# aatotankiki myaamiaki (2024) > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Amiami_oklahoma%3A2c1593ddebbc24ba ## Record - **Collection:** Tribal code - **Document type:** Tribal code ## Text M I A M I N A T I N N E W S aatotankiki myaamiaki Myaamia Publications – Vol. 18, No. 3, Win ter 2024-25 – Section A – News – Noošonke Siipionki Myaamionki neehaapiikasiciki ‘the healing threads of Myaamia Ribbonwork’ exhibit in the newly renovated MHMA Gallery Read more on 1B MYAAMIAKI NEWS HISTORY & CULTURE COMMUNITY MYAAMIA CENTER neehaapiikasiciki ‘The heal- Tribal Member takes im- The Miami Awakening: A 3A ing Threads of Myaamia mersion trip through Okla- Linguist’s Perspective 2D homa 2C Ribbonwork...’ 1B ...Recapping the 2025 WinNeepwaantiinki: Stories from ter Gathering 4A Myaamia Revitalization 4D ‘Writing a new Winter Story’ 3B Seed between the lines! 3C aacimwita akima ‘The Chief ’s Report’ EEMAMWICIKI meehtohseeniwinki ašiihkionki ‘Living on the Land’ 1E New Year’s Celebrations Across Myaamionki 3E 2A Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2024-25 aatotankiki myaamiaki MIAMI NATION NEWS is published by the Sovereign Miami Tribe of Okla- The Chief’s Report 3A Stomp Dancing, Storytelling, and 4A “The Healing Threads of Myaamia Ribbonwork”: Recapping the 2025 Winter Gathering 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. Submissions to the Myaamia Heritage Review Committee (MHRC) 5A Job Openings 8A Miami Nation Cultural Resources Office P.O. Box 1326 Miami, OK 74355 918-541-1300 Email: mtocro@gmail.com Editorial Staff: Julie Olds, Joshua Sutterfield, Doug Peconge, Meghan Dorey, Nate Poyfair, Jordan Poyfair, Karen Baldwin, Bobbe Burke, Madalyn Richardson. 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 MYAAMIA CITIZENS STAY CONNECTED VIA INTERNET Chief: Douglas Lankford Second Chief: Dustin Olds Secretary Treasurer: Donya Williams 1st Councilperson: Tera Hatley 2nd Councilperson: Scott Willard Miami Nation Website, www.miamination.com 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 Facebook: “MYAAMIAKI Miami Tribe of Oklahoma” “Aatotankiki Myaamiaki” Public Page, listed as “Miami Nation 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 918-541-1300. 3A Section A: News homa 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 off-campus, address. MYAAMIA PUBLICATIONS Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2024-25 Section B: History & Culture Renovated MHMA opens at Winter Gathering with new Ribbonwork exhibit aacimwita akima ‘The Chief’s Report’ Akima Eecipoonkwia Chief Douglas Lankford 1B Art and Sewing on Šaapohkaayoni 2B Mended, at the First Americans Museum 3B wiintanto wiintaakani ‘You read a 4B book!’ Eewikiaani weehki aalhsoohkaani 6B ‘Writing a New Winter Story’ Community Resources 8B Section C: Community Community is a common thread for Brittainy Spitznagel 1C toopeeliyani‘You accomplished it!’ 2C keešhtooyankwi ‘We make it!’ 3C waanantakhšinka ‘Lying quietly’ 3C peenaalinta ‘One who is born’ 4C Tar Creek Apprenticeship Program (TCAP) this summer! 4C Bobbe Burke: Oxford Citizen of the Year & Years 5C Fires of Altadena 6C Seedswap traditions grow at CREO 6C Scholarships and Back-to-School Funds 8C Section D: Myaamia Center National Breath of Life Archival 1D Institute for Indigenous Languages wins international award for helping tribes keep their languages alive The Miami Awakening: A Linguist’s Perspective 2D Reflections from the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums Conference 3D Neepwaantiinki: Stories from Myaamia Revitalization 4D Myaamia Center receives $2.1 5D million grant from the Mellon Foundation to expand National Language Program for Indigenous Communities Section E: Eemamwaciki Meehtohseeniwinki ašiihkionki ‘Living on the Land’ 1E peepoonki!‘It’s wintertime!’ 2E New Year’s Celebrations Across Myaamionki 3E Cultural Corner 4E Eemamwiciki Events 8E aya, aya ceeki eeweemilakakoki – greetings to all my relatives! Pipoonwi oowaaha noošonke siipionki– winter is here, and our Oklahoma homeland, along with most of the midsection of the country, is in the midst of a major winter storm. With brutal sub-zero windchill predictions, I am looking forward to spring. Though this cold makes it hard to imagine the song of ciinkwia akookaki (the spring peepers), which we typically begin hearing as early as mid-February here in Oklahoma, let alone the coming of ciinkwia (thunder) in the spring storms. This winter has been busy with travel. On February 5th, Myaamia Center Director Daryl Baldwin, Tribal Citizen Dr. Nichole Prescott, and I traveled to Atlanta, GA, to meet with the Miami University Foundation Board. Dr. Prescott is a foundation board member, and together, we gave a presentation on the significant relationship between the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and Miami University. On February 7th, Miami University announced that the Myaamia Center had received a $2.1 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to expand the work of the National Breath of Life (BOL) Archival Institute for Indigenous Languages. The institute is based in the Myaamia Center and is co-directed by Myaamia Center Director Daryl Baldwin and Gabriela Pérez Báez, associate professor of linguistics at the University of Oregon. The institute supports Indigenous communities interested in using archival documentation to revitalize their languages. The funding is the most significant external grant received by the Myaamia Center to date. On February 10th, I traveled with our elected Leaders to San Antonio, TX, for the quarterly meeting of the Miami Nation Enterprises Board of Directors held at Nations Cabinetry, a Miami Tribe company. Following the meeting, we received a plant tour and learned about several innovations implemented in the facility, making it safer and more productive. On February 22nd, I traveled with our Cultural Resources Office team to the First Americans Museum (FAM) in Oklahoma City for a special viewing of the exhibit “Mended: The Language of Myaamia Ribbonwork.” The unique exhibit tells the story of how garments once separated from the Myaamia people returned home and have become a significant part of our revitalization journey. The exhibit is a partnership between the FAM and our Myaamia Heritage Museum & Archive. It will only be on display at FAM until March 16th, and I highly encourage those within driving distance to make the trip to see the special objects on display. (See the article on page …) On February 23rd, I was overwhelmed to finally get to see the new exhibit in our recently renovated Myaamia Heritage Museum (MHMA), titled “neehaapiikasiciki: The Healing Threads of Myaamia Ribbonwork.” I want to say to every Myaamia citizen, if you can travel home between now and July 2026 to see this exhibition, do try to make the trip. Our MHMA team, with MHMA Manager Meghan Dorey at the helm, and MHMA Curator of Exhibitions Morgan Lippert, have curated a tremendous exhibition of Myaamia objects with Myaamia ribbonwork from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, and the Cranbrook Institute of Science, and including Myaamia clothing and objects from our own archived collection. This is the first significant presentation of historic Myaamia ribbonwork exhibited in Miami, OK for our citizens. It has been carefully, and beautifully curated for our learning and enjoyment. Pyaako – come and see! It will be worth your effort in ways you cannot imagine. Mihši neewe neehi mayaawi teepi to Meghan and the team – many thanks and very well done! Regarding the MHMA, Tribal citizens and guests will immediately notice the major remodeling work throughout the first floor of our museum building at 28 N. Main in Miami. Our museum exhibition area is fully updated with new flooring, lighting, and display cases, and our Miami Nation Gift Shop was also remodeled and updated. A new, large community room will also be the exhibition area for our upcoming 4th Bi-Annual Eugene V. Brown Memorial Art Show opening in June 2025. We celebrated our 28th annual Myaamia Winter Gathering events on January 24th and 25th with lots of great food, storytelling, dancing, and visiting. This year we took advantage of our new Prairie Sun Event Center for some events, and of course our Nation’s Council House, located in our Oklahoma homeland, was filled to the brim with citizens and guests for this favorite of community events. Photos and information are included in this edition. On February 15th the Cultural Resources Offices hosted a gathering celebrating the beginning of the Myaamia New Year. CRO Cultural Education Director Joshua Sutterfield, and other CRO team members provided a great evening of entertainment and cultural education. I truly enjoyed the Myaamia games, indoor putt-putt golf, face painting, live band and pizza. We celebrate our lunar new year each year. As marked in our annual lunar calendar, our new year began on February 1st. The Tribe continues its hard work in Washington, D.C., to secure Congressional approval of legislation permitting the Tribe to bring a land claim for loss of historic tribal lands in southeast Illinois. Senator Markwayne Mullin, who has been a staunch advocate for the Tribe in this legislation for the past seven years, has agreed to reintroduce the bill. The legislation grants jurisdiction to the Court of Federal Claims to consider and decide the Tribe’s claim. The Tribe has many congressional bipartisan supporters on this bill and hopes to see movement on the bill early this session. We are committed to continuing our hard work to get our day in Court. As you may recall, the Miami Tribe has led the efforts of the Tribes in Ottawa County to protect tribal interests during the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing of the Pensacola Dam operated by the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) which has caused chronic flooding in and around Miami on both fee land and Tribal trust land. Following a series of resounding victories by the City before FERC, GRDA has appealed FERC’s decisions in the City’s favor back to the D.C. Circuit. The City contends GRDA has failed to acquire necessary flowage rights on land exceeding the limits of its existing flowage easements by 13,000 acres in or around Miami flooded by the Pensacola Project. Those affected by this flooding have been asked to submit PM&E’s or proposed measures and plans to “protect, mitigate, and enhance” operations – meaning things to balance the operations of the Dam in a way to minimize the operations’ impact on those around it and the environment. Well-developed PM&Es are vital to ensure that the next license for the Pensacola dam accounts for the interests of Tribes and others affected by Dam operations. Both the City and the Tribes are meeting to develop proposed PM&Es for inclusion in the new license for the Pensacola Project. The Tribe continues its work to remodel former storage space in the back of its Headquarters Building on P St. NW, into a new state-of-theart courtroom. Working with MacCo Builders, a construction company out of Joplin, Missouri, the new court space is nearly three-quarters complete. The new space includes a courtroom with a jury box and a new Judge’s bench large enough to sit three Appellate Justices for cases appealed to the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Appellate Court - the Tribe’s final level of Tribal Court review. The space will also house a Judge’s Chamber and a jury deliberation room. The project is on hold pending delivery of special-order materials such as millwork, furniture, lighting, and other interior finishings. Exterior changes to the court space include a new concrete parking pad and new signage on the road and near the building. We hope to conclude construction, furnishings, and installation of new audio video recording systems and security systems by the end of April 2025. The Tribe’s District Court holds a criminal docket twice a month and family court and civil dockets once a month, or more frequently as needed. The Tribe holds trial dockets twice a year in the fall and spring. The Tribe looks forward to using this new space in its work to exercise the Tribe’s inherent authority on its reservation lands. We will soon begin planning our National Gathering Week events set for June 23 – 28, 2025. Per our Constitution, the annual meeting of the Myaamia General Council will be held in the Nation’s Council House in Miami, OK, on Saturday, June 28th, 2025. National Gathering Week is filled with cultural education programming, games, a community lacrosse game, and our annual Miami Nation Pow Wow. This year, all National Gathering Week events will be held on the campus surrounding the Council House, as we have outgrown the grounds at the Drake House. Mark your calendars and make plans to travel home for this week of Myaamia community events. Nipwaahkaako – wishing you well, Akima Eecipoonkwia – Chief Lankford This Year’s Annual Meeting will be held June 28th, 2025 4A Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2024-25 Stomp Dancing, Storytelling, and “The Healing Threads of Myaamia Ribbonwork”: Recapping the 2025 Winter Gathering Stella Beerman Communications Specialist, Myaamia Center The Myaamia community gathered in Noošonke Siipionki ‘Miami, Oklahoma’ for the 28th annual Winter Gathering, January 23-25, 2025. This is one of the major events hosted by the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, bringing together Myaamia people to celebrate culture and learn important updates within the community. The three-day event featured Myaamia Winter Storytelling, Stomp Dancing, and the opening of “Neehaapiikasiciki: The Healing Threads of Myaamia Ribbonwork” at the Myaamia Heritage Museum and Archive. The weekend started with the museum’s opening reception of the “Neehaapiikasiciki: The Healing Threads of Myaamia Ribbonwork” exhibit. Myaamia community members were invited to view the pieces, discuss the exhibit with museum staff, and participate in a community art project depicting Myaamia ribbonwork patterns. After the opening reception, around 70 guests from the Myaamia Center and Miami University arrived in town for dinner with Tribal leadership at the Prairie Sun Event Center. Since Entrance to the exhibit. Photo by Karen 2001, the gathering has served Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. as a unique opportunity for the Myaamia Center, the Tribe’s research center at Miami University, to invite Myaamia Heritage students, colleagues, and respected guests from the university to spend time in Miami, OK, and participate in Myaamia cultural activities with the community. On Friday, community members and their guests met at Prairie Sun Event Center to visit, play Visitors work on the community art Myaamia games, and eat lunch project. Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami after being welcomed by Akima Tribe of Oklahoma. Lankford. After the meal, Meghan Dorey, curator at the Myaamia Heritage Museum and Archive, presented the history and process of bringing the new exhibit pieces to the museum. Meghan explained how many pieces of Myaamia ribbonwork were purchased by private collectors in the 19th and 20th centuries from Myaamia families – only community members to be stored in cardboard boxes, Myaamia pushed to the back of attics, and enjoying the exhibit. Photo by forgotten about entirely. Many of Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center. these families were facing financial hardships due to assimilationist policies such as forced removals and felt they had to sell their cultural items to survive. Years after these collectors passed, their children found the pieces and sold them to various museums and institutions. It was truly a special experience to see these pieces make their way back home to the Community members enjoy a game Myaamia community. A highlight of the weekend’s of seenseewinki ‘bowl game.’ Photo activities was listening to Aalh- by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center. soohkaana ‘Winter Stories’ at the Miami Tribe’s Council House on Friday night. These stories can only be told in the wintertime, and often involve beings that are treated with special respect by Myaamia people. Humans also show up in Winter Stories, but in these stories, humans are not the only beings who can talk and cause meaningful change in the world. There were eight stories told, including a new story told for the very first time by Ciinkwia ‘Jarrid Baldwin.’ Keep an eye on future blog posts to learn more about the process of creating this new story. We also heard two new storytellers, Ahsapa ‘Jared Nally’ and Awansaapia ‘Elliot Baldwin’ tell stories publicly to the community for the first time. The next evening, Saturday, January 25th, the community gathered back at the Council House for Stomp and Social Dances. The event opened with a gourd dance before dinner was provided by the Miami Tribe. Stomp and social dances began after dinner and carried on until after midnight. The event was hosted by the Miami Tribe, but shakers and callers from different Tribal nations, including the Wyandot, Shawnee, Seneca-Cayuga, Euchee, Cherokee, and others joined us to lead their own songs and social dances. Mihši neewe ‘thank you so much’ to everyone who joined us to participate in these fun-filled dances! Kara Strass, Myaamia storyteller, captivates the room with a story. Photo by Doug Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2024-25 5A MIAMI TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GATHERING WEEK EVENTS 2025 The 2025 Miami Tribe of Oklahoma National Gathering Week events are scheduled for June 25-28, in Miami, OK. Changes to this schedule will be posted on the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Facebook page at MYAAMIAKI Miami Tribe of Oklahoma (private members only page), and website at www.miamination.com. NOTICE: ONLY THE MIAMI NATION POW WOW IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. ALL OTHER EVENTS LISTED ARE FOR MIAMI TRIBE CITIZENS AND THEIR FAMILIES. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25 RIBBONWORK KEYCHAINS WORKSHOP (Miami Tribe Community Event - not open to Public) 9:00 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Prairie Sun Event Center - 3411 P. Street NW, Miami, OK Led by Myaamia citizen Tina Fox. Participants will craft a small, hand-sewn ribbon applique keychain. All materials provided. RSVP to Carrie Harter at charter@miamination.com. Questions, contact Meghan Dorey at 918-541-7727. Watch for updates on the website at miamination.com or by phone at 918-541-1300. All ages - must be able to hand-sew independently. Watch the Miami Tribe Facebook page and website for updates. Lunch provided for attendees. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25 SEENSEEWINKI ‘BOWL GAME’ MAKING WORKSHOP (Miami Tribe Community Event - not open to Public) 9:00 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Ethel Miller Moore Cultural Education Center - 5944 S 520 Rd. - Miami, OK Led by Myaamia citizen Jody Gamble. Participants will create a complete bowl game set to take home and learn to play seenseewinki (plum stone game). All materials provided. RSVP to Carrie Harter at charter@miamination.com. Questions, contact Meghan Dorey at 918-541-7727. Watch for updates on the website at miamination.com or by phone at 918-541-1300. All ages. Youth 13 and under must be accompanied by adult. Watch the Miami Tribe Facebook page and website for updates. Lunch provided for attendees. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25 OPEN HOUSE - EUGENE V. BROWN MEMORIAL ART SHOW 5:00 p.m. - Myaamia Heritage Museum - 28 N. Main Street - Miami, OK See Show Announcement in Tribal Newspaper, on Facebook at MYAAMIAKI Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, and in the announcements on the website at miamination.com. Light refreshments provided. Contact Meghan Dorey at 918-541-7727. Watch for updates on the website at miamination.com and on Facebook. THURSDAY, JUNE 26 MYAAMIA FAMILY DAY (Games & Dancing) (Miami Tribe Community Event - not open to Public) All activities to be held on grounds surrounding Miami Nation Council House - 54515 East 65 Road, Miami, OK Events: ARCHERY - LACROSSE - TOMAHAWK THROW Myaamia Community Stomp Dance - Sunset Events begin at 10:30 a.m. and last all day and into the evening. There are events scheduled for adults and children. Lunch and dinner will be provided. Bring lawn chairs, hats, sunscreen, and bug spray. Games contact: Scott Willard 417-317-3465 swillard@miamination.com. General contact: Joshua Sutterfield 918-325-0107 jsutterfield@miamination.com. 10:30 a.m. - Beginner Archery Training: Conducted by certified instructors. Open to beginners and novice shooters. Youth Fun Shoot: Open to children. Non-competitive shoot for fun and to instill proper form and safety skills. Noon - Lunch Participants during a stomp dance at the 2025 Myaamia Winter Gathering. Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. 1:30 p.m. - ARCHERY COMPETITIONS BEGIN Novice Challenge: Open to inexperienced shooters. Participants will use equipment provided by the Cultural Resources Office to participate on an even playing field with other shooters. Awards will be given. One practice round followed by scoring round with shoot offs for ties. Recurve Challenge: Experienced archers challenge each other’s skills with personally owned recurve bows from a greater distance. ONLY RECURVE BOWS welcome for this event. Awards will be given. One practice round followed by a scoring round with shoot off for ties. (Shooters without bows can participate but will use equipment provided by the Cultural Resources Office). Maamišaahkwaaheetaawi - Lacrosse Shootout: Occurs after Archery Challenge is completed. Awards given for best score out of five shots at goal in two categories: contemporary stick and traditional myaamia pakitahaakani. Tomahawk Throw: Non-competition - test your throwing skills. Instruction will be provided. Open to 18 and over for safety reasons. Throwing open all afternoon in a safe area but only when supervising personnel are present. Akima Lankford welcomes Young Myaamiaki ‘Myaamia community members and guests to people’ look forward to hearing the Winter Gathering event. Photo Winter Stories. Photo by Jonathan by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center. Fox, Myaamia Center. 6 p.m. - Dinner - Stomp Dance begins at sunset inside dance arena FRIDAY, JUNE 27 CULTURAL EDUCATION DAY (Miami Tribe Community Event - not open to Public) Events: COMMUNITY BREAKFAST - LACROSSE GAME - LUNCH - PRESENTATIONS 8:30 a.m. Breakfast at Myaamia Community Center/Dining Hall - 54535 East 65 Road, Miami, OK. Breakfast at the Myaamia Community Center followed by the community lacrosse game on the game field behind the Cultural Resources Center. If you have your own pakitahaakani/Myaamia lacrosse stick please bring it, if not we will have sticks on hand (only traditional sticks will be used for the game.) 10:30 a.m. Community Lacrosse Game on the Myaamia game field - 54505 East 65 Road, Miami, OK. Pakitahaakani/traditional lacrosse sticks provided, or bring your own. NOON Lunch at Prairie Sun Event Center - 3411 P. Street NW, Miami, OK. Lunch will be served after the game in the cool of the new Prairie Sun Event Center located across from Tribal Headquarters at 3411 P. Street. After lunch we will have cultural presentations, and hand out t-shirts to those present. 1:30 p.m. Cultural Presentation followed by t-shirt distribution. FRIDAY, JUNE 27 24th ANNUAL MIAMI NATION POW WOW - June 27th & 28th Location: Miami Nation Dance Grounds - 54515 East 65 Road, Miami, OK. (Located behind the Myaamia Council House) Contacts: Julie Olds 918-541-3131, jolds@miamination.com and Tera Hatley 918-919-1444, thatley@miamination.com (Public Event - SEE POW WOW FLIER ON FACEBOOK AT MIAMI NATION EVENTS) Community members and invited guests prepare to stomp dance in their ribbon skirts and shirts. Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. SATURDAY, JUNE 28 ANNUAL MIAMI NATION GENERAL COUNCIL MEETING (Miami Tribe Citizens and their Families - not open to the Public) Location: Myaamia Council House - 54515 East 65 Road, Miami, OK 7:00 a.m. Breakfast will be served at the Myaamia Community Center/Dining Hall 9: 00 a.m. Annual Meeting of the General Council begins promptly at 9 a.m. in the Council House. Miami citizens enter through the doors on the east side of the building for registration. Lunch: Prairie Sun Event Center following close of the meeting - 3411 P. Street NW, Miami, OK. *Annual Meeting Contacts: Donya Williams 918-541-7274, dwilliams@miamination.com and Tera Hatley 918-919-1444, thatley@miamination.com Final evening - 24th ANNUAL MIAMI NATION POW WOW (See Pow Wow Flier on FaceBook at Miami Nation Events) (Public Event - SEE POW WOW FLIER ON FACEBOOK AT MIAMI NATION EVENTS) IN THE EVENT OF INCLEMENT/THREATENING WEATHER THE CONTACT FOR TRIBAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS MIKE BROWN - Cell: 918-919-1979 Email: mbrown@mn-e.com NOTE: PLEASE FOLLOW MIAMI NATION EVENTS ON FACEBOOK, AND THE HOMEPAGE AT WWW.MIAMINATION.COM LODGING INFORMATION FOR MIAMI, OK Myaamia Heritage students (left to right) Mia Bowles, Mia Hankenson, and Savannah Strack enjoy the stomp dance. Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. To book a cabin in the Tribe’s Four Wings Park, contact Tera Hatley at 918-541-1300, or by email at thatley@miamination.com BUFFALO RUN HOTEL - 8414 S. 580 Road, Miami, OK - Phone: 918-542-2900 DAYS INN - 2120 East Steve Owens Blvd., Miami, OK - Phone: 888-942-6215 HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS - 509 Hendley Avenue, Miami, OK - Phone: 918-542-7424 HAMPTON INN - 115 S. Deacon Turner Road, Miami, OK - Phone: 918-541-1500 First come, first booked! Note: No repeat guests from last year MICRO-TEL - 2015 E. Steve Owens Blvd., Miami, OK - Phone: 918-540-3333 - if you stayed in a cabin last year you are not eligible to book again this year. We want to make sure others have an opportunity to stay. 6A Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2024-25 Opening soon: Reopened: The Miami Nation Gift Shop Staff Article Prairie Sky Market Last fall, the Miami Nation Giftshop tempoDustin Olds rarily closed for renovations while the Myaamia Second Chief, Natural Resources Officer (NRO) Heritage Museum was also undergoing renovations. The space is now expanded to include the aya! ‘Hello!’ Allow us to introduce Prairie entire area in front of the gallery and reception Sky Market On The Mother Road. A place like spaces. none other. A place for Myaamia families and They also have new merchandise! So be our neighbors to eat and cook well. And, a place sure to check them out online at myaamiagifts. to provide a warm Indian Country welcome to square.site or in-store Monday through Friday New expansion of the Miami Nation Gift Shop. Photo by Kayla Haskins, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. people from all over the world who crave the 9am-5pm. freedom of traveling Route 66. Come enjoy our deli, which will feature hot and cold sandwiches, smoked meats, soups, and some delicious surprises. Try unique treats and meals ready to take home and warm up. This market is an integral part of an ambitious generational effort to promote food security on many fronts—local food production and processing, opportunities for local producers, relationships that bring the best of other regions to us, independent families strengthening independent local supply chains, and food that RENNOVATED & REOPENED tastes and nourishes as it should because it is fresh and real. Step by step, we hope you support us in this endeavor. In return, we will strive Order by phone (918) 544-6049, online at www.myaamiagifts.square.site, to provide you great service, delicious food, and or in our newly renovated storefront at 28 N. Main, Miami, OK, M-F 9am-5pm. an uplifting place to visit. Our Native roots run deep, and we celebrate the perseverance which has this all possible by bringing you products made by not only us but other tribes. Prepare to be amazed by the vast array of great foods made by indigenous nations who are flourishing in this century by offering the world traditional products with contemporary elements. We warmly welcome all to try foods which have long been mainstays in our tribal communities. Please check Prairie Sky Market on Facebook regularly for updates and additional information. We will be open soon, and can’t wait to see everyone! at the LOCAL NOW OPEN! CALL US AT 918-541-1400 Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2024-25 7A Submissions to the Myaamia Heritage Review Committee (MHRC) Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Official Announcement The mission of the Myaamia Heritage Review Committee is to provide feedback to organizations or individuals publishing or disseminating historical or cultural information about the Miami Tribe to protect the sovereign Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and all Tribal citizens from the harmful impact of misinformation. The creation of the Myaamia Heritage Review Committee (MHRC) has made available a committee of nine appointed individuals consisting of tribal citizens, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma employees, educators, and scholars. The primary focus of the Committee is to review and provide feedback for all publications and other dissemination of information from Tribal and non-Tribal individuals, entities, and organizations producing publications or media containing information about the Miami Tribe and its history, culture, language, or citizens. This process will require them to submit their work for a thorough review by the Committee to re- ceive any official comment or approval from the Tribe before publication. The Committee’s secondary focus is reviewing existing publications and media containing information on the Miami Tribe’s history, culture, and language. Information regarding the accuracy of the content in these published works will be provided to the community through the Nation’s news publications, websites, community blogs, social media accounts, or at community gatherings to protect the sovereign Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and all Tribal Citizens from the harmful impact of misinformation. To request a review, please fill out the request form found at miamination.com/myaamia-heritage-review-committee/ and return via email to mtomhrc@miamination.com MHRC MYAAAMI A H E R I TAGE R E VI E W C O MMI T T E E Directions for submission: 1. Fill out and submit the form to mtomhrc@miamination.com 2. Please include, if possible, entire file materials required for a comprehensive review through secure methods of sharing 3. Please wait for a return contact from mtomhrc@miamination.com with further instructions and an estimated time frame for review. 