Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

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Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

aatotankiki myaamiaki

MIAMI NATION NEWS is published by the Sovereign

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma for our enrolled citizens. Aatotankiki

Myaamiaki is distributed by mail and made available for download from the Miami Nation’s website. A single copy is mailed

free of charge to each tribal household. College students living

away from home may request a copy be mailed to their campus,

or off-campus, address.

This publication is printed in Stigler, Oklahoma by Stigler Printing. Publication design and layout is done in-house by the Miami Nation Cultural Resources Office staff. Requests for special articles or publication of community information, including

births, deaths, marriages, family news, anniversaries, etc., are

welcomed and encouraged.

MYAAMIA PUBLICATIONS

Miami Nation Cultural Resources Office

P.O. Box 1326

Miami, OK 74355

918-541-1300

mtocro@gmail.com

Editorial Staff:

Julie Olds, 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

Chief: Douglas

Lankford

Second Chief:

Dustin Olds

Secretary Treasurer: Donya

Williams

1st Councilperson: Tera Hatley

2nd Councilperson: Scott

Willard

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

MYAAMIA CITIZENS STAY

CONNECTED ONLINE

Miami Nation Website,

www.miamination.com

Facebook:

“MYAAMIAKI Miami Tribe

of Oklahoma”

“Aatotankiki Myaamiaki”

Public Page, listed as “Miami Nation

Events”

MHMA Page, Listed as

“Myaamia Heritage Museum &

Archive”

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

The Chief’s Report

Myaamia Center Celebrates New

Technology Extension Office at

Miami University

Official Announcement

Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Section A: News

Section B: History & Culture

Section E: Eemamwiciki

CRO Staff Visit Historical Myaamia

Objects

National Gathering Workshops

Framing Myaamia Nahi

Meehtohseeniwinki ‘Living Well’

Living on the Land: Three Myaamia

Phrases for Summer Programs

Eugene V. Brown Memorial Art Show

Myaamia kiilhswaakani ‘myaamia

lunar calendar’

Upcoming Events

Section C: Community

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma National

Gathering Week Events 2025

Crete Creative Hosts “Awakening:

A Sacred Story of Contemporary

Myaamia Art,” An Exhibit Honoring

the Revitalization of Native Miami

Language and Culture

Back-to-School Funds and

Scholarships

Section D: Myaamia Center

2025 Myaamia Student Graduates

from Miami University

Myaamia Center Staff Continues to

Grow in 2025

Myaamia Heritage Program: 2024/25 2D

School Year Wrap Up

Myaamia Center Employee Positions

Join Us for 2025 Online Eemamwiciki 1E

Summer Programs Eemamwiciki

Events

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

aacimwita akima

‘The Chief’s Report’

Akima Eecipoonkwia

Chief Douglas Lankford

State of the Nation

Aya, aya ceeki eeweemakiki! Greetings to all

my relatives. It is wiihkoowia kiilhswa, the moon of

the whippoorwill, and here in myaamionki noošonke

siipionki, the long cool spring weather is starting to

give way to the heat we know so well in Oklahoma.

May is the month we are busy with final preparations for our annual National Gathering Week events

and the annual General Council meeting. I hope

you can make plans to load up your family to travel

home for the many events of the week, which begin

on Wednesday, June 25, and end with the meeting on

Saturday morning, and the closing of our Pow Wow

that night. As is our custom, the General Council

meeting will be held in our Nation’s Council House

in Miami, OK, and will begin at 9 a.m. Be sure to

check our website, Facebook Group, and this newspaper for event information.

I seem to report each year that our Tribe, our

sovereign Nation, is ever growing, and this year is

no exception. Our current enrollment stands at 7,219

citizens, and with this growth, we strive to provide

as many services as our revenue inflow and budget can sustain. From scholarships, back-to-school

funds, burial benefits, and health reimbursement

cards for our elders and veterans, to grant-funded

assistance services, our needs continue to grow.

The fiscal year of the Miami Tribe begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. Each year, our

annual tribal budget is conservatively set based on

the previous year’s numbers, with consideration given to the projected growth for the new year. Since

our last General Council meeting in June 2024, I

am pleased to report that we concluded the fiscal

year (FY24) under budget. June marks the end of

the third quarter of this fiscal year, and thus far in

FY25, we are projected to come in under budget

again. The results of the audit for the previous fiscal

year are reported at each annual General Council

meeting. As of this writing, our CFO reports that

no findings are expected on the audit for FY24. Our

annual tribal budget is separate from the budgets of

federally funded grants awarded to the Tribe, and

both categories are fully audited each year.

Peace Medal

Turning to other important governmental work.

As you are aware, a key focus of the Tribe is to reclaim knowledge of our history, and I am pleased to

announce success in one significant effort – the return of the Miami Tribe Treaty of Greenville Peace

Medal.

In 1795, the Miami Tribe signed the Treaty

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

of Greenville with the United States. The Treaty

marked the end of a decade of war led by our War

Chief, Mihšihkinaahkwa (Little Turtle), and was a

turning point in the history of the Miami people.

At the successful conclusion of the Treaty, General

Anthony Wayne awarded Washington Peace Medals to each of the Tribes. The Miami medal was

bestowed on Chief Little Turtle and became part of

his official regalia. The medal was to be passed to

successor war Chiefs in memory of the day the two

sovereigns made peace.

When Little Turtle passed in 1812, the Medal

was in his possession but was not buried with him

as it belonged to the Tribe. In 1825, the Medal was

lost from Tribal possession under uncertain circumstances. That was not an uncommon story during

those times of dynamic change and stress on the

Miami people.

Almost 200 years later, the Medal reappeared. Early last year, news came to Julie Olds

that an auction gallery in California was planning

to sell the Medal. The Tribe, as the rightful owners of the Peace Medal, requested that the auction

house temporarily withdraw the Peace Medal from

the auction, allowing the Tribe time to speak with

the individual listing the Peace Medal for sale. The

gallery and owner did not withdraw the medal. The

Tribe sued the gallery, and eventually, the people

who claimed ownership of the Medal in California

state court obtained a Temporary Restraining Order

(TRO) prohibiting the sale of the medal at auction.

The defendants and the Tribe came together in

February for an all-day mediation, and by the end

of the day, they reached an agreement for the return

of the Peace Medal to the Tribe. This was another

example of the Miami people reclaiming their history and telling our own history better and more

accurately than anyone else could. The effort was

supported by a team of experts including our own

Daryl Baldwin (a lineal descendant of Mihšihkinaahkwa), our Miami University friend and colleague Dr. Robert Wicks (an esteemed peace medal expert), and longtime expert consultant for the

Tribe, Tim McKewon.

The return of the Peace Medal, which was first

placed in the hands of Mihšihkinaahkwa in 1795,

and now, some 200 years later, restored to tribal possession to remain in our National Archives

permanently is truly a momentous occasion for all

Myaamia people.

Illinois Bill

The Tribe continues its efforts in Washington,

D.C., to secure congressional approval of legislation

that would permit the Tribe to bring a land claim for

the loss of historic tribal lands in southeast Illinois.

Senator Markwayne Mullin (Cherokee), a staunch

advocate for the Tribe for the past eight years, reintroduced the bill this session - H.R. 2827 - To provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian

land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and for

other purposes.

Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole (Chickasaw) formally joined the bill again this winter as a

sponsor. Congressman Cole is a longtime advocate

for tribes and Indian Country and has been a good

friend and staunch supporter of the Tribe for years.

