after his Great-Great Uncle Sam Leonard, and is

related to Floyd Leonard.

Sam loves baseball, hunting, and fishing. He

will be attending Washington State University in

the fall, majoring in Elementary Education.

Staff Article

The Miami University Athletics Department recently announced the recipients of its

annual awards for the 2025-26 academic year.

The honorees will be recognized on the field at

the home football game on Saturday, Sept. 12.

Andrew Sawyer, Education Outreach Specialist at the Myaamia Center, won the Dr. David

G. Shrider Academic Impact Award. This award

honors influential administrators, instructors,

faculty or staff members who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the student-athlete experience in pursuit of Graduating Champions.

Sawyer was recognized for his work educating

Miami University student-athletes about the

Miami Tribe’s history, culture, and relationship

with Miami University.

Spring Myaamia

graduate Sam Leonard

Johnston

Andrew Sawyer, recipient of the Dr. David

G. Shrider Academic Impact Award. Photo

courtesy of Myaamia Center.

Myaamia graduates from Miami University

The graduates were gifted a Myaamia lacrosse stick, a special t-shirt only available to

On Saturday, May 16th, 2026, the Myaamia graduates of Miami University, and

Myaamia Center celebrated ten Myaamia a wool graduation stole, featuring Myaamia

students as they graduated from Miami Uni- language, ribbonwork, and silver buttons, to

versity.

mark this accomplishment.

Staff Article

Sam Leonard Johnston, Spring 2026 graduate.

Photo courtesy of Seth Johnston.

(Left to right) Back: Trey Lewis, Kellen Boyle, Brayden Shoemaker, Pimyotamah Hartleroad

Front: Mia Bowles, Caroline Scribner, Sydney Angelo, Madison Angelo, Makenzi Morter, Johnston shows off myaamia design on graduation

cap. Photo courtesy of Seth Johnston.

Dahra Sirois. Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Myaamia student selected for

Udall Foundation Award

Community Submission

Originally published at home.dartmouth.edu/news/2026/05/four-students-selected-udall-foundation-awards

Lewis McCammon, is one of four undergraduates from Dartmouth

that has been awarded scholarships or internships by the Morris K.

Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation to study Native American environmental, health, and tribal policy.

The foundation, which dates from 1992, established the internship

and scholarship programs in 1996. It is named for the late U.S. Rep.

Morris Udall, D-Arizona, who served in Congress from 1961 to 1991;

and for his brother Stewart Udall, who was also a member of Congress

and served as secretary of the interior from 1961 to 1969.

Lewis McCammon ’27 is one of 65 students from 49 colleges and

universities who will receive Udall scholarships. The students, who come

from 31 states and 12 tribes, each receive $7,500 toward their studies.

“The Udall Scholarship and Congressional Internship recognize

students whose work continues the Udalls’ public service legacy in the

critical fields of environmental studies, tribal public policy, and Indigenous healthcare. Our recipients span all three of these disciplines, and

it is impressive to see the immense impact that they are already having

on and off campus,” says Christie Harner, associate dean of undergraduate education for fellowships and scholars programs.

Lewis McCammon ‘27

Udall Scholarship Tribal Healthcare

Biological sciences and Native American and Indigenous studies

Ann Arbor, Michigan | Miami Tribe of Oklahoma

Lewis McCammon. Photo courtesy of Dartmouth University.

“My professors have spurred my interest in biology fundamentals

and in applying the scientific method to identifying and solving the

challenges that diseases present,” McCammon says.

“Outside of the classroom, I seek ways to combine my interests in my

tribal heritage and biomedical research. Through the Pathways Scholars Program at Dartmouth I explore the social determinants of health, work to understand issues arising from cultural differences, and foster community. As an

undergraduate, I will also continue to learn about health disparities present in

marginalized communities across the world. I plan to obtain an MD-PhD, preparing for a career that achieves my goal of helping Native people live longer,

healthier lives through both research and direct patient care.”

“I will address this by becoming a physician working with the Indian Health Service, providing healthcare for not just my tribe, but Native Americans all across the country. As a physician scientist working

with the IHS, I will treat patients and research health conditions prevalent within Native American communities, such as diabetes and chronic respiratory conditions. In addition to providing clinical care to tribal

members, I will advocate for IHS policies and federal legislation that

aims to improve access to care in underserved tribal communities.”

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2026

waanantakhšinka

‘Lying quietly’

Sarah Frances

Battese

Feb. 9, 1938 –

Aug. 22, 2026

Sarah Frances Battese, 88, a resident of

Miami,

Oklahoma,

passed away at Chapters Living of Tulsa,

on Saturday August 22,

2026. Sarah was born

in Collins, Mississippi, on February 9, 1938,

to John and Marjorie (Carter) Drennan. Sarah

worked as a dialysis technician for over twenty years at St. Johns Hospital in Tulsa. When

she was not working, she enjoyed fishing, gardening, and tending to her flowers. Sarah was

happiest when she was spending time with her

family. She is preceded in passing by her parents, John and Marjorie Drennan.

Those left to share the beautiful memories of Mrs. Battese include her husband,

Jim Battese, children, Terri Kuykendall and

husband John, Dinah Brabander and husband

Jerry, McRae Goudelock, and Beverly McCarley and husband Allen. Stepchildren include

Yancey Battese, Brandi Battese, and Kelly

Battese. She was dearly loved by her children,

numerous grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and will be greatly missed.

Sarah’s wishes were for cremation. There

will be a private burial for Mrs. Battese at the

Miami Nation Tribal Cemetery at a later date.

Services have been placed in the care of

Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation

Service in Miami, Oklahoma. Friends and

family may send the family notes of encouragement by viewing Mrs. Battese’s Tribute

Page at https://www.brown-winters.com

Iona Drake

Learned Dec. 5,

1932 – Jun. 15,

2026

Iona Drake Learned,

age 93, passed away

peacefully on June 15,

2026, at Homestead

Assisted Living in Manhattan, KS.

Born on December

5, 1932, in Kansas City, MO, Iona was the

daughter of Thomas Sumner Drake and Beatrice June (Leach) Drake and the youngest

of nine children. As a young girl, her family

moved to a farm near Tonganoxie, KS, where

she developed a deep love for country life.