4. Please note that review times may vary greatly depending on demand and size of projects. Any published materials that have not completed the review process will not be considered officially reviewed by the MTO MHRC or the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. 5. Until the review process is complete, no submitted materials are considered reviewed with the voice of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, and any and all recognitions and acknowledgments in disseminated materials are considered invalid. If you have any questions, please contact mtomhrc@miamination.com MTO continues to make progress on MTOPD swears in courtroom remodel new officer Miami Tribe of Oklahoma MTO Police Department The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma continues to remodel the former storage space in its headquarters building into a new, larger, state-of-theart courtroom. The new District Court space features a large judge’s bench, witness stand, juror box, jury deliberation room, and judge’s chambers. The latest audio-video recording equipment MTO courtroom remodel. Photo by Madalyn Richardson, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. and all new furniture will be installed. Outside the court entryway, MacCo Builders, the Tribe’s general contractor, will construct an attractive canopy to protect against inclement weather. A new concrete parking area for court visitors has also been completed. The area outside will be finished with landscaping, lighting, and new signage. The project should be completed in late May or early June. The Tribe received funding for this project through a Department of Justice Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) Grant. Miami Tribal Police Officer Corey Miller #903 was sworn in for duty February 27th by Judge Scott Goode. Corey will be attending the CLEET academy April 1st - July 18th. We are glas to have him joining our force. Official Announcement Official Announcement MTO Officer Corey Miller being sworn in by Judge Scott Goode. Photo by Whitney Johnston, MTO courtroom remodel highlighting the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. judges bench. Photo by Madalyn Richardson, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. MEAT PROCESSING Get your cabin for this summer’s events! MTO courtroom remodel. Photo by Madalyn MTO courtroom remodel. Photo by Madalyn Richardson, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. To book a cabin in the Tribe’s Four Wings Park, contact Tera Hatley at 918-541-1300 or at thatley@miamination.com Richardson, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. MTO Officer Corey Miller being sworn in by Judge Scott Goode. Photo by Whitney Johnston, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. 8A Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2024-25 M I A M I JOB OPENINGS Myaamia Center Hiring for Three Staff Positions in 2025 As a tribally-directed research and educational development center embedded within the 50-year relationship between the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and Miami University, the Myaamia Center serves the needs of the Myaamia people, Miami University, and partner communities through research, education, and outreach that promote Myaamia language, culture, knowledge, and values. The Myaamia Center is also home to the National Breath of Life Archival Institute for Indigenous Languages, which works with endangered language communities to build capacity around methods in archives-based research for community-directed revitalization efforts. As the Myaamia Center continues to support technologies and resources for this work, the executive team is hiring for three new staff positions; a Coordinator of Application Development, an Application Software Developer, and a Digital Archivist. The team is looking for individuals motivated to support the ongoing development of a wide range of projects that serve both the Miami Tribe’s revitalization efforts and the growing needs of the National Breath of Life communities. If you or someone you know is interested in the preservation of Indigenous languages and cultures, desires to work in a tribally directed environment, and is looking for a place to apply creativity and innovation, please contact Daryl Baldwin (baldwidw@miamioh.edu) to learn more about working at the Myaamia Center. Learn more about each position: Coordinator of Application Development: We are looking for a creative individual who enjoys engaging with end users and software developers to lead the development of application software for educators and researchers for the Myaamia Center. Application Software Developer III: We are seeking someone who loves to design, develop, and modify applications; enjoys new and exciting challenges; and desires an engaging experience within a thriving university community. Digital Archivist: The Digital Archivist will work with various digital and physical materials generated and obtained by the Myaamia Center and the National Breath of Life Archival Institute for Indigenous Languages. These primarily consist of language, cultural, and historical materials that need to be digitally repatriated for community-directed curation, preservation, and dissemination. This position requires extensive collaboration with archives across and outside the U.S. that possess holdings related to Indigenous communities while also working closely with communities that partner with National BoL to develop community-curated archives. 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 https://www.miamination.com/employment/ Miami Nation Enterprises Donna Smith, Director of Human Resources dsmith@mn-e.com (918) 541-2100 https://www.mn-e.com/careers N A T I N N E W S iiši-mihtohseeniwiyankwi aatotamankwi Myaamia Publications – Vol. 18, No. 3, Winter 2024-25 – Section B – History & Culture – Noošonke Siipionki Myaamionki Renovated MHMA opens at Winter Gathering with new ribbonwork exhibit Morgan Lippert Curator of Exhibitions and Programming, MHMA After 18 months of being closed due to renovations, the Myaamia Heritage Museum & Archive (MHMA) opened its doors on Thursday, January 23 of Winter Gathering to share with the community its newest exhibit neehaapiikasiciki: The Healing Threads of Myaamia Ribbonwork. A project almost two years in the making, neehaapiikasiciki builds upon the ribbonwork exhibit Visitors admiring a pair of early 1800s Myaamia at Miami University’s art museum in 2020, which leggings made of deer hide. Photo by Jonathan closed shortly after opening due to the COVID-19 Fox, Myaamia Center. pandemic. It features historical Myaamia ribbonwork pieces on loan from the Cranbrook Institute MHMA staff also provided a Post-it note feedof Science and the National Museum of the Amer- back wall for guests to reflect on their experience ican Indian, as well as never-before-exhibited with the exhibit, and here’s what one had to say: 19th century ribbonwork and silverwork that the “Crediting myaamia women brings them closer to Tribe acquired from auction in 2022. While using us--remembering this work is their voice has brought these objects to tell the healing and inspiration to history of ribbonwork, me as a myaamiihkwia.” neehaapiikasiciki also For those who were tells the story of ribbonunable to see the exhibwork revitalization with it at Winter Gathering, A community member with Chief Francis pieces from Myaamia don’t worry! neehaapii- Godfroy’s leggings. Photo by Karen Baldwin, artists Dr. Scott Shoekasiciki is an 18-month Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. maker, Kara Strass, Kaexhibition and trina Mitten, Julie Olds, will be open until and Megan Sekulich. July 3, 2026. VisThe exhibit’s openitors who have aling reception was a great ready seen the exsuccess, with communihibit can also look ty members and guests MHMA’s newly renovated gallery space. Photo by forward to two from across the coun- Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. additions coming try coming together to later this spring: celebrate the Tribe’s a pair of 19th cenreunion with the histortury Myaamia ribical ribbonwork. When bonwork leggings asked for her thoughts from the Camillus on the exhibit, tribal Bundy family and Community members and guests during the member Kelli Huth said a ribbonworked reception for neehaapiikasiciki. Photo by Karen this: “I traveled to Winbandolier bag, a Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. ter Gathering this year collaboration of with thoughts about the Myaamia artists significance of commuScott Shoemaknities tied together by er, Kara Strass, love and resilience. The Jared Nally, Loexhibit demonstrated This 19th-century Myaamia wearing blanket is gan York, George these ties in a fun and one of many items the tribe acquired through Ironstrack, Kathe Healing Threads of Myaamia Ribbonwork unique way by mixing auction in 2022. Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami trina Mitten, and the precious creations Tribe of Oklahoma. Megan Sekulich. of our ancestors with Both of these obthe fabulous pieces of contemporary artists. I jects are currently on display at the First came home not only with a deeper appreciation Americans Museum in Oklahoma City in of the hard work and time that goes into creating their exhibit Mended: The Language of ribbonwork, but also of the efforts of Myaamiaki Myaamia Ribbonwork, which runs until Neehaapiikasiciki exhibit design. Design by Madalyn Richardson, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. to breathe ongoing life into this culture.” March 16th. neehaapiikasiciki neehaapiikasiciki the Healing Threads of Myaamia Ribbonwork an Exhibit at the Myaamia Heritage Museum & Archive JANUARY 2025 to JUNE 2026 Miami, Oklahoma 2B Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2024-25 Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2024-25 Mended, at the First American’s Museum This Year's National Gathering Workshops WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25: RIBBONWORK KEYCHAINS WORKSHOP Miami Tribe Community Event - not open to Public 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Prairie Sun Event Center, 3411 P. Street NW, Miami, OK Led by Myaamia citizen Tina Fox. Participants will craft a small, hand-sewn ribbon applique keychain. All materials provided. All ages. Must be able to hand-sew independently. SEENSEEWINKI GAME-MAKING WORKSHOP Miami Tribe Community Event - not open to Public 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Ethel Miller Moore Cultural Education Center, 5944 S 520 Rd., Miami, OK Led by Myaamia citizen Jody Gamble. Participants will create a complete bowl game set to take home and learn to play seenseewinki 'plum stone game.' All materials provided. All ages. Youth 13 and under must be accompanied by adult. RSVP: Carrie Harter at charter@miamination.com. Questions: Meghan Dorey at 918-541-7727. Watch the Miami Tribe Facebook page and website for updates. Lunch provided for attendees. CREO Beaver Week: Betcha five bucks you can’t fit a myaamia dollar into your wallet! Claudia Hedeen Cultural Education & Wellness Coordinator, CREO CREO staff Dani Tippmann and Claudia Hedeen process roasted beaver for future use. Sliced and shredded meat is weighed and vacuum-packed before freezing. The product is gifted or added to future community dishes. Photo by Doug Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. In our language, amehkwa not only refers to beaver but also to our word for dollar. The beaver pelt became so important during our early trading with Europe, it was integrated into our culture and language to represent currency. Myaamia history with amehkwaki ‘beavers’ has not solely been one of trap, trade, and consume. The flooding created by beaver dams was sometimes welcomed; extended wetlands could ease travel by reducing portage distance between waterways. But present-day roads, housing, and farming can be compromised by the oversaturation. All beavers acquired by the CREO have been trapped due to nuisance flooding caused by their instinctive behaviors. Through this opportunity, myaamiaki can explore new relationships with the land as natural resources change. Beyond appreciating the meat for nourishment, we can process pelts, cartilage, and fat for multiple uses. For the last two years, the CREO has launched a special feature week to honor our past and present relationship with these animals. Fun facts and photos are shared on the Myaamiaki Facebook group page. As finale to the week, local myaamia community members are invited to visit the CREO for a beaver roast on site. The meat is stuffed with fruits such as apples, oranges, or berries before being sewn back together. Cooking methods have included suspending the amehkwa over an open fire, smoking in a hog roaster, and even baking in the staff kitchen oven. Visitors can observe the process, enjoy a bowl of stew, and take home a sample to share. They may even have a chance to taste fresh grilled amehkwa tail - a dish which some CREO staff like to call “beaver bacon” as the tail is almost entirely a big paddle of fat! The 2024 beaver roast was a success! Hickory smoked meat was tended in hog roasters outside while several citizens and staff enjoyed warm stew indoors. Mihši neewe to our Beaver Week chef, Doug Peconge, for offering his famous tortilla soup - amehkwa style - and acting as grill master. Neewe to everyone who contributed to acquiring, preparing, and observing the process! George tell the story. Myaamia Heritage Museum & Archive, Manager An important part of the exhibition is telling visitors about Myaamia ribbonwork, who the The Myaamia Heritage Museum & Archive Myaamia people are, and how this story of ribbon(MHMA) recently undertook a unique project in work ties into the broader theme of language and collaboration with the First Americans Museum cultural revitalization. MHMA Manager Meghan (FAM), located in Oklahoma City. The project com- Dorey provided photos from Miami Tribal events menced with the opento better illustrate these ing of “Mended: the ideas. Tribal artist MeLanguage of Myaamia gan Sekulich also creRibbonwork,” Direcated an illustration for tor of Curatorial Afthe story of the historic fairs heather ahtone ribbonwork pieces. The at FAM and MHMA curatorial team devised Manager Meghan Doa script for the story, rey spearheaded the and Megan brought that project, which took story to life with bright about 18 months to colors and Myaamia plan and execute. The imagery. Megan’s origexhibit grew out of the inal painting was blown story of the return of Ribbonwork inspired bandolier bag. Photo by up and transferred to vihistoric Myaamia rib- Doug Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. nyl, covering a 40-foot bonwork to the tribal wall in the Community community after 100 Gallery at FAM. years of being hidden The exhibition away. Staff carefully opened on January 18, inventoried and docu2025, and about 30 Mimented the pieces afami Tribe and Myaamia ter the historic pieces Center employees and arrived at MHMA in guests visited on Jan2022. For the exhibit uary 22. This visit was at FAM, one piece, a the first time several of pair of black leggings the participating artoriginally belonging to ists got to see the final the Bundy family, was bandolier bag. Direcchosen to travel and Artist and tribal member Megan Sekulich by her tor of Curatorial Affairs stay at FAM for the mural on the wall of the exhibit. Photo by Doug heather ahtone welPeconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. 