I traveled to D.C. again in the first week of May to

meet with those supporting the bill and to discuss

efforts to move the bill this session.

Once the bill is authorized by Congress, H.R.

2827, a bi-partisan supported bill will grant jurisdiction to the Court of Federal Claims to consider

and decide the Tribe’s land claim. The Tribe hopes

to see movement on the bill this session. We are

committed to continuing our important work on this

bill to get our day in Court.

Federal Litigation

The Miami Tribe remains active in its efforts

to obtain a federal court ruling to confirm its reservation lands constitute Indian Country. Post McGirt, the 2020 landmark United States Supreme

Court case which held that the Muscogee Creek Nation reservation was never disestablished by Congress, the Miami Tribe, like other Oklahoma tribes

actively assumed its governmental responsibilities

policing and exercising jurisdiction over its reservation lands. The Department of Interior, post

McGirt, without any federal directive, tied federal

funding allocated for Oklahoma tribes for policing

and court needs to tribes with formal court rulings

upholding a tribe’s reservation.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

As a result, in December 2023, the Eastern

Shawnee Tribe, Miami Tribe, Ottawa Tribe, and

Seneca Cayuga Tribe filed federal lawsuits in

Northern District Court in Tulsa, requesting that

Court declare the reservation lands of the plaintiff

tribes as intact, never having been disestablished.

The Court has moved at a plodding pace holding its decision in early requests by the tribes under

advisement for over a year. The Court’s delay has

resulted in adverse funding impacts on the tribes

and lack of funding may result in future court funding and public safety implications. The tribes have

had positive discussions with Oklahoma Attorney

General Gentner Drummond and hope to work towards a resolution of the parties’ differences.

SAUSA

On a positive note, the Miami Tribe and other Northeast Oklahoma Tribal Consortium tribes

(Consortium Tribes) recently contracted for a Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA) to

represent the interests of the Consortium Tribes regarding federal criminal charges for major crimes

on the Tribes’ reservation lands. The Consortium

Tribes received funding through a Department of

Justice CTAS Grant submitted by the Miami Tribe

on behalf of the Consortium Tribes. The Miami

Tribe is the lead tribe for this grant and is administering it on behalf of the Consortium Tribes.

Retaining the services of a SAUSA has been

key for the Consortium Tribes to ensure that major crimes on Consortium Tribe reservation lands

receive the appropriate federal attention for federal review and potential federal prosecution. The

Consortium Tribes are proud to announce that this

important SAUSA position will be filled by Tulsa

attorney David Youll, who brings years of legal experience to the position, having served as a prosecutor, Judge, and SAUSA in the Eastern District.

After two years of struggle to fill this position, we

are so pleased to have David Youll working with us

as our federal representative in the United States

Attorney’s Office.

Miami Tribe District Court

Post McGirt, since February 2022, the Miami

Tribe has experienced a steep increase in its criminal docket from 6 criminal cases a year to now 3040 cases scheduled twice a month on its District

Court criminal docket. These cases are heard by

Chief Judge Scott Goode (Seneca-Cayuga). Other court personnel include Court Director, Robin

Lash, Prosecutor Kyle Alderson, Public Defender

the Hartly Law Firm, Court Clerk Michelle Lankford, Deputy Clerk Whitney Johnson (Shawnee),

Community Corrections Officer Shane Barnes and

Miami Police Department and Bailiff Chuck North

(Miami) and Justin Keller who are both officers of

the Miami Nation Police Department.

The Miami District Court, located at the Tribe’s

headquarters building, recently underwent a major

transformation in the form of construction of a new,

state of the art courtroom and associated court space

funded through a Department of Justice Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) Court

Remodel Grant. The Tribe began working with

Tulsa Architect firm Green Light Native to design

the new courtroom, jury deliberation room, Judge’s

Chamber and storage spaces. Joplin construction

company MacCo Builders began construction of the

new space in October 2024, with the project’s completion slated for the end of May or mid-June of this

year.

The new space features a courtroom with a

judge’s bench large enough to accommodate three

Appellate Justices for cases appealed to the Miami

Tribe of Oklahoma Appellate Court, a witness stand,

a clerk’s desk, a jury box, and seating for those attending court. New courtroom furnishings are ordered for the space, and new audio-video recording

equipment will be installed to record and maintain

hearing records for the Tribe. The courtroom will

be enhanced with traditional Myaamia design inlay custom woodwork made by tribal member Jody

Gamble. New court signage, a portico, landscaping,

and fencing are planned to enhance the space outside of the court entryway. The Tribe is hopeful

that the space will be ready for court use by early to

mid-summer.

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

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

Tribe holds trial dockets twice a year in the fall and and nitrogen into three products: renewable natural

spring. The Tribe looks forward to using this new gas, liquid fertilizer, and solid fertilizer.

space in its work to exercise the Tribe’s inherent

Our reservation borders the Quapaw Nation resauthority on its reservation lands.

ervation, where the Argo project is proposed. The

project site is near Miami Tribal member housing

FERC

and less than six miles from the Miami Tribe’s seat

The Tribe continues work overseeing activities of government. Given that the Tribe’s governmental

that impact the environment on its Indian lands and offices are inundated with smells from the mushin the community. Over the years, I have reported room facility over four miles away, it is likely that

on the Tribe’s efforts to protect tribal lands and in- the Tribe would be significantly affected by smells,

terests during the Federal Energy Regulatory Com- air emissions, and safety hazards associated with

mission (FERC) relicensing of the Pensacola Dam. this proposed bioprocessing plant.

The Pensacola Dam is operated by the Grand River

I have met with Argos representatives at town

Dam Authority (GRDA), which has caused chronic hall meetings in Miami and submitted written comflooding in and around Miami on both fee land and ments to the Oklahoma Department of EnvironmenTribal trust lands.

tal Quality (Oklahoma DEQ), the state licensing enLast year, following a series of resounding vic- tity to which Argos has submitted an Air Permit

tories by the City before FERC, GRDA appealed Application. The Tribe’s concerns relate to potenFERC’s decisions in the City’s favor to the D.C. Cir- tial impacts from Argo’s description of its venting

cuit. The City contends that GRDA has failed to and flaring practices that could cause hydrogen sulacquire necessary flowage rights on land exceed- fide releases not currently accounted for in the draft

ing the limits of its existing flowage easements by construction permit.

13,000 acres in or around Miami, which is flooded

In early April, I requested government-to-govby the Pensacola Project.

ernment consultation with the Oklahoma DEQ to

Those affected by the flood have been asked to discuss these concerns, and I will continue to folsubmit a list of measures to protect, mitigate, and low up with this request. We’ve requested that the

enhance (PM&E) operations, which involves imple- Oklahoma DEQ solicit additional information from

menting measures to balance the dam’s operations Argos to inform the discussion on the issues raised

in a way that minimizes their impact on surround- in comments by our Tribe and other Tribes, as well

ing areas and the environment.

as the City of Miami and its residents. We will conWell-developed PM&Es are vital to ensure that tinue to closely monitor this proposed project.

the next license for the Pensacola dam accounts for

the interests of Tribes and others affected by Dam Trust Land

operations. Both the City and the Tribes are meetThe Tribe continues the important work of moving to develop proposed PM&Es for inclusion in the ing fee land owned by the Tribe into trust status. A

new license for the Pensacola Project.

fee to trust land acquisition, or “land into trust” is

the transfer of land title from the Tribe to the United

ARGOS

States, to be held in trust for the benefit of the Tribe.