She often shared fond memories of riding her

beloved horse, Pal, to grade school. During

her school years, she was active in cheerleading and graduated from Basehor High School

with the Class of 1950.

On January 30, 1953, Iona married the

love of her life, Robert E. Learned Jr., in

Basehor, KS at the Basehor Baptist Church.

Iona was a retired bookkeeper, homemaker

and a dedicated volunteer. Bob, a retired,

area pharmacist.

Together they built a life centered on

faith, family, and love, raising four children:

Rebecca (Jeff) Cowley, Mindy (Pat) Milligan

, Rob Learned, and Joan (Phil) Hoover. Iona

was preceded in death by her parents; her

husband, Bob; her siblings, Vern, Jayne, Nadene, Bonnie, Maurice, Jean, Betty, and Tom;

and her son-in-law, Pat. She is survived by

her four children, nine grandchildren, eleven

great-grandchildren, and one great-greatgrandchild, all of which brought her joy and

happiness - “aww”!

Bob and Iona (Drake) Learned celebrated

their 65th anniversary on Jan. 30, 2018.

A proud member of the Miami Tribe of

Oklahoma, Iona was deeply devoted to her

faith and church community. She faithfully

volunteered with St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

through the Altar Guild, the Encore Shop,

and as a member of the Daughters of the

King. Her servant’s heart and steadfast faith

touched countless lives.

Many cherished memories were made

at Grandma and Grandpa’s house, where

summers were spent swimming in the pool,

sharing meals, and playing games late into

the night. Her home was a place of comfort,

conversation, laughter, and treasured family recipes that continue to bring loved ones

together today.

To her family, Iona was more than a

mother and grandmother, she was the heart

of the family. She had a remarkable gift for

making everyone feel welcome, loved, and

accepted. Her faith guided her life, her kindness touched everyone she met, and her love

for her family knew no bounds.

A visitation was held on Sunday, June 21,

2026, from 4:00 until 5:00p.m. at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home in

Manhattan.

Funeral services were held on Monday,

June 22, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church with an interment at the Oak

Hill Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. in Lawrence, KS.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions

may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

or Good Shepherd Homecare & Hospice.

Contributions may be sent in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616

Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.

Online condolences may be left for the

family through the funeral home website at

www.ymlfuneralhome.com

Connie Owens

Motz

Sep. 2, 1936 –

Jun. 12, 2026

Connie

Owens

Motz, 89, passed away

on June 12, 2026, in

Terre Haute, Indiana.

She was born on September 2nd, 1936, in

Huntington,

Indiana,

the daughter of Lawrence & Audrey Rankin Owens, a great granddaughter of Archangel Lafontaine Engleman

and a member of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Connie attended Wabash High School

where she played the oboe and was drum majorette, and graduated from Huntington Catholic High School in 1954.

Connie leaves her husband, Richard Motz,

with whom she celebrated her 70th wedding

anniversary on November 24, 2025, and 4

children, Rick Motz (Karolyn), Robin Head

(Terry), Randy Motz (Jeanne) and David Motz

Myaamia citizen recieves ‘26 Step Ahead Award

Mayaawi teepi to tribal citizen Rachel Dougherty, Procter & Gamble Vice President of Hair

Care Product Supply North America, for being

recognized as a 2026 STEP Ahead Award Honoree

by The Manufacturing Institute! This prestigious

award recognizes Rachel’s significant and sustained impact throughout her remarkable career,

during which she has consistently delivered bestin-class results. Beyond this, Rachel deeply embodies P&G’s commitment to Equality & Inclusion

– a critical growth driver. She actively champions

diversity, mentoring countless employees within

P&G and fostering empowered teams across their

manufacturing network and beyond.

Rachel is the daughter of Carolyne (Lankford)

Niles, and descends from the Richardville, Roubidoux, and Goodboo Myaamia family lines. She

and her husband Ryan live and work in Cincinnati.

Their daughter Caroline attends Miami University,

and their son, Max, is a junior in high school.

Nipwaahkaalo – wishing Rachel the very best

in her career and life.

(Neal). She dearly loved her 8 grandchildren,

16 great-grandchildren and 1 great-greatgrandchild. She was preceded in death by her

parents, her stepmother Marty Winne Owens,

stepfather Dwayne Eckert, and daughter-inlaw Kelly McCombs Motz.

Connie was an active member of Oregon

Baptist Church for 69 years and served as a

Sunday school teacher, church secretary and

sang in the choir. She was an expert seamstress and enjoyed crochet and handicrafts,

and camping and fishing with her family.

Connie was in three Crest toothpaste TV commercials with her family in the 1960s and was

a Girl Scout troop leader. She worked in appliance sales at Montgomery Wards and was

a teacher’s aide at Sarah Scott Junior High

School. In retirement she volunteered at the

Dobbs Park Native American Museum and

at the hospital. She also loved 40s music and

crossword puzzles.

Visitation for Connie were held on Tuesday,

June 16, 2026 at DeBaun Funeral Home from

12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Services were at 2:00

pm with burial followed at Prairie Creek Westlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations

may be made in Connie’s name to Oregon Baptist Church. Online condolences may be made

at www.debaunfuneralhomes.com.

Everett William

Porter

Aug. 18, 2026 –

Aug. 20, 2026

Everett

William

Porter, newborn son

of Lynne Moeller and

Hunter Porter, was

born into this world

on August 18, 2026. Though his time on earth

was brief, Everett was surrounded by the love

of his family during each of his precious days.

He passed away on August 20, 2026, at Mercy

Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

Everett is survived by his loving parents,

Lynne Moeller and Hunter Porter, both of Des

Moines; grandparents Tiffany Tucker Moeller,

formerly of Johnson, and her husband, Michael

Moeller, and Kelly Porter and Daniel Greenwalt, of Des Moines; uncles Tyler Hook, of Big

Bow, and Brayden Moeller, of Urbandale, Iowa;

aunts Kayla Jones and her husband, Taylor, of

Big Bow, and Kaitlin Porter, of Pekin, Illinois;

and great-grandparents Rhonda Westeman, of

Liberal, Kansas, and Tom and Dawn Tucker, of

Holcomb, Kansas, And Lloyd Jones and wife

Irene of Des Moines, Iowa.