3-month exhibition. comed the group and To accompany the talked about the process leggings, the curatoand how important it is rial team worked with for FAM to build strong a team of Myaamia relationships with the artists to make a new tribes of Oklahoma. ribbonworked bandoThis exhibition marked lier bag. The artists the first time that FAM involved were Scott presented an exhibiShoemaker, Kara tion co-curated with a Strass, Jared Nally, tribal museum. With Katrina Mitten, Logan an estimated 250,000 York, George Ironvisitors annually, the strack, and Megan project presented a Sekulich. Each artist Artists with the bandolier bag. From left to right: beneficial opportunity had a role in complet- Logan York, Megan Sekulich, George Ironstrack, for MHMA to show the ing a bag component, Kara Strass, and Jared Nally. Photo by Doug art of myaamia ribbonincluding ribbonwork, Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. work to a broader audibeadwork, metalwork, ence and publicize the fingerweaving, and design. Then, Scott Shoemak- correlated exhibit “neehaapiikasiciki: The Healing er assembled each piece into the final product. A Threads of Myaamia Ribbonwork,” open at the unique element in the bag was a story written by museum in Miami. George Ironstrack, printed on fabric, and sewn as Though the exhibition at FAM ends on March the lining. Though FAM was able to display it with 13, the two pieces will return to Miami shortly the story partially visible, the exhibition also in- thereafter and join the exhibit at the Myaamia Hercludes a QR Code that visitors can scan and hear itage Museum at 28 N. Main, in Miami, Okla. Meghan Dorey 3B EUGENE V. BROWN M E M O R I A L A RT S H OW JUN 23 - AUG 25, 2025 As we continue celebrating the Myaamia art of ribbonwork, the Myaamia Heritage Museum & Archive announces the 4th Eugene V. Brown Memorial Art Show, scheduled for June 23-August 25, 2025. This year’s theme will be “peepankišaapiikahkia eehkwaatamenki: Myaamia Ribbonwork.” Though artwork doesn’t need to adhere to the theme, entries that relate in some way to ribbonwork will be eligible for a themed prize. Any tribal citizen, or spouse or child of a tribal citizen, is eligible to enter the Art Show. Artworks are accepted in eight categories, split into youth and adult divisions. The categories are: ◊ Drawing, Painting & Print-Making ◊ Photography & Digital Graphics ◊ Mixed Media & Diversified Arts ◊ Textiles & Clothing ◊ Jewelry & Accessories ◊ Customary Cultural Items ◊ Sculpture ◊ Performance & Creative Writing The artist application and complete rules will be available on the MHMA Facebook page and the Miami Nation website or by request to mdorey@miamination.com. Applications are due May 19, and entries are due to MHMA by June 9. Unlike previous years, the renovations at the MHMA provide space to keep entries on display for a more extended period, at the artist’s discretion. This will allow many others from the Miami community to see the hard work of our tribal artists throughout the summer. Beaver Tortilla Soup: 1lb beaver meat, cooked and shredded 2 - 15oz cans enchilada sauce 2 - 15oz cans black beans 32oz frozen sweet corn 10oz diced tomatoes 7oz green chiles 1 T red pepper, or to taste 1 T smoked paprika 1/2 T cumin Combine all ingredients in a crock pot. Cook on low for four hours. Serve with tortillas or chips. CONTACT US: 918-541-1373 4B Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2024-25 wiintanto wiintaakani ‘You read a book!’ Nate Poyfair ARPA Noošonke Project Manager, Cultural Resources Office aya ceeki ‘Hi all,’ Following recent articles that I have posted in the blog, I have decided to write a reaction piece about a book that covers the Indigenous post-contact history in northern Illinois, most notably along the southern shores of Lake Michigan. A University of Iowa PhD student, Tyler Tumblety, and I have focused on a new book called “Muddy Ground: Native Peoples, Chicago’s Portage, and the Transformation of a Continent” by John William Nelson. Tyler and I have spent time reading other historical publications together, and Tyler has begun to focus on community-engaged scholarship. He is interested in this with some encouragement from one of his advisors, Dr. Stephen Warren, who recently published an article, Red Codes: Racial Exclusion and Indigenous Persistence in the Midwest in the American Indian Quarterly Spring of 2024 edition. Dr. Warren is an accomplished historian within community-engaged scholarship and has worked with the Miami Tribe on numerous projects. Tyler, who has focused on 17th and 18th-century histories of Myaamionki, particularly the Wabash River Valley, has spent much time learning alongside me in the Indigenous history of the Pays d’en Haut ‘upper country,’ or what the French called the Great Lakes. As a sort of book review, as well as to discuss this publication and the sources and history of this region within our homelands, Tyler and I decided to write our discussion out for tribal members to read and help understand the source material of this region. For more information about this part of our homelands, please reference my previous article on Accimotaatiiyankwi.org called Myaamionki Maayaahkweeciši Kihcikamionkonci “Miami Place South of Lake Michigan.” More articles on our tribe’s history are found on the blog under the history tab. Below is a discussion between Tyler and me relating to the book “Muddy Ground,” as well as a deeper dive into the process of learning about Indigenous American history in the Great Lakes. Learning about this part of history is something we are both in the process of doing now. Nate: aya Tyler. Really briefly, would you please provide an introduction, your interest in Native American History, the Miami Tribe, and what moved you to focus on a book like Muddy Ground? Tyler: As you already eloquently said, I’m a second-year PhD student at the University of Iowa studying under Dr. Stephen Warren. My interest in Native American history comes from understanding the place of the Midwest in American history. The Midwest was and continues to be the homelands of many Indigenous peoples and to fully grasp the region you have to start with Native American history. Myaamiaki are in a unique position relative to the histories that have already been written. Much has already been said about the Illinois and the Anishinaabe, but historians have not published nearly as much about Myaamiaki. I hope to help bridge that gap with the help of Myaamia scholars and community. I am especially interested in the history of Myaamia migration and kinship during the time period you mentioned above. I want to investigate how those concepts influenced each other and the way colonization did or did not impact them. Finally, I want to better understand Myaamia relationships to their physical environment and homelands. Muddy Ground touches on all of these topics and I was immediately drawn to it! Nate: As a tribal member who focuses on not only learning about our tribal history, but also in helping to disseminate information to tribal citizens, I find books like Muddy Ground to be particularly useful. This book helps to bring together many sources and stories that I have used and combine them in a chronological way that I think is productive for historically novice readers to this period. There are many subjects, ideas, people, and events discussed within this book, that help to bring things together for readers about the history of what we call the states of Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. I wonder, Tyler, what you think your initial thoughts on the book are and what ideas does this book focus on for readers to take away from it? Tyler: I think it’s important to start with how Nelson foregrounds the environment of Chicago, particularly the portages. Nelson argues that they serve as the links between two larger biomes, the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River Valley. That makes Chicago and its portages especially strategic. Importantly, those spaces were controlled by Native people even after the European powers and later the Americans showed up. Arguably the most important takeaway is that it wasn’t until Americans were able to totally alter Chicago’s environment that they could steal the land from Indigenous people. Until that point, Native people, whether they were Myaamia, Meskwaki, Potawatomi, or others, were sovereign. In other words, the drastic transformation of the physical environment of homelands had to happen for Natives to be thoroughly dispossessed of their land. Nate: Tyler, as someone who is beginning your learning about Myaamia history, what concepts and aspects about the Miami Tribe within this book do you find as useful and impactful to your thinking about Myaamiaki ‘Miami people’ within the lower Great Lakes and this part of our homelands, specifically? Tyler: The abundance the Wea were able to create at Chicago is one aspect of Muddy Ground that stood out to me. I think that many historians consider Myaamiaki living outside of the Wabash, Maumee, and St. Joseph’s Rivers refugees barely scraping by. Instead, Myaamiaki came to places like Chicago and produced a bounty that not just sustained them but led to demographic growth. It reminds me that even though migrations have changed Myaamiaki, those movements have a variety of meanings to and impacts on the people that moved. Muddy Ground helps to correct the impoverished refugee narrative. Nate: Going back to the concepts within this book, there are so many people moving and interacting, that it becomes difficult for the reader to compartmentalize the time and places that encompass the storyline within this book. What are methods that you use to disconnect yourself from modern thinking, to help you visualize and understand this time period better? Tyler: Great question! There are a few things that I have to constantly remind myself when I read about Indigenous people like Myaamiaki during the 17th and 18th centuries. The first is that they didn’t have year-round homes like most people do nowadays. Myaamia lifeways determined seasonal migrations, and those movements were a fact of life. I also have to remember that there were no roads! People traveled on-foot by trail or in canoes on the rivers and lakes of the lower Great Lakes. Distances meant very different things to people at that time. Finally, and maybe most importantly, kinship connections were the glue that held people and communities together. Those connections functioned as alliances in times of strife and passports when people were on the move like they were in the mid- to late17th century. Having kinship bonds with other Myaamiaki kept the clans and the tribe together, while having those ties to outside tribes helped avoid violence and provided safe haven to those who were traveling. In my mind, kinship is king in the period described by Nelson. Nate: When speaking with tribal members and other people interested in Native American history, a common reaction that I get to books like this one is that the complexity and confusing nature of having so many tribes/nations and people involved, really makes learning the history of this time period difficult. Tyler, as someone who has spent just the last few years learning about this time period, what do you think this book can provide to inexperienced readers within the tribe? Outside of the main concepts and peoples within, how would you recommend approaching this book to someone who has never read in depth and complex historical narratives such as this? Tyler: Part of what I think you’re asking me to do here is to take a step back and consider the bigger picture. Muddy Ground and Chicago are only one chapter in a much larger story of Myaamiaki and Myaamionki. Think about how many stories could be told about all the other villages throughout Myaamionki over a similar period of time! While this might seem even more overwhelming, I think it gives the reader permission to not understand everything the first time. Most historians don’t even fully understand the complexities of this period. Put more simply, think of this book as a history of Chicago and a history of that part of Myaamionki. We can do our best to draw conclusions about Myaamia history from Muddy Ground, but for more inexperienced readers, consider this book to be one Myaamia story among many. Nate: What information and reactions do you have from the source materials used within this book? Since you have been looking at many publications relating to Native American history within the Great Lakes, are there certain types of sources that you look for or value over others? Since you are focused on community engaged scholarship, do you think a book like this needs tribal input, or do you think it is ok to write without including the tribes as long as you let the sources do the speaking for themselves? Tyler: As a historian I found it meaningful that another scholar was pointing to Myaamia Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2024-25 presence at Chicago. Even more important was Nelson arguing that the Myaamia established a permanent, though short-lived, presence at Chicago. Other historians have either brushed over Myaamiaki in this region during this time or they have considered Myaamiaki to have had little impact on the area. To answer the second part of your question, I do think a book like this needs tribal input. While it is the goal of most historians to let the sources speak for themselves, it is important to remember who it is that is writing about those sources. Even with good intentions, white historians have misrepresented Native people and their histories. I believe there are different levels to community-engaged research where some projects may require more tribal involvement than others. In the end, however, I think feedback from the tribes concerned is critical. 