aatotankiki myaamiaki (2024)

Tribal code

Ask Donna

What actually matters in this document.

Text

M I A M I

N A T I

N E W S

aatotankiki myaamiaki

Myaamia Publications – Vol. 18, No. 1, Summer 2024 – Section A – News – Noošonke Siipionki Myaamionki

neehaapiikasiciki Exhibit

Featuring Myaamia

Ribbonwork to Open at

MHMA During Winter

Gathering 2025 B1

MYAAMIAKI NEWS

Chief Report 3A

HISTORY & CULTURE

COMMUNITY

First Americans Museum Myaamia People Conto Exhibit Myaamia Rib- nect Through ‘Linking the

Miami National Gathering bonwork 2B

Generations’ Program 1C

Myaamia Community Val- Taproot Fellowship Will Cre...Tribal Land Once Again 6A ues 4B

ate Big Positive Ripples... 3C

MYAAMIA CENTER

Myaamiaki

Recap 2D

EEMAMWICIKI

Conference Eemamwiciki

Summer

Programs Recap 1E

‘No one else has a com- How to Make Your Own

mitment like this’: The Gourd Rattle 2E

two Miamis ... 4D

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2024

aatotankiki myaamiaki

MIAMI NATION NEWS is published by the Sovereign Miami Tribe of Okla-

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.

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

Email: mtocro@gmail.com

Editorial Staff:

Julie Olds, Madalyn Richardson, Karen Baldwin, Diane Hunter,

Joshua Sutterfield, Doug Peconge, Meghan Dorey, Bobbe Burke.

Section A: News

The Chief Report

Miami National Gathering...

...Tribal Land Once Again

Intr. the Myaamia Heritage Re...7A

Tar Creek Apprenticeship Prog... 8A

Section B: History & Culture

... ‘Black Ash Baskets’...

... Exhibit Featuring Ribbonwork... 1B

First Americans Museum to ... 2B

Myaamia Makerspace and Rec...3B

Myaamia Community Values

Maple Sugaring 2024

Reclaiming Stories: Rethinking... 6B

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.

Section C: Community

Myaamia people Connect...

Honoring Retiree from OCC 2C

Teaching and Learning in Ger... 2C

Myaamia Heritage Graduates... 2C

Williams, Receives 4th in State... 2C

Taproot Fellowship will create... 3C

Remembering

“

...

waanantakhsinka “Lying quietly” 3C

Myaamia Back-to-School Fund... 4C

Section D: Myaamia Center

National Breath of Life...

Recap of the 2024 Myaami... 2D

‘No one has a comm...’ 4D

Independent Study: Storytelling 5D

Aašitehkawaataawi “Let’s Meet...”6D

Myaamia Student Experience... 7D

New Myaamia Dictionary App... 8D

Section E: Eemamwaciki

Eemamwiciki 2024 Summer...

SummerFest Recap 2024

How to Make a Gourd Rattle

Cultural Corner

Eemamwiciki Events

TRIBAL MEMBER ADDRESS UPDATES:

Contact Tera Hatley at thatley@miamination.com or by phone 918-541-1300.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2024

aacimwita akima: The Chief Report

Aya, Aya ceeki! Greetings to all my Myaamia

relatives from our Nation’s headquarters in Noošonke Siipionki Myaamionki. Šaašaakayolia kiilhswa

– grass burning moon – is here, and like many of

you I am eager to put away my lawn mower and

transition to cooler weather. Admittedly, I am ready

for hunting season, and I wish good hunts to all who

are planning to harvest food from the land this way.

As the fiscal year closes, we are busy with budget reviews, assessments and preparations for the

new fiscal year that begins on October 1, 2024. This

new work year will see the opening of a new community market, the opening of a major new exhibit

in the Myaamia Heritage Museum & Archive, further improvements around our dance grounds, the

completion of our new Court Room, and the opening

of a special exhibit about our ribbonwork at the First

Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, OK.

Our summer was packed, as usual, with culture

and language education programs, and of course the

National Gathering Week events leading up to our

annual General Council meeting. The meeting was

held on Saturday, June 29th in our Nation’s Council

Building in Miami, OK, and opened with songs in

myaamiaataweenki. On behalf of all Myaamia citizens and their families in attendance this year, mihši

neewe to our singers that morning. Like most of you,

I remember when our meetings did not include singing in our language. We had lost that ability due to

the great losses in language and cultural knowledge

brought by removals, boarding schools, and other

policies designed to bring about our end as a Nation.

I am so grateful for the restoration of our language

and cultural knowledge through 27 years of revitalization work.

To the Myaamia citizens, and their families, who

were able to attend the meeting, we were honored by

your presence. Mihši neewe, thank you so much to

each family represented, and to those who were able

to bring their children and grandchildren because attending community events is one way of encouraging them to learn about their tribe, and perhaps the

seeds planted here, and through our many gatherings

and online events, may one day lead them to a role

of Tribal community service.

As of May 24, 2024, we, the sovereign Miami

Tribe of Oklahoma, after 178 years, once again have

sovereign land, held in trust for us, in the heartland

region of our homeland in the state of Indiana. The

45-acre parcel, which we call peehkahkionki – beautiful land – is located on Fritz Road in Fort Wayne.

The property truly is beautiful and includes a 3.5acre pond, 13 acres of woods, and a two-story house

currently used for offices for our Cultural Resources

Extension Office. Construction is set to begin on an

8,000 sq ft community center designed to include office, meeting, and education spaces. We are excited

for this new chapter of work in Indiana.

Transferring lands to “trust status” involves the

tribe transferring legal title to the United States to

be held for the benefit of a Tribe. Trust acquisition

seeks to restore tribal land to the sort of common

ownership that existed before they were broken up

by the United States in the late 19th century. It also

renders the land not subject to sale or other transfer

out of tribal control without the consent of the United States and the Tribe. Tribal trust land is subject

to tribal and federal governmental authority and generally is not subject to state county and local laws.

With funds from the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), we have completed our

meat processing plant called Prairie Sky Processing.

Located on the Chief David Geboe Allotment, on

30 Road in the Miami-Peoria Reservation, the 5,000

square foot facility is in operation taking custom orders and is currently outfitted to process cattle, pigs,

lambs, goats, and deer. Second Chief Dustin Olds has

worked hard to bring this project to completion, and

reports that within the coming year the facility will be

USDA inspected. This will allow us to sell meat to our

Tribal families anywhere in the country.

The transition of the Prairie Sun Casino building,

located across the street from Tribal headquarters to the

new Prairie Sun Events Center is complete. The 7,200

square foot space includes a full-service kitchen and

was used for a community lunch and cultural presentations during the National Gathering Week events.

We enjoyed the completed renovation of our

Pow Wow arena during the dance this year. The project included removal of the rock, and cement circle,

surrounding the dance arena, restoration, and application of sod throughout, new lighting, improved

vendor area, and improved parking on the north side

of the game field.

I hope each of you have discovered our new and

greatly improved Miami Nation website, miamination.com. The new site is still under construction

but is already providing most of the key information needed by Tribal citizens. I want to thank Jordan Poyfair, a new Team member in the Cultural

Resources Office, for her hard work to create and

manage the site.

We have another important web-based resource

in the new site called the Šaapohkaayoni Education

Portal. This unique resource was created to further

aid the education needs of the Myaamia community.

Our citizens and their families are dispersed throughout the U.S., and internationally, and traveling to

access educational opportunities is not always feasible. This portal allows members of the Myaamia

community to access educational opportunities from

anywhere with Internet access. These educational

opportunities include self-directed learning modules, searchable learning resources, and the ability

to sign up for synchronous and asynchronous programming. Locate the site at https://mc.miamioh.

edu/eduportal/about/index, and be sure to register

as a citizen user to access all features made for our

community.

I also want to extend our thanks to Madalyn Richardson, another new Team member in the Cultural

Resources Office, for her creative work on the Tribal

Newspaper. We mail a multi-section print edition of

the paper in the summer and another in the winter. For

the transitional periods of spring and fall, the newspaper is a digital edition only. All editions of the paper

are available for online reading on the website.

Recently each Tribal Household received a very

special publication. Created by Cultural Resources

Office Noošonke ARPA Team members Madalyn

Richardson and Nate Poyfair, the beautiful publication “Myaamia Kiilhsooki: Myaamia Moons, Seasons & Years, is both beautiful and educational in

content. We are very proud of this publication and

extend our great thanks to the CRO Office for this

special project.

Turning to our governmental work, in March of

this year, the Tribe was notified of a national treasure of the Miami people listed for sale by an auction

house in Los Angeles, California. The provenance

listed by the auction house identified the Peace

Medal as the 1795 Peace Medal presented by General Wayne on behalf of the newly formed United

States government, to the Miami people following

the signing of the Treaty of Greenville. The Miami

Tribe was represented both in war at Fallen Timbers

and at the Treaty negotiations by our War Chief, Mihšihkinaahkwa (Little Turtle.) The medal was a gift

to the Tribe to be passed down from generation to

generation, and was not owned by Mihšihkinaahkwa, but entrusted to his care for the benefit of the

Tribe. The Miami Peace Medal was not buried with

our great leader upon his passing in 1812 – it was not

his to take on his journey but passed on to the care

of his successors.

The Miami Peace Medal has great historical

and cultural importance to the Tribe, and the initial

conveyance outside of the Tribe, to private possession, did not convey legitimate title. The Tribe, as

the rightful owners of the Peace Medal requested

through letter to the auction house, 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 auction house did not respond, so the

Tribe filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of Orange County to stop the auction of the Peace Medal

through a temporary restraining order (TRO).   The

auction house responded by filing a motion in opposition, but, recognizing the irreparable harm to the

Tribe should the sale go forward, the Court granted

the Tribe’s TRO, and the Peace Medal was removed

from the auction items.

The Court has granted the parties an extension

until December 16, 2024, to discuss the Peace Medal

and options the Tribe proposes to return the Peace

Medal to the Miami people. This is truly a unique

piece of Miami Tribe history. We will do everything

we can to see that the Peace Medal is returned to us,

the rightful owners.

We continue our important post-McGirt work

policing and protecting our community and reservation lands. The Tribe’s District Court holds a criminal docket twice a month, hearing an average of 30

cases each court day for criminal conduct that has

arisen on the Tribe’s reservation lands. We are so

pleased with our court staff, who work to provide a

fair due process forum for those in the criminal system. The Tribe updated and amended its Civil Procedure Code, Criminal Offenses Code and Criminal

Akima Eecipoonkwia

Chief Douglas Lankford

Procedure Code. In addition, the Tribe enacted its

new Juvenile Code and is working through its Court

to respond to and address the delinquent conduct of

native minors occurring on the Tribe’s reservation.

As with adult criminal conduct, the goal is to

restore harmony in the community and the lives of

both victims and those involved in criminal conduct

through its court processes. The Tribe has contracted with a professional to provide services as an adult

Community Probation Officer. This individual will

work closely with those in our criminal justice system to see that those convicted fulfill probation requirements and successfully conclude any sentence

imposed by the Miami Tribe District Court.   Again,

the goal of the Tribe is to restore harmony to the

community, to the victim, the individual charged

with the crime and families of both parties.

On May 16, 2024, the Tribe received correspondence from the Department of Interior informing the

Tribe would receive a reoccurring annual allocation

of $132,726 beginning with FY-2024 appropriations

to apply toward its Tribal Court program, establishing a detention corrections program and for criminal investigations and police services. Since 2006

the Tribe has self-funded its Tribal District Court

with occasional funds from the Tribal Justice Service upon lengthily demonstration of need for funds.

This reoccurring allocation, though underfunded, is

greatly needed.

As I have reported in the past, the Miami Tribe

is the lead Tribe in a Northeast Tribal Consortium

(Consortium Tribes) where six of the nine Tribes

in Ottawa County have agreed to join resources to

respond to the post-McGirt criminal jurisdiction issues. The Consortium Tribes requested and received

funding from the Department of Justice to hire a

Special United States Attorney (SAUSA) to perform

federal prosecution of major crimes on reservation

lands of the Consortium Tribes. The Tribes finalized

a Memorandum of Understanding with the United

States Attorney Office (USAP) about the roles, responsibilities, and duties of this position which will

interface with staff in the USAO in the Northern

District of Oklahoma seated in Tulsa.

The Tribes continue to seek applicants interested

in the SAUSA position. It is a goal of the Consortium

Tribes to have their own SAUSA to ensure that major crimes taking place on the reservation lands of the

Consortium Tribes are dealt with promptly and fairly.

Another moving piece the Consortium Tribes

have responded to is the need for a new detention center and treatment programs for defendants

serving jail sentences because of criminal conduct.

Currently, defendants in custody are housed at the

Ottawa County Jail. This location is challenged by

sufficient room to house inmates as well as some

infrastructure challenges. The Consortium Tribes

have reached out to federal partners identifying the

need for more resources to provide law enforcement

and public safety services, as well as an adequate

detention facility in Northeast Oklahoma.

While I speak of our Court, I’d like to report

that the Tribe’s project to remodel existing space in

our headquarters building into a new state-of-theart courtroom continues. This grant-funded project through the Department of Justice includes the

construction of a new courtroom, jury deliberation

room, judges chamber, and file storage space. In addition to a beautiful remodel inside, we constructed a new concrete parking lot for court attendees.

This new parking area will benefit the elderly, or

anyone injured or handicapped who requires access

Continued on page 4A >>

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2024

<< Continued from page 3A

to the Court. The architect firm we contracted with

is Green Light Native, an outstanding architectural

firm in Tulsa that offers some nice construction and

design options to help us achieve the professional

yet warm look important to the Tribe in this court

space. The Tribe is in the process now of receiving

bids from contractors to perform the remodel work.

We hope to begin construction work in late fall or

this winter and hope to make significant progress

toward the completion of this project by mid-2025.

The Tribe continues its important work in Washington, D.C., meeting with Congressional Representatives and staff members to maintain strong relationships fostered over a decade and to promote legislative

work to achieve the goals of the Tribe.

Senator Markwayne Mullin has been a great advocate for the Miami Tribe, authoring and introducing

our Illinois land bill in both the House and Senate and

our recent Senate bill S. 2796. I traveled to Washington, D.C., on February 7 to give testimony on S. 2796

before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. S.