He is also survived by many great-uncles,

great-aunts and cousins who will carry his

memory with them. Through his family, Everett was a descendant of the Miami people, carrying forward a heritage that has been passed

through generations of his family. Everett was

preceded in death by his great-grandparents,

Paul and Jeanne Moeller, of Salem, Iowa.

In only a few short days, Everett touched

the lives of those around him and knew a lifetime’s worth of love from the family who welcomed and cherished him. His life, however

brief, will forever remain a part of their family and their hearts.

Private services were to be in Des Moines,

Iowa. Arrangements were handled by Hamilton Funeral Home.

peenaalinta

‘One who is born’

James Louis Voltz

Bickers

May 25, 2026

Tribal member

John Bickers and his

wife Noel Voltz are

proud to announce

the birth of their son

James Louis Voltz

Bickers. James (or J)

was born in Cleveland, Ohio. His older brothers are Cairo and

Gabe Bickers. His paternal grandparents

are tribal member Diane Hunter and Patrick Bickers. His maternal grandparents are

David L. Miller II, Carol Miller, and Margo

Voltz. His great-grandparents are David L.

Miller I and Theresa Miller.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2026

mihkaweelimaataawi ‘let’s honor them’

Joe Halloran named the Miami Tribe’s twentieth

honorary tribal member

Staff Article

A Historic Honor

During this year’s 2026 Annual Meeting, the General Council unanimously voted to recognize longtime legal counsel Joe Halloran as the

Miami Tribe’s twentieth honorary tribal member, an honor reserved for

individuals whose dedication and service have made a lasting impact

on the Nation.

Finding a Calling

Joe Halloran’s path to practicing Indian law was not a conventional one. As the son of a Minnesota country lawyer, he was interested

in attending law school but wasn’t particularly interested in the modern practice of law. Around that time, however, the Native American

Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) had just been enacted, initiating a new chapter in federal Indian law.

Halloran’s older sister, an archaeologist, introduced him to that

world by taking him to conferences focused on NAGPRA compliance.

There, he met tribal employees and leaders working to implement the

new law. Those conversations and experiences sparked an interest that

would ultimately shape his career.

Determined to pursue this emerging field, Halloran reached out

to John Jacobson, a solo practitioner who represented tribes. The two

stayed in contact throughout Halloran’s years in law school. After

graduating, he patiently waited for an opportunity to work with Jacobson. Eventually, Jacobson hired him. At the time, he had no experience

working with tribes, and over the past decades in practice he has become an expert in the field.

Developing a Partnership with the Miami Tribe

Halloran first began working with the Tribe in May 2012, when the

Tribe faced an urgent need to address the gaming eligibility of its Prairie Moon property. To support that effort, Robin Lash, General Counsel

for the Tribe and who then also served as Gaming Commissioner, was

authorized by Chief Gamble and the Business Committee to work with

Halloran in developing and presenting the Tribe’s case. Around the

same time, Julie Olds was developing a strategy to change the State of

Indiana’s approach to compliance with the NAGPRA and sought legal

counsel to assist in those efforts. Halloran has often described helping

the Tribe bring Indiana into compliance with NAGPRA as one of the

accomplishments he is most proud of. A few years later, in 2015, Halloran was fully engaged to provide legal support to the Tribe and its

General Counsel on matters assigned by Robin Lash and/or the Business Committee. Since then, he has worked side by side with the Tribe

on countless legal matters.

Throughout his time with the Miami Tribe, Halloran has contributed to many of the Nation’s most significant legal initiatives. Working

alongside Tribal leadership and the Tribe’s legal team, he has provided counsel on a wide range of complex matters, including gaming,

Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA),

the Indigenous Language Digital Archive (ILDA) user agreement, the

Illinois Land Claim, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

matters, fee-to-trust applications, and the successful effort to reacquire

Chief Little Turtle’s Peace Medal. Halloran also played an important

role in advancing two pieces of federal legislation that were ultimately

passed by Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama:

legislation removing the Tribe’s federal corporate charter and legislation exempting the Miami Tribe from the Indian Non-Intercourse Act.

More Than Legal Counsel

Whether preparing for meetings in Washington, D.C., or developing

legal strategies to protect the Tribe’s interests, Halloran is known for

his thoughtful approach. Tribal leaders and representatives often spend

hours with him planning and preparing before important meetings or

negotiations. His ability to anticipate challenges, develop strategies,

and solve complex issues has helped the Nation successfully navigate

issues affecting its inherent sovereign authority.

Joe Halloran receives honorary tribal membership. Photo by Karen

Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

“Joe has never allowed me to go into a meeting unprepared, and for

that, I am thankful,” said Akima Lankford. “The Miami Tribe would

not be enjoying the financial, legal, and cultural prosperity we have

today without the help of Joe Halloran.”

“The most unique thing about Joe is his approach to solving a problem,” Lash said. “His experience, strategizing, and preparation have

made him an extraordinary asset to the Nation.”

“Long before our removal from our homelands, we were faced

with the fight to protect our sovereignty, our rights, and our place as

a People. In this never-ending responsibility to care for and protect

our Nation, both politically and culturally, we are blessed to have Joe

as special counsel. He is truly superlative in the field of Indian law,”

stated Julie Olds.

For the past 14 years, Halloran has served as outside legal counsel

for the Miami Tribe, becoming a trusted advisor and advocate, consistently going above and beyond to ensure the Tribe is prepared for any

challenges that may arise.

The Tribe’s Mission Became His Own

One of Halloran’s favorite stories comes from 2012, when he first

met Julie Olds and the people of the Miami Tribe. At the time, he was

considering stepping away from the practice of law, feeling burned out

after years in the profession. Instead, working with the Miami Tribe

renewed both his interest and excitement for the practice.