5B The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma introduces kociihsaapowi Photo and Label Designs by Jordan Poyfair Tyler: Nate, from your perspective, what does Muddy Ground provide to your tribal citizens, and what other publications help to understand this region and time period? Nate: I believe that Muddy Ground provides our tribal citizens with a condensed collection of primary and secondary sources that helps tribal citizens read an accurate account of our history in the state of Illinois. Perhaps, more importantly the book provides an explanation about what this place looked like in the 16th to mid-18th centuries. There are a few publications about this region and time period that are very good. I would start with a book like Masters of the Middle Waters by Jacob E. Lee due to its focus on the Western Great Lakes and some nations that are a part of Muddy Ground. Of course, all publications could have aspects that may not be perfectly aligned with how native people interpret their history, but this book, among others, is a good cumulative history that gives readers context to more specific stories. Tyler: As someone who is focused on community engaged scholarship, how would you view a book like this from a tribal perspective? Although the author is not working with the tribe per se, what do you think of the source material used in this book? Nate: Not all authors are required to work directly with a tribe or tribes when writing their books or articles. I think in a book like this it is ok to not do so as long as you are using adequate primary sources and letting those sources take the reins in carrying the argument or story along for the reader. I think Lee does this in this novel and there is prevalence in his use of Jesuit primary sources that we as a nation use to tell our story. Pinet, Deliette, Marquette, La Salle, and others all have memoirs and other documentation that have provided our people with a better understanding of what it meant to be Myaamia before we began to record our own history and culture. Lee uses these types of records to explain his story, and he does so without being presumptuous with the sources, which could be more harmful that anything. These reviews aim to inform tribal members of culturally and socially significant literature that may aid in our understanding of Native America and ourselves as a tribal community. Two new coffee blends that are a perfect way to start your morning and share with family and friends. Both blends were roasted and packaged for us by O-Gah-Pah Coffee from the Quapaw Nation so we offer them mihši neewe ‘big thanks’ for their help and support. Kociihsaapowi is available for purchase at the Miami Nation Gift Shop in downtown Miami, OK and at the new Prairie Sky Market, opening soon in North Miami, OK. waapanekaataawi aweentioni Waapanekaataawi is a dark roast blend that honors song and dance traditions. This kociihsaapowi ‘coffee’ is meant to give singers, shell shakers, and dancers enough energy to enjoy our cultural gatherings all night. Waapanekaataawi, which is dark like peehkonteeki ‘night’ has dark chocolate flavors with various spices to produce a heavy-bodied and bold kiitahsaminki ‘roast.’ Aweentioni is a blend of coffee designed to be enjoyed with friends and family. This medium kiitahsaminki ‘roast’ has notes of chocolate, caramel, and stone fruit flavor to create a soothing taste. Whether you are sitting around the fire telling aalhsoohkaana ‘winter stories’ or making your šayiipaawe kociihsaapowi ‘morning coffee’, this is a smooth and well-rounded blend that can serve any purpose. Dance All Night! As a dark roast, we wanted the name to be something that we associated with or evoked feelings of dark or nighttime. We opted for waapanekaataawi ‘let’s dance all night!’ as a reference to dancing and stomp dance and also as an invitation to join us in dancing and celebrating all night. On the label, there is also a subtle reference to a story we tell: peehkonteece, peehkonteece, peehkonteece meaning ‘it is night, it is night, it is night’. Friendship Blend Naming this blend was an easier task, as we always wanted the name to represent friendship, family, and community. We use aweentioni meaning ‘peace, family, friendship’ to honor our friends and family that may live far apart, but are still near in our hearts. With the maankwaki ‘loons’ facing each other and our familiar community symbol in the center, we hope you feel connected when you drink this blend. Want to learn more about the Myaamia Culture? Check out our online resources at aacimotaatiiyankwi.com 6B Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2024-25 Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2024-25 Eewikiaani weehki aalhsoohkaani ‘Writing a New Winter Story’ FAM hosts reunion with artifacts of Myaamiaki Ciinkwia, Jarrid Baldwin Language Specialist, Myaamia Center Some of you heard the weehki Aalhsoohkani ‘new Winter Story’, I told at Winter Gathering in January. Wiihsakacaakwa plays his usual bored and spunky self off in search of someone (Mamahkiihsia ‘Toad’) to trick. This story took a long time to write, not only the practical side of sitting down, writing, editing, and translating but also the other side that includes learning about Myaamia storytelling and the character Wiihsakacaakwa. When our language stopped being spoken in the community, Winter Storytelling went with it. In more recent years, the practice has started to be revitalized, along with a relearning of our stories and characters. I first wrote the story as a kid, probably around 12 or so, and forgot about it until a few years ago when I pulled it from a box of my old homeschool papers. I got a good laugh reading it and decided to turn it into a full-on Wiihsakacaakwa story. Before that happened, Telling Myaamia Aalhsoohkaana ‘Winter Stories’ at Winter Gathering. Photo by Kaleb McMullen, I wanted to learn more about Wiihsakacaakwa. Myaamia Heritage Student. Who is he? How does he act? Where does he fit into Myaamia Aalhsoohkaana ‘Winter Stories’? Miami language’. Writing the story in English Lockwood. I first went through and translated Why is he in our stories at all? So I continued was the easier part, especially because I al- all the easy sentences. Then set to work on the learning and telling his stories from our story- ready had the first draft done by my younger harder ones. book, As Long as the Earth Endures. I learned self. Next, I needed to expand on that first draft An easy sentence might be “and then he about his travels with and fill in the missing headed off” (neehi-hsa maacaaci), which is a the Frenchman, runpieces of the narrative. common phrase used to transition from one part ning into eemamowia I wanted to add details of the story to the next. A hard sentence might ‘man-eater,’ when he that brought the listener be something like “and then Toad sent for the goes visiting, and more. into both perspectives, other toads to hold council” (neehi-hsa mamahI also read WiihsakWiihsakacaakwa and kiihsia maawatomaaci kotakahi mamahkiihsiaacaakwa stories from Mamahkiihsia ‘Toad’, hi). related tribes, like the to give them their own This involves more complicated pieces of Cree and Meskwaki personalities. I had grammar and new words that I’m not used to (Fox), to understand nišihsa Caahceenhsa using. In some cases, I had to create new words how other communities ‘my uncle George Iron- and string words together in new, unusual ways. interact with him. strack’, and niihkaana Creating new words does not mean coming up The first draft of Aahkoleeka ‘my friend with pieces that previously never existed, it just Wiihsakacaakwa neehi Chris Bowyer’, help me means using pieces of the language (that already Mamahkiihsia, the new with the flow of the sto- exist) and combining them with other pieces in story I told at Winter ry and the cultural as- ways that haven’t been documented before. Gathering, was pulled pects. In revitalizing a culture, like we all are dofrom a box of my old The second part ing today, different things get revitalized at homeschool papers. was the more difficult different rates and times. For us as Myaamiaki As for the practical part: translating into ‘Myaamia people’, storytelling has been someside of this process, I M y a a m i a a t a w e e n k i . thing that we have particularly enjoyed and debroke it down into two This involved a lot of cided to put a lot of energy into. Writing new parts: (1) writing the help from the Myaamia stories is taking the next step in that process, story in English then The first draft of “Wiihsakacaakwa neehi Center linguistic team; it’s us as 21st-century people bringing our cul(2) translating it into Mamahkiihsia.” Photo by ciinkwia , Jarrid Dr. David Costa and ture into our lives today and saying: “It has a Myaamiaataweenki ‘the Baldwin, Myaamia Center. Dr. Hunter Thompson place here.” Myaamia storytellers at Winter Gathering, 2025. Photo by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center. LEARN MORE ABOUT MYAAMIA HISTORY & CULTURE ONLINE AT AACIMOTAATIIYANKWI.COM Jordan Poyfair & Megan Dorey Communications & Media Specialist, CRO & MHMA Manager On September 26, 2024, leaders, citizens, and employees of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma were invited to the First Americans Museum (FAM) in Oklahoma City to participate in a special event. Through a project from FAM called “Reunions,” items and artifacts that had been collected and displayed in various museums for over 100 years would be reunited with tribal families and communities from across the state of Oklahoma. The reunion between the items and the families of descendants of the original owner and tribal representatives would take place at FAM and under the supervision of museum staff and curators. These reunions also served as a way for museum curators and historians to gather information about these objects, that may have been previously unknown, direct from tribal members and historians. The Myaamia items available for this day were a bark sap basket, a woman’s blouse with silverwork, and a woman’s hairbow with silverwork. These items and others from other tribes are on loan from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) and included in the WINIKO: Life of an Object exhibition at FAM. The exhibition brings together beloved art and heirlooms taken from all thirty-nine tribes currently living in Oklahoma. For many tribal visitors, these are the first time they’ve seen these historical items in person. According to a publication from FAM, the institution “...challenges the idea that institutionally collected objects no longer have Visiting group from the Miami Tribe with elm familial tie to cultural bark basket. From left to right: Meghan Dorey, communities. We be- Bruce Sanderson, Sue Sanderson, Councilperson lieve that reuniting in- Tera Hatley, akima ‘Chief’ Doug Lankford, Callie stitutionally collected Bowden. Photo by Jordan Poyfair, Miami Tribe of cultural materials with Oklahoma. their related communities and families is a benefit to the families, tribal nations, and the collecting institutions, producing new knowledge and art benefitting museum audiences.” The reunion with the objects allowed for tribal leaders and descendants of the original owner of the object to view and for Silverwork broaches on the tails of a woman’s the first time touch the hairbow. Photo by Jordan Poyfair, Miami Tribe of objects for a more in- Oklahoma. depth view. Up close, participants were able to see details that may be missed when viewing from a distance in an exhibit including individual stitches or marks made during creation. MaryAnn Guoladdle Parker, Curatorial Specialist at FAM, led participants into rooms with the items and led Wool and silk woman’s hairbow with silverwork, informal question ses- made circa 1870s. Photo by Jordan Poyfair, Miami sions with each object Tribe of Oklahoma. that were recorded for research purposes. After questions were answered, the FAM staff allowed each group time alone with the items so as to reflect upon what it means to see these pieces and connect with familial ancestors. Meghan Dorey, Manager of the Myaamia Heritage Museum & Archive (MHMA), spoke about the origins and provided context for each object. Specifically, Dorey stated that the bark basket was most likely made in the 1830s by a well-known Myaamia woman, Kiilhsoohkwa, and used to store sugar after tree sap (most likely sugar maple sap) had been boiled down. Dorey also noted that as a utilitarian elm bark basket, it could also have served multiple purposes. The construction of these baskets was sturdy, as demonstrated by its well-preserved and stable nature showing wear but not much cracking or areas of damage. This object, like many other myaamia, items was purchased and taken to the George Heye Foundation collection in the early 1900s, which later became the core collection of the National Museum of the American Indian. Although baskets could be made from many types of tree bark, this particular basket was made from elm bark which is a common tree found in the myaamia native homelands of the lower Great Lakes region. Currently, elm bark is still harvested and used for various purposes at the Cultural Resources Extension Office (CREO) in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Participant and tribal citizen Sue Sanderson noted that the basket “gives [us] the connection to our past” and spoke of generational differences within the Tribe that she has noticed over the years. She remembered that her grandmother was punished as a child for speaking the myaamia language but now her four granddaughters are regular fixtures at events and summer programs and speak the language regularly. Sue and her daughters also make every effort to participate in events throughout the year. As a group, participants shared thoughts and feelings on the past, present, and future of the cultural side of the 7B tribe. Chief Lankford noted that