Mid-winter, the Tribe was made aware of a new

Federally recognized tribes are eligible to apply

proposed project by Argos Development Partners, for trust land acquisitions for any land owned by

LLC, a New Hampshire-based group hoping to con- the tribe in fee-simple status. Fee-simple means the

struct a European-style poultry litter bioprocessing landowner may sell or encumber the land. Once a

plant on lands within the Quapaw reservation. The land parcel is in trust status, state regulations do

bioprocessing plant would bring over 160 thousand not apply, and the tribe is not required to pay state

tons of poultry litter from local farms yearly and, taxes associated with the land. The Secretary of

through a biological process, would convert carbon the Interior evaluates fee-to-trust land acquisition

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

applications according to criteria published in the

Code of Federal Regulations (25 CFR 151).

Since September 2017, the Tribe has successfully transitioned into trust status 11 parcels of land,

including the Fritz Road property in Fort Wayne,

Indiana. These 11 parcels, now in trust, represent

approximately 370 acres. Currently, the Tribe has

seven additional parcels in process for fee-to-trust

applications. These in-process applications represent an additional nearly 450 acres to be moved into

trust status.

embraced this work since we began our cultural revitalization in 1996. Beginning in the early 1990s,

almost as soon as the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) was enacted, our late Chief Floyd Leonard, and other elected

Tribal Leaders of that period began exercising our

political and cultural sovereignty under the NAGPRA. For over thirty years, we have respectfully repatriated and returned ancestors and their funerary

objects to the earth. I am grateful to all our Cultural Resources Office employees, as well as past and

current leaders, for their support of our repatriation

and revitalization efforts.

I am humbled and most grateful to serve our Nation as Chief. I am also thankful to be able to repeat each year our positive financial status and our

strong business development efforts. It will again be

my great honor to stand before the General Council

of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma to report the news

and work of the year, and to join our leadership, and

cultural revitalization team in stating that this great

Nation continues its legacy as a progressive and

sound tribal government founded in the unique cultural knowledge that makes us Myaamia. We must

realize we are a leader among tribes through our

efforts, not only in this community, but nationally.

May we all, as Myaamiaki, continue to embrace our

heritage for the benefit of our children and future

generations.

Again, I hope to see all my Myaamia relatives

able to attend the General Council meeting next

month. Peehkihkanaweeko – safe travels.

Myaamia Center

Our unique relationship with Miami University remains strong. With the tremendous benefit of

the University’s Myaamia Heritage Award, student

numbers are consistently between 45 and 50 annually, and we graduate approximately a dozen tribal

students each year. Our Myaamia Center at the University continues to grow and expand in all facets of

its work. Thanks to a significant grant from the Andrew Mellon Foundation for 2.1 million, the center

will develop a first-ever technological infrastructure

over the next year to increase its capability to build

and maintain a growing number of online educational products for the tribal community.

The growth experienced by the Myaamia Center has led Miami University to initiate a capital

campaign for the center to renovate and expand

the current Bonham House by more than doubling

the square footage of the facility. This expansion is

much needed to house the growing staff at the center. Miami University’s advancement team is helping the center raise nearly 10 million over the next

couple of years for this expansion. The center has Akima Eecipoonkwia – Chief Douglas Lankford

become internationally recognized for its work in

utilizing archives to support revitalization activities,

and this recognition continues to expand over time.

You can expect to see more development from the

center for the Miami Tribe with these expansions.

The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma

Myaamia Center Director, Daryl Baldwin, will

will host their Annual Meeting

give a detailed report at the annual General Council

meeting on June 28, 2025.

on June 28th, 2025

The revitalization and perpetuation of our culture, language, and traditions are of utmost importance to our Nation. Our Tribal Leaders have

OFFICIAL NOTICE:

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki – Myaamia Publications – Vol. 18, No. 4, Spring 2025 – Section B – History & Culture

CRO Staff Visit Historical Myaamia Objects

Inside-out designs of the “Peconga Bag.” Photo by Right-side-out designs of the “Peconga Bag.”

Doug Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Photo by Doug Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Staff Article

National Museum of the American Indian

For more than five years, Jared Nally has looked at

pictures of the “Peconga Bag,” which has inspired his

work as a piimhkaasikwa, or ‘Myaamia weaver.’ Yet,

this bag has served as a symbol of community identity

for much longer, likely even before it was collected

from William Peconga in 1910 by Mark Raymond

Harrington. The bag is now part of the collections at

the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI).

In April, Jared, along with Doug Peconge and

Morgan Lippert, traveled to NMAI to examine

the bag and photograph a collection of Myaamia

silverwork. This historic event reconnected Doug,

a descendant of William Peconga, to an ancestral

object collected from his family. It was also the first

time a Myaamia weaver was able to examine the bag.

The initial moments seeing the bag in person Jared Nally and NMAI conservator Caitlin

was underscored with excitement, but quickly grew Mahony turn bag “right-side-out.” Photo by Doug

into astonishment as it became apparent that the bag Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

had been stored inside out. With assistance from

curatorial staff, the bag was turned right-side-out,

and for the first time in likely 100 years, the Myaamia

community saw the bag as the weaver intended.

This visit highlights the importance of

reconnecting Myaamia People to ancestral objects

as part of the revitalization and return of community

knowledge. From Jared’s perspective, the designs—

now seen from the right side—reshape how he’s

connecting to the weaving and interpreting the

pattern. The bag also offers additional insights as to

how the bag was made which could not have been

learned from photographs.

Luzerne County Historical Society

After their trip to NMAI, Jared, Doug, and Morgan

traveled to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania to the Luzerne

County Historical Society (LCHS). One of the oldest

continually operated historical societies in the nation,

LCHS has in its collections a few articles of clothing

from Mahkoonsihkwa ‘Frances Slocum’ (1773-1847).

Mahkoonsihkwa was born into a Quaker family

and grew up in Luzerne County. At around five years

old, she was taken by a Lenape (Delaware) group and Portrait of Mahkoonsihkwa ‘Frances Slocum’ by

raised within their community. The Lenape eventually George Winter. Photo courtesy Tippecanoe County

settled near the Myaamia village of Kiihkayonki, Historical Association.

present-day Fort Wayne, Indiana.

In 1810, Mahkoonsihkwa married Myaamia war

leader Šiipaakana ‘Deaf Man.’ They had four children

and established a village on the Nimacihsinwi

Siipiiwi ‘Mississinewa River.’ Having lived for over

twenty years as a myaamiihkwia ‘Miami woman,’

Mahkoonsihkwa was reunited in 1837 with her

biological brothers Joseph and Isaac Slocum. Having

long believed her to be dead, the brothers learned of

her survival after Fort Wayne resident George Ewing

wrote about Mahkoonsihkwa in a newspaper.

Joseph and Isaac tried to convince their sister to

return with them to Pennsylvania, but she refused and

chose to stay with her Myaamia family. According

to LCHS, Mahkoonsihkwa gave her brothers some

personal belongings to take back with them, which

are now in the society’s collections: a blouse, ball

and cone earrings, a woven sash, and a pair of

Shirt and sash belonging to Mahkoonsihkwa. mahkisina ‘moccasins.’

Looking at Mahkoonsihkwa’s belongings, we

Photo by Doug Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

see hallmarks of 19th century myaamiihkwia attire.

The blouse—made of calico fabric and featuring

a cape adorned with German silver washer ring

brooches and a large brooch in the center—closely

resembles other historical Myaamia blouses held

in museum collections, like the one displayed in

MHMA’s current exhibit neehaapiikasiciki: the

Healing Threads of Myaamia Ribbonwork. Her

ball and cone earrings are like those worn by many

Native communities, both historically and today.