Halloran often reflects on a phrase Julie Olds shared years ago that

the Tribe’s approach to its culture and community is “reclaim, restore,

revitalize.” He says, “I have experienced that mission statement, in different ways and many contexts, in every project I have been engaged

in with the Tribe. In the end, working with the Miami Tribe restored

and revitalized me, and I am forever grateful to this Tribe for that incredible gift.”

An Honor That Reflects a Lasting Legacy

Following the Annual Meeting, Halloran shared a sincere handwritten letter expressing his gratitude for the honor. He wrote, “My

friends, I was overwhelmed and stunned by the honor you bestowed

on me at the Annual Meeting. It has been the honor of my career to

work for the Tribe, and being accepted for honorary membership is a

pinnacle for me!”

The unanimous yes vote by the General Council reflects Halloran’s

valued legal expertise, respect, trust, and lasting relationships he has

built with the Miami people over nearly two decades of his service.

As the Tribe’s twentieth honorary tribal member, Joe Halloran

joins a distinguished group of individuals whose contributions have

strengthened the Nation. His commitment to protecting the Tribe’s

sovereignty and advocating for its interests has left an impact on the

Tribe’s current standing, one the Miami Tribe proudly recognizes with

this well-deserved honor.

the

M-F

9-5

28 N. Main, Miami, OK 74354

(918) 544-6049 | www.myaamiagifts.square.site

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2026

Community only dance event and response

Nate Poyfair

ARPA Noošonke Siipionki Project Manager

At our 2026 annual meeting, we tried something new. On Friday, June 26th, our community participated in a community-only dance

aimed at exposing and teaching stomp and social dances to our tribal citizens. Earlier in the

day, Nate Poyfair, George Ironstrack, and Sophie Olds presented, taught, and discussed with

tribal members the various dances, as well as

their histories and how we learned them. After

presenting information to tribal members, we

took a break and then had dinner.

In the evening, we danced for around an

hour and a half, both stomp and social dances. The dance turned out to be a wonderful opportunity for tribal members to participate in a

Myaamia-Only space where learning, interacCommunity members enjoying a “Duck Dance,” which is becoing a favorite social dance at events. tion, and dancing occurred without judgement

Photo by Doug Peconge, .

and with lots of laughter and growth.

As we continue to expand our stomp and

social dances, exposure of tribal citizens to the

ways that we dance, how to lead, and how to

shake cans are important to preserving such

practices for our future generations. The dance

had Myaamiaki of all ages, and most attendees

participated. We hope to continue events like

this where community members can feel safe

and comfortable in learning new dances and

potentially leading stomp and social dances.

Mihši neewe ‘big thanks’ to our Shawnee,

Seneca-Cayuga, and Wyandotte relatives and

friends who have spent years mentoring our

cultural leaders on stomp and social dances.

When we dance and participate in other communities’ dances, we should be mindful of the

critical role they played in teaching us how to

bring back these historically important ways of

song and dance. Their patience and commitment to the growth of our community cannot be

Akima ‘Chief’ Douglas Lankford leading the community in stomp dance. Photo by Doug Peconge, overstated.

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

From one room to a place of hope

Jamie Emery

Director of Maddox Hill Autism Center,

Myaamia Autism Center Board Member

Just one year ago, the Myaamia Autism Center (MAC) opened its doors in a single room at

the Sun Event Center with a vision: to provide

children with autism and their families access to

life-changing, evidence-based services close to

home. While our space was small, our dreams

for the children we serve were anything but.

As we prepare to welcome students back

this August, it is remarkable to reflect on how

much has changed. What began in one small

room has grown into a dedicated clinic with the

capacity to serve up to 20 students. This expansion means more than a larger building – it

means more children receiving individualized

support, more families finding hope, and more

opportunities for students to develop the skills

they need to thrive.

But the true measure of our growth isn’t

found in our walls – it’s found in the lives of

the children and families we serve.

One parent recently shared a story that

beautifully captures why the Myaamia Autism

Center exists. They described a simple trip

to the store where their six-year-old daughter

proudly pushed her own child-sized shopping

cart, thoughtfully compared toys, chose one for

herself, and confidently handed it to the cashier

with “a proud little twinkle in her eye.”

For many families, that might sound like an

ordinary afternoon. For this family, it was extraordinary. Just a year earlier, the same outing

would likely have ended in frustration and a dif-

ficult tantrum. Today, thanks to the progress she has made in communication, emotional regulation, and daily living skills,

her parents say her joyful personality is

shining through once again.

As her parents shared: “We cannot

overstate our thankfulness for the creation

of the MAC. The improvements that our

daughter has made in her communication,

emotional regulation and control, general life

skills and many other areas since she has been

going, is truly life altering. These changes haven’t just improved her quality of life – but our

entire family’s dramatically.”

Stories like this remind us that every milestone matters. Whether it is using words to express a need, making an independent choice,

building friendships, or experiencing the simple

joy of a successful trip to the store, these moments create lasting change for children and the

people who love them.

As we begin another school year, we are

filled with gratitude for the families who have

entrusted us with their children, the dedicated

staff who make this work possible every day,

and the community whose support has helped

the Myaamia Autism Center grow from one

small room into a thriving clinic serving families across our area.

We are proud of how far we have come in

just one year. Every step has been driven by

one purpose: helping children discover their potential and giving families hope for the future.

We are excited for all that lies ahead.

Visit or website at Myaamiaac.com or email

us at help@myaamiaac.com.

MYAAMIA

Autism Center

“Awakening the ability to soar.”

Room in the Myaamia Autism Center. Photo by

Doug Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

MYAAMIA EDUPORTAL AT ŠAAPOHKAAYONI

at mc.miamioh.edu/eduportal

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2026

The IACP Indian

Growing more: Myaamia produce finds its way to Country Law

the community

Enforcement Section

(ICLES) honors Officer

Dustin Olds

Natural Resources Officer, Second Chief

CJ Weaver of the

This summer, the Myaamia Nation’s produce tent on Route 66, which is located across

Miami Nation Police

the road and south of the Prairie Sky Market,

has been bringing fresh, locally grown produce

Department as the 2026

directly to the community. They are open Tuesday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and remain open

Indian Country Officer

until the end of the growing season. The tent Sign for the Prairie Sky produce stand as seen

features a variety of fruits and vegetables grown from the road. Photo by Doug Peconge, Miami

of the Year

by the Tribe, including watermelons, tomatoes, Tribe of Oklahoma.

cantaloupes, peppers, okra, squash, sweet corn,

cucumbers, and zucchini.