this basket symbolizes the past and makes us think of revitalization. He likened it to a spark, where you study one aspect of culture, but it leads to 100 more fires lit for a desire to gain knowledge of the culture. The tinder is lit at an event like camp and taken home for it to grow. “Language is key to bringing back culture and knowledge” Guoladdle Parker added, a helpful sentiment that is shared by many tribes. In the phase of the visit, tribal citizens Beth Devers, her daughter Jen Patrick, and grandson Logan Patrick joined the group to view a silk blouse and wool and silk hairbow. These two items were owned by Susan Pimyotahmah Pope and collected in the same manner as the basket. Beth, Jen, and Logan are direct descendants of Susan Pope’s brother, John B. Pimyotahmah Walker. Susan Pope had no children of her own to pass these items to so the group theorized that perhaps she sold these items as a way to preserve them. Alternatively, many native people nationwide were left with little options and had to sell traditional and family pieces to make enough money to survive. It is believed that Susan most likely made both these items in the 1870s and they were used as special occasion garments, not everyday wear. Basket made from the bark of an elm tree, made This blouse is one of circa 1830s Photo by Jordan Poyfair, Miami Tribe of three in museum colOklahoma. lections that is fully intact, though the one at FAM is the only one known that is all silk. MHMA currently holds a similar blouse in its collection that contains over 750 silver ring brooches attached to the front and back. The one held at FAM has smaller silverwork and although the group was unable Bark basket interior, stitches were likely made of to see the front of the plant fibers, made circa 1830s. Photo by Jordan blouse, as it was held Poyfair, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. down to protect it, the back already has more silverwork and an estimated 1500 pieces on both front and back. The silver used was most likely German trade silver which was not pure silver and was often mixed with other metals, but nonetheless signified wealth. The hairbow had specific myaamia deWoman’s all silk blouse with silverwork detailing, signs both in the shape made circa 1870s. Photo by Jordan Poyfair, Miami of the bow and the deTribe of Oklahoma. sign of the silverwork on the tails. While the Miami Tribe is not the only tribe to use ribbonwork in its designs, historians and museum specialists like Dorey are able to tell the myaamia aesthetic of designs apart from other tribal designs. For one, the amount of silver used in items outweighs The invited Miami Tribe guests at FAM with blouse other tribes’ designs. and hairbow. Top row, from left: Logan Patrick, Myaamia ribbonwork Jen Patrick, akima ‘Chief’ Doug Lankford, Callie patterns are also speBowden. Bottom row, from left: Councilperson cific and unique, creTera Hatley, Elizabeth Devers, Meghan Dorey, ating a shimmering efSue Sanderson, Bruce Sanderson. Photo by Jordan fect with the layering Poyfair, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. of ribbon. This combination of silverwork and shimmering ribbonwork is what sets myaamia designs apart from others. As participants were able to view, gently touch, and move objects for the first time in many years, they shared their thoughts, feelings, and emotions at being able to touch the past and connect with ancestors. This event was significant because it provided new and detailed insight into the creation and formation of these items that cannot normally be seen through a photograph or behind protective glass when on display. It has also allowed the tribal community to reflect upon the centuries past, connect with the present, and plan for the future of tribes and their citizens. Mihši neewe ‘big thanks’ to the Reunions Team at FAM and to the participants that made the journey to see these items. We encourage all Myaamiaki to plan a trip to FAM to visit while these objects are on display. For more information about the Tribe’s history and cultural events, please visit miamination.com For more information about the FAM Winiko exhibit, please visit https:// famok.org/winiko/ 8B Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2024-25 M I A M I MYAAMIA COMMUNITY RESOURCES Myaamia citizens and their families have many cultural education resources available on the web. The following sites regularly post photos, videos and information from different departments and groups of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and the Myaamia Center at Miami University. Scan this code to access digital links. ________ Miami Tribe of Oklahoma (closed Facebook group for Tribal citizens & their AATOTANKIKI MYAAMIAKI Miami Nation News - Facebook Miami Nation Events Where public events are posted - Facebook EEMAMWICIKI For our summer youth programs - Facebook MYAAMIA CENTER Facebook AATOTANTAAWI “Let’s Talk About It” Myaamia community discussion group for media - Facebook ________ AACIMOTAATIIYANKWI Myaamia Community Blog https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org KAAKISITOONKIA The Myaamia Heritage Museum & Archive’s online archive kaakisitoonkia.org Miami Nation Gift Shop myaamiagifts.square.site ILDA Myaamia Online Dictionary (Miami-Illinois Indigenous Languages Digital Archive) mc.miamioh.edu/ilda-myaamia/dictionary MYAAMIA CENTER Youtube Channel ŠAAPOHKAAYONI A Myaamia Portal myaamiaportal.org N E W S meenapiyankwi Community threads shape the life of Brittainy Spitznagel www.miamination.com immediate family members) N Myaamia Publications – Vol. 18, No. 3, Winter 2024-25 – Section C – Community – Noošonke Siipionki Myaamionki MIAMI NATION WEBSITE MYAAMIAKI N A T I Field Operations Honor Guard through the Chicago Field Office.” Community Member Submission Brittainy graduated from the Office of Field Operations (OFO) Honor Guard Academy in Community is a common thread in the life December 2022. In September 2024, Brittainy of Miami Tribal Member Kiiyosihkwa ‘Travel- received her National Certification as a Bugler ing Woman’ - Brittainy Wallick Spitznagle with the OFO Pipes and Drums Band. Currently, Gathering around the fire to tell stories in an there are only three nationally certified Buglers intimate setting is something Brittainy says has with the OFO Pipes and Drums Band, and she had a profound impact on her life as a Myaamia became the first female Agriculture Specialist person. She did not grow up attending commu- to receive this national certification as a Bugler nity events but started participating as an adult. and only the 3rd Agriculture Specialist in the In just a few short years, it has dramatically af- OFO Pipes and Drums Band’s history to earn a fected her life and shaped her perspective and national certification. the language she uses to talk about other comSince becoming more engaged in the munities she is a part of, especially her work Myaamia community, Brittainy has felt the imand the National Honor Guard community. pact of a warm and intimate community setting. Brittainy was born and raised in Peru, Indi- The unique sharing of culture, history, ancestry, ana, and received a Bachelor of Science in Nat- and identity has positively impacted her life. ural Resources and Environmental Interpretation “[There is] this huge community feeling from Ball State University in 2011. Since then, here [Myaamia], especially when you’re gathershe has relocated to northern Illinois to work for ing in that very intimate setting and, you know, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). ‘let’s sit around the fire,’ talk, get to know each Brittainy joined CBP in April 2017 as an Ag- other, and all that. Along with that, that is abriculture Specialist in the international passenger solutely something I have felt with our honor secondary inspection area at the Port of Chicago. guard program in Chicago.” Before that, she was a Corrections Officer who Brittainy says that the intertwining threads was additionally trained on the Quick Response of her Miami heritage become a part of her and Team, Weapons Team, and Cell Extraction Team influence other threads of her life, such as her at Miami Correctional Facility in Bunker Hill, honor guard background. She explained how IN. She later worked as a Jail Deputy at the Mi- these two communities, though very different, ami County (Indiana) Sheriff’s Office. share some similarities from her unique per“I enjoyed working in the field of law enforce- spective and involvement in each. ment, and this position as an Agriculture Specialist At the end of Winter Storytelling at each gave me the chance to continue down that career year’s Winter Gathering, the final storyteller repath while also utilizing my Natural Resources minds listeners that the threads are set down to and Environmental Management degree.” be picked up again another time. In 2019, she joined CBP’s Agriculture DetecThis visual and language are often used in tor Canine Program, known as the Beagle Bri- the Miami community, as the Miami Nation gade. In 2022, she moved out of the international Website states: “We are picking up some of the passenger processing area into international car- threads of our knowledge so that we will always go and mail operations at the Port of Chicago. remain together.” Her current canine partner is now a Chocolate After hearing this, Brittainy reflected, “I imLabrador Retriever named Cici. Cici is trained to mediately thought of a similar connection to our screen inbound international cargo and mail for Myaamia people picking up and setting down prohibited agriculture products like meats, fruits, the threads of knowledge to my duties as an vegetables, plants, soils, and propagative seeds OFO Honor Guard member and the threads of that potentially harm our agriculture industry each and every funeral service I have and will and the native ecosystems in the United States. take part in during my CBP career.” “Along with my position as an Agriculture As a Bugler with the OFO Pipes and Drums Specialist, I am also a member of the Office of Band, Brittainy has been honored to play Taps at memorial and funeral services for her fallen brothers and sisters with CBP. Once Taps is finished, the folding of the American Flag begins and is handed to the family. The threads have been laid down until the time comes to weave the threads of another fallen brother or sister into our hearts and minds. “Whether the funeral is for someone who lived a long and fulfilling life into retirement or someone whose life was tragically cut short, we do everything we can to honor that person and their service Brittainy Spitznagel and Kellie Huth in their ribbon skirts to a grateful nation. Families share at this year’s Winter Gathering. Photo courtesy of Brittainy memories and stories of their loved Spitznagel. ones with us; sometimes, we have stories and memories of our own... with each funeral, we weave these memories and stories together with all those who have gone before us so that they may never be forgotten. We -- as Honor Guard members -always carry those threads with us.” However, they do not only honor others at funerals but also receive the honor of playing at national events. The OFO Pipes and Drums Band teamed up with CBP’s partner agencies, Border Patrol and Air and Marine Operations, to march in the 60th Presidential Inauguration Day Parade Agriculture Speciailist Brittainy Spitznagel with her Cici, her on January 20th, 2025. Those selectcanine partner at the Port of Chicago Border Patrol. Photo ed to march in the parade included courtesy of Brittainy Spitznagel. approximately 25 band members, Brittainy Spitznagle & Madalyn Richardson numerous patrol vehicles, 20 horses and riders, and a marching platoon. Due to the dangerously cold conditions on the day of the parade, all events were moved indoors. Unfortunately, due to the indoor venue’s occupancy limitations, CBP could not participate. “Receiving the invitation to march in the Inauguration Day Parade was an immense honor. As much as we as a band had been looking forBrittainy is the first ward to such a great female agricultural honor - and frankly, specialist to become the feather in our caps a certified bugler for - of playing in such a the Office of Field huge event, we all abOperations Honor solutely understood the Guard. Photo courtesy necessity of moving of Brittainy Spitznagel. the events indoors. It was already bitter cold to begin and coupling that with the wind would not only have made it intolerable to be out, but temperatures that low tend to freeze trumpet valves and bagpipes in a hurry.” Once they were notified that their group would not be performing in the parade, the OFO, BP, and AMO turned this into an opportunity to practice together for National Police Week 2025. Brittainy and the other two OFO Buglers were accommodated by the atrium of the Ronald Reagan Building, which provided incredible acoustics for their practice environment. After receiving such an invitation and changing plans due to the winter weather, Brittainy said, “I can only hope that we as a band will be invited back to perform someday.” Brittainy feels grateful for the Myaamia, CPB, and OFO Honor Guard communities. Not only do they all share a familiar warmth and similar intimacy, but they have also played a vital role in her identity. “As the Myaamia community, we sit around the fire, we dance around the fire, we share stories, and we share meals. Honor Guard is not so different. Instead of being around our fire, we are around the heat vents of a 15-passenger van when it’s available, traveling together, sharing all these meals. It goes from being this professional community to essentially being like a second family.” She explains how the influence of a community impacts others by association or extension. “Community is not only for each other but also extends to our families at home -- our spouses, children, and pets -- that also take on a lot of responsibility while we’re gone and share that community as part of the Honor Guard team. And when a funeral is over, we stay in touch with these families. We reach out, and sometimes the families reach out to us out of the blue, sometimes months or years later…it’s very touching to have that extra community. It’s something that not very many people get to experience, and I’m incredibly grateful to have it.” She expresses the great honor of being a member of these communities and serving in each of them. They each have had an invaluable impact on her life and, by extension, the lives of others she interacts with. “It’s this very intimate, tight-knit community that we can always look to and fall back on, to support and be there for us and that we can be there for them in their time of need…and it’s awesome. It really is.” For Brittainy, each of these communities is helping shape her identity and uniquely come together to make her a better Myaamia person, officer, and bugler. 