2796 is a bipartisan bill to resolve the Tribe’s Treaty-based land claim to lands in east-central Illinois.

This legislation would provide the Tribe congressional authorization to bring its land claim to the Federal

Court in Washington, D.C.   The Bill has passed out

of the subcommittee in the Senate and is awaiting final Senate action. Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and

Tammy Duckworth have signed onto the bill and Illinois Representative Mike Bost who represents the

area, and whose family has lived in the area for generations, is now a House co-author on the Bill.

This bill is truly unique in this aspect. The cloud

on title goes away for landowners in Southeast Illinois the day the Bill is signed into law, authorizing jurisdiction for the DC federal court to hear our

claim for undue taking of tribal lands. We’ve had

great bipartisan support of this Bill and so appreciate the time and energy our congressional partners

contributed to this very important effort. Election

season is always a hard time to pass a bill and get it

to the President’s desk, but we are closer now than

we have ever been. We will continue to work to get

our day in Court.

For some years now, the Miami Tribe and other

Ottawa County Tribes have worked 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.

Finally, we have achieved a win.

In 2018, the City of Miami filed a complaint

alleging the GRDA is non-compliant with its current license because it is flooding land to which it

does not hold easements or title. Following hearings

before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

and an appeal to the United States District Court in

Washington, D.C., the D.C. Circuit ordered FERC

to address, among other things, the City’s argument

related to flooding and damage to land. On January

18, 2024, FERC issued an astounding order, a massive win for the City and the Tribes. Among other

things, the FERC Order found that the GRDA operation of the Pensacola Dam caused increased flooding

around the City of Miami and that GRDA must identify the land to which it must acquire easements and

acquire them. For city property owners and Tribes

who have suffered decades of destructive GRDA

flooding and damage without compensation, this is a

long-awaited result. The Tribe will continue its work

to ensure that any impacts on tribal lands and natural

and cultural resources are recognized and addressed.

As you may recall from the Annual Meeting, you

were introduced to Miami Nation Enterprises new

CEO Lance Theobald. Lance is a Tribal citizen, 2010

graduate of Miami University with a B.S. in Accounting. He and his wife Kelly, and their five children live

on a small farm in Charlotte, NC. After serving as a

commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy, followed by

the Reserves, he began working for Miami Nation

Enterprises (MNE) in 2011 working for the federal

contracting company, Miami Business Services. He

was hired as President of MNE’s federal contracting

group (FCG) in August of 2023. He was a member of

the MNE Board of Directors, appointed in 2016, and

left the Board upon taking the helm as CEO. Lance is

a tremendous leader, and we are proud and excited to

welcome him to this position.

The path to this opportunity for Lance was paved

by Mr. Peter Murphy, CEO of MNE from 2016 to

his retirement in early 2024. Following his retirement, Peter was appointed by Leadership to serve

on the Miami Nations Enterprise Board of Directors.

Peter is an exceptional leader and brought his many

years of military and business leadership expertise to

MNE during a difficult time of transition. His steadfast commitment to building MNE and its portfolio

of companies has positioned us for our current success, and provided pathways for growth we know

Lance will further for our Nation.

We also welcome Tribal Member Mika Leonard

to MNE in her new position as Vice-President of Operations, a position she assumed February 1, 2024.

Mika is a 2006 graduate of Miami University with

a B.A. in Linguistics. Mika is the granddaughter of

Chief Floyd E. Leonard, and like Lance, served as

a member of the MNE Board of Directors, appointed in 2019. Mika also previously worked for MNE

in the federal contracting group from 2015-2017.

Mika left the board upon taking the Vice President

duties but was recently re-appointed as an interim

board Board Member. Mika, her husband Ryan, and

daughter Olive (4) live in Denver, Colorado. We are

so pleased to have both Tribal Members serving the

Tribe in these important roles.

I encourage all citizens to make plans to travel

home to Miami, OK, for our Annual Winter Gathering Events set for the last Friday & Saturday in January each year. This year our events are for January

24 & 25, 2026.

Mihši neewe for your support, and encouragement to us all who work for our Nation. We are honored to serve you.

Akima Eecipoonkwia – Chief Douglas Lankford

Introducing the Myaamia Heritage Review Committee

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 receive

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

Directions for submission:

Fill out and submit the form to mtomhrc@miamination.com

Please include, if possible, entire file materials required for a comprehensive review through secure methods of sharing

Please wait for a return contact from mtomhrc@

miamination.com with further instructions and

an estimated time frame for review

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.

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

Want to

learn more

about the

Myaamia

Culture?

Check out our online resources at

aacimotaatiiyankwi.com

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2024

Miami Tribe National Gathering Recap

Akima ‘Chief’ Lankford welcomes attendees to the Annual General Council Meeting on June 29, 2024. Photo by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

and their relatives to spend time with one another celebrating Myaamia

Myaamia Center Communications Specialist

culture.

Starting on Wednesday, June 26, Scott Shoemaker led a Myaamia ribbonThe Miami Tribe of Oklahoma held its Annual General Council Meet- work workshop at the Prairie Sun Event Center. With help from the Myaamia

ing on Saturday, June 29, in Noošonke Siipionki ‘Miami, OK’ to hold Makerspace team, about 30 people learned the process and were able to take

tribal elections and share important updates with Tribal citizens.

home supplies to finish their projects. While most people made adjustable hat

The meeting opened with a prayer and community song, followed by bands, others modified the project to make bracelets.

Akima ‘Chief’ Lankford’s State of the Nation Address. Aakimwa ‘SecThat evening, Myaamia community members were invited to a recepretary-Treasurer’ Donya Williams presented the financial report before tion for the St. Clair’s Defeat Revisited exhibit currently displayed at the

Daryl Baldwin shared updates on

NEO A&M College in Miami, OK.

the Myaamia Center, the Tribe’s reThe traveling exhibit introduces

search office at Miami University.

guests to the complex history, conFinally, Lance Theobald, Myaamia

text, and aftermath of the battle, with

citizen and CEO of Miami Nation

respect to the nine Tribal Nations

Enterprises shared updates on the

involved in the defeat. It will be on

Tribe’s businesses.

display until December 1, before it

With 204 voting members presmoves to the Ohio History Center in

ent, elections began promptly after

Columbus, Ohio.

the updates. This year, two seats on

On Thursday, June 27, Family

the business committee and two seats

Day was hosted at Drake House,

on the grievance committee were up

where there were competitions for

for election. On the business comarchery and lacrosse, as well as

mittee, Dustin Olds was re-elected

non-competitive tomahawk throwto his position as Niišonaminki Akiing for those interested.

ma ‘Second Chief’, and Tera HatSeveral rounds of each compeley was re-elected to her position

tition were played to accommodate

as Aacimwa ‘First Councilperson’, Myaamia citizens open the meeting with a community song. Photo by the number of participants and acboth three-year terms. Stacey Wil- Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

tivities went late into the evening.

liams won one of the seats on the

The Miami Tribe provided both

grievance committee and Kolby

lunch and dinner throughout the day

Lankford was re-elected in the othand the Myaamia Makerspace set

er, both three-year terms.

up a station to make beaded jewelry.

As votes are counted by a team

After dinner, a fire was lit bejust off the stage, members of the

hind the house for a stomp dance.

business committee raffled off door

The dance began with the Lead

prizes to the crowd waiting for reCaller starting a song and the Shaksults to be announced. Lucky winers keeping rhythm with their cans.

ners left the meeting with lacrosse

The other dancers fell behind them

sticks, community flags, wool blanas their ever-growing line spiraled

kets, and other prizes.

around the fire. After several songs,

The final elections of the day

the Shakers and Callers grew tired

were for the Tribal Ambassador and

and wrapped up their dancing.

Jr. Tribal Ambassador. These are poThe next morning, Friday, June

sitions for young female leaders to

28, community members gathered at

represent the community at public

the Tribe’s lacrosse field behind the

events. Sophie Olds was elected as Myaamia community members explore St. Clair’s Defeat Revisited. Council House. Despite the heat of

the Tribal Ambassador for a three- Photo by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

the day, Myaamia people of all ages

year term and Abigail Pollock was

played an intense game that was ultielected as the Jr. Tribal Ambassador

mately won by the red team.

for a one-year term. Both Sophie and

Following the game, everyone

Abigail are long-time participants in

was invited back to the Prairie Sun

our summer youth programs: SaakEvent Center for a well-deserved meal

aciweeta and Eewansaapita.

and cultural education presentations.

During the meeting, Jim Battese

This year, the community learned

was honored with a blanket for his

about the Tribal Historic Preservawork with the Myaamia Cemetery,

tion Office (THPO), the Tribe’s use

Parks and Road Office. Photo by

of search-and-rescue dogs, Myaamia

Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

ribbonwork, and St. Clair’s Defeat.

As the meeting wrapped up,

During these presentations, Jeneveryone was invited to the Prainifer Jordan Hall was honored with

rie Sun Event Center just down the

a blanket for her work with searchstreet for a community meal, before

and-rescue dogs, who have been

the Miami Nation’s Annual Pow

instrumental in locating burials to

Wow in the evening.

ensure they are protected. The dogs,

While the General Meeting takes Myaamia community members explore St. Clair’s Defeat Revisited. named Pocket and Wick, were giftplace on Saturday, events are host- Photo by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

ed dog beds for their efforts.

ed throughout the week for citizens

Continued on page 6A >>

Stella Beerman

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2024

<< Continued from page 5A

Meghan Dorey also announced “neehaapiikasiciki: The Healing

Threads of Myaamia Ribbonwork,” an exhibit that will bring historical

pieces from the collections of the National Museum of the American Indian and the Cranbrook Institute of Science to the Myaamia Heritage Museum and Archive in Miami, OK. The exhibit will be open from January 22,

2025, to July 3, 2026, allowing folks to stop by and see it during Winter

Gathering or National Gathering Week.

That evening, the first night of the Miami Nation’s Annual Pow Wow

began on the Pow Wow grounds behind the council house with the Grand

Entry. Dances, food, and vendors went late into the night before the event

wrapped up, and everyone went home to rest for Saturday’s events.

While voting for leadership is a crucial part of exercising tribal sovereignty, participating in opportunities to learn about Myaamia culture

continues to strengthen bonds within the community. Looking forward,

tribal members should keep an eye on miamination.com for more opportunities to gather, learn, and create together, like the Winter Gathering set A group of Myaamia Callers prepares for the stomp dance. Photo by

for January 2025.

Karen Baldwin, Myaamia Center.

Myaamia youth show off temporary tattoos from the airbrush tattoo

station. Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

A community member lines up his shot during the archery competition.

Myaamia youth work on beaded necklaces with the Myaamia

Makerspace. Photo by Karen Baldwin, Myaamia Center.

Showing off a perfect tomahawk throw. Photo by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia

Photo by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

Center.

Aakima ‘Chief’ Lankford starts the community lacrosse game, played exclusively with Myaamia sticks. Photo by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2024

Myaamionki Kiihkayonki Peehkahkionki ‘Land of the

Myaamiaki, the Beautiful Place in Fort Wayne, Ind.,’

Tribal Land Once Again

Robin Lash

General Council

In October 1846, the last tribal nation in Indiana, the Miami Tribe,

was forcibly removed by the United States military to a new reservation

west of the Mississippi River in present-day eastern Kansas.

On June 7, 2024, 178 years later, the United States accepted approximately 45.21 acres of land located at 8222 Fritz Road in Fort Wayne,

Allen County, Indiana, into trust for the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. The

placement of this land in trust status restores the Miami Tribe’s full ownership and jurisdiction over it.

On June 11, 2024, in celebration of this momentous event for Myaamia

people, the Tribe held a Welcome Event on the Ft. Wayne property with

State, City and County officials, local businesses and neighbors, and

tribal members present to help celebrate the new trust status of the property. Many attended the Welcome Event, including Indiana Attorney

General Todd Rokita, a staunch supporter of the Miami Tribe while he

served as a U.S. Congressman for the State of Indiana in Washington,

D.C., and remains a good friend to the Tribe while serving as the State of

Indiana Attorney General.

As a federally recognized, sovereign tribal government, Miami leaders believe in creating strong relationships with city, county, and state

governmental counterparts, neighbors, and all who live and work in the

community. The Tribe is proud of the great relationships it has in Miami

Oklahoma, and it is the wish of Miami Leadership to create these same

strong relationships in Indiana as well.

Most importantly, the Tribe acquired the beautiful property on Fritz

Road to provide a place in the Tribe’s homeland to serve the cultural

needs of its over 1,200 tribal citizens living in the Lower Great Lakes

Region. This parcel of land the Tribe has named Peehkahkionki, the

Beautiful Place, truly is beautiful. On the land, you will find open spaces to play lacrosse, big gardens growing many varieties of traditional

Myaamia vegetables, walking trails, and dense woods with a wide variety of trees native to the area. The Tribe’s Cultural Resources Extension

Office will utilize the property to reconnect tribal citizens with one another and to provide a space for tribal members to participate in cultural

activities of Miami ancestors.

To help facilitate this, the Tribe is building an 8,000-square-foot

building that will contain four offices and a conference room from which

the CREO staff can operate and create culturally important programming

for our local tribal community. The building will include a commercial

kitchen to educate our community on traditional approaches to food harvesting and preparation from our on-property gardens and wild edible

plants. While the physical health of tribal citizens is essential, equally

important is their well-being. A portion of the facility will be developed

as a quiet space, allowing tribal members to observe nature to decompress. This structure will also have ample meeting space that will allow

tribal citizens to gather for community meals, tell winter stories, and

conduct cultural workshops such as learning how to sew ribbon work.

The goal is to preserve, protect, and enhance the Property as a diverse

natural setting for the Cultural Resources Office and tribal membership.

Because the property is held in trust for the Miami Tribe by the Department of Interior, the Tribe has exclusive authority to regulate the use

of the property and will be doing so under Article II of its Constitution.

Land use regulation is within the Tribe’s legitimate sovereign authority

and state and local jurisdiction to regulate Indian lands is preempted

by extensive Federal policy and legislation. Despite the foregoing, the

Tribe has designed the Cultural Resources Building to comply with all

state and local codes and regulations and has appointed its engineer to

work with its builder to confirm that the construction is fully compliant

with the designs.