The stand also offers high-quality regional

products when demand for the Tribe’s homegrown produce exceeds the available supply.

The Nation supplements its offerings with watermelons, cantaloupes, and corn from Missouri, along with peaches from Porter, Oklahoma

and southern Missouri.

And for Myaamia citizens, there is an added

benefit. Citizens receive the same 10% discount

at the produce tent that they receive at Prairie

Produce available at the Prairie Sky produce

Sky Market.

stand in North Miami, OK. Photo by Doug

Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Growing Beyond the Produce Stand

The long-term goal is not only to produce

more great fruits and vegetables on Tribal lands,

but also to encourage and facilitate more food

production among Myaamia households.

As more Tribal households grow gardens

and produce additional food, that extra production could eventually create opportunities to

start small value-added food businesses or to

market products through Prairie Sky Market.

More local growers mean more local food.

More local food creates opportunities for entrepreneurship, strengthens food sovereignty, and

keeps more of those dollars within the commu- Local community member buys produce at

the Prairie Sky produce stand. Photo by Doug

nity.

This is more than a produce stand. It is a Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

step toward growing our own food, supporting our own growers, and building a stronger

Myaamia food system, one harvest at a time.

MON - FRI

7AM - 3PM

51850 E 30 RD.

MIAMI, OK

U S DA- I N S P E C T E D B E E F P R O C E S S I N G

We oﬀer custom and USDA-inspected beef processing to meet your

needs. We also provide custom processing for pork, lamb, and goat.

L O O K I N G T O G E T M O R E F R O M Y O U R M E AT ?

We oﬀer a variety of value-added services,

including sausage, snack sticks, jerky,

and more!

DON’T MISS!

PROCESSIN

SPECIAL

LIMITED TIME PROCESSING SPECIAL

Now through September 30, 2026, take advantage of our special pricing:

$50 Kill Fee + $0.85 per pound Processing Fee

Whether you’re processing for your family, farm, or business, we’re

here to help.Don’t miss this opportunity to give us a try while saving

money on your processing costs.

CALL US FOR AN APPOINTMENT

918-541-1400

P R A I R I E S K Y P R O C E S S I N G I S P R O U D LY O W N E D A N D

O P E R AT E D B Y T H E M I A M I T R I B E O F O K L A H O M A .

Community Submission

L to R: Tribal Affairs Specialist Angel

Benally, FirstNet Built w/ AT&T; Chief

Shawn Butler, Catawba Indian Nation/

ICLES Vice Chair; Officer CJ Weaver,

Miami Nation Police Department; Chief Abel

Stose, Miami Nation Police Department;

Assistant Vice President Carrie Johnson,

FirstNet Built w/ AT&T. Photo courtesy of

Abel Stose, MNPD.

The IACP/FirstNet Indian Country Officer of the Year award provides international recognition to law enforcement officers who have demonstrated exceptional

valor in service to the people of Indian

Country, thereby exhibiting the highest

traditions of law enforcement.

On May 31, 2025, Officer CJ Weaver

of the Miami Nation, Oklahoma, Police

Department responded to a report of shots

fired on North Main Street. Upon arrival, Officer Weaver encountered an active

and rapidly escalating threat involving

an armed suspect firing a weapon in a

residential area. As multiple officers approached the scene, the suspect refused repeated commands to drop his firearm and

continued to move unpredictably around

the property.

Officer Weaver took up a position on

the southeast corner of a residence while

officers attempted to contain the suspect.

During this time, the suspect suddenly

turned toward Officer Weaver, raised his

firearm, and fired directly at him. Despite

being placed under immediate threat, Officer Weaver maintained his position and

continued to assist in coordinating the response as officers sought to stop the danger to bystanders and law enforcement

personnel.

After the initial exchange, officers

again ordered the suspect to drop his

weapon. Instead, the suspect picked up his

firearm a second time and pointed it toward the officers, forcing them to return

fire to prevent further harm. Their prompt

and decisive action brought the incident

under control, and the suspect was taken

into custody without injury to officers or

civilians.

Throughout the encounter, Officer

Weaver demonstrated calmness under

pressure, sound judgment, and an unwavering commitment to protecting the community. His conduct during the confrontation, particularly while under direct fire,

was instrumental in preventing additional

violence and ensuring the safety of both

the public and fellow officers.

Thanks to Officer Weaver’s bravery,

discipline, and selfless actions, a dangerous situation was brought to a safe resolution. His response exemplifies the highest standards of the Miami Nation Police

Department and reflects great credit upon

himself and his profession.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2026

30th Annual

Myaamia Winter Gathering

Jan. 28-30, 2027

This year’s events will begin Thursday evening and

run through Saturday evening.

• George Ironstrack on Stomp/Social Dance

Etiquette

Thursday evening: Opening reception at MHMA

Friday evening:

• Special presentation for Tribal Citizens and

families - Myaamia Storytelling

• Dinner at Council House

• Storytelling

Friday morning:

• Guest reception at 9 a.m. at Prairie Sun Event

Center (PSEC)

• Mahkisina Meehkiintinki Challenge at PSEC

Friday Noon: Lunch at PSE

Friday afternoon: Presentations

• Meghan Dorey on New MHMA Exhibit

• Steve Warren new book announcement

Saturday: Lunch at PSEC

Saturday evening:

• WG Dance - Gourd Dancing begins at 3

• Dinner break at 5:30

• Stomp and socials from 7pm on

1st Annual

mahkisina meehkintiinki

exhibition match

Join us at the Prairie Sun Event Center for an

exciting mahkisina meehkintiinki ‘moccasin

game’ exhibition match brought to you by the

Cultural Resources Office on Friday, January 29th

at 10:30 am.