Her mahkisina ‘moccasins’ were interesting to

study. They had an additional ribbonworked flap

on the top of the shoe, and they lacked the white

edge beading that is normally seen in Myaamia

ribbonwork. However, the geometric diamond

patterns, ribbon color selection, tight center seam,

and mirrored flaps (matching patterns on the inside

and outside flaps) together give these mahkisina a

distinct Myaamia feel.

Earrings belonging to Mahkoonsihkwa. Photo by

Doug Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

could date the sash much later into the 1830s. Neither

story can be fully confirmed, and the truth might

lie somewhere in between. Since the brothers’ other

donations were all connected to Mahkoonsihkwa,

it’s likely this sash was too, though it may not

have been from her wedding. Unlike other clothing

seen in portraits of Myaamia women, sashes were

usually worn under blouses, so none are visible in

her portraits.

Neewe ‘thank you’ to LCHS for providing CRO

staff the opportunity to photograph these beautiful

and historic pieces.

Moccasins belonging to Mahkoonsihkwa. Photo by

Doug Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Mahkoonsihkwa’s sash is one of the few

existing examples of fingerweaving attributed to

Myaamia People. However, how it got to LCHS is

uncertain, as there are two competing stories of how

her brothers obtained the sash. The first story is that

they brought back Mahkoonsihkwa’s wedding sash,

which would date the sash to the 1790’s. The other

story is that the brothers bought the sash while on Moccasins belonging to Mahkoosihkwa. Photo by

their many journeys looking for their sister, which Doug Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

Framing Myaamia Nahi Meehtohseeniwinki

‘Living Well’

Haley Shea

Director of Office of

Assessment and Evaluation

The Nipwaayoni Acquisition and Assessment Team

(NAATeam) has spent the last

year advancing work supported by a Robert Wood Johnson

Foundation grant. In the later

phase of this three-year project, we are focused on sharing

the process that our team used

to develop an understanding of

Myaamia well-being and how

we intend to measure it within Presenting on myaamia nahi meehtohseeniwinki at the Algonquian

the Myaamia community.

Conference in 2024. Photo by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

This is being accomplished through conference presentations, with the ways of knowing but for now, we want to simply

most recent presentation held at the Algonquian Con- introduce the idea that some behaviors and ways of

ference at the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma thinking have direct connections to our Myaamia

City, OK. Additionally, we are creating a workbook identities. This is important because Myaamia histhat describes our process and identifying some aca- tory is full of attempts at resisting and adapting to

demic publications to broaden our reach so that oth- a wide array of colonial forces that brought us to a

ers can learn and critique what we are producing.

state of geographical diaspora resulting in a high

We’ve come to realize, as we share with pub- level of diversity within our own tribal community.

lic audiences, that our work does not fit neatly into On one hand, this can be a beautiful thing as diverstandard wellness topics and is a slight departure sity and difference make our community stronger as

from the “norm” for the audiences we engage with. we all contribute to our community in ways that are

For this article, we wanted to explain some of the informed by our unique identities. But we can also

topics that influence how we think about and discuss lose our Myaamia ways of knowing in this diversimyaamia nahi meehtohseeniwinki ‘living well.’

fication process. This is why revitalization and tribal educational efforts are so important in preserving

Situating the Myaamia Person within Community

our unique identity as Myaamiaki ‘Myaamia peoand Global Contexts

ple’. Both can and do exist alongside each other.

In the creation of the nahi meehtohseeniwinApplying this diversification to a concept like

ki model, it was important for us to distinguish wellness produces individually tailored perspecMyaamia practices or ways of knowing from other tives on what it means to live well, informed by

ways of being or thinking that have origins outside each of our identities. No two people will have the

our Myaamia knowledge system.

exact same perspective on a concept like wellness

In a future blog post, we will look more specif- and there can be considerable differences in how inically and show examples of how we differentiate dividuals understand what it means to be Myaamia.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

When we lived as a village-centered people,

sharing common ideas and beliefs was simply

maintained and reinforced through daily activities.

However, multiple forced removals of the Miami

community caused population fragmentation, disconnecting us from each other and the knowledge

Myaamia people create a “community web” to

exemplify connectedness within the Miami Tribe

and how the actions of one can affect the entire

community. Photo by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

systems that make our community healthy.

Community Web

Creating the wellness model is our attempt at

identifying Myaamia-specific attributes that can

inform our overall revitalization efforts and educational programs that provide an opportunity to

embed layers of knowledge that strengthen our individual identities as Myaamia people. Collectively, this benefits the whole community by providing

a source of shared knowledge and strengthening

kinship ties that stabilize our tribal nation – hence

nahi meehtohseeniwinki.

Today, Myaamia people interact with vast and

interconnected global knowledge systems. How we

position these influences within our own identities

depends on many factors including our depth of

Myaamia knowledge. When we have a strong foundation in Myaamia ways of knowing and being, we

are better equipped to make choices in how external

ideas and influences best serve us and ultimately

our community.

For example, we may engage with “Western”

health systems for our general healthcare needs as

well as Indigenous practices (Myaamia health practices), Eastern perspectives through yoga and acupuncture, and any other knowledge systems that one

might engage with. It is not uncommon for all these

influences to merge when we gather as Myaamia

people in Myaamia spaces. As long as we all have a

shared experience in our Myaamia knowledge system these other ways of knowing are less of a threat

and only strengthen us and our community.

Aligning ways of knowing

That being said, it is common to label various

knowledge systems – such as, “Eastern” “Western”

and “Indigenous”, as I did above.

This leads to these knowledge systems being

pitted against one another due to their differences

and interpreted by some as opposing. Collectively,

these knowledge systems can appear hierarchically

arranged with those having broader global influence

and resources considered “better” than others. This

leads to the devaluation of others. The NAATeam

intends to use a pluralistic approach, situating multiple knowledge systems around our own Myaamia

ways of knowing to utilize that which is useful to

us, as our ancestors have always done.

This collective recognition acknowledges the

best of any knowledge source and does not reject

other forms of knowledge due to their differences.

Rather, we hope to position Myaamia practices and

knowledge as central to our identity so that our collective engagement around our knowledge system

strengthens the entire community by utilizing the

best available to us.

Connecting Myaamia nipwaayoni ‘knowledge’

through time: past, present, and future

When revitalizing a construct, such as myaamia

nahi meehtohseeniwinki ‘living well’, we must ask

ourselves about its origin and who is being served.

Any construct we develop must draw on available

knowledge, respond to the needs of the present, and

be constructed with an understanding that everything adapts and changes with time.

In order to call something Myaamia, the identifiable forms of knowing and understanding must

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

draw on the time-tested experience of

previous generations. Learning from our

past is always a challenge because we

do not live in the past and what makes

sense then may not be applicable today.

Aside from the interpretive details

of our past, there are identifiable threads

of continuity exhibited by our ancestors that point to more stable sources of

knowing that may be applicable in this

generation. Much of what we attempt to

revitalize from the past must have some

relevance to our lives today if there is

going to be value among a younger generation.

This is all challenged by the fact that

our ancestors did not live in a time of

information overload, with the levels of

misinformation that come with it, as we

do today. Helping our youth connect to

Myaamia ways of knowing and being

early in life is essential in establishing

the foundation for future learning and

practice.

evolving. Therefore, it’s our responsibility to create a system that is strong

and relevant today, but also flexible

enough to hold over for those inevitable

shifts that our children, grandchildren,

and future generations will face in their

lifetimes.