An achievement of this magnitude is not without the hard work of

many people, and it began with the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Business

Committee who were committed on behalf of the Miami people to create

a place like this for Miami people. The Tribe is especially thankful for

its Cultural Resources Department and its Cultural Resources Extension

Office personnel who are working so hard on a daily basis to see the

goals and purpose for this land become a reality.

This beautiful land will serve the Myaamia community for generations to come. It will remain a uniquely Myaamia place – a place of cultural sharing, learning, and being a people – oowaaha kiiloona Myaamiaki – here we can be Myaamia.

Chief Lankford and Second Chief Olds are joined by tribal attorneys

Joe Haloran and Robin Lash to welcome Indiana Attorney General

Todd Rokita to CREO on the date of its entrance into federal trust

status. Photo by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

The pond located on the trust land and CREO property in Fort Wayne,

Ind. Photo by Doug Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

The pond located on the trust land and CREO property in Fort Wayne,

Ind. Photo by Doug Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Medical benefit applications will be mailed August 23, 2024 for the

FY 2024-2025 for eligible tribal members. The application will also be

available on the Miami Nation website. Medical benefit application MUST

be completed and returned to the Member Services office each year to

receive the benefit. Applications received before September 30, 2024 will

not be processed until the FY begins October 01, 2024.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2024

Tar Creek Apprenticeship

Program (TCAP): A

Successful Pilot Year!

Tami Lowery

Program Manager

The Tar Creek Apprenticeship Program (TCAP) is a pilot program

that seeks to reconnect tribal youth to the natural resources (water, land,

plants, and wildlife) of the Tar Creek area and in doing so reconnect

them to the cultural practices that use nature’s resources. TCAP teaches students the general principles for protecting and restoring natural

conditions in waterways and lands that have been degraded by mining

pollution. The goal of the program is to help tribal youth develop the

knowledge and skills to become future cultural leaders and ecological

restoration practitioners.

TCAP was implemented by the Tar Creek Trustee Council Indian

Tribes (TCTCIT) as part of their efforts to restore natural resources and

cultural services harmed by mining related to heavy metals released in

the environment at the Tar Creek Superfund Site. The program ran from

May 29 - July 11, 2024, with Northeastern Oklahoma College (NEO)

serving as the host venue throughout. The program provided six weeks

of classroom and hands-on training for 34 students of seven local Tribes.

Classes were led by professionals and experts in the fields of natural

resources, tribal culture, restoration, ecology, and environmental stewardship. In addition, students learned about the cultural lifeways associated with natural resources and participated in many hands-on activities

where they learned to make items such as moccasins and baskets.

The TCTCIT is comprised of seven tribes - the Cherokee Nation, the

Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, the

Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma, the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma,

the Seneca-Cayuga Nation, and the Wyandotte Nation. This group was

formed to coordinate the seven Tribes’ participation as co-trustees, along

with the State of Oklahoma and the U.S. Department of the Interior, on

the Tar Creek Trustee Council (TCTC), which oversees natural resource

damage assessment and restoration activities at the Tar Creek Superfund

Group photo of TCAP participants. Photo by Madalyn Richardson, Miami

Tribe of Oklahoma.

Miami tribal members and TCAP participants, (left to right) Trent

Myers, Sophie Olds, and Anna Collins. Photo by Tami Lowery.

Site. TCAP fulfills one of the goals of the seven Tribes to facilitate restoration through education and hands-on training of tribal youth. The

program is one of several projects funded by the TCTC to restore habitats

and uses of natural resources at the Tar Creek Superfund Site.

A total of 34 students were selected to participate in the pilot year of

TCAP, out of a pool of over 60 applicants. Students ranged in age from 16

to 21 with a total of 24 young men and 10 young women. In total there

were nine Cherokee, six Eastern Shawnee, three Miami, two Ottawa, four

Peoria, four Seneca-Cayuga, and six Wyandotte students. The three Miami

apprentices were: Anna Collins, Trent Myers, and Sophie Olds. All apprentices successfully completed the program and earned a lifetime hunting and fishing license and stipend, as well as the responsibility to pass on

their knowledge to friends, family, and future generations.

Throughout the TCAP curriculum, students learned a wealth of information about natural resources, their cultural significance, and restoration

of the ecosystem. Apprentices gained knowledge about a wide variety of

topics including pre-colonization/post-contact, ecology, fibrous/medicinal

plant-gathering, hunting, fish resources, mussels, first foods, food sovereignty, meat processing, farming, seed banks, pollination plants, sap-gathering, and lacrosse/stickball. In addition, students visited six restoration

field sites and participated in a restoration capstone project. They planted

2,000 trees, 100 butterfly plants, and removed 200 invasive thistles. They

also made their own pair of buckskin moccasins, a reed basket, a clay

pinch pot, an herbal healing salve, a hydrating ointment from herbs they

processed, and an arrow with a flint-knapped arrowhead by their own hand.

In addition, all apprentices passed the Oklahoma Hunter Safety Course.

The program culminated with a career day and closing ceremonies, which

included a release of butterflies they raised from caterpillars and a final

presentation on the capstone projects from all students.

The pilot year of TCAP was a huge success and TCTCIT is working

to secure funding for future years. In my role as the TCAP Classroom Supervisor, it was a true privilege to witness tribal youth embrace their own

tribal identity as a result of this program. We would like to give special

thanks to the Miami Nation for their contribution to this rich program as

well as direct involvement from Heather Webb, Tayler Frazier, and Hannah Burns of the Environmental Department, and significant guidance

from the Cultural Resources Department, and a field trip to the Natural

Resources Department and Myaamia Lacrosse Field.

Would you like to learn more about plants

from a Myaamia perspective?

Mahkihkiwa hosts botanical archives from over 100 years ago

as well as plant information that elders shared in the 1990s. The

ethnobotanical site is named, Mahkihkiwa ‘herb medicines,’

as a reminder of the importance of plants to living well from a

Myaamia point of view. There is so much that can be searched

and explored!

Explore mahkihkiwa.org today!

We have made signiﬁcant updates to both the casino ﬂoor as

well as to our Moon Restaurant and the new Moon full-service

bar! The gaming ﬂoor has recently DOUBLED in size featuring

the latest and favorite slot games for your entertainment.

Sunday "Senior Day"

Lunch special with entrée, side & beverage for $7.99 per person

from 11:30am – 2:30 pm.

“It doesn’t have to cost a

lot to have a lot of FUN

at Prairie Moon.”

202 S 8 Tribes Trail Miami, OK 74354

Weekly Lunch Specials

Only $8.99 and our food is GREAT!!

Thursday “Live Local Music”

Enjoy complimentary shows featuring talented music artists

from the 4-States from 7:00 -10:00 pm

Must be 21 to enjoy our games & amenities.

M I A M I

N A T I

N E W S

iiši-mihtohseeniwiyankwi

aatotamankwi

Myaamia Publications – Vol. 18, No. 1, Summer 2024– Section B – History & Culture – Noošonke Siipionki Myaamionki

Peepahkwilaakiiki Kiihkalaakani ‘Black Ash Baskets’: A

Basket Making Experience and Reflection

Nate Poyfair

Cultural Resources Office

In mid-June of this year, I was invited by the

Wyandotte Nation Cultural Center to participate

in a workshop aimed at teaching the harvesting and use of peepahkwilaakiikia ‘Black Ash

Trees’ to make baskets the same way that our

ancestors have made

them in the past. Tonia

Galban (Mohawk, Bear

Clan), who specializes

in making Black Ash

baskets, led a two-day

workshop

alongside

her husband Michael

and their children

Tsioianiio and Rotsirohawi aimed at teaching the process of harvesting and utilizing Pounding a

peepahkwilaakiikia for peepahkwilaakiiki

the creation of utilitar- ‘Black Ash’ log to

ian baskets.1 Over two seperate the layers at

days, we pounded logs the Wyandotte Nation

to split the separate Cultural Center. Photo

layers, cleaned and cut by Nate Poyfair.

the splits, and eventually weaved the wood into a basket. Since my

experience with these excellent teachers, I have

reflected and tried to learn more about the process of basketmaking. Below is information on

Black Ash Trees, basket making, and a reflection

on reestablishing this practice within our community.

Basket Making in The Great Lakes

The age-old peepahkwilaakiiki kiihkalaakani

‘black ash basket’ weaving practice has existed

in kihkcikama ‘Great Lakes’ region for many

generations. Myaamiaki ‘Miami people’ lived

in areas that would have had a plethora of Black

Ash trees, like low-lying wetlands surrounding

the lakes and rivers in the Lower Great Lakes.

Other communities that once lived amongst us,

such as the waahoonahaki ‘Potawatomi people’,

still live in areas with Black Ash trees where they

can maintain the practice of harvesting trees and

making baskets.2 In

Great Lakes communities, practices such

as basket-making involved both men and

women and would have

required time and effort

that helped to strengthen social and communal

bonds. Men would have

found, harvested, and

pounded trees, while

Peeling the layers of women would have

bark. A notch is cut at focused on cleaning,

the end of the log, and splitting, and weaving

as the log is pounded, the harvested wood to

the bark can be slowly create baskets. This

peeled back. Photo by process required both

Nate Poyfair.

genders to work together cooperatively. Black

Ash Basketry: A Story of Cultural Resilience is

an excellent documentary on the history and importance of the Black Ash Basket making within a

Potawatomi community in Michigan. This documentary is particularly relevant due to the history

of intermarriage among Myaamiaki and waahoonahaki. Our intermarriage with the waahoonahaki

dates hundreds of years, and the practice of weaving different materials to make baskets has been

shared between our two communities.

Myaamiaki are not the only people to have

experienced a huge loss in the communal knowl-

edge of basket weaving and the process of harvesting materials. However, this does not diminish the importance in re-learning and increasing

the spread of such knowledge within our community. Many communities, such as our own, that

have faced removal experienced a drastic loss

of cultural identity and connection to our traditional homelands. This has removed the ability

to pass on traditional knowledge based on our

environment and its resources. It is our responsibility to preserve and pass on this knowledge,

regardless of where we may live, as Black Ash

has become a scarce resource and requires much

more work to access and harvest. Other types of

kiihkalaakana ‘baskets’, such as elm bark baskets, have appeared in the historical record dating back to well before removal. Elm bark baskets, which are currently being made within our

community, appear to have become more common in the historical record in the 19th century,

and have become a more convenient option for

basketmaking due to availability.3 An important

difference between Elm and Black ash baskets is

that the Elm baskets do not require weaving.

As our environment continues to change,

new and invasive species are being introduced

in our traditional homelands as well. Although

these species are harmful to our environment

and native species, they can potentially be used

in artisanal ways. Invasives such as Asian Honeysuckle have become common and widespread

throughout the Great Lakes region. Community

members have taken initiative in removing invasive species on tribal properties but also in

experimenting potential uses of such species.

Learning from a Basket Weaver Family

The opportunity to learn from Tonia Galban

was a great chance to increase my knowledge

Continued on page 2B >>

neehaapiikasiciki Exhibit

Featuring Myaamia

Ribbonwork to Open at

MHMA During Winter

Gathering 2025

MHMA Staff Article

Close up of the ribbonwork ataahsema ‘leggings’ that will be on display

at the Myaamia Heritage Museum and Archive. Photo by Doug Peconge,

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Close up of the ribbonwork ataahsema ‘leggings’ that will be on display

at the Myaamia Heritage Museum and Archive. Photo by Karen Baldwin,

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

The Myaamia Heritage Museum & Archive (MHMA) is excited

to announce its newest exhibit neehaapiikasiciki: Healing Threads of

Myaamia Ribbonwork will open on January 22, 2025, the Wednesday

of Winter Gathering week. The exhibit is partially funded by an Institute

of Museum and Library Services grant awarded to MHMA with the goal

of building upon the ribbonwork exhibit installed at Miami University’s

Art Museum in early 2020, which was closed prematurely due to the

COVID-19 pandemic.

neehaapiikasiciki will feature a number of historical Myaamia ribbonwork pieces, pipes, and woven bags on loan from the Cranbrook Institute

of Science and the National Museum of the American Indian. It will also

display never-before-exhibited 19th century ribbonwork and silverwork

pieces that the Tribe acquired in 2022. These pieces were removed from

Myaamia families in Indiana over 100 years ago, and MHMA looks forward to reconnecting them with the Myaamia community. Though most

of the objects included are from the early 1800’s, the exhibit will also

bring together old and new ribbonwork and artwork, with work recently

produced by community artists from the MHMA collection or loaned by

the artists.

The exhibit will help visitors understand the construction and history

of myaamia ribbonwork, but also how the revitalization of ribbonwork

craft has strengthened the community. There will be an opening reception on January 23, 2025, for the Myaamia community and Winter Gathering guests. The museum will have extended hours during that weekend

so all visitors will have an opportunity to experience this wonderful opportunity. If you can’t make it for Winter Gathering, though, don’t worry: neehaapiikasiciki will be open until July 3, 2026.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2024

First Americans Museum

to Exhibit Myaamia

Ribbonwork

MHMA Staff Article

Opening January 18, 2025 at the First Americans

Museum (FAM) in Oklahoma City, Mended: the Language of Myaamia Ribbonwork shares the story of

historic Myaamia ribbonwork items coming back to the

community after a century of displacement. It celebrates

their return to the Tribe as a form of healing from the historical trauma caused by twentieth-century anthropologists who

collected ribbonwork by taking advantage of Myaamia families

facing grave poverty. The exhibit will also examine the relationship

between Myaamia ribbonwork and the revitalization of myaamiaataweenki ‘the Miami language,’ and how the return of the ribbonwork

will breathe life into the Tribe’s ongoing cultural revitalization efforts.

The exhibit will showcase two Myaamia ribbonwork pieces from different time periods. The first is a pair of mid-19th century ribbonwork

leggings collected by private collector Milford Chandler in the 1920s

in Peru, Indiana from Camillus Bundy’s family. They were purchased

by the Tribe in the fall of 2022 and are now in the collection of the

Myaamia Heritage Museum & Archive (MHMA). The second object is a

bandolier bag inspired by the Bundy Family’s leggings and other historic

Myaamia cultural items. The MHMA commissioned the creation of the

bag, bringing together contributions from a number of Myaamia artists:

ribbonwork by Scott Shoemaker and Kara Strass, fingerweaving by Jared Nally, beadwork by Katrina Mitten, and silverwork by Logan York.