Through a best of three competition, we will

highlight how the game is played, how songs are

used to bring excitement, and to distract the other

team, and how gambling was and continues to be

a part of our Myaamia culture.

Spectators will be able to take part by picking

a team to cheer for and “placing bets” by

purchasing team-specific raffle tickets. There will

be big prizes for the winning team and their fans

and smaller prizes for their competitors.

Come cheer us on and maybe win a prize!

From tribal lands to your table: Discover what’s waiting

at Prairie Sky Market

Staff Article

From fresh produce and locally raised beef to specialty drinks, madeto-order sandwiches and everyday necessities, Prairie Sky Market is

bringing a little bit of everything together under one roof, and some of

what you’ll find there comes straight from the Miami Nation.

Fresh fruits and vegetables, pecans and beef are grown or raised by

the Miami Nation on tribally owned lands, giving customers the opportunity to take products from farm to home and straight to the table. For

Tribal Members, there’s an added benefit: a Tribal Member discount and

tax savings can make every trip to the market even more worthwhile.

Whether you’re stopping in for groceries, picking up lunch or simply

looking for something a little different, Prairie Sky Market offers a convenient one-stop shopping experience with a strong connection to home.

Stop In for Lunch

If you’re in town around lunchtime, Prairie Sky Market has you covered Monday through Friday with daily specials.

The market is also known for its cold-cut sandwiches and made-toorder favorites. Choose from options such as a BLT, Club, Pulled Pork,

Pub Burger, Philly Cheesesteak or Smoked Chicken with Bacon Jam.

And if you like to build your sandwich your way, you can customize

your meat, cheese and bread to create exactly what you’re craving.

From a quick lunch to groceries for the family, Prairie Sky Market is

making it easy to stop in, grab what you need and get back to your day.

More Than Just a Market

What makes Prairie Sky Market special is more than what’s on the

shelves. It’s the connection between the land, the products and the people

who call this community home.

Fresh food grown and raised on Myaamia Nation lands. Products that

support a tribally owned business. A place to grab lunch, pick up groceries, enjoy a cold craft soda or create your own specialty coffee.

Next time you’re looking for a convenient place to shop, eat or grab a

drink, stop by Prairie Sky Market and see what’s waiting for you.

And be sure to follow Prairie Sky Market on social media for daily specials, new products, announcements and everything happening at the market.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2026

MYAAMIA EDUCATION OFFICE

BACK-TO-SCHOOL FUND &

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

NOTICE! CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE. PLEASE READ THIS INFORMATION CLOSELY.

Back-to-School Funds

Fall Semester Applications must be received dress is up-to-date with the Member Services

by JUL 1 or postmarked by JUN 17.

Department. If you have questions, contact the

Spring and Fall Semester Back-to-School Spring Semester Applications must be re- Education Office at 918-541-2176.

applications will be mailed to all enrolled ceived by NOV 15 or postmarked by NOV 5.

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma children from Pre- We will not process late applications.

To receive Back-to-School Funds an appliSchool through High School (ages 4-19 years).

cation must be completed for each semester.

Spring applications will be mailed out in SepApplications must be filled out completely. Checks will be mailed within 3 weeks after

tember of each year and Fall applications will Read instructions on the application carefully the Fall semester application deadline, and afbe mailed in June of each year.

and make sure it is signed at the bottom before ter Christmas for the Spring semester.

returning to the Myaamia Education office by

Eligible tribal members may apply for the the application deadline.

*The Tribe may require, at any time, the recipfollowing funds:

ient of back-to-school-funds to produce receipts

◊ Pre-School (min. age of 4 years): $50.00

If you do not receive an application, it can for items purchased with said funds as a require◊ Kindergarten through 6th grade: $75.00 be downloaded from the miamination.com ment for receiving future funding. *The policy of

◊ 7th & 8th grade: $100.00

under Services, Myaamia Education Office, the Miami Tribe related to any matter involving a

◊ 9th through 12th grade (max. age 19): Back-to-School Funds or call for a new ap- minor tribal member is to communicate with the

$150.00

plication to be mailed. Please ensure your ad- biological parent or legal guardian.

Scholarships

The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma is committed to supporting the

education of Myaamia people of all ages through the funding of

scholarships and continuing education programs. The Myaamia

Scholarship Selection Committee is made up of 3 tribal members

appointed by the Business Committee and given the responsibility of

awarding scholarships through a blind application process on behalf of

the General Council.

All scholarship applications must be fully completed upon

submission or the application will not be considered. Note: All

scholarships offered by The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma are for enrolled

members/citizens of the tribe only. Scholarships are available only for

Spring and Fall semesters.

Scholarship Applications

If you have any questions please contact the Myaamia Education Office.

Donya Williams: dwilliams@miamination.com, 918-541-2176.

*All awards are subject to change per the Business Committee.

Fall Scholarship Application DEADLINE OCTOBER 1ST.

Spring Scholarship Application DEADLINE APRIL 1ST.

SCHOLARSHIP ON THE SPRING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION:

*CASINO/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION AWARD

DUE APRIL 1 EACH YEAR.

Application Eligibility:

◊ Full-time undergraduate status (enrolled in 12 credit hours).

◊ Must have 2.5 cumulative GPA.

Award:

◊ $2,000 per academic year.

◊ Student must advise school if full amount should be applied

to Fall semester, or should be split between Fall and Spring.

◊ Pays up to eight consecutive Fall/Spring semesters (4 years).

◊ Renewable annually with Spring Scholarship Application.

Renewal Requirements:

◊ Maintain full-time status (minimum 12 credit hours each semester).

◊ Maintain 2.5 cumulative GPA.

JOSEPHINE GOODBOO WATSON MEMORIAL BOOK SCHOLARSHIP

DUE APRIL 1 EACH YEAR.

(Established by the surviving descendants of tribal member Josephine

Goodboo Watson).

Application Eligibility:

◊ Full-time graduate or undergraduate status.

◊ Must have 2.5 cumulative GPA.

Award:

◊ $500 per academic year.

◊ Renewable annually with Spring Scholarship Application.