Conclusion

The Myaamiaki Eemamwiciki – our

revitalization efforts – have had profound impacts on our community and an

upcoming generation. It has evolved to

a point where we can begin looking at

the positive impacts this work will have

on future generations if we continue to

invest in it. I find great beauty and encouragement in my role as a member of

the NAATeam. I have the unique opportunity to work very closely with upcoming generations as they form their own

identities in very similar ways as I did

when I was just a child in our youth programs. I love the way this effort has matured to a point where we are

again strengthening the bonds

across the generations and

to our homelands. To think

about this practically, I love

when I’m walking in our historic homelands – back at my

parent’s home in northern Indiana or on campus at Miami

University – and I think about

both the ancestors who once

walked those same lands and

all the knowledge and lessons

Myaamia women with their small children at the they were able to take from the

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma’s Council House in 2023.land. Simultaneously, I think

Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

about future generations who

will someday walk on those

Myaamia women and babies

lands. I think about the knowledge that

We all know that cultures change comes from those lands, allowing us to

over time. We know that our community take care of ourselves and our families,

will continue adapting while our social and to pass on what future generations

and ecological environments continue can/should know to care for themselves.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

TRIBAL CITIZEN

IDENTIFICATION

& ENROLLMENT CARDS

EUGENE V. BROWN

M E M O R I A L A RT S H OW

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@miamina-

Want to

learn more

about the

Myaamia

Culture?

tion.com or by phone at 918-541-1324.

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.”

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.

Check out our online resources at

aacimotaatiiyankwi.com

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki – Myaamia Publications – Vol. 18, No. 4, Spring 2025 – Section C – Community

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 KEY CHAINS WORKSHOP (Miami Tribe

Community Event - not open to Public)

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 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 key chain. 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. - 3:00 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.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

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 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.

Noon

1:30 p.m.

6 p.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.

Lunch

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.

Dinner - Stomp Dance begins at sunset inside dance arena

FRIDAY, JUNE 27 CULTURAL EDUCATION DAY (Miami Tribe Community Event - not

open to Public)

8:30 a.m.

Community Breakfast:

Myaamia Community Center/Dining Hall - 54535 East 65 Road, Miami, OK.

Breakfast 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

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.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

FRIDAY EVE, 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 or Pg 10A)

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

SATURDAY EVE, JUNE 28 24th ANNUAL MIAMI NATION POW WOW

(Public Event - SEE POW WOW FLIER ON FACEBOOK AT MIAMI NATION EVENTS or Pg 10A)

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

BUFFALO RUN HOTEL:

8414 S. 580 Road, Miami, OK

918-542-2900

DAYS INN

2120 East Steve Owens Blvd.,

Miami, OK, 888-942-6215

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS:

509 Hendley Avenue, Miami, OK

918-542-7424

HAMPTON INN:

115 S. Deacon Turner Road, Miami,

OK, 918-541-1500

MICRO-TEL: 2015 E. Steve Owens

Blvd., Miami, OK, 918-540-3333

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

Crete Creative Hosts “Awakening: A Sacred

Story of Contemporary Myaamia Art,” An

Exhibit Honoring the Revitalization of

Native Miami Language and Culture

Community Submission

Crete Creative Gallery and School is honored

to present “Awakening: A Sacred Story of Contemporary Myaamia Art.” The exhibition will only be

on display from May 9th to June 21st, 2025 in the

Crete Public Library’s 2nd Floor Gallery at 1177

Main St, Crete, IL, 60417.

Curated by Kathy Carter Young, Crete Creative

President and Myaamia citizen, this groundbreaking

exhibit features the work of over twenty Myaamia

(Miami Tribe) artists who have reconnected to their

heritage and stories through beadwork, ribbonwork,

painting, sewing, basketry, and more.

Before colonialist occupation, the influential

Myaamionki (Miami Lands) extended across Northeast Illinois, Southern Wisconsin, Central Indiana,

Southern Michigan, and Western Ohio - including

what is now Crete, Illinois. In the 19th century, the

U.S. government forcibly removed the Myaamiaki

(Miami People) from their homelands and marched

them Southwest, to Oklahoma. Divorced of their

language, separated from their families, and removed from their important cultural sites - the energy of the tribe fell dormant.

180 years later, after decades of rebuilding their

tribe, reclaiming their language, and reconnecting

with their heritage, Myaamia artists from across the

country are reuniting to lift up their voices for the

“Awakening.” Through the dedication and passion

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

of contemporary artists

and historians, their once

lost art and language

combine with their creative skills to showcase

together in the lands they

once called home.

The exhibit’s Opening Reception & Art Market offers a rare opportunity to engage directly

with Myaamia artists

and tribal representatives

from across the country.

Visitors can browse the

Myaamia Art Market,

learn about ribbonwork

by creating their own,

read each artist’s “Awakening” nonfiction story,

and enjoy a selection of

locally catered foods.

Special guests from the

Myaamia Center at Miami, University, Ohio,

will give a presentation

and singing performance

at 1:30 PM, sharing insights into their language

and cultural revitalization.

For more information

about the Myaamia Center’s work in education

and cultural preservation,

visit Myaamia Center at

Miami University.

Join us in celebrating

the past, the present, and

future of the Myaamia

people through the lens

of contemporary art.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

MYAAMIA EDUCATION OFFICE

BACK-TO-SCHOOL

FUND & SCHOLARSHIP

INFORMATION

NOTICE! ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE MAILED AND IN OFFICE BY THE DEADLINE!

Back-to-School Funds

Spring and Fall Semester Back-to-School applications

will be mailed to all enrolled Miami Tribe of Oklahoma

children from Pre-School through High School (ages

4-19 years). Spring applications will be mailed out in

September of each year and Fall applications will be

mailed in June of each year.

Eligible tribal members may apply for the following

funds:

◊ Pre-School (min. age of 4 years): $50.00

◊ Kindergarten through 6th grade: $75.00

◊ 7th & 8th grade: $100.00

◊ 9th through 12th grade (max. age 19): $150.00

Fall Semester Applications must be received by JUL 1

or postmarked by JUN 17.

Spring Semester Applications must be received by

NOV 15. or postmarked by NOV 5.

We will not process late applications.

Applications must be filled out completely. Read

instructions on the application carefully and make sure it

is signed at the bottom before returning to the Myaamia

Education office by the application deadline. If you do

not receive an application, it can be downloaded from the

miamination.com under Services, Myaamia Education

Office, Back-to-School Funds or call for a new application

to be mailed. Please ensure your address is up-to-date

with the Member Services Department. If you have

questions, contact the Education Office at 918-541-2176.

To receive Back-to-School Funds an application

must be completed for each semester. Checks will be

mailed within 3 weeks after the Fall semester application

deadline, and after Christmas for the Spring semester.

*The Tribe may require, at any time, the recipient

of back-to-school-funds to produce receipts for items

purchased with said funds as a requirement for

receiving future funding. *The policy of the Miami Tribe

related to any matter involving a minor tribal member

is to communicate with the biological parent or legal

guardian.