The exhibit will also feature graphic illustrations by Myaamia artist Megan Sekulich. After the exhibit concludes, this bag will also become part

of the permanent collection at MHMA.

Curated by Dr. heather ahtone (Choctaw/Chickasaw) in consultation

with MHMA Manager Meghan Dorey, MHMA Curator of Exhibitions

and Programming Morgan Lippert, and Cultural Resources Officer Julie

Olds, the exhibit will run through March 14, 2025. FAM will host a special reception for Myaamia community members and guests on Saturday,

February 1, 2025. Please check MHMA’s Facebook page and miamination.com for updates in the upcoming months.

<< Continued from page 1B

from someone from a family of basket makers

located in an environment similar to that of our

homelands in the Lower Great Lakes. Working

with the Galban family alongside Wyandotte and

Seneca-Cayuga tribal citizens was an eye-opening

experience for me in multiple ways. The time and

effort in pounding the log and harvesting the split

wood helped me understand and feel the rooted

connections to this process we, as Native people

have. As we pounded the wood, it was a rhythmic

“music” that I imagined as a soothing sound once

heard outside our villages. The rhythmic pounding of the logs by the men, alongside the women

talking and laughing while cleaning and cutting

the wood splints, created an environment that one

could imagine sounded like our villages would

have hundreds of years ago. Sitting in groups and

working on baskets would have presumably been

a place for communal

growth. Women would

have perhaps gossiped

or taught each other

or youth, which would

have been a practice

that helped create tools

to make the daily collection of food or storing goods much more

manageable.

On June 14th, Tonia and family began Shaving the excess

by demonstrating the material to create

process of harvesting smooth and attractive

and pounding the black splints. Photo by Nate

ash logs for splits. The Poyfair.

log, about 8 feet long,

was soaked for a few days in water to soften the

layers of wood and was then pounded using a

large wood bat (wood or even the flat end of an

axe would suffice here). A small cut is made at

the end of the log about 3 inches wide and 6-9

layers/rings of wood deep so that when the wood

is pounded loose, it can slowly peel off the log

itself. This process takes significant physical exertion and time, thus making it much easier with

multiple men pounding. As soon as we removed

our first splints, the women and some of the men

began working on separating the splints by splitting the individual splints into thinner layers.

Following the separation of the splints, using

a pruning knife and draw knives to scrape the

loose wood shavings is the next step. This process (see photo) requires the scraper to repeatedly

and gently scrape the splints until they become

Close up of the ribbonwork ataahsema ‘leggings’ that will be on display

at the First Americans Museum. Photo by Doug Peconge, Miami Tribe of

Oklahoma.

smooth to the touch and of a similar surface touch swamps, and water sources, making the Great

of a processed and treated 2×4 board of lumber. Lakes a place for healthy growth and eventual use

Following the scraping of excess material, the by Native Americans.4 Destructive forestry and

splints are cut into thinner strips (depending on the invasion of the emerald ash borer have greatthe size of your weaving and spoke strips) to be- ly diminished the availability of Black Ash trees

gin the basket construction. These are then soaked and threatened basket makers’ favorite resource.5

overnight.

The US Department of Agriculture estimates that

The next day, we cut our weavers to the de- over half of the Black Ash Trees in North Amersired lengths for our baskets and began weaving. ica have been lost due to emerald ash borer, with

As we weaved, we shaped our baskets with pro- the majority of such losses occurring on United

truding front sides for increased size and the de- States land. With such losses and presumed consired style, then finished

tinuous loss of trees, Nathe process by lashing

tive basket makers are

the tops and adding hanfighting a new battle of

dles. This two-day workadaptation: lack of mashop demonstrated the

terials for harvesting.

intricacy of this type of

Areas where peepahkbasket making and the

wilaakiikia ‘Black Ashes

very apparent impor(pl)’ were once prevalent

tance of communal effort

are now empty of these

in creating such baskets.

resources. As we continThe baskets we made

ue to revitalize and learn

took just over 12 hours of

practices and art forms

work from start (pound- Our finsihed baskets. Photo by Nate Poyfair.

that we once commonly

ing logs) to finish (lashheld, making peepahking tops), which would not have been possible wilaakiiki kiihkalaakani will be dependent on

without the time and effort in creating the tools both the learning and practice of harvesting and

we used and the actual location and harvesting of basket making as well as the availability of logs

the logs themselves. A process that I can imagine to harvest and use.

looked different during

The US Department

past times when we as

of Agriculture estimates

a people lived closer to

that over half of the

readily available black

Black Ash Trees in North

ash trees and made the

America have been lost

trees without using metal

due to emerald ash borer,

tools.

with the large majority

of such losses occurring

A Changing

on United States land.

Environment

With such losses, and

Black Ash baskets

presumed

continuous

have been used as a tool

loss of trees, Native basamongst tribes of the

ket makers are fighting a

Great Lakes for thounew battle of adaptation.

sands of years. Black ash

In areas where peepahktrees have long been conwilaakiikia were once

sidered the most import- Map showing the shrinking distribution of prevalent are now empant basket-making tree in Black Ash Trees in the Great Lakes Region. ty of these resources. As

the northeastern wood- Map courtesy of the United States Department of we continue to revitalize

lands and great lakes. Agriculture, Forest Service.

and learn practices and

Their importance is

art forms that we once

demonstrated in that the Black Ash tree has been commonly held, making peepahkwilaakiiki kiihgiven other names signifying its uses, such as kalaakani will be dependent on the battle against

Heep Ash and Basket Ash trees. Black Ash trees emerald ash borer and the continued teaching of

thrive in moist and low-lying bottomlands of the black ash basket weaving.

eastern woodlands and have thrived in wetlands, Continued on page 3B >>

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2024

<< Continued from page 2B

Final Reflections

As continued work towards the revitalization

of traditional practices is taking place, we have

been fortunate to have the help and support of

many people from related tribes. Experiences like

my own in basket weaving Black Ash, and the

continued practice of making Elm bark baskets

by community members is important in our continued growth as a community. As a nation living

in such widespread diaspora, working with native

species and invasive species for artisan practices

in our respective areas of residence will help us

continue our understanding of our environment.

For another reflection on artisanal practices reference Picking Up the Threads by Deputy Tribal

Historical Preservation Officer Jared Nally. For

more images regarding various types of baskets,

please reference the digital archive here.

1. Here is an profile for Tonia that expands on

her basket making history: Tonia Loran-Galban –

Burchfield Penney Art Center

2. Reference article on Steve Pigeon: Gun

Lake Potawatomi elder and his family of black

ash basket weavers – Potawatomi.org

3. Here is an excellent and short video with

Myaamia artisan and current CREO (Cultural

Resources Extention Office) employee Dani Tippmann: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMtVYzQv-9g

4. Species: Fraxinus nigra (usda.gov) See

“Botanical and Ecological Characteristics”

5. Emerald Ash Borer | Animal and Plant

Health Inspection Service (usda.gov) “The emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive wood-boring

beetle from Asia, is responsible for the death and

decline of tens of millions of ash trees in North

America. EAB lays its eggs in the bark crevices

of ash trees. The eggs hatch and the larvae burrow into the tree where they feed. This feeding is

what damages the trees. We have detected EAB

infestations in 36 States and the District of Columbia.”

Myaamia Makerspace

keešhtooyankwi 'we make it'

Myaamia Makerspace and

Recent Makings

Carrie Harter

Myaamia Makerspace Coordinator

The Makerspace has enjoyed a very busy couple of months both at the

Ethel Miller Moore Cultural Education Center and in the community. We have

hosted special events such as basket weaving and adult summer prgrams’ craft

activities. Crafts were also hosted to the Drake House, the new Prairie Sun

Event Center, the Ottawa County Farmer’s Market, as well as regular visits to

the Title VI program.

Some of the projects we have enjoyed making include windsocks, cyanotype prints, newspaper pots and planting vegetables in them, suncatchers,

pinch pots, and bone bead necklaces. Some of the favorite and most challenging projects were taught by invited artist. The Oak Creek Basket Company

came and taught how to weave a basket that would hold two jelly jars. Miami

artist Scott Shoemaker also held a workshop during the Miami Tribes National Gathering Week and taught us how to construct a ribbonwork hat band.

Both events had great turnouts and left people inspired to continue to create.

During the eemamwiciki summer programs the neesahpita adult group

learned about, designed, assembled, and decorated their own gourd rattles and

leather covers or bags to hold the rattles as a project set within this year’s

theme of weecinaakiiyankwi weecikaayankwi ‘we sing togehter, we dance together.’ Artist and Cultural Resource Officer, Julie Olds also came and taught

how to make tempura paint out of egg yoke and pigment to be used on the

leather.

In the next couple of months, we are looking forward to craft events at

Title VI and the local farmer’s market. We also look forward to hosting the

Community on Open Mondays at the Makerspace located in the Ethel Miller

Moore Cultural Education Center. Come and join us -- keešhtooyankwi ‘we

make it!’

Title

visitors

creating Title

visitors

creating

windsocks. Photo by Carrie Harter, pinwheels. Photo by Carrie Harter,

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Visitor during games day of Bead necklace activity during

National Gathering Week made games day of National Gathering

a bead necklace. Photo by Carrie Week. Photo by Carrie Harter, Miami

Harter, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Tribe of Oklahoma.

Basketweaving workshop with Oak Creek Basket Company. Photo by

Carrie Harter, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Preparing for the ribbonwork hat band workshop during National

Gathering Week. Photo by Carrie Harter, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Creating diy suncatchers. Photo by Carrie Harter, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Neehsaapita participant with gourd Basketweaving workshop. Photo

rattle and leather bag. Photo by by Carrie Harter, Miami Tribe of

Carrie Harter, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Oklahoma.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2024

Myaamia

Community

Values

Haley Shea

Office of Assessment and Evaluation,

Myaamia Center

As a therapist, I am often talking with folks

about their personal values. This is because values

are the beliefs that we hold that, when all else is

stripped away, can guide our decisions, behaviors,

and attitudes. They tell us what is important in life

and can serve as markers to let us know where to go

or look when we are lost or uncertain.

We each construct our personal value system

throughout our life; values are influenced by our

multiple cultural identities, past experiences, and

worldview. As a community that lives in diaspora and embraces community members from varying geographical regions and cultural groups, it is

expected that we all have different value systems.

However, throughout time, a group of us at the

Myaamia Center have worked to identify a set of

values that are specific to our community culture

and have influenced Myaamiaki since time immemorial.

Many individuals have contributed to this work,

but I want to recognize George Ironstrack for having laid the foundation for our community value

system. His knowledge and analysis of the historical manifestations of these values paved the way

for the development of the myaamia nahi-meehtohseeniwinki ‘living well’ model. As mentioned

in this previous blog post, values are an integral

component of living well for Myaamiaki.

wiikiami mantepwayi ‘lodge frame’ metaphor

Myaamiaki have long used metaphors as a means

for understanding and communicating complex

concepts (see this blog post on Myaamia Metaphoric Expression). We use the wiikiaami mantepwayi ‘lodge frame’ as our visual and metaphorical

representation of our values.

The wiikiaami is the traditional home that

Myaamia people lived in for many centuries. The

home is the place of the family, and the family is

where the majority of values and teachings are

passed down through generations. In addition to

the mantepwayi metaphor, we use the Myaamia directional colors to represent the importance of each

pole on the frame.

Black

wiikiaami mantepwayi. Image created by Carole Katz, Myaamia Center.

thing that is taught from an early age, infancy even.

eeyaakwaamisiyankwi ‘we strive for (something)’ Myaamia people have continually housed

goals that push us to reach a desired place in life.

While these goals aren’t always explicit that one is

striving for, this allows us to progress in appropriate ways that fosters resilience within our community. This value is inherent with the community’s

desire to revitalize language and culture as we are

continually striving to overcome the challenges of

the past. Myaamiaki to this day strive to better the

community through many different means.

eeweentiiyankwi ‘we are related to each other’ Many American Indian communities promote

this concept of interrelatedness, but for Myaamia

people the relatedness specifically includes kinship

relations, responsibilities to one another, and even

feelings of gratitude and alliance. At the heart of

this value lies the connection between individuals that connect us as living beings as well as the

connections between Myaamia people specifically. When a Myaamia person introduces oneself

to another Myaamia person, it is important to discuss ancestors and the family line from which one

comes from. This allows us to remind one another

that we are related and to treat one another with the

respect that is inherent in interconnection.

peehkinaakosiyankwi ‘we are generous, kind’

In particular, this is closely tied to the previous

value as it is the core of interconnection and influences how

we treat one another each and

every day. Specifically, for the

process of living well at the

core of this post, if we are all

related, then it is imperative to

treat one another with kindness

as hurting one person hurts us

all as a community. Myaamia

people know that when we ask

for something from someone

else (in particular an elder), we

give tobacco or another gift to

that individual to recognize the

wisdom they are sharing. We

offer gifts as a means to show

Myaamia elder, Dani Tippmann, our gratitude and not simply

educating tribal youth at the 2024 because it is expected of one

Myaamia New Year celebration another.

in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Photo by

The first series of poles

are the ones anchored into the

ground and are considered

foundational to the mantepwayi. They provide the most

structure and strength for the

wiikiaami as a whole. These

are represented by the color

black, which is associated with

the north and the elder generation that has the greatest degree of experience and often

wisdom. Black is also associated with death, cold, and the

unknown. It is also associated

with the seeking of knowledge;

we know that young people often blackened their faces when

seeking knowledge. There are Jonathan M. Fox, Myaamia Center.