Renewal Requirements:

◊ Maintain full-time status (minimum 12 credit hours/undergraduate;

6 credit hours/graduate, each semester).

◊ Maintain 2.5 cumulative GPA.

TAX COMMISSION CONTINUING EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP

DUE APRIL 1 EACH YEAR.

Application Eligibility:

◊ Full-time undergraduate status.

◊ Must have 2.5 cumulative GPA.

Award:

◊ Award amount changes; awarded each academic year.

◊ Student must advise school if full amount should be applied

to Fall semester or should be split between Fall and Spring.

◊ Renewable annually with Spring Scholarship Application.

Renewal Requirements:

◊ Maintain full-time status (minimum 12 credit hours) or part-time

status (minimum 6 credit hours).

◊ Maintain 2.5 cumulative GPA.

If selected to receive a scholarship, only one scholarship will be

awarded. When applying, check any of the boxes for which the student qualifies. If changing colleges after award checks are mailed, it is the responsibility

of the awardee to recover the scholarship amount and have it sent back to the

Myaamia Education Office to be redistributed. It is also the awardee’s responsibility to notify that the school selection has changed and send the new information to the Myaamia Education Office.

PLEASE NOTE THAT LATE, INCOMPLETE OR UNSIGNED

APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE PROCESSED. THE MYAAMIA

EDUCATION OFFICE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RETURNING

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS TO BE SIGNED OR COMPLETED.

CRANE AWARD

DUE APRIL 1 EACH YEAR.

Application Eligibility:

◊ Graduate or post-graduate student.

Award:

◊ $2,000 per academic year.

◊ Student must advise school if full amount should be applied

to Fall semester or should be split between Fall and Spring.

◊ Renewable annually with Spring Scholarship Application.

NON-TRADITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP

DUE APRIL 1 EACH YEAR.

Application Eligibility:

◊ Full-time undergraduate status (minimum 12 credit hours).

◊ Must have 2.5 cumulative GPA (high school or college, whichever

is most recent).

◊ Must be 5 years since completion of last semester in high school or

college.

Award:

◊ $2,000 per academic year.

◊ Student must advise school if full amount should be applied

to Fall semester or should be split between Fall and Spring.

◊ Non-renewable.

FRESH START SCHOLARSHIP

DUE APRIL 1 EACH YEAR.

Application Eligibility:

◊ Freshman (apply senior year of high school).

◊ Must have 2.0-2.4 cumulative GPA.

◊ This scholarship is for a student who does not carry a 2.5

GPA, which is a requirement for all other Miami Tribe of

Oklahoma scholarships on the Spring application.

Award:

◊ $400 one-time award for Fall Semester.

◊ Student must advise school if full amount should be applied

to Fall semester or should be split between Fall and Spring.

◊ Non-renewable.

SCHOLARSHIP ON THE FALL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION:

VOCATIONAL OR TRADE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP

DUE OCTOBER 1 EACH YEAR.

Application Eligibility:

◊ Must be enrolled full-time in a state-accredited vocational or trade

school.

◊ Full-time undergraduate status (minimum 12 credit hours).

◊ Must have 2.0 cumulative GPA.

Award:

◊ $2,000 per academic year.

◊ Student must advise school if full amount should be applied

to Fall semester or should be split between Fall and Spring.

◊ Renewable annually with Fall Scholarship Application.

Renewal Requirements:

◊ Maintain full-time status (minimum 12 credit hours each semester).

◊ Maintain 2.0 cumulative GPA.

You can now submit your application online using the new education portal! myaamiaportal.com

M I A M I

N A T I

N E W S

myaamia nipwaayonikaani

Myaamia Publications – Vol. 20, No. 1, Summer 2026 – Section D – Myaamia Center – Noošonke Siipionki Myaamionki

Myaamia Center docuseries wins three Telly Awards

Stella Beerman

Communications Specialist, MC

In May, Neepwaantiinki: Learning from

Each Other, “Part 1: Tending the Fire,” the first

episode of the Myaamia Center’s docuseries,

earned three awards at the 47th Annual Telly

Awards, the world’s largest honor for video and

television content across all screens.

The collaborative project took home: Silver in the Non-Broadcast: General - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion category; Bronze in the

Non-Broadcast: General - Documentary: Short

Form (Under 40 minutes) category; and Silver

in the Non-Broadcast: Craft - Editing category.

Neepwaantiinki: Learning from Each Other will be an eight-part docuseries that tells the

history of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma while

focusing on them as a contemporary, vibrant

Tribal Nation. The docuseries will be shared

widely with the Miami Tribe community and

the broader Miami University community. It

has already been featured in several on-campus

courses to help students learn more about the

Myaamia people.

“Part 1: Tending the Fire” is an introduction

to the series and explores the deep, 54-year partnership between the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma

and Miami University. It touches on the Tribe’s

history, their language and cultural revitalization efforts, and the concept of neepwaantiinki

‘learning from each other’ that has driven the relationship and evolved into a national model for

tribally-led, university-supported collaboration.

Kara Strass, Van Zant Director of Miami

Tribe Relations at the Myaamia Center, serves

as the cultural adviser, and Rachel Sachs Valerio, Media Manager for Miami Online, is the

director and producer of the series.

“This project is the result of hard work from

an exceptional team and a close partnership

with the Myaamia Center,” Sachs Valerio said.

“It sheds light on a part of history that is often overlooked and helps combat the ongoing

invisibility Native people face. I’ve personally

learned so much throughout the production, and

I’m proud to help tell this story. Our goal is to

honor the Tribe’s history, highlight their ongoing cultural revitalization, and celebrate their

enduring bond with the university.”

The idea for the series came from Miami Online, which received an internal grant to support

the production. The project was a collaborative effort, with Miami Online bringing technical skills

and the Myaamia Center providing the story and

knowledge represented throughout the series. Interviews with cultural leaders, Miami University administrators, Tribal leaders, and historians

helped to outline the narrative, and footage of

contemporary cultural practices grounds the story

in the life of the community today.

“It has been an exciting project to work on,”

Strass said. “Telling the story of the Myaamia

people can be difficult to do. There are so many

aspects of the story that need to be included —

our deep history as a people, colonization and

loss, revitalization of language and culture, as

well as the relationship with Miami University.