You can now submit your application online using the new education portal! myaamiaportal.com

Scholarships

The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma is committed

to supporting the education of Myaamia people of

all ages through the funding of scholarships and

continuing education programs. The Myaamia

Scholarship Selection Committee is made up

of 3 tribal members appointed by the Business

Committee and given the responsibility of

awarding scholarships through a blind application

process on behalf of the General Council. All

scholarship applications must be fully completed

upon submission or the application will not be

considered. Note: All scholarships offered by

The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma are for enrolled

members/citizens of the tribe only. Scholarships

are available only for Spring and Fall semesters.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

If selected to receive a scholarship, only one

scholarship will be awarded. When applying,

check any of the boxes for which the student

qualifies. If changing colleges after award checks

are mailed, it is the responsibility of the awardee

to recover the scholarship amount and have it

sent back to the Myaamia Education Office to be

redistributed. It is also the awardee’s responsibility

to notify that the school selection has changed

Scholarship Applications

If you have any questions please contact the

Myaamia Education Office. Donya Williams:

dwilliams@miamination.com, 918-541-2176.

*All awards are subject to change per the Business

Committee.

Fall Scholarship Application

DEADLINE OCTOBER 1ST.

Spring Scholarship Application

DEADLINE APRIL 1ST.

SCHOLARSHIP ON THE SPRING

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION:

*CASINO/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

EDUCATION AWARD

DUE APRIL 1 EACH YEAR.

Application Eligibility:

◊ Full-time undergraduate status (enrolled in

12 credit hours).

◊ Must have 2.5 cumulative GPA.

Award:

◊ $2,000 per academic year.

◊ Student must advise school if full

amount should be applied to Fall

semester, or split between Fall and

Spring.

◊ Pays up to eight consecutive Fall/Spring

semesters (4 years).

◊ Renewable annually with Spring Scholarship

Application.

Renewal Requirements:

◊ Maintain full-time status (minimum 12

credit hours each semester).

◊ Maintain 2.5 cumulative GPA.

and send the new information to the Myaamia

Education Office.

PLEASE NOTE THAT LATE, INCOMPLETE

OR UNSIGNED APPLICATIONS

WILL NOT BE PROCESSED. THE

MYAAMIA EDUCATION OFFICE IS

NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RETURNING

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS TO BE

SIGNED OR COMPLETED.

JOSEPHINE GOODBOO WATSON

MEMORIAL BOOK SCHOLARSHIP

DUE APRIL 1 EACH YEAR.

(Established by the surviving descendants of

tribal member Josephine Goodboo Watson).

Application Eligibility:

◊ Full-time graduate or undergraduate status.

◊ Must have 2.5 cumulative GPA.

Award:

◊ $500 per academic year.

◊ Renewable annually with Spring Scholarship

Application.

Renewal Requirements:

◊ Maintain full-time status (minimum 12

credit hours/undergraduate; 6 credit hours/

graduate, each semester).

◊ Maintain 2.5 cumulative GPA.

TAX COMMISSION CONTINUING

EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP

DUE APRIL 1 EACH YEAR.

Application Eligibility:

◊ Full-time undergraduate status.

◊ Must have 2.5 cumulative GPA.

Award:

◊ Award amount changes; awarded each

academic year.

◊ Student must advise school if full

amount should be applied to Fall

semester or split between Fall and

Spring.

◊ Renewable annually with Spring Scholarship

Application.

Renewal Requirements:

◊

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

Maintain full-time status (minimum 12

credit hours) or part-time status (minimum 6

credit hours).

Maintain 2.5 cumulative GPA.

NON-TRADITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP

DUE APRIL 1 EACH YEAR.

Application Eligibility:

◊ Full-time undergraduate status (minimum 12

credit hours).

◊ Must have 2.5 cumulative GPA (high school

or college, whichever is most recent).

◊ Must be 5 years since completion of last

semester in high school or college.

Award:

◊ $2,000 per academic year.

◊ Student must advise school if full

amount should be applied to Fall

semester or should be split between

Fall and Spring.

◊ Non-renewable.

FRESH START SCHOLARSHIP

DUE APRIL 1 EACH YEAR.

Application Eligibility:

◊ Freshman (apply senior year of high school).

◊ Must have 2.0-2.4 cumulative GPA.

◊ This scholarship is for a student who

does not carry a 2.5 GPA, which is

a requirement for all other Miami

Tribe of Oklahoma scholarships on

the Spring application.

Award:

◊ $400 one-time award for Fall Semester.

◊ Student must advise school if full

amount should be applied to Fall

semester or should be split between

Fall and Spring.

◊

Non-renewable.

CRANE AWARD

DUE APRIL 1 EACH YEAR.

Application Eligibility:

◊ Graduate or post-graduate student.

Award:

◊ $2,000 per academic year.

◊ Student must advise school if full

amount should be applied to Fall

semester or should be split between

Fall and Spring.

◊ Renewable annually with Spring Scholarship

Application.

SCHOLARSHIP ON THE FALL SCHOLARSHIP

APPLICATION:

VOCATIONAL OR TRADE SCHOOL

SCHOLARSHIP

DUE OCTOBER 1 EACH YEAR.

Application Eligibility:

◊ Must be enrolled full-time in a stateaccredited vocational or trade school.

◊ Full-time undergraduate status (minimum 12

credit hours).

◊ Must have 2.0 cumulative GPA.

Award:

◊ $2,000 per academic year.

◊ Student must advise school if full

amount should be applied to Fall

semester or should be split between

Fall and Spring.

◊ Renewable annually with Fall Scholarship

Application.

Renewal Requirements:

◊ Maintain full-time status (minimum 12

credit hours each semester).

◊ Maintain 2.0 cumulative GPA.

NOTICE! ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE MAILED AND IN OFFICE BY THE DEADLINE!

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki – Myaamia Publications – Vol. 18, No. 4, Spring 2025 – Section D – Myaamia Center

2025 Myaamia

Student

Graduates from

Miami University

Myaamia Heritage senior students

after receiving special t-shirts

and lacrosse sticks. Photo by Karen

Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

On Saturday, May 17th, 2025,

the Myaamia Center celebrated 10

Myaamia students as they graduated

from Miami University. The graduates were gifted a Myaamia lacrosse

stick, a special t-shirt only available to

Myaamia graduates of Miami University, and a wool graduation stole, featuring Myaamia language, ribbonwork,

and silver buttons, to mark this accomplishment.

Graduates: Avree Armes, Cole

Bewick, Lucy Schulte, Miami Hankenson, Michael Sekulich, Addison

Lenhart, Zach McCoy, Ingrid Spenn,

Kaleb McMullen, and Elliot Baldwin.

Myaamia Center Staff

Continues to Grow in 2025

Staff Article

We’re excited to welcome

two new staff members to the

Myaamia Center! This year, Kayla Becker and Gloria Lapp, both

alumni of the Myaamia Heritage

program, joined our team.

Kayla was hired in January

2025 as the Quality Assurance Analyst at the Myaamia Center. This

position was created to ensure

digital resources developed by the

Miami Tribe, including the Indigenous Language Digital Archive

(ILDA) and the Šaapohkaayoni

online education portal, meet the

needs of community members at

the highest possible standard. Kayla graduated from Miami University in 2024 with a degree in computer science and engineering.

Gloria is serving as the

Myaamia Education Content Specialist at the Myaamia Center. This

position was created to support the

development of the Miami Tribe’s

online educational resources and

digital learning materials for remote learners. Gloria graduated

from Miami University in 2019

with a degree in English Language

Arts Education. Welcome, Kayla

and Gloria!

Kayla

Becker,

Quality Gloria

Lapp,

Myaamia

Assurance Analyst at the Education Content Specialist at

Myaamia Center. Photo by the Myaamia Center. Photo by

Scott Kissell, Miami University.

Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Myaamia Center, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

Myaamia Heritage Program: 2024/25 School Year Wrap Up

Myaamia graduates from Miami University, spring 2025. Front row L to R: Mia Hankenson, Lucy

Schulte, Ingrid Spenn, Avree Armes. Middle: Addison Lenhart, Michael Sekulich, Zach McCoy. Back:

Elliot Baldwin, Kaleb McMullen, Cole Bewick. Photo by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

Stella Beerman

Communications Specialist, Myaamia Center

It’s hard to believe another school year has come

to an end for the Myaamia Heritage students at Miami University! Before Myaamia Center staff turn

our attention toward the Eemamwiciki Summer Programs, we wanted to share some highlights from the

2024/25 school year.

On Saturday, May 17th, we gathered with our

10 Myaamia Heritage Program graduates and their

families in the miloniteeheekaani ‘Myaamia classroom.’ We celebrated our students’ completion of

the Myaamia Heritage Program and graduation from

Miami University with a series of gifts. Each graduate received a special t-shirt designed by Julie Olds,

a wooden lacrosse stick made by Doug Peconge, and

a Myaamia stole with hand-sewn ribbonwork created by Karen Baldwin to wear during graduation

ceremonies.

During their senior year, the Myaamia students

work on a senior project that combines what they

have learned in the Myaamia Heritage course and

their area of study at Miami University. The goal of

the project is to give back to the Myaamia community, in whatever way the students want to define it.

In April, we held a senior night event where students

presented their projects to their peers and Myaamia

Center staff. This year’s projects covered a range of

topics, including film, genealogy, jewelry-making,

and more. If you see one of our recent graduates, be

sure to ask them about this experience.

In the Myaamia Heritage course, students spent

the year exploring Ecological Perspectives and His-

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Myaamia Center, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

tory. This course series uses geography to connect history and ecology from a Myaamia perspective. Students

spend the majority of their classes outside exploring

Miami’s campus while taking part in a variety of activities like eating Myaamia food, hiking, and playing

games.

In addition to the required coursework, the Myaamia

Center hosted several workshops and cultural discussions for our students focused on fingerweaving, ribbonwork, jewelry-making, and more. Scott Shoemaker

and Jared Nally, two Myaamia textile artists, taught a

group of students to make mahkisina ‘moccasins.’ They

led the students through the entire process from measuring and cutting the hides to sewing the final pieces

together. Mihši neewe ‘a big thank you’ to these artists

for visiting campus to share knowledge with our students.

Throughout the summer, several of our students

will serve as counselors for the Eemamwiciki Summer

Youth Programs in both Miami, Oklahoma, and Fort

Wayne, Indiana. Additionally, the Myaamia Center is

hosting its first-ever summer internship experience for

Myaamia students. The Akimaansa internship will offer students immersive learning experiences that bridge

academic study with real-world application. The intern-

Jared Nally and Scott Shoemaker, Myaamia

textile artists, teach students how to make

moccasins. Photo by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia

Center.

Right: The 2024/25 Myaamia Heritage student

cohort. Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of

Oklahoma.

ship will focus on training participants to share

Myaamia language, culture, and history at events

throughout the summer, including the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C.

As the end of another busy school year winds

down, we’re sad to see our students leave Oxford but are looking forward to welcoming them

back in the fall, along with our new cohort of

Myaamia Heritage students!

Myaamia Heritage senior students after presenting

their senior projects. Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami

Tribe of Oklahoma.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Myaamia Center, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

Myaamia Center

Employee Positions

Digital Archivist

The Myaamia Center at Miami University is looking for a Digital Archivist to join

our team!

Are you passionate about preserving

Indigenous languages and cultures? Want

to work in a tribally directed environment

where your skills and creativity support

community-led efforts?

This position works primarily with digital materials generated and obtained by the

Myaamia Center and in support of the National Breath of Life Archival Institute for

Indigenous Languages. Help us digitally

repatriate, preserve, and share Indigenous

language, culture, and history.

If this sounds like you—or someone you

know—check out the full job posting and

apply here:

https://miamioh.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/miamioh-staff/job/Bonham-House/Digital-Archivist_JR102249

Miami University, an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, encourages applications

from protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Miami University prohibits harassment,

discrimination and retaliation on the basis of age

(40 years or older), color, disability, gender identity

or expression, genetic information, military status,

national origin (ancestry), pregnancy, race, religion,

sex/gender, status as a parent or foster parent,

sexual orientation, or protected veteran status in

its application and admission processes, educational programs and activities, facilities, programs

or employment practices. Requests for reasonable

accommodations for disabilities related to employment should be directed to ADAFacultyStaff@miamioh.edu or 513-529-3560.

Neepwaantiinki: Stories

from Myaamia

Revitalization Podcast

Scan with your phone camera

to learn more.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Myaamia Center, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

Myaamia Center Celebrates New Technology

Extension Office at Miami University

Staff Article

On May 1, 2025, the Myaamia Center celebrated an exciting milestone, welcoming visitors from

across Miami University to the grand opening of its

new Technology Extension Office, located on the

first floor of Laws Hall. The event brought together

faculty, students, and community members to celebrate the new space and a new chapter in the Center’s growth.

Since 2013, the Myaamia Center, the official

research center of the Miami Tribe, has been located in the historic Bonham House. Over the years, Miami University guests mingle with Myaamia

the Center has grown in scope, staff, and mission, Center staff in the new Technology Extension

bringing with it the need for more space. While the Office. Photo by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

majority of daily operations will remain at Bonham

House, the new office in Laws Hall is being used to

expand the Center’s technological initiatives.

The open house offered guests a chance to view

the workspace, connect with the team, and learn

more about the wide range of projects being developed in support of the Myaamia community.

Currently, the Laws Hall office is home to the

Center’s software development team, including Dr.

Doug Troy and his team of graduate student software developers. This tech-forward team focuses

on creating digital resources that support language

revitalization, cultural preservation, and educational outreach. Among their ongoing projects are the

Indigenous Language Digital Archive (ILDA) and

the Myaamia Education Portal.

The Technology Extension Office is an important physical reminder of the growth the Center has

experienced, from its roots in language and cultural reclamation to a dynamic hub of innovation and

research. It also represents the strong partnership

between the Myaamia Center and Miami University, which continues to support this unique and

important work. As the Myaamia Center continues

to grow, so does its ability to serve the Myaamia

people and engage with the broader academic and

Indigenous communities.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Myaamia Center, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki – Myaamia Publications – Vol. 18, No. 4, Spring 2025 – Section E – Eemamwiciki

Join Us for 2025 Online Eemamwiciki

Summer Programs

Staff Article

Each summer, the Miami Tribe offers in-person youth and adult summer programming in both

Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Miami, Oklahoma. The

Eemamwiciki Summer Programs offer quality language and cultural education for the Myaamia community. Designed for participants aged six and older,

these summer programs have proven to be a positive

way to bring our community together to gain and

share our cultural knowledge. Each program is administered by the Miami Tribe’s Cultural Resources Office with teaching staff and curricular support

from the Myaamia Center at Miami University.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, staff were

faced with the challenge of bringing these programs

to an online format. As a community spread across

the United States, the online format proved to be

a useful and meaningful experience for those who

cannot travel to Indiana or Oklahoma for the in-person programs. Eewaansaapita, for ages 10-17, and

Neehsaapita, for adults 18+, are administered online

through Šaapohkaayoni, the Myaamia education

portal, each summer.

To sign up, visit myaamiaportal.com and log in

or create an account. Under “Manage Courses,” you

will see the option to request access to the 2025

“Living on the Land” courses. Adult participants

can request access to the “2025 Neehsaapita: Living

on the Land” course.