Red

four values that we represent

The next set of poles are

with the color black:

the red poles, the color of the west. This color repneepwaahkaayankwi ‘we are wise, conscious, resents strength, vitality, and sacrifice and is assoaware’ Awareness of one’s surroundings stems ciated with the adult generation. The color red is

from a communal desire to know the reason that associated with blood and war and apart from the

things are the way they are. Within Myaamia cul- violence, adults would paint their faces red or use

ture, there is a constant drive to gain wisdom with red to mark objects as important in some way. In

age that comes through one’s lived experiences. the same way, the adult generation is the generaThese experiences allow us to integrate our previ- tion that is responsible for providing for and caring

ous knowledge with knowledge gained from cur- for both elder and younger generations, providing

rent situations in order to expand Myaamia ways of strength and ensuring the basic needs of the comknowing the world. Historically, this general curi- munity are met. We have two poles represented by

osity and awareness of surroundings is what pro- red:

vided resilience in the face of adversity. The adapaahkokeelintiiyankwi ‘we care for each othtive, flexible, and ever-expanding understanding er’ In the process of providing for the communiof the world allows for the community to adjust to ty in effective ways, it is important to engage with

whatever circumstances might arise. This wisdom the world such that they think about others before

and awareness leads to a deep respect for and valu- themselves. Caring for both the youth and elders is

ing elders as they often hold more life experiences, the responsibility of the adults and has always been

wisdom, and knowledge than those in younger gen- this way. This is a difficult skill that requires an inerations. This concept of paying respect to the el- dividual to understand how to be disciplined and

der generation for wisdom and knowledge is some- aware of the needs of the community as a whole.

Myaamia citizen, Jessie Seddelmeyer, teaching

tribal youth at the 2023 saakaciweeta program

in Miami, Oklahoma. Photo by Karen L. Baldwin,

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

neehweeyankwi ‘we speak well’ It is important

to speak in ways that bring pride to the community. Our words are generally important, but when

in a public setting make a reflection on both our

families and ourselves. This is important especially

among our leaders who choose words in order to

maintain peace between communities.

Blue

The color blue represents the first of two horizontal ribs that create tension and keep the poles

from moving around. The poles without the ribs

can’t fully support a covering that makes the frame

into the fully formed structure. With the ribs, the

structure can be complete and keep a family safe,

warm, and dry. Blue is actually a blue/green color

that represents the south and symbolizes youth, the

children who are gaining some independence, but

don’t have responsibility quite yet. We have one

value associated with this color:

paahpilwaayankwi ‘we joke, are humorous’

Humor is one way to cope with the many stressors

one experiences throughout his or her life. Myaamia

people have a sense that there are many aspects of

life that are out of our control and that humor is one

way to help explain the lack of seriousness in our

lives. This humor also helps in all areas including

living our daily lives, in the political process, and

community dances. There are few domains where

humor is restricted.

Yellow

Finally, we have yellow, the second horizontal

rib that completes the structure. Yellow is associated

with the east, with sunrise, with birth, and with our

youngest children, the infants. While it is the youngest generation, it is also vitally important to the structure as a whole, providing flexibility and creativity.

Continued on page 5B >>

Three Myaamia youth walking and holding

hands at the 2023 Eemamwiciki Summer

Programs in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Photo by

Jonathan M. Fox, Myaamia Center.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2024

<< Continued from page 4B

many generations. They seem to be quite consisWe have one value associated with yellow:

tent drivers of Myaamia ways of being throughout

aahkwaapawaayankwi ‘we dream’ Dreaming many generations. It is likely that some of these valis a task that is primarily associated with youth. ues have influenced you all (community members)

Historically, youth would fast, seek visions, and without your awareness or being able to explain

observe dreams in or“why” you do things the

der to find a sense of

way you do. Typicalpurpose and direction in

ly values are implicitly

life. Dreams are associtaught and are “just the

ated with a freedom of

way things are.” Howthought, which is someever, like many facets of

thing that allows us as

our experience, with the

a people to continue to

loss of pieces of our langrow and strive to reach

guage and culture, many

goals. Mental freedom is

of us may have lost touch

important to change and

with components of this

a vital source for new

value system as well. It

ideas and new ways of Myaamia citizens – Haley Shea, Emma is our hope that making

expression that can be Baldwin, and Tina Fox – with their babies at these values explicit will

important to creating the 2023 Eemamwiciki Summer Programs in help community memnew strands of our web. Miami, Oklahoma. Photo by Karen L. Baldwin, bers to be able to be inWhile our commu- Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

tentional about their own

nity experiences regular

values and pass them on

change, we have seen examples of these values within families, ultimately promoting nahi meehdisplayed in public and private contexts throughout tohseeniwinki ‘living well.’

Expand your

vocabulary

Download the

Myaamiaataweenki

Dictionary!

ILDA Dictionary

Maple Sugaring 2024

Stella Beerman

Communications Specialist, Myaamia

Center

As peepoonki ‘winter’ transitions into neepinwiki ‘summer’, many Myaamiaki ‘Myaamia people’ have closed their siihsipaahkwikaana ‘maple

sugar camps.’ Maple sugaring season tends to be

during Mahkoonsa Kiilhswa ‘Young Bear Moon’ Maple sap drips into a bucket.nPhoto by

and Aanteekwa Kiilhswa ‘Crow Moon’ which Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

roughly corresponds with January through April on

Horticulture and Landscape Architecture to tap

the Gregorian calendar.

During this time of the year, temperatures tend black walnut trees. Tapping black walnut is simito rise during the day and drop at night. The tem- lar to sugar maple, with some differences in properature change causes ahsenaamišipowi ‘sap’ to cessing the sap into sugar and syrup. Black walnuts

flow from the roots of the trees up to the branches tend to have a smaller yield, closer to 50 gallons of

and back down. Once collected, the sap is boiled sap to 1 gallon of syrup ratio rather than the mauntil most of the water has evaporated, leaving a ple’s 40:1 ratio. The CRO collected around 250

sweet syrup or sugar behind. It typically takes 40 gallons of sap, which they processed into low and

high-sugar-content syrups, a paste, and sugar.

gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup.

Over at the CulThis year, the

tural Resource ExtenMyaamia Center (Oxsion Office (CREO),

ford, Ohio), the Culstaff tapped three diftural Resources Office

ferent types of trees;

(Miami, Oklahoma),

silver maple, amur

and the Cultural Remaple, and black walsource Extension Ofnut. Around 11 gallons

fice (Ft. Wayne, Indiof sap were collected

ana) each hosted their

from the silver maple

own sugar camps.

and 14 gallons from

For over 10 years,

the amur maple, these

Myaamia Center staff

were combined and

and Myaamia Heritage

students have tapped A Myaamia Heritage student taps a maple tree on processed into seven

pints of syrup. Nearahsenaamiša

‘sugar campus. Photo by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

ly 11 gallons of walmaple trees’ on Miami

nut sap were collectUniversity’s campus.

ed to produce three

This year, we collectpints of syrup which

ed around 50 gallons

was the favorite flaof sap which were provor for CREO staff to

cessed into roughly

try. Like the Myaamia

1.25 gallons of syrup.

Center, both the CRO

We experienced an unand CREO experiseasonably warm winenced warmer winter

ter that did not provide

temperatures this year,

the needed temperature

resulting in smaller

changes for strong sap

sap yields than usual.

flow. All of us at the

Despite the small

Myaamia Center are Maple syrup made from sap collected on Miami

looking forward to our University’s campus. Photo by Stella Beerman, collections, we are

still looking forward

annual pancake and Myaamia Center.

to enjoying this syrup

waffle feast where we

throughout the year.

share and enjoy the

Neewe ‘thank you’ to

fresh syrup with the

those who spent the

campus community.

past several weeks colIn Miami, Oklaholecting and processing

ma, there is a lack of

sap to share with the

sugar maples available

community throughout

locally for tapping. Inthe summer months.

stead, the Cultural ReDid you set up a sugsources Office (CRO)

ar camp this year? Be

staff has worked with

sure to tell us about it

the Peoria Tribe’s

on the blog!

Cultural Preservation

Department and the Maple syrup made from sap collected on Miami https://aacimotaatiiOklahoma State Uni- University’s campus. Photo by Stella Beerman, yankwi.org/2024/04/16/

maple-sugaring-2024/

versity Department of Myaamia Center.

Remember

Deﬁnitions from over

entriesof

the2,000

days

Audio pronunciations

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

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2024

Reclaiming Stories: Rethinking and Reviving Traditional

Body Markings

Madalyn Richardson

Cultural & Arts Education Content

Specialist, CRO

The Reclaiming Stories Project is a multi-year

partnership program as a part of Humanities Without Walls between the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UC), the Peoria Tribe of Oklahoma,

and the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, designed to explore the history and traditional uses of hides in lower Great Lakes cultures.

In 2022, members of the Cultural Resources office from the Miami Tribe joined CRO staff from the

Peoria Tribe, Seneca cultural leaders, and educators

from multiple universities in exploring hide painting

as a form of artistic expression and record keeping.

During this multi-day event, we learned about the

techniques behind painting hides, historical records

regarding such activities, and the current hides preserved worldwide.

Last year, on August 2-4th, the Miami Tribe

of Oklahoma co-hosted a similar event to explore

the methods behind tanning and preserving animal

hides. Led by Jeremy Turner (Shawnee Tribe), an

experienced trapper and hide tanner, the group observed and participated in the trimming, soaking,

dehairing, fleshing, and brain tanning of two deer

hides. This educational experience taught Cultural

Resources staff members about an important historical activity amongst Myaamia people.

This year, on August 1st and 2nd, the project

partners came together to rethink and revive the

relevance and history of body markings related to

hide painting. The Miami and Peoria tribes invited

special guests Jerrid Lee Miller, a Cherokee Nation

citizen, US Army veteran, and the current Language

Nathalie Standingcloud tattooing one of

the participants on the hand. Photo by Doug

Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Workshop participants show off their temporary

tattoos. Photo by Doug Peconge, Miami Tribe of

Oklahoma.

Nathalie Standingcloud offered participants

tattoos and temporary tattoos as a part of the

workshop. Photo by Doug Peconge, Miami Tribe

of Oklahoma.

Tattooing offered to attendants of the workshop. Photo by Doug Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Archivist for the Cherokee Nation Language Department, and Nathalie Standingcloud, a Cherokee

Nation citizen and captivating artist who tells stories and celebrates her native heritage through tattoo

designs, to share more about the relevance of body

marking to culture and identity today.

Dr. Bob Morrisey, Professor of History at University of Illinois-UC and lead of the Humanities

Without Walls project opened the workshop by sharing a brief recap of the project since it began in 2022.

It started when he reached out to the tribes about his

research and shared more information about the

hides. He generated a discussion that grew to be

something very great and unexpectedly expansive.

Charla Echohawk, Peoria Tribal member and

Cultural Resources Officer, continued by describing

her experience of establishing a relationship with the

French Museum, Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques

Chirac, about traditional hides in their collection.

She explained that it was not so easy because they

do not really recognize the sovereignty of the tribes,

but building this relationship has been a more personal investment that requires delicacy and diplomacy. The friends they have made through this project

have become family through unique bonds and exchanges.

The purpose and result of building that relationship has been to revitalize culture, knowledge, and

practice by interacting with and better understanding the painted hides and processes. Hide painting

was once essential to the Miami and Peoria peoples,

and they are taking this opportunity to share its significance with their culture again. The painted hides

and historical references to body marking reveal to

present and future generations the importance of this

practice to the Peoria and Miami cultures.

Jerrid Miller then shared the importance of body

marking to his Cherokee culture and identity. He explained that body marking is more appropriate term

than tattooing to this practice as tattooing means ‘to

tap’ and often this practice is not done by tapping but

by poke. Body marking has been a great way for him

to reconnect to his culture, community of the past,

and the practice.  Jerrid explained how things can be

communicated through body markings. They often

have meaning in an individual’s and community’s

identity.

There was also a presentation on the history of

body marking in Miami and Peoria tribal communities

of the past by Peoria Tribal member Elizabeth Ellis,

who is an associate professor of history at Princeton

University. She specializes in early American and Native American history, and her research focuses on the

seventeenth and eighteenth-century south. Not only is

the term for painted hides the same as the word for

body markings in the Myaamia-Peewalia language,

but they are also both used for expression of community and individual culture and identity.

Julie Olds, Miami Tribal member and Cultural

Resources Officer, shared her overwhelming gratitude for the relationships and results of the project

so far. She reminded everyone at the workshop that

knowledge is responsibility to share what we know

with the community because this knowledge will

Bob Morrissey introduces the project during

the the third workshop in the series. Photo by

Doug Peconge, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Jerrid Miller sharing about the impact of body

marking on identity. Photo by Doug peconge,

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Actress

and

tattoo

artist

Nathalie

Standingcloud. Photo by Doug Peconge, Miami

Tribe of Oklahoma.

shape culture and identity as a nation and individually.

As one of the project visitors to France,

George Ironstrack, Miami tribal member, explained

how grateful he was to have seen the minohsayaki

‘painted hides’. It was an experience that was very

personal and emotional for him. He also expressed

gratitude for how quickly they have been able to

build a relationship with the museum personnel in

France. He has been glad to learn more and begin to

revitalize the knowledge, culture, and practice in the

community through these workshops and beyond.

Other guests included Meghan Dorey, Burgundy Fletcher, Jacey Vangel, Eric Toupes, Anthony Obayomi, Ryan Griffiths, Liz Ellis, Wes Farless,

Madison Basstrass, Krystiana Krupa, Nate Poyfair,

Jordan Poyfair, and Madalyn Richardson.

LEARN ABOUT OUR PUBLIC EVENTS BY FOLLOWING US AT

MIAMI NATION EVENTS

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2024

• Two biennial printed editions summer & winter

• Quarterly editions at miamination.com

• Increased social media presence

• Time Sensitive News online at miamination.com

For more information, keep an eye on

miamination.com, the paper, and social media.

IMPORTA

US!

H IS

YOU

S! YOUR H

MTO Media

The Newspaper is now online!

IMPORT

from

Other changes to look out for:

Noticed some

changes...

CONTACT FOR

PUBLIC HEALTH

Public Health Mission:

Through excellence in public health

nursing practice, we will empower

communities to support a healthier,

safer, and higher quality of life for

members and their families.

Rachel Ramsey, RN

Email: rramsey@miamination.com

Phone: (918) 541-2175

The mission of the Community Health

Representative (CHR) is to provide

quality outreach health care services

and health promotion/disease

prevention services to American

Indians and Alaska Natives within their

communities.

Kaitlyn Luttrell

Email: kluttrell@miamination.com

Phone: (918) 541-1300

THE MIAMI TRIBE

OF OKLAHOMA

Learn more online at

www.miamination.com/chr-program/

BOOK FOR NEXT

SUMMER!