Miami Online helped us to create an engaging

way to share this story.”

The first two episodes of the 8-part series

are available to watch now. To learn more about

the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and its relationship with Miami University, view the series on

the Miami Tribe Relations webpage.

Celebrating 25 Years: The 11th

biennial Myaamiaki Conference

Stella Beerman

Communications Specialist, MC

On April 18, 2026, the Myaamia Center hosted its 11th biennial

Myaamiaki Conference at Miami University’s Shriver Center. The event

celebrated 25 years of language revitalization and cultural research, bringing together Tribal members, students, and the general public to celebrate

the ongoing work by the Myaamia community.

For those who weren’t able to attend, all of the conference presentations were recorded and are available on the Myaamia Center’s YouTube

page (@myaamiacenter).

Conference Kickoff

The festivities kicked off with several pre-conference events throughout the week. The campus community was invited to a lunch at Western

Dining Commons featuring Myaamia ingredients and recipes. This event

encouraged Miami University students and staff to participate in Myaamia

culture and learn more about the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Continued on page 2D >>

Production Team:

Rachel Sachs Valerio – Director, Producer,

Writer, and Videography

Brynn DeLange – Pre-production Producer

Tony Strader – Editor

Kara Strass – Executive Producer

George Ironstrack – Executive Producer

Ben Hartman – Videography

Phil McDaniel – Videography

Sam Speck – Videography

Interviews:

Miami Tribe Leadership:

Donya Williams, Secretary/Treasurer, Miami

Tribe of Oklahoma

Dustin Olds, Second Chief, Miami Tribe of

Oklahoma

Douglas Lankford, Chief, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma

Miami University Administration:

Gregory Crawford, President, Miami University

Myaamia Center:

Cameron Shriver, Research Associate

Jarrid Baldwin, Myaamia Language Coordinator

Daryl Baldwin, Executive Director

Myaamia Heritage Program Alumni:

Logan Patrick

Megan Sekulich

Stella Beerman

Additional Photography and Media:

Miami University Communications and Marketing

Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma

Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center

Doug Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Myaamia Center, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2026

<< Continued from page 1D

On Friday, Miami University President

Gregory Crawford hosted a celebratory reception where he welcomed leadership from various

tribal nations to campus and presented a gift to

the Myaamia Center in honor of the 25th anniversary.

To support the ongoing fundraising efforts

to renovate and expand the Myaamia Center’s building, the President’s office gifted the

Myaamia Center funding and designs for a gathering space within the future building.

After the reception, Myaamiaki, their guests,

and partners from across the university were invited to a stomp dance on the university’s practice football field.

Myaamiaki Conference Presentations

The conference day was filled with presentations that showcased how technology, history,

education, and community engagement are shaping the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma’s program- Myaamiaki ‘Myaamia people’ open the conference with a song. Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe

of Oklahoma.

ming through the Myaamia Center.

The morning began

with introductory reuse their languages.

marks from Daryl BaldDigital Innovation:

win, Executive Director

Šaapohkaayoni

of the Myaamia Center,

An exciting reveal

and an opening song

at the conference was

performed by several

the update to ŠaapohMyaamiaki ‘Myaamia

kaayoni, the Myaamia

people.’

Education Portal. Kayla Becker and Kristina

Tribal-University

Fox introduced the porRelationships

tal’s new look, which

Dr. Cameron Shrivfeatures a custom riber led a thought-provok- Daryl Baldwin, executive director of the bonwork-inspired deing session on the fu- Myaamia Center, Gregory Crawford, Miami sign and draws on

ture of tribal-university University president, and Chief Douglas Myaamia aesthetics.

relationships. Using the Lankford of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma,

The

presentation

Myaamia Center as a stand with a rendering of the gift. Photo by Jeff explained how to accase study, he explored Sabo, Miami University.

cess the various rethe complexities of colsources on the portal, Kayla Becker and Tina Fox answer questions

laborative work. Rather

like Myaamia crafting about Šaapohkaayoni during the conference.

than viewing research as an academic endpoint, instructions, language lessons, and the inter- Photo by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

Shriver emphasized how higher education can active Myaamia lunar calendar. They also prework with Native American communities to cre- viewed the progressive web app that is currently

ate mutually beneficial outcomes.

in development to bring these resources to mobile devices.

Community Engaged Scholarship at the

Myaamia Center

Living Well: Proper Foods, Proper Diet

The theme of academic collaboration was

In the afternoon. Dr. Haley Shea and Gretchexpanded upon by Dr. Madison Bastress, who en Spenn introduced an exciting resource recentshared how participating in visiting scholarship ly added to Šaapohkaayoni called: nahi miiciona

at the Myaamia Center shifted her approach to nahi weehsininki ‘Proper Foods, Proper Diet.’

her Ph.D. research, highlighting the importance

Informed by the nahi meehtohseeniwinki

of community-connected knowledge.

‘living well’ framework, this is a new online

recipe collection featuring Myaamia ingrediNational Breath of Life: The Apprentice

ents like hominy and persimmons, designed to Stomp Dance at Miami University. Photo by

Experience

support the health of tribal citizens and connect Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

A major highlight of the morning was the Na- them to Myaamia culture.

tional Breath of Life (NBoL) Apprentice Panel,

within the Tribal community.

moderated by Daryl Baldwin. Since the Myaamia Myaamia Heritage Program Experience

Looking Ahead

Center became the institutional home for NBoL

The conference concluded with the Myaamia

The 2026 Myaamiaki Conference was a celin 2014, it has become a national leader in ar- Heritage Award Program Student Experience ebration and testament to 25 years of persistence

chive-based language revitalization.

Panel. Current Myaamia students attending Mi- and growth. As Daryl Baldwin noted in his closThe panel featured apprentices from In- ami University shared stories and insights about ing comments, the work of the Myaamia Cendigenous communities across the United how the program helps them connect with their ter continues to serve as a bridge between the

States, including the Shawnee,

This text is long and has been trimmed here. Open the source document for the complete record.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.