Parents or legal guardians of youth participants

will need to create a minor account on Šaapohkaayoni. To do this:

1. Log in to your Šaapohkaayoni account

2. Under profile, add a minor child

3. If the child has already been added, you can edit

the profile by clicking the blue button with the

pencil on it.

4. Click the checkbox to create a profile

5. Create a username or use an email address that is

different from the one connected to your account

6. Create a password

7. Agree to the permission statement

8. Click create

The youth participant can then log in and request

access to the “2025 Eewaansaapita: Living on the

Land” course.

Questions? Don’t hesitate to contact Kristina

Fox, Myaamia Education Coordinator at

markskm@miamioh.edu.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Eemamwiciki, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

Living on the Land: Three

Myaamia Phrases for

Summer Programs

Ciinkwia ‘Jarrid Baldwin’ and Hunter

Thompson Lockwood

This year’s theme is

meehtohseeniwinki ašiihkionki

‘Living on the Land.’

Learn about Myaamia culture and

connect with community while having

fun in one of our youth (ages 6-17) or

adult (ages 18+) programs.

Aya ceeki! As we get ready for summer, the best

time of year is approaching: Eemamwiciki Summer

Programs! This year’s theme is Meehtohseeniwinki

Ašiihkionki ‘Living on the Land’, and we have some

useful phrases to help you get ready.

Here are three phrases you can practice:

tipeewe neeyolaani ‘it’s good to see you’ – Use

this for all the friends and relatives you made from

past years but haven’t seen in a while. And if you’re

new, this is a good greeting to get used to!

šaaye-nko kiilwa? ‘Are you all ready?’ – This is

a common question you’re going to hear when getting ready for the next activity.

keetwi ooniini? ‘What is this?’ – This is a very

useful phrase as we go on hikes and spend a lot of

time learning about our environment, the different

plants and trees, and everything around us, and how

we use them as myaamiaki.

We hope you’ll practice these phrases before

summer programs begin! Which phrase do you think

you’ll use the most? We look forward to seeing you

all soon and hearing these words spoken throughout

our time together on the land.

kapootwe kati neeyolakakoki ‘see you all after a while’!

Miami, OK:

June 16-20, 2025

Fort Wayne, IN:

July 14-18, 2025

Saakaciweeta participants hike with counselors

at the Summer Programs in 2022. Photo by

Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

cecaahkwa kiilhswa — April 1st - April 30th, 2025

This month is named for the sandhill crane.

Cecaahkwaki

ʻsandhill

cranes’

from their winter in the3E

south.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Eemamwiciki,

Vol. 18,

No.

4,return

2025

Historically Myaamionki ‘Myaamia land’ was marked by carving or

marking the shape of a cecaahkwa head onto trees.

myaamia kiilhswaakani ‘myaamia lunar calendar’

wiihkoowia kiilhswa — May 1st - May 29th, 2025

This

month iskiilhswa

named for

whippoorwill.

wiihkoowia

— the

Mayeastern

1st - May

29th, 2025

wiihkoowia

— the

Mayeastern

1st - May

29th, 2025

This month iskiilhswa

named for

whippoorwill.

Wiihkoowiaki

ʻwhippoorwills’

return from

their winter in the Gulf of

This month is named

for the eastern

whippoorwill.

This

month

is named

for the eastern

whippoorwill.

Mexico

during

this time.

Wiihkoowiaki

ʻwhippoorwills’

return from

their winter in the Gulf of

Mexico duringʻwhippoorwills’

this time.

Wiihkoowiaki

return from their winter in the Gulf of

Wiihkoowiaki

ʻwhippoorwills’

return

their winter

theplanting

Gulf of

The

unique

call

of wiihkoowia

marksfrom

the beginning

ofinthe

Mexico

during

this

time.

Mexico

during

time.

season.

The

unique

callthis

of wiihkoowia

marks the beginning of the planting

season.

The

unique call of wiihkoowia marks the beginning of the planting

The

unique call of wiihkoowia marks the beginning of the planting

season.

paaphsaahka niipinwiki — May 30th - June 28th, 2025

This month fallsniipinwiki

in the middle

of the

summer

season.

paaphsaahka

— May

30th

- June 28th,

2025

paaphsaahka

— May

30th

- June 28th,

2025

This month fallsniipinwiki

in the middle

of the

summer

season.

Pahsaahkaahkanka

neepinwiki

ʻsummer

solstice,ʼ

or the longest

This

month falls in the

middle of

the summer

season.

This

month

falls is

inalways

the

middle

the summer

season.

day

the year,

in thisof

month.

Pahsaahkaahkanka

neepinwiki

ʻsummer

solstice,ʼ

or the longest

day of the year, is always

in thisʻsummer

month. solstice,ʼ or the longest

Pahsaahkaahkanka

neepinwiki

Pahsaahkaahkanka

neepinwiki

ʻsummer

solstice,ʼ

orgames

the longest

Planting

finishes,

people

take

a break

to enjoy

and

day

of the

year, isand

always

in this

month.

day

of the

year,harvest

isand

always

in this

month.

dances

before

begins.

Planting

finishes,

people

take

a break to enjoy games and

dances before

harvest

begins.take a break to enjoy games and

Planting

finishes,

and people

Planting

finishes,

and people

dances before

harvest

begins.take a break to enjoy games and

dances before harvest begins.

kiišiinkwia kiilhswa — June 29th - July 27th, 2025

This

month is

named for

the young

that can

be eaten raw off

kiišiinkwia

kiilhswa

— June

29th - corn

July 27th,

2025

kiišiinkwia

kiilhswa

— June

29th - July 27th, 2025

the cob during

this time

of year.

This month is named for the young corn that can be eaten raw off

This

month

named

for

theyear.

young

cornduring

that can

eaten

raw off

Many

other

fruits

and

vegetables

ripen

thisbetime

as well.

the cob

during

this

time

the cob during this time of year.

This

a timefruits

for celebration,

play,ripen

and feasts.

Manyisother

and vegetables

during this time as well.

Many other fruits and vegetables ripen during this time as well.

This is a time for celebration, play, and feasts.

mihšiiwia kiilhswa — July 28th - August 26th, 2025

This

monthkiilhswa

is named—for

the28th

eastern

elk. 26th, 2025

mihšiiwia

July

- August

mihšiiwia kiilhswa — July 28th - August 26th, 2025

Male

mihšiiwiaki

ʻelk’ for

would

loudly

This month

is named

the bugle

eastern

elk. to attract females and

This

is named

for the eastern elk.

scaremonth

away other

males.

Male mihšiiwiaki ʻelk’ would bugle loudly to attract females and

Male

mihšiiwiaki

ʻelk’

wouldtobugle

loudlybytoboth

attract

females

The

elk was

driven

extinction

habitat

lossand

and

scareeastern

away other

males.

scare

away other

males.

overhunting

by early

settlers.

The eastern elk was driven to extinction by both habitat loss and

The

eastern elk

to extinction by both habitat loss and

overhunting

by was

earlydriven

settlers.

overhunting by early settlers.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Eemamwiciki, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

For more information visit Miami Nation Events on Facebook.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Eemamwiciki, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2025

For noošonke siipionki ‘Oklahoma’ events, RSVP

to Joshua Sutterfield at (918) 325-0107 or

jsutterfield@miamination.com.

For kiihkayonki ‘Indiana’ events, RSVP to Claudia

Hedeen at (918) 325-8810 or

chedeen@miamination.com.

OFFICIAL NOTICE:

The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma will host their Annual Meeting

on June 28th, 2025

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.