Contact Tera Hatley at 918-541-1300

or thatley@miamination.com

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2024

MYAAMIA COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Myaamia citizens and families have many language and cultural education

opportunities available on the web. The following sites regularly post videos,

photos and current news clips from the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and the

Myaamia Center at Miami University.

MIAMI NATION WEBSITE www.miamination.com

________

MYAAMIAKI Miami Tribe of Oklahoma (closed Facebook group for Tribal citizens &

their immediate family members)

AATOTANKIKI MYAAMIAKI Miami Nation News

MIAMI NATION EVENTS Where public events are posted

EEMAMWICIKI Facebook (our summer youth programs)

MYAAMIA CENTER Facebook

AATOTANTAAWI “Let’s Talk About It” Myaamia Community Discussion Group for

books, movies, shows, etc.

________

AACIMOTAATIIYANKWI Myaamia Community Blog

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

mc.miamioh.edu/eduportal/

the

Open 9 am - 5pm | 28 N. Main, Miami, OK 74354

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

M I A M I

N A T I

N E W S

meenapiyankwi

Myaamia Publications – Vol. 18, No. 1, Summer 2024 – Section C – Community – Noošonke Siipionki Myaamionki

Myaamia People Connect Through ‘Linking the Generations’

Program

Stella Beerman

Myaamia Center Communications Specialist

When Madison Angelo and Kathy Carter Young saw each other at the

10th biennial Myaamiaki Conference, the two women’s faces lit up as they

embraced for a hug, before immediately jumping into excited greetings

and laughter.

Looking at the pair, it’s easy to assume they are old friends, maybe

even close relatives. When in reality, Angelo, a second-year student in

the Myaamia Heritage Program (MHP) at Miami University, was meeting

Young, a Myaamia elder and parent of MHP alumni, in person for the very

first time.

The two began video chatting a few weeks prior when they were

matched through the aanhkwiniikioni ‘Linking the Generations’ program.

The program is the result of a partnership between the Myaamia Center and the Scripps Gerontology Center, both at Miami University. Based Madison Angelo (left) and Kathy Carter Young (right) at the 10th

on the Scripps/AVID program (Arts-based, Virtual, Intergenerational, biennial Myaamiaki Conference, on May 4, 2024. Photo by Stella

and Dementia-friendly), this program aims to connect Myaamia young Beerman, Myaamia Center.

adults with Myaamia elders. The goal is to reduce loneliness and connect

Myaamia people virtually through art and shared culture.

mitments, she felt she was too busy to take on another responsibility. How“We found out we both like art, so now we create art based on commu- ever, she felt driven to sign up after speaking with a program coordinator

nity stories and the [Myaamia] language,” Young said. “It’s a lot of fun and about the opportunity.

we’ve had a lot of laughs.”

“Ya know what?” Young thought to herself at the time. “My communiThe Myaamia Center facilitates the matching of pairs and scheduling. ty needs to be a priority. I need to do this.”

As well as a series of culturally based discussion prompts and activities

So, she told the program coordinator she was available for one hour on

to pass the time, but so far, during their four meetings, Young and Angelo Sunday afternoons, and as luck would have it, Angelo was available during

haven’t needed much support.

that time.

“We just go with the flow,” Angelo said. “We’ve looked through and

“This sense to prioritize my community came on strong,” Young said.

seen some interesting

“It’s been a really positive experience and I’m so

prompts, but we’ve

glad I did it.”

kinda just done what

Young values spending time with young adults

feels natural.”

in the MHP. Having learned much of her culturSometimes, the

al knowledge from her child and grandchild who

one-hour time slot

graduated from it, connecting with Angelo has algoes by too quicklowed her to continue similar conversations.

ly as they discuss

Angelo has also valued the time shared with

family histories and

Young, as it has broadened her perspectives and

cultural knowledge

inspired her to spend more time with her own

while working on art

family members.

projects. They even

“She [Young] asks me questions about famlose track of the time,

ily history I don’t know the answer to,” Angelo

exceeding the meet- Young and Angelo each created their own version of “cecaahka killhswa.” said. “So it inspires me to talk to my grandparents

ing time and asking While working on the pieces, Young sent Angelo new art supplies to test about things I would have never thought to ask on

to stay on “just a few out. Left: Colored pencils and ebony pencils on drawing paper by Madison my own.”

more minutes” be- Angelo. Right: Watercolors, Posca pens, and colored pencil on canvas by

While the two formally completed the program

fore wrapping up the Kathy Carter Young.

in the Spring of 2024, they look forward to seeing

weekly call.

each other at Myaamia community events and plan

Angelo decided to participate in Linking the Generations after hearing to stay in touch, regardless of whether they sign up for the fall program.

about the opportunity in the Myaamia Heritage class. She had some flexi“There really is a family connection with the shared culture,” Young

bility in her schedule and wanted to make new friends within the Myaamia said. “She already feels like another one of my grandbabies.”

community.

The next aanhkwiniikioni ‘Linking the Generations’ session will begin

“Before, my main access to the community was other students in the in the fall of 2024 and is open to any Myaamia community members (ages

Myaamia Heritage Program or folks at the Myaamia Center,” she said. 18+), including tribal spouses. To sign up, visit AVID.ScrippsOMA.org/

“So, this has been a great opportunity to meet other people.”

get-started and select the “Myaamia” group.

For Young, the decision to participate wasn’t as easy. As an active

Questions? Contact Tina Fox, Myaamia Education Coordinator, at

member of the Myaamia community with a large family and many com- markskm@miamioh.edu

S U B M IT

O B IT U A R IE S ,

B IR T H S ,

M A R R IAG E S ,

G R A D U AT IO N S

& OT H E R H O N O

A N N O U N C E M E NR S

SUBMIT

Photo resolution: 30

0 dpi

Minimum size: 3” x

3”

Formats: tif, jpg, pd

f, psd

Tribal members and their family

members are encouraged to submit

detailed text and a color or B&W

photo to newspaper staff at:

mtonewspaper@miamination.com

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2024

toopeeliyiikwi

‘You accomplish it!’

Teaching & learning in

Germany

Tribal member

Honoring Retiree from Jose Reyes-Garcia

received the inviOCC

tation to particiAfter more

than 30 years

in the Ozark

Christian College registrar’s

office,

tribal

member Jennifer McMillin retired this

spring. She is

lauded for her

attention to detail, her deep

love for others, and her devotion to Christ. “I

was very humbled today at chapel as I was honored for my ministry/retirement at OCC. It has

been my honor to be part of this ministry,” she

wrote.

pate in the 2024

Goethe-Institut

Sommerakademie

Globales

Lehren

und Lernen program in Germany

this summer. Jose is

a junior working towards his bachelor’s degree in

secondary education. He has a passion and skill

for languages and wishes to teach German.

As a recipient of the Goethe-Institut’s Summer Academy: Global Teaching and Learning

program, he was selected from hundreds of

applicants across the United States as 1 of 25

participants to go to Germany this summer. In

Germany, he learned about teaching practices,

established connections with teachers, learned

about some pressing issues in Europe, and ex-

Myaamia Heritage Graduates from MU

panded his knowledge of contemporary Germany. “It was an honor to be one of the few selected

to attend this Summer Academy and further his

abilities in teaching to be the best teacher I can

be,” said Jose.

Jose shared more about his expereience saying, “My trip to Germany benefitted me in a lot

of ways. My language skills saw the most improvement, where I was able to understand what

native speakers were saying in an immersive environment. I also got to see some of the everyday

life of the German people and experience different aspects of their culture,” He explained.

“Specific to Dresden, I learned a lot about the

war history and the current day politics as well

as the opinion of different groups. For the teaching side of things, I learned some interesting

ice breakers and teaching methods not normally

used in education in the United States. I also got

to learn a lot about the education system in Germany and make connections with educators in

Germany that I can use as primary sources when

I get into the classroom.”

Jose concluded, “I am grateful for the opportunity to have experienced this professional

development and will take everything I learned

during my time there into my future classroom!”

College Students

of Indiana

– Did You Know...

The Indiana Native American

Indian Affairs Commission

provides scholarships to

Native American residents of

Indiana attending an Indiana

college or university?

Apply today!

Left to right: Back: Tyson Chapman and Jared Nally; Middle: Connor Humenay, Caleb Collins,

Gabriel Tippmann, Jack Humenay; Front: Grace Peconge, Kaylee Olmsted, Lex Shaw, and

Courtney Drake; Not photographed: Carson Bowman and Francis Smith.

On Saturday, May 18th, 2024, the Myaamia

Center celebrated twelve Myaamia students as

they graduated from Miami University.

Eleven Myaamia Heritage students, the

largest graduating class ever, and Jared Nally, a

Myaamia Center Aanchtaakia Graduate Fellow,

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.

Williams, receives 4th in state power lifting

Miami tribal member Jamison Williams, an

8th grader at Commerce High School, placed

4th at State in power-lifting; Jamison competed

in the 198 lb division against over 20 people –

came in at 4th place at the lightest weight. He

lifted over 900 lbs total during the event.

Jamison is the son of Jessica Williams and

the grandson of Secretary Treasurer Donya and

husband Jamie Williams. He participate in football, basketball, track, power lifting, and baseball maintaining a GPA above 3.75.

Jamison Williams receiving 4th place in state power lifting competition.

For more information and

application, visit:

www.in.gov/inaiac/resources

/education-resources/

scholarshipresources/

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2024

Taproot Fellowship Will Create Big Positive Ripples

for Me and the Myaamia People

The Taproot Fellowship is a project of the

Taproot Artists & Community Trust from the

Alliance for California Traditional Arts, the

Taproot Fellowship provides an unprecedented

opportunity to offer catalytic support and recognition for accomplished traditional artists

and culture bearers across the Unites States and

Territories.

This year and next, a total of 50 Fellowships

of $50,000 each will be made, along with tailored services designed to strengthen community-based systems of cultural transmission and

grassroots health and well-being. Each Fellow

will receive an additional $10,000 for community-focused projects, totaling a $60,000 investment per artist. This comprehensive support

will positively influence local arts ecosystems

nationwide through direct funding, sustainability efforts, and increased visibility for traditional artists.

Dani Tippmann is a Miami Native American, descended from Takumwah and Chief

Richardville and is a citizen of the Miami Tribe

of Oklahoma and has been awarded one of this

years Taproot Fellowships.

Her knowledge of plants has been collected

over the years from tribal members and elders,

including her mother, aunts and elder tradition bearers. She speaks about traditional Native plants used in storytelling, food, medicine

and technology and about traditional Myaamia

lifeways, culture and history. Dani completed a

Bachelor of General Studies at Indiana University in 2002 as an adult returning student.

Dani has been recognized by Arts United

of Greater Fort Wayne

and Traditional Arts Indiana as an Allen County Folklife Scholar for

cultural leadership in

2022. She was honored

as an Eiteljorg Museum

of Native and Western

Art – Artist in Residence in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2023. She was

honored with the Indiana Heritage Fellowship

Award from Traditional Arts Indiana.

She serves the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma as

the Kiihkayonki Community Food Program Director in the Fort Wayne, Indiana area.

What does being a Taproot Fellow mean to

you in your practice and community?

Modern Americans think of time as a river passing by. Myaamia people tend to think of

time as a pond with rocks dropping in as events.

Small pebbles create small ripples and effects,

while large events create large ripples which affect us greatly throughout time. Forced removal

from our homelands was a huge boulder, creating horrible ripples in our lives that are felt

even today. Receiving a Taproot Fellowship

will create big positive ripples for me and the

Myaamia people into the future.

Being a Taproot Fellow is a prestigious

honor for me because it honors the people who

came before me, who honored our shared heritage of plant knowledge. It gives an opportunity

to future Myaamiaki/Miami people to learn our

shared culture for a bright future.

Harvesting elm bark. Photo by Jon Kay.

Preparing corn for corn soup. Photo by Dani Tippmann.

Wild Rice being processed by Myaamia people. Wild rice harvest. Photo by Larry Hedeen.

Photo by Mary Harter.

Ingrid Nicholson Dani Tippmann demonstrating Dani Tippmann stitching together a bark

Miami traditional plant use at Taste of the Arts in basket from invasive buckthorn. Photo by Jon

Fort Wayne, Indiana. Photo by Ingrid Nicholson.

Kay.

Honoring Steve Kinder

The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Cultural Resources Office and Pow

Wow Committee extend our tremendous respect and sincere condolences to the family of Steve Kinder. Steve passed from this life on May 3,

2024, after a long illness. He served as Master of Ceremonies for many

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma dances and assisted the Tribe with website

management for several years. Steve is of the Skye family (Wea) and

was a citizen of the Peoria Tribe. We will always have good memories of

Steve, whom Chief Floyd Leonard called “that good Wea boy.”

waanantakhšinka

‘Lying quietly’

Jerry Watson

Sep 22, 1934 –

May 20, 2024

Jerry Watson, 89,

passed away peacefully on Monday,

May 20, 2024, at

Collier Park Assisted

Living Center, Beaumont, Texas after a

brief illness. Jerry

was born on September 22, 1934, to Ross Watson and Josephine Goodboo Watson in Quapaw, Oklahoma. The family eventually moved

to Manter, Kansas. Jerry excelled at basketball and baseball at Manter High school before

graduating as salutatorian of his class in 1952.

He operated a diner with his brother, Jack and

sister, Joann for several years before enlisting

in the US Army in 1957. That same year he

married the love of his life, Nornell Williams

Watson. After leaving the Army, they moved

to Guymon, Oklahoma so Jerry could complete his bachelor’s degree in business at Panhandle A&M College. He then took his young

family to Elgin, Oklahoma where he accepted

a job with the Federal Civil Service. He spent

his entire career at Fort Sill, retiring in 1987

from his position of Assistant Director for Civilian Personnel, Technical Services Office

for the USA Field Artillery Center and Fort

Sill DPCA. Jerry was a long-time member of

the Elgin United Methodist Church, where he

served as trustee, helped sponsor the United

Methodist Youth group, and participated in

the United Methodist Men’s group. He loved

to golf with his friends and even scheduled a

hip replacement surgery during the off season

so he wouldn’t miss the opportunity to play.