2C Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2024-25 toopeeliyani‘You accomplished it!’ Myaamia Heritage Graduate at MU Myaamia Center On Friday, December 13, the Myaamia Center celebrated Kayla Becker’s graduation from Miami University. Kayla is from Huntington, Indiana, and completed a degree in computer science. As a non-traditional student, she is thankful to the Myaamia Center for its support as she adjusted to being a full-time student while raising her children. Kayla’s favorite part of the Myaamia Heritage class was learning about ecology to expand her knowledge of edible plants and try new recipes. If you see Kayla, be sure to wish her weeciwiiyaakiteeheemilaanki ‘congratulations!’ Community Member Submission keešhtooyankwi ‘We make it!’ Making with the Myaamia Makerspace Tribal t-shirt quilt Community Member Submission Community member Pamela Poyfair created a beautiful Myaamia Tribal T-shirt quilt from various shirt designs created and given or sold to community members. This is a great way to repurpose and display the t-shirts. Carrie Harter Makerspace Coordinator This winter, the Makerspace took seasonal crafts to Title VI and Miami Innovation Center alternative school. They prepared crafts to go into the Children’s Drive through Christmas party. The Makerspace also hosted two ribbon skirt workshops. Many beautiful ribbon skirts were made using the new instructions by the Myaamia Center. 3C Elders enjoy making crafts together each week at Title VI along with lunch and exercises. Capt. Kelly Battese Kayla Becker and her family at her graduation from MU. Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. Myaamia Student creates ribbonwork items for her graduation Community Member Submission Myaamia ribbonwork is an artform being revitalized in the Myaamia community of today. Miami tribal member, Tabitha Watson, has taken the time to learn this artform and created her own pieces featuring work in the style of myaamia ribbonwork. Some of these include her graduation stole with red, black, blue, white, and yellow ribbons. Her skirt features white, pink, red, and gold ribbon on a red skirt with a lace overlay. Tabitha’s ribbonwork items accompanied her on graduation day from Pittsburg State University, December 13th, 2024. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in the science of technology majoring in construction management with an emphasis in building information modeling. Since then, she has begun working for Cerris System in Kansas City, MO in January 2025 as a VDC Technician. Myaamia Tribal Member appointed new director of Division of Commissioned Personnel Support (DCPS) Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2024-25 Tabitha Watson’s graduation photo featuring Myaamia Ribbonwork she created for her stole and skirt. Photo courtesy of Tabith Watson. Logan York appointed to Ohio Historic Site Advisory Board Staff Article Mike DeWine appointed Logan York of the Miami Tribe to the Ohio Historic Site Advisory Board or OHSPAB on March 29, 2024, for a three-year term ending January 14, 2027. The Board advises the State Historic Preservation Office on which sites to include in the National Register of Historic Places. The OHSPAB generally includes experts in history, architecture, and archaeology. Logan will be representing the interests of the Miami Tribe in the state of Ohio on this Board. Dani Tippmann celebrates award of the Indian Heritage Fellowship Community Member Submission Dani Tippmann was awarded the Indiana Heritage Fellowship in 2021 for her traditional plant knowledge and elm-bark baskets. Due to covid restrictions at the time the bi-annual award ceremony was cancelled. She was recognized at the Traditional Arts Indiana Award ceremony on Friday October Source: Indiana University, traditionalarts. 4th at Indiana University. From Indiana University: A descendant of indiana.edu. Photo by G. Whitaker. Takumwah and Chief Richardville (Pinšiwa), Dani Tippmann is a Myaamia citizen of the Miami Tribe Art. In addition, she worked with the Indiana Arts of Oklahoma. She keeps the knowledge associ- Commission and the Indiana State Parks to share ated with Myaamia culture, including traditional information and cultural beauty with park visitors. crafts, foodways, and plant usage. These traditions In 2019, she participated in the Traditional Arts Inconnect her to the Myaamionki or “Miami home- diana Apprenticeship Program, training her daughland.” Dani learned traditional and medicinal uses ter Mary Regina Harter in Myaamia plant lore. of plants from her mother and tribal elders as she From harvesting native rice to making elmworked to preserve her community’s knowledge. In bark baskets, Dani gathers the traditions of her peoher words, “Plants are important to our people. We ple and serves as an important knowledge bearer use them. We have been a part of their lives as long for the next generation. She tirelessly works to enas anyone can remember.” sure the continuation of Myaamia traditions. Dani Having dedicated her life to this traditional art- Tippmann received a 2021 Indiana Heritage Felform, Dani was honored as an Artist-in-Residence lowship in recognition of her work revitalizing the at the Eiteljorg Museum of Native and Western traditions of her Myaamionki. Photos by Carrie Harter, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. We are excited to announce the selection of Rear Adm. Kelly Battese, a member of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, as the new director for the Division of Commissioned Personnel Support (DCPS). UnKids at the Miami Innovation Center alternative Local elder making a ribbon skirt during a der his leadership, school making crafts. Photo by Carrie Harter, MTO. workshop. Photo by Carrie Harter, MTO. Rear Adm. Battese will focus on the needs of the United States Public Health Service commissioned officers and improve support and Capt. Kelly an enrolled member of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, is the acting director of the partnership between Indian Battese, Health Services (IHS) and Commissioned Corps Service Headquar- and Contracting Tribes for the Indian Health Service, an agency within the Office of Direct ters and senior leadership. Department of Health and Human Services. The IHS is the principal federal health care provider and DCPS administers the Commissioned Corps programs for advocate approximately health for1,600 American Indian and Alaska Native people. commissioned officers assigned to IHS, tribal, and urban Indian organization facilities throughout the States. DCPS serves as AsUnited acting director of ODSCT, Capt. Battese provides leadership and oversight of tribal health activities subject-matter experts and consultants to IHS authorized under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act for direct service tribes, and serves as the leadership, program officials, commissioned officers, and agency’s their dependents and survivors principal liaison to the 573 federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes in Sewing a ribbon skirt. Photo by Carrie Harter, MTO. Adding ribbons to the skirt. Photo by Carrie Harter, MTO. on all Commissioned Corps matters. support of Indian self-determination, as authorized under Title I of the Indian Self-Determination and Rear Adm. Battese has served in multiple leadership positions throughout his career. Education Assistance Act. Capt. Battese oversees the policy coordination, technical assistance and He started his career with the IHS as a clini(Richard) along with her many loving niecto tribal governments and the IHS director in the area of self-determination, advocacy for direct cal pharmacistsupport with the Haskell Indian Health es, nephews, cousins, and her amazing friends Center in Lawrence, becameallocation, family. Her memorial services serviceKansas. tribesHisinwork the ethic development of health policy program management,that budget and and leadership skills have transitioned him were held August 30, 2024. government-to-government relationships between tribes and the IHS. into several leadership positions within the Linda Lee Walker Larry Lee Allen IHS Oklahoma City Area. He served as the Donati Dec. 30, 1938 – chief pharmacist of the White Cloud Health Capt. Battese started his career with IHS in 2005 as a staff pharmacist with the Haskell Apr. 9, 1943 – Sept. 18, 2024Indian Health Station in White Cloud, Kansas, and assumed Aug. 27, Larry Lee the chief executive officer duties for thatKansas. faCenter in Lawrence, His work ethic and2024 leadership skills have transitioned him Alinto several Linda Lee Walker len, 85, passed away cility. Looking to further his knowledge and leadership positions within the IHS Oklahoma Cityaway Area over the last 14 years. In 2007, he served as the Donati passed Wednesday, September leadership skills, he transferred to the ClareAugustStation 27, 2024 in at White Cloud, Kansas, 18, 2024, at his home the chief more Indian Hospital where he served the White Cloud on chief pharmacist ofasthe Health and assumed home surrounded by in Chetopa. Larry was ambulatory care director and later as the hosexecutive officer duties for that station in 2008. In 2012, he transferred to the Claremore Indian her family and friends. born on December 30, pital’s administrative officer. These positions As she told stoto Vernon administrative “Bus” and experiences led him towhere his last position as Hospital he served as the ambulatory carethedirector and later as the1938, hospital’s ry, Linda was born on and Mary Mae (Lucas) the chief executive officer at Haskell Indian officer. These positions and experience led him back to serve as the CEO of the Haskell Health Clinic. April 9, 1943, in Douglas County KS in a log Allen in Chetopa. Health Center in Lawrence, Kansas. cabin. She was proud to be the “baby” of the He attended school in Chetopa and lettered For 14 years, Rear Adm. Battese served Linda grew up in Manter KS where in all sports, graduating in 1957 from Chetopa on Rapid Deployment Force 4 in a variety Capt. Battese serves as the vice-chairfamily. for the National Council of Chief Executive Officers and as the she was the valedictorian of her graduating High School. After graduating, He moved to of roles, eventually leading the team as team commander forhisRapid Deployment Forceclass. 4 – one five tier 1 deployment the U.S. Public high school Lindaof was a graduate of Wichita andteams worked in at Boeing Aircraft. Larry commander. team His extensive deployment Panhandle A&M College where she earned and Shirley Joan Clark were united in martory includes border missions, hurricane reHealth Service Commissioned Corps.her degree in education. Linda was a teacher riage at First Christian Church in Chetopa on sponses, and Remote Area Medical missions. when she met and then married her husband, September 3, 1960. In 1961, Larry was draftRecently, he has served as the vice-chair for Emanuel J biology Donati. Together they have two edainto the US Army, serving in Fort Leonard the National Capt. Council Battese of Chief Executive Of-his Bachelor of received Arts in from Tabor College, Masters of Business children, George “Jeep” Donati and Melissa Wood, Mo and Kitzingen, Germany. ficers and currently serves on the Nationin health Nazarene University and Doctorate of Pharmacy the Donati de Groot. They welcomed four grandHe returned to Chetopa from after an honoral Council ofAdministration Chief Executive Officers, the care from Southern children Trey, Marlene,to Cooper and for Marcus. able and discharge waschildren, employed by B. F. IHS NationalUniversity Commissioned Awards of Corps Kansas. Capt. Battese has been married Rachel 16 years has and three Her grandchildren were her world. Goodrich in Miami, Oklahoma. In 1986, he Board, is faculty for the IHS Pharmacy LeadAlayna, and Tanner. He enjoysLinda spending timeinwith familySchool and friends as wellwhen as time inGoodrich the plant was a teacher the Stratford was transferred the B. F. ership Training course, Natalie, and is a member of District for many years. She taught multiple was closed and moved to Northport, Alabama the IHS Health IT Modernization Executive outdoors. grades over the years however she found her where he worked for Michelin-Uniroyal until Committee. niche as a 7th and 8th grade Reading teacher his retirement in 1993, then returned to CheRear Adm. Battese was the recipient of at Yellin School. As a student you could al- topa. He continued working for Midwest Minthe 2012 Outstanding Senior Pharmacist of ways depend on Mrs. Donati to have snacks eral in Pittsburg and as a butcher’s assistant the Year Award for the Oklahoma City Area, in her closet, reward you with pizza or wing in Columbus. He continued to help Chetopa Chief Executive Officers Award from the parties, keep you after school for homework community with Lloyd McGill October and Lloyd NaIHS Direct Service Tribes Advisory Com2019 completion, and push you to do your best ding after retirement. mittee, and the IHS Director’s Award. He work. Once you had Mrs. Donati as a teacher He also served on the school board, as a also received his Bachelor of Arts in Bioloyou were her student for life. Sunday School teacher and a deacon at First gy from Tabor College, a Master’s Degree in She was preceded in death by her parents Christian Church, coached softball, baseball, Business Administration in Healthcare from Freeman and Mildred Walker, siblings Muriel football and basketball. He enjoyed deep sea Southern Nazarene University, and a DoctorTedder, Bud Walker, Ellen Kay Walcher and fishing and fishing the Red and Neosho River, ate of Pharmacy from the University of Kantheir spouses, respectively, George, Nicole, playing dominoes with his friends and watchsas. He has been happily married to Rachel and Ernie. ing Kansas basketball and Alabama football. for 21 years and has three children, Alayna, Linda is survived by Emanuel J. Donati, He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Natalie, and Tanner. He enjoys spending time her husband of 57 years, son George J Donati Shirley Joan Allen, one son Todd Allen (Mewith family and friends and as much time as (Suzanne), daughter Melissa de Groot (Ro- lissa) of Grove, Oklahoma, and one daughpossible in the outdoors. Please join us in elof), Grandchildren Trey (April), Marlene, ter Teri McThompson (Lonnie) of Pittsburg, welcoming Rear Adm. Kelly Battese to this Cooper, and Marcus, sister Elizabeth Devers Kansas. He is also survived by his two brothnew position! (Darrell), sister-in-law Theresa Morrissey ers Dickey Allen (Kathy), Fort Scott, Kansas Acting Director Office of Direct Service and Contracting Tribes Indian Health Service waanantakhšinka ‘Lying quietly’ Share your myaamia arts and craft news with us: mtonewspaper @miamination.com and Randy Allen (Carolyn), Lawrence, Kansas, a Brother-in-law Chester Clark, Jr. Five nephews Mitch (Dawn), Jay, Lucas (Kelli), Lance, Russell (Katie), five grandchildren Lauren (David), Barry (Ryan), Abbie, Kristen (Matt), Mallory and great-grandchild Blake. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Raymond “Satch” Allen. Services were held at First Christian Church, 916 Maple St., Chetopa, KS, Wed., Sept. 25th, 2024. Jerry W. Bullock June 26, 1978 – Feb. 18, 2025 Jerry W. Bullock, 46, of South Hutchinson, died February 18, 2025 at his home. He was born June 26, 1978, in Hutchinson, KS, to Rebecca Jayne Bullock (Pope) and Mario C. Enriquez. Jerry was a saltwater fish enthusiast and enjoyed fishing, bowling, watching movies and going to church. He relished spending time with his family, especially his three children. Jerry was proud of his Native American heritage and was a member of the Miami tribe in Oklahoma. Jerry is survived by: son, Gage Benson of Pretty Prairie; daughters, Brakelle and Persia Bullock of Maryland; sisters, Tammie (Jake) Fletchall of Texas and Jennie (Shane) Patterson of South Hutchinson; brothers, Tito, Miguel (Amy), and Mario (Lana) Enriquez, all of Hutchinson; and numerous nieces and nephews. Jerry was preceded in death by: mother, Rebecca and step-father Paul Winslow; father, Mario Enriquez. Private family services will be held. Cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Hutchinson Animal Shelter or Jerry Bullock Memorial Fund, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501. To benefit the Jerry Bullock Memorial Fund, please make the check payable to Elliott Mortuary. 4C Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2024-25 ‘One who is born’ Valerie Mae Allen Nov. 13, 2024 Oxford Free Press January 12-13, 2025 oxfordfreepress.com Valerie Mae Allen born on November 13th, 2024. She weighed 7lbs 9oz and 20¾ inches. Parents are Barry Todd Allen and Ryan Taylor Allen. Grandparents are Larry Todd Allen and Melissa Mae Allen. Great Grandparents are Larry Lee Allen and Shirley Joan Allen. Great Great Grandmother was Mary Mae Allen. She is our first born child. Her favorite this to do is stare at the ceiling fan and smile when anyone looks and talks to her. Merrick Anthony Shea Dec. 24, 2024 Merrick Anthony Shea was born to Haley & Tim Shea on December 24, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was 7lb 14 oz and 19 inches long. His maternal grandparents are Kirk & Patti Strass and his paternal grandparents are Mollie & John Shea. ‘One who is adopted’ Cairo Leonard Voltz Bickers Tribal member John Bickers and his wife Noel Voltz would like to announce John’s adoption of his son Cairo, which took place October 24, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. John has been Cairo’s father since he married Noel on March 31, 2023, but Cairo has now been legally adopted. On his 5th birthday, Cairo received his Myaamia name, Kaapia, from oohkomali (his grandmother) Diane Hunter, retired THPO. He was named after his great-great-great grandfather, Kaapia (Gabriel Godfroy), also known as Waapanaakikaapwa. Cairo is excited to be a part of the Myaamia community and most recently enjoyed attending Winter Storytelling in kiihkayonki in February. Remember the days of show & tell? ADVERTISE WITH US. aatotankiki myaamiaki We will help you design an ad or write a story for our paper, send us the details at: mtonewspaper@miamination.com 5C Bobbe Burke: Oxford Citizen of the Year & Years peenaalinta maaciihinta Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2024-25 Tar Creek Apprenticeship Program (TCAP) Tar Creek Apprenticeship Program Gears Up for the Summer of 2025! Are you currently a High School junior or topics (see list below). It will also teach stu- Are you currently High2025 School or senior (Classes of 2025 or 2026) or between the ages 18 to 21? Are you senior (Classesa of orjunior 2026) or between dents the techniques that natural resource proa member of the Peoria, Seneca Cayuga, Miami, Ottawa, Cherokee, Eastern Shawnee, or Wyandotte Tribes? Are the ages 18 to 21? Are you a member of the fessionals use to monitor water quality, survey you interested in earning income this summer and obtaining a free lifetime Oklahoma Hunting and Fishing license? Peoria, Seneca Cayuga, Miami, Ottawa, Cher- plant andcultural wildlife habitat, improve local Are you interested in learning more about the environment, tribal practices, and and how these two topics okee, Eastern Shawnee, or Wyandotte Tribes? streams then and lands the animals live are interconnected? If you answered yes to each of these questions, we havetoanhelp innovative six-weekthat summer Are you interested in earning income this sumin them. program for you. mer and obtaining a free lifetime Oklahoma TCAP will be taught Monday through ThursHunting and Fishing license? Are you interday June 2 through 2025 (no class This program, known as the Tar Creek Apprenticeship Programfrom (TCAP) aims to teach aJuly wide17, range of classroom and “inin thelearning field” topics to reconnect to natural will resources (water, fish,4th). wildlife) the Tar ested more about thestudents environment, be held the land, weekplants, of July All of students Creek area and in doing so reconnect them to the cultural practices that use nature’s resources. The program will tribal cultural practices, and how these two that successfully complete the course will earn address a wide range of topics (see list below). It will also teach students the techniques that natural resource topics are interconnected? If you answered yes $3,000 and receive a lifetime Oklahoma huntprofessionals use toquestions, monitor water quality, survey habitat, and improve local streams andCreek lands to each of these then we have anplant in- and ingwildlife and fishing license as well as a Tar to help the animals that live in them. novative six-week summer program for you. Apprenticeship Program Certification. This program, known as the Tar Creek ApSo, what are you waiting for? Space is limTCAP will be taught Monday through Thursday from June 2 through July 17, 2025 (no class will be held the week prenticeship Program (TCAP) aims to teach a ited and applications are due by March 1st. For of July 4 ). All students that successfully complete the course will earn $3,000 and receive a lifetime Oklahoma wide range of classroom field”Apprenticeship top- more information on how to apply, please scan hunting and fishing license as and well “in as a the Tar Creek Program Certification. ics to reconnect students to natural resources the QR code on the flier and fill out the linked (water, land, wildlife) of the application. can also contact Lowery So, what are youplants, waiting fish, for? Space is limited and Tar applications are dueYou by March 1st. For more Tami information on Creek area and inscan doing to fill(918-541-8305; tcap.tami@gmail.com) or Anna how to apply, please the so QR reconnect code on thethem flier and out the linked application. You can also contact Tami the cultural practicestcap.tami@gmail.com) that use nature’s resourcCollins (tcap.annac@gmail.com) forinformation. further inLowery (918-541-8305; or Anna Collins (tcap.annac@gmail.com) for further We see you this es. hope The to program willsummer! address a wide range of formation. We hope to see you this summer! th Curriculum Themes and Topics: Foundation • • • • • • • • Opening Day Tar Creek & Mining History Toxic Tour Restoration NRDA SHPO/THPO Tribe Visits Ecology Plants & Habitat Restoration • • • • • • • • Medicinal Plants Fibrous Plants Pollination Plants Cultivated Plants (Gardening) Seed Banks Sap-Gathering Fibrous Plants (Basketry) Use of clay (Pottery) Would you like to learn more about plants from a Myaamia perspective? Explore mahkihkiwa.org today! Wildlife Restoration • • • • • • • • Hunter Safety Wildlife Resources (Hunting) Fish/Mussels Bee Ecology & Habitat Meat Processing Wildlife Resource Techniques (Archery) Use of animal skins (Moccasins) Lacrosse Capstone Project • • • • • • • Restoration Sites Capstone Site Visit Capstone Project Development Capstone Group Meetings Career Day Capstone Presentations Closing Day Each year, the Kiwanis Club honors severLocal Oxford residents as citizens of the year and years. This year’s recipients include an artist, a longtime volunteer and a new local organization. Each year, the Oxford Kiwanis Club honors local residents as Citizen of the Year and Citizen of the Years. Both awards are presented to people who have contributed materially to making the Oxford community a better place to live. Numerous individuals are nominated by members of the Oxford community each year, and the final recipients are selected on the basis of contributions made as volunteers rather than as part of employment responsibilities. The recipients are chosen by a group of past honorees after the nominating period ends. A person recognized as Citizen of the Year has volunteered an important specific contribution to Oxford during the past year. A Citizen of the Years Bobbe Burke, pictured here at the TOPSS Food Pantry in November 2023, was nominated in part for has made contributions to Oxford extending over her efforts as volunteer coordinator of the annual Kiwanis Food Drive. Photo via TOPSS on Facebook. many years, typically in multiple ways. In some years, a couple or an organization may be named as Citizen of the Year or Bobbe Burke has spent years volunteering for various organizations in OxCitizen of the Years. ford, including TOPSS, Kiwanis and the Oxford Free Press. This year, she’s This year, Joe Prescher is being recognized as the 2024 Citizen of the Year, being recognized as Citizen of the Years for her efforts. while Bobbe Burke has been chosen as the 2024 Citizen of the Years and the Bobbe Burke has been recognized as Oxford Citizen of the Years for her Oxford Free Press is being honored as the 2024 Organization of the Year. many years of volunteer work for several organizations in Oxford, including The Citizen of the Year recognition was started by the Oxford Press in as coordinator of the Kiwanis Food Drive on behalf of Talawanda Oxford 1952. Since then, 150 individuals and couples have been recognized as Citi- Pantry & Social Services (TOPSS). zens of the Year and 198 as Citizens of the Years. An individual may be honBurke was nominated by Sherry Martin, Executive Director of TOPSS, ored only once as Citizen of the Year and only once as Citizen of the Years. and Maggie Lubbers, TOPSS Pantry Coordinator. TOPSS provides Oxford Recipients are honored at a lunch hosted by the Oxford Kiwanis Club. area residents with access to a pantry, emergency assistance, and other social Each honoree receives a reproduction of a watercolor painting of Oxford by services. The nominating letter highlighted Burke’s “fabulous job” as volunlocal artist and 2012 Citizen of the Years Marjorie Bowers, who passed away teer coordinator of the Kiwanis Food Drive for several years. For the food last month. The painting is reproduced through a grant from the Oxford Com- drive, the Kiwanis Club works with TOPSS, schools, local clubs and commumunity Foundation and is available only to the Citizen of the Year and Citizen nity groups to fight hunger in Oxford. of the Years recipients. The Oxford Kiwanis Club provides more information Martin wrote that Burke’s work has been key to the food drive’s success. on the Oxford Citizen of the Year and Citizen of the Years program on its “Bobbe manages every detail of this project with precision and care, ensuring website. that everyone involved knows their role and that no part of the plan is overlooked. Thanks to her tireless work, this year’s food drive exceeded its fundraising goal by over $9,000.” Burke told the Oxford Free Press why she volunteers so much time bell ringing in December for food donations for TOPSS as well as for the Salvation Army. “When you get close to Christmas Day, those days get harder to fill in … so if you’re not going to travel, it’s easy to take the spot for people who are going to be busy traveling out of town or doing something different.” At Miami, Burke started working with Myaamia students beginning in 1991 and served as Coordinator of Miami Tribe Relations at Miami University from 1994 until she retired in 2019. Her work with Myaamia students through the Myaamia Center extended well beyond her specific employment responsibilities. One Myaamia student told the Oxford Observer that Burke was “the first person called when we needed help with all things Miami-related.” Myaamia students called her “Tribe Mom.” In 2005, she was named an honorary member of the Miami Tribe. “Over the years, Bobbe has exemplified selflessness and dedication, making Oxford a stronger, more compassionate community,” Martin wrote in Each year, hundreds of Oxford residents give of their time and resources to make the town a better her nomination for Burke. “Her impact is far-reachplace. The Citizen of the Year and Years awards honor those contributions. Photo by Stella Powers. ing, and her work inspires all who know her.” Burke currently serves on the Public Arts Commission of Oxford. When the Free Press started publication last July, Burke immediately stepped in as leader of the team of volunteers who distribute the newspaper around town every Friday. Burke was named Oxford Citizen of the Year in 2003, one of a small handful who have now been recognized as both Citizen of the Year and Citizen of the Years. “Bobbe Burke embodies the true spirit of this award through her long-standing dedication to improving the Oxford community,” Martin wrote. “Her leadership, compassion, and selflessness have positively affected countless individuals and families, both directly and indirectly. Although I know she would not want recognition or rewards, I had to nominate her because I believe she truly represents the ideal of a Citizen of the Year. I cannot think of a more deserving recipient for the ‘Citizen of the Years’ award.” This article was originally published by the Oxford Free Press at www.oxfreepress.com https://www.oxfreepress.com/oxford-citizen-ofthe-year-2024/ Bobbe Burke, left, is the recipient of the 2024 Citizen of the Years award for her contributions to https://www.oxfreepress.com/citizen-of-thevarious organizations including Kiwanis and TOPSS over the years. Photo by Sean Scott. years-bobbe-burke/ Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2024-25 Fires in Altadena > Claudia Hedeen your skills and feed our people! Like its fall counterpart, the spring seed swap (CREO Sprout About) has evolved to be more inclusive for all ages. Youth-friendly activities are themed to cult [Text truncated at 120,000 characters. The full text is on the page linked above.] --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Amiami_oklahoma%3A2c1593ddebbc24ba. Public record. Not legal advice.