Jerry was a friend to all and started each morning with a drive to downtown Elgin to pick up

the mail, drink coffee with the guys and find

out what was going on around town. Jerry and

Nornell enjoyed square dancing in their early years until the activities of their daughters

took precedence. As grandsons came along,

they continued their tradition by attending as

many activities as possible to enjoy their family. Many of the grandsons’ friends still refer

to Nornell and Jerry as “Bebe and Pa.” Jerry served as a volunteer in the Southwestern

Medical Center Admissions Department for

10 years, from 2005-2015. He retired from

that volunteer work with almost 3,500 hours of

service. Jerry and Nornell relocated to Beaumont, Texas, in 2022. Although it was difficult

to leave their family and friends in Oklahoma,

they quickly made new friends in their new

home at Collier Park Retirement Center. They

were named “Cutest Couple” in 2022 and Collier Park’s Homecoming King and Queen in

2023.Survivors include three daughters; Terri Riddle of Beaumont, Texas; Wendy and

Kent Stapleton of Boca Raton, Florida; and

Jeriann and Ricky Speed of Mansfield, Texas; six grandsons, Ryan and Shaynah Riddle

of Norman, Oklahoma; Keegan and Jessica

Riddle of Edmond, Oklahoma; Cody and Jana

Stapleton of Bradenton, Florida; Kelly and

Merry Stapleton of New York City, New York;

Jacob and Jade Speed of Columbus, Ohio; and

Jordan Speed and fiancée, Erika of Roanoke,

Texas; 12 great-grandchildren; brother, Jack

Watson of Holly, Colorado; and sister Joann

King of Turpin, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; brothers,

Bobbie Lee Watson, Ross Watson, Jr., Bill

Watson, Tom Watson, and Jim Watson; sisters, Mildred Walker, Alta VonHemel, Lois

VonHemel, Betty Jean Watson and Chlorine

Watkins; and great-grandson Aiden Allen Riddle. Memorial donations can be made to the

Josephine Goodboo Watson Memorial Scholarship fund, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, P.O.

Box 1326, Miami, Oklahoma 74355. A memorial service was held at the Methodist Church,

Elgin, Oklahoma. Cremation arrangements for

Mr. Watson were handled through Broussard’s

Crematorium under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2024

MYAAMIA EDUCATION OFFICE

BACK-TO-SCHOOL FUND &

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

NOTICE! CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE. PLEASE READ THIS INFORMATION CLOSELY.

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

Scholarships

The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma is committed to supporting the education

of Myaamia people of all ages through the funding of scholarships and

continuing education programs. The Myaamia Scholarship Selection

Committee is made up of 3 tribal members appointed by the Business

Committee and given the responsibility of awarding scholarships through a

blind application process on behalf of the General Council. All scholarship

applications must be fully completed upon submission or the application

will not be considered. Note: All scholarships offered by The Miami Tribe of

Oklahoma are for enrolled members/citizens of the tribe only. Scholarships

are available only for Spring and Fall semesters.

Scholarship Applications

If you have any questions please contact the Myaamia Education Office.

Donya Williams: dwilliams@miamination.com, 918-541-2176.

*All awards are subject to change per the Business Committee.

Fall Scholarship Application DEADLINE OCTOBER 1ST.

Spring Scholarship Application DEADLINE APRIL 1ST.

SCHOLARSHIP ON THE SPRING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION:

*CASINO/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION AWARD

DUE APRIL 1 EACH YEAR.

Application Eligibility:

◊ Full-time undergraduate status (enrolled in 12 credit hours).

◊ Must have 2.5 cumulative GPA.

Award:

◊ $2,000 per academic year.

◊ Student must advise school if full amount should be applied

to Fall semester, or should be split between Fall and Spring.

◊ Pays up to eight consecutive Fall/Spring semesters (4 years).

◊ Renewable annually with Spring Scholarship Application.

Renewal Requirements:

◊ Maintain full-time status (minimum 12 credit hours each semester).

◊ Maintain 2.5 cumulative GPA.

JOSEPHINE GOODBOO WATSON MEMORIAL BOOK SCHOLARSHIP

DUE APRIL 1 EACH YEAR.

(Established by the surviving descendants of tribal member Josephine

Goodboo Watson).

Application Eligibility:

◊ Full-time graduate or undergraduate status.

◊ Must have 2.5 cumulative GPA.

Award:

◊ $500 per academic year.

◊ Renewable annually with Spring Scholarship Application.

Renewal Requirements:

◊ Maintain full-time status (minimum 12 credit hours/undergraduate;

6 credit hours/graduate, each semester).

◊ Maintain 2.5 cumulative GPA.

TAX COMMISSION CONTINUING EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP

DUE APRIL 1 EACH YEAR.

Application Eligibility:

◊ Full-time undergraduate status.

◊ Must have 2.5 cumulative GPA.

Award:

◊ Award amount changes; awarded each academic year.

◊ Student must advise school if full amount should be applied

to Fall semester or should be split between Fall and Spring.

◊ Renewable annually with Spring Scholarship Application.

Renewal Requirements:

◊ Maintain full-time status (minimum 12 credit hours) or part-time

status (minimum 6 credit hours).

◊ Maintain 2.5 cumulative GPA.

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.

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 seelction has changed and send the new information to the Myaamia Education Office.

PLEASE NOTE THAT LATE, INCOMPLETE OR UNSIGNED

APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE PROCESSED. THE MYAAMIA

EDUCATION OFFICE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RETURNING

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS TO BE SIGNED OR COMPLETED.

CRANE AWARD

DUE APRIL 1 EACH YEAR.

Application Eligibility:

◊ Graduate or post-graduate student.

Award:

◊ $2,000 per academic year.

◊ Student must advise school if full amount should be applied

to Fall semester or should be split between Fall and Spring.

◊ Renewable annually with Spring Scholarship Application.

NON-TRADITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP

DUE APRIL 1 EACH YEAR.

Application Eligibility:

◊ Full-time undergraduate status (minimum 12 credit hours).

◊ Must have 2.5 cumulative GPA (high school or college, whichever

is most recent).

◊ Must be 5 years since completion of last semester in high school or

college.

Award:

◊ $2,000 per academic year.

◊ Student must advise school if full amount should be applied

to Fall semester or should be split between Fall and Spring.

◊ Non-renewable.

FRESH START SCHOLARSHIP

DUE APRIL 1 EACH YEAR.

Application Eligibility:

◊ Freshman (apply senior year of high school).

◊ Must have 2.0-2.4 cumulative GPA.

◊ This scholarship is for a student who does not carry a 2.5

GPA, which is a requirement for all other Miami Tribe of

Oklahoma scholarships on the Spring application.

Award:

◊ $400 one-time award for Fall Semester.

◊ Student must advise school if full amount should be applied

to Fall semester or should be split between Fall and Spring.

◊ Non-renewable.

SCHOLARSHIP ON THE FALL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION:

VOCATIONAL OR TRADE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP

DUE OCTOBER 1 EACH YEAR.

Application Eligibility:

◊ Must be enrolled full-time in a state-accredited vocational or trade

school.

◊ Full-time undergraduate status (minimum 12 credit hours).

◊ Must have 2.0 cumulative GPA.

Award:

◊ $2,000 per academic year.

◊ Student must advise school if full amount should be applied

to Fall semester or should be split between Fall and Spring.

◊ Renewable annually with Fall Scholarship Application.

Renewal Requirements:

◊ Maintain full-time status (minimum 12 credit hours each semester).

◊ Maintain 2.0 cumulative GPA.

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

M I A M I

N A T I

N E W S

myaamia nipwaayonikaani

Myaamia Publications –Vol. 18, No. 1, Summer 2024 – Section D – Myaamia Center – Noošonke Siipionki Myaamionki

National Breath of Life

Apprentices Gather

to Learn and Share

Experiences

Stella Beerman

Myaamia Center Communications Specialist

National Breath of Life apprentices traveled to Miami University in

Oxford, Ohio on May 2-4, 2024 to participate in the first-ever apprenticeship gathering. The gathering, supported in part by the Myaamia Center, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Mellon Foundation, allowed participants to meet face-to-face to learn from one another,

share experiences, and facilitate community.

The National Breath of Life (BoL) Apprenticeship Program, launched

in 2022, currently trains 13 apprentices, identified by community language leaders, from 10 tribal communities. The apprentices work with

community mentors and the National BoL archives development trainer

to increase language database capacity, refine data management, and integrate an ILDA dictionary into community programming.

Archives-based language research for revitalization can be as challenging as it is rewarding. Archival documents must be organized and

transcribed before digitizing and being evaluated for cultural information. Dictionaries can be developed and language taught to community

members only after this process is complete. As an emerging field, archives-based language researchers often struggle to find support, tools, and

peers who are equally engaged in this work.

While National BoL offers virtual gathering opportunities monthly,

our program directors have learned from previous workshops that in-person meetings are invaluable for building community and sharing experiences or strategies.

Programming began on the morning of May 2, as Dr. Gabriela Pérez

Báez and Daryl Baldwin, National BoL co-directors, welcomed 11 apprentices from 10 tribal nations to the gathering. Miami Tribe of Oklahoma leadership, Miami Tribe staff, Myaamia Center staff, and other guests

were also in attendance.

On the first day, apprentices presented and engaged in lively group

discussions about their work with dictionary development, before Jarrid

Baldwin, Myaamia language coordinator at the Myaamia Center, presented his work with the Miami Tribe’s Educational Programs. Jarrid explained how he shares knowledge by incorporating language into community

programming. After lunch, sessions focused on utilizing language as a

source of cultural information.

Apprentices shared how their work with archival materials has reconnected their communities with the cultural information that language

contains. To conclude the day, Dr. Haley Shea, Director of the Myaamia

Center’s Office of Assessment and Evaluation, presented her work with

Nahi Meetohseeniweenki, the ‘Myaamia living well’ model, and how language informed this research.

The second day of the gathering focused on reflection and future

development. The morning began with a group discussion encouraging

apprentices to share feedback on the program. During this discussion,

apprentices also shared their projects’ next steps. Discussions like these

allow our staff to better understand each community’s unique needs and

provide better programmatic support.

Dr. Doug Troy and his team of Miami University graduate student

software developers met with participants in the afternoon to discuss ongoing improvements to the ILDA software suite and better understand

how the software is being used in tribal communities.

While the gathering officially ended on Friday, May 3rd, National

BoL participants were invited to stay on Saturday to attend the 10th biennial Myaamiaki Conference. Attending the conference allowed apprentices to learn how the Myaamia Center, the institutional home of National

BoL, supports Myaamia language and cultural revitalization.

While National BoL has presented at this conference before, we were

excited to do something different this year, by inviting apprentices to

speak about their experiences in a panel discussion. The panelists spoke

about the language materials they work with and some highlights of the

program. Highlights included using ILDA software to share language materials, receiving support and inspiration from peers and mentors, and finding personal connections to culture, language, or history in the archives.

For those interested in watching the panel discussion, it is now available on the Myaamia Center’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/

watch?v=0em7excB_Qw

As an organization working with participants from many different

geographic locations, communities, and cultural backgrounds, we recognize the importance of providing opportunities to build a network of support in this field. This intertribal network only strengthens archives-based

language research for revitalization by allowing researchers to address

any barriers as a collective. After the 3-day apprentice gathering experience, we hope our participants left feeling excited about the endless

possibilities to advance language and cultural knowledge through archival materials.

Apprentices pose for a photo with program staff and Miami Tribe of

Oklahoma leadership. Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Participants engage in breakout discussions in the miloniteeheekaani

‘Myaamia classroom’ at Miami University. Photo by Karen Baldwin,

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Dr. Gabriela Pérez Báez and Daryl

Baldwin, co-directors, welcome the group

to the Marcum Hotel and Conference

Center at Miami University, located

within the Myaamia homelands. Photo

by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Lillian Camarena, Tamien

Nation, explains how her

community shares and

teaches language. Photo by

Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of

Oklahoma.

Caption: Panelists included; (1) Terry Hinsley, Shawnee Nation, (2)

Citlalili Arvizu, Tongva Nation, (3) Jamie Biesanz, Confederated Tribes

of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians, (4) Dr. Kate Pewenofkit

Briner, Comanche Language and Cultural Preservation Committee,

and (5) Bo Johnson, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Myaamia Center, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2024

Recap of the 2024

Myaamiaki Conference

Stella Beerman

Myaamia Center Communications Specialist

Every two years, the Myaamiaki Conference invites members of the

Miami Tribe and Miami University communities to learn about the research

and projects developed at the Myaamia Center. This year’s conference explored a variety of topics including Myaamia wellness, painted hide art,

weaving, education, and more. For those who couldn’t make it to the conference, you can watch the presentations on the Myaamia Center YouTube

channel or visit:

miamioh.edu/myaamia-center/myaamiaki-conferences/2024

On Saturday, May 4, 2024, 328 attendees were welcomed to the 10th

biennial Myaamiaki Conference, including 78 people who joined virtually.

While the majority of attendees are Myaamia citizens and Miami University

staff, faculty, or students, several representatives from other tribal nations,

universities, and learning institutions were also in attendance. The event

took place in the Shriver Center at Miami University, where guests had the

opportunity to visit speaker tables and learn more about the Myaamia Center in between conference presentations.

The

conference

opened with remarks

from Daryl Baldwin,

executive director of

the Myaamia Center,

followed by Myaamionki Nakamooni ‘the

Myaamia Land Song’

performed by Myaamia

citizens. During the

lunch break, Myaamia

Center staff organized

an event for the Teehkinawita program, which Megan Sekulich, Myaamia artist, chats about

was created to support her work with conference attendees. Photo by

caregivers of Myaamia Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

youth aged 0-5. On one

side of the room, parents discussed raising

children in a Myaamia

context and how to support language learning

in the home, and on

the other, their children

were playing a game

in Myaamiaataweenki,

‘the Miami language’.

If you or those you

know are raising a Participants pose for a photo with Teehkinawita

young Myaamia person staff at the conference. Photo by Karen Baldwin,

and would like to get Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

involved with Teehkinawita please contact

organizer Kristina Fox,

markskm@miamioh.

edu.

National

Breath Of Life

Experience:

The National Breath

of Life Institute for Indigenous

Languages

team presented first, Jamie Biesanz, Confederated Tribes of Coos,

with Dr. Gabriela Pérez Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians, speaking

Báez, co-director, and about their experience as a National Breath of

Jerome Viles, archives Life apprentice. Photo by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia

development

trainer, Center.

moderating a panel of

apprentices. National Breath of Life (NBoL) is a program housed within

the Myaamia Center, providing mentorship to tribal communities engaged

in archives-based language revitalization. This was the first time a panel of

NBoL participants was asked to share their experiences at the conference.

Panelists included; (1) Bo Johnson, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, (2) Dr. Kate Pewenofkit Briner, Comanche Language and Cultural

Preservation Committee, (3) Jamie Biesanz, Confederated Tribes of Coos,

Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians, (4) Citlalili Arvizu, Tongva Nation

and (5) Terry Hinsley, Shawnee Nation.

The panelists, who have been engaged with the program since 2021,

spoke about the language materials they work with and some highlights

of the program. These highlights included using the provided software to

share language materials with respective communities, the support and inspiration received from peers and mentors, and finding personal connections to culture, language, or history in the archives.

Myaamia citizens perform an opening song at the 2024 Myaamiaki

Conference. Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

rooted in community

knowledge

systems.

For the Miami Tribe

of Oklahoma, it’s the

strength of that knowledge and resulting cultural expression that

achieves wellness as a

tribal community. The

team hopes to include

concepts of Nahi Meehtohseeniwinki in cultural education programs

to help the Myaamia

community understand

the various factors that

promote wellness.

Nipwaayoni Acquisition and Assessment Team

members pose for a photo at the conference.

(left to right) Dr. Susan Mosley-Howard, Dr.

Paul Branscum, Dr. Haley Shea, and Dr. Tracy

Hirata-Edds. Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami

Tribe of Oklahoma.

Minohsayaki

‘Painted Hides’:

Before breaking for

lunch, a team of interdisciplinary researchers

presented their knowledge of Minohsayaki ‘Painted hides.’ Dr.

Robbert

Mossissey,

University of Illinois

Urbana - Champaign,

presented contextual in- Left to right: George Ironstrack, Burgundy

formation about painted Fletcher, Dr. Robert Mossissey, and Tosan

hides and this research Farless present on minohsayaki ‘painted

project. The hides, pro- hides.’ Photo by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

duced in the late 1600s/

early 1700s, were often

gifted or sold to Europeans, specifically the

French in Peewaalia

‘Peoria’ and Myaamia

homelands. Today, several of these hides are

housed in the Musée du

Quai Branly - Jacques

Chirac in Paris, France.

Thanks to a grant from

the Andrew W. Mellon Jared Nally shows examples and answers

Foundation, the team questions about his work after the presentation.

traveled to Paris to view Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

and study the hide art.

Burgundy Fletcher and Wesley Tosan Farless, both from the Peoria Tribe

of Indians of Oklahoma, expressed the impact this work has had on the Peewaalia community before George Ironstrack, from the Myaamia Center,

described the group’s research trips to Paris. He felt connected to his ancestors and the Myaamia community as he placed his hands on the work made

nearly 300 years ago. Engaging in this work has brought researchers together from several tribal nations to share knowledge and ideas. Reconnecting

with painted hide art has allowed the Myaamia and Peewaalia communities

to not only better understand historical relationships but also create or reinforce those relationships today.

Aanchtaakia Graduate Fellowship:

The Myaamia term Aanchtaakia means ‘change maker,’ and the

Aanchtaakia Graduate Fellowship is designed for tribal scholars motivated

to make positive changes in tribal communities and to share their research

interests on Miami University’s campus. As Jared Nally approaches the end

of this fellowship, he reflected on his time at Miami University and his goal

to bring positive change to the Myaamia community upon graduation. He

explained how the fellowship allowed him to explore his own interests as

a student while still bringing knowledge back to the Myaamia community.

Nahi Meehtohseenikwinki:

During the presentation, Nally described his work with Myaamia texFollowing the NBoL panel, Dr. Haley Shea, Myaamia Center, and Dr. tiles, history, culture, and ecology and how the intersections of that work

Paul Branscum, Myaamia Center affiliate, presented their research on Nahi were fostered at Miami University under the direction of the Myaamia CenMeetohseeniweenki ‘Living Well.’ Since 2021, the Nipwaayoni Acquisi- ter and the Miami Tribe. He explained his research process, some of the

tion and Assessment Team at the Myaamia Center has been developing a textile work he has produced, and how he is sharing that knowledge with

Myaamia-specific wellness model and method to measure wellness amongst the community.

tribal citizens.

The work recognizes that wellness is a culturally specific concept Continued on page 3D >>

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Myaamia Center, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2024

<< Continued

page 2D

from

the program has impacted their Myaamia

identity, and what they

have learned about the

Myaamia culture since

coming to Miami University.

Cultural

Education:

In the spirit of sharing cultural knowledge,

Nate Poyfair, from the

Miami Tribe’s Cultural

Resource Office, presented how his team

uses research produced

by the Miami Tribe, of- Examples of cultural education materials

ten through the work of produced by the Cultural Resource Office.

the Myaamia Center, to Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

create cultural education materials. Relying

on years of previous

research, Poyfair used

the recent publication

myaamia

kiilhsooki:

Myaamia Moons, Seasons, & Years, as an

example of how information is disseminated

throughout the community.

The Myaamia classroom entryway in

Myaamia Student MacMillan Hall features a turtle created

by Myaamia artist, Jody Gamble. Photo by

Experience:

As the day con- Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

cluded, Dr. Haley Shea

and Kara Strass, from

the Myaamia Center, moderated a panel

of Myaamia Heritage

Award Program students. Myaamia students who attend Miami

University as part of the

Myaamia Heritage Program have a common

experience that unites

them as a community.

The goals of the Left to right: Madison Angelo, Gabriel

program are to connect Tippmann, Mia Bowels, Michael Sekulich,

the students with other and Caleb Collins share their experiences in

Myaamia people and the Myaamia Heritage Award Program. Photo

their Myaamia knowl- by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

edge system, primarily

through the Myaamia

Heritage Course series.

However, in addition

to the educational component, research by the

Nipwaayoni Acquisition and Assessment

Team has revealed that

the experience also

helps students grow in

their understanding of

their Myaamia identity, connect to the Tribal Stomp dance on Friday night held in the

community, foster aca- Dauch Indoor Sports Center. Photo by Scott

demic attainment, and Kissell, Miami University.

increase their pride as

Myaamia people.

The panelists shared why they chose to attend Miami University, how

Additional Events:

While the majority

of the events were held

on Saturday, the weekMadalyn Richardson and Nate Poyfair, both from end began on Friday afthe Cultural Resource Office, share information ternoon with the unveilabout myaamia kiilhsooki: Myaamia Moons, ing of a new Myaamia

Seasons, & Years at the conference. Photo by classroom in MacMilKaren Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

lan Hall. This classroom, meant to hold the

Myaamia Heritage class

and other Myaamia

Center events, was gifted to the Miami Tribe

by Miami University for

the 50th Anniversary.

The

university

worked with Myaamia

Center staff to renovate

the classroom to reflect

Myaamia aesthetics and

Miami Tribe and Miami University leadership values. About 40 people

unveil the Myaamia classroom. Photo by Scott gathered to watch Miami

Kissell, Miami University.

Tribe leadership, Miami

University

President

Greg Crawford, and Miami University Ambassador Renate Crawford

perform the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

After the ceremony,

guests were invited to

watch the first episode

of a new docuseries,

created by Miami University with the help of

the Myaamia Center,

Stomp dance participants pose between dances which tells the story of

on Friday night in the Dauch Indoor Sports the Miami Tribe and its

Center. Photo by Scott Kissell, Miami University.

relationship with Miami

University.

Friday

evening,

Myaamia citizens and

their guests were invited to participate in a

stomp dance on the Miami University practice

football field. Guests

from the Shawnee Tribe

were also in attendance

to help lead the dance.

The Myaamia Center would like to say

Stomp dance on Friday night held in the mihši neewe ‘thank you

Dauch Indoor Sports Center. Photo by Scott very much’ to everyone

Kissell, Miami University.

who made these events

possible, including the

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma’s leadership, the Miami University President’s

Office, the Myaamia community, and countless other University partners

who helped coordinate. We’re already looking forward to 2026!

“Grown And Harvested In Indian Country”

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

WE CRACK, BUY, & SELL at

OKLAHOMA NATIVE PECANS

From November through the end of harvest.

Owned And Operated By The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma

801 Pine Street, North Miami, OK

918-541-1440

Buy local pecans, jams, jellies, & honey at the Miami

Nation Gift Shop. 28 North Main, Miami, OK

918-544-6049

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Myaamia Center, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2024

‘No one else has a commitment like this’: The two

Miamis on their unique partnership

Attendees participate in a social Stomp Dance at the Myaamia Winter Gathering in January in Miami, Okla. Photo by Tana Weingartner, WVXU.

Tana Weingartner

WVXU, Published February 7, 2023

We would like to congratulate Tana Weingartner for being awarded 3rd Place

for Best Feature Story by the Indigenous Journalists Association for this story.

Miami University and the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma spent the last year commemorating the 50th anniversary of partnering to learn from each other. University students and staff traveled to the tribe’s recent Winter Gathering in Oklahoma — a capstone to the yearlong celebration. WVXU’s Tana Weingartner was

invited along and brings

back this look at what the

partnership means to so

many.

On the last weekend

of each January, members of the Myaamia, or

Miami, Nation gather

from across the country

in Miami, Okla., to be

in community with one

another. The crowning Mariah Tyner laces on her shells ahead of

event is a social stomp joining a Stomp Dance in January in Miami,

dance, open to all, with Okla. Photo by Tana Weingartner, WVXU.

guests from neighboring

tribal nations.

It lasts long into the

evening with men leading songs, women setting

the beat with rhythmic

stomping, and participants moving harmoniously together in undulating circles around a

fire (artificial since this

event is indoors). Visitors

from Miami University Kirsten Holcomb helps her daughter, 2022join the festivities.

2023 Miami Nation PowWow Princess Jacey

Mariah Tyner is Ab- Holcomb, tie on her shell shakers.. Photo by

sentee Shawnee and Tana Weingartner, WVXU.

Cherokee. She’s lacing

shell shakers around her

calves — in this case 8-oz tomato sauce cans lashed together and filled with river rock to produce a percussive instrument. She estimates they weigh 25 pounds.

She learned to shake from the women in her family before her and has taught

her daughter.”This is something that we just value, we cherish,” she explains.

“It’s something that goes way back in our tribe from before the removal. It’s

something that we still have. It’s still here with us (and) we can still participate.

(It’s) something that hasn’t been taken away from us yet.”

It’s been 51 years since Miami Chief Forest Olds showed up on Miami University’s campus during a visit to Cincinnati. He would return two years later

to meet with President Phil Shriver, launching a partnership celebrated as neepwaantiinki, or “learning from each other.”

By the 1990s — less than 150 years since the tribe was forcibly removed

from the Great Lakes region — the Myaamia language was silent. A tribal citizen wrote “the end to Myaamia cultural identity was looming.”The tribe looked

to Miami University to spark a cultural awakening.

the most efficient and effective way of transmitting cultural information,” says

Baldwin, executive director of the Myaamia Center at Miami University. “However, language also has a community and cultural context, and in the context of

revitalization, it became apparent to us pretty quickly that this wasn’t just about

language.”

The Myaamia Project would become the on-campus Myaamia Center, with

a full-blown mission to revitalize the tribe’s culture, language and historical

knowledge. The university and tribe work directly together, and in an unusual

agreement in the world of academia, the tribe owns the everything the center

produces.

“The commitment is just unrivaled,” states Miami Chief Doug Lankford.

“No one else has a commitment from a university like this with a nation in the

United States.”

Lankford recalls growing up with no language, no cultural understanding

— nothing of what has been returned to the tribe through the Myaamia Center’s

work. Now, children and adults speak the Myaamia language, create traditional

ribbon work, tell re-found stories, play reclaimed games, and are learning about

their heritage. It’s called the Miami Awakening.

Julie Olds is the tribe’s cultural resources officer. Her hope is for the relationship to remain strong as it enters the next 50 years. She uses the metaphor of

a mutually attended fire.

“To keep our focus as partners, that’s a commitment that we have to carry

now, and a responsibility we have now. But part of this work is also engaging the

next generation to understand the importance of it, to be willing to pick up that

wood and carry it to that fire and keep it burning,” she says.

Teaching the next

generation

More than 100 tribal

students have graduated

from Miami University

since the formation of

the Heritage Award Program. Students who meet

university

admission

requirements receive a

tuition waiver and take

Visitors from Miami University make examples a Heritage class each seof traditional Myaamia ribbon work during a mester.

Gretchen Spenn is a

visit to the Winter Gathering. Photo by Tana

senior at Miami UniverWeingartner, WVXU.

sity from Fort Wayne,

Ind. She says she’s fortunate to have grown up in

the Myaamia homelands

knowing her heritage.

She wants people to understand the Myaamiaki,

“Miami people,” are very

much part of modern

life.”

The Miami community and our culture is

Myaamia students and alumni of the Miami not a thing of the past.

University Heritage Award Program (and one And coming to Winter

sibling) pose for a photograph during the Stories isn’t like reliving

Stomp Dance. Photo by Tana Weingartner, WVXU. the past, it’s very much

like coming together as a

community and celebrating us in the now. I think what I would like people to

The Miami Awakening

know is that Indigenous communities are very much thriving and alive.”

In 2001, the tribe and the university created the Myaamia Project, with Daryl

It’s a wish spoken many times in interviews during the Winter Gathering.” I

Baldwin at the helm.

wish people would learn more about Native American tribes,” adds Chief Lank“It started as a language effort, with an understanding that our language is ford, “because we’re still here. We’re still vibrant.”

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Myaamia Center, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2024

Independant Study: Storytelling

Jarrid Baldwin

Language Specialist, Myaamia Center

Last semester at

Miami University, I

held an independent

study for students interested in Myaamia

storytelling. The goal

of the course was for

each student to tell Aalhsoohkaani ‘a Winter

Story’ or aacimooni ‘a

historical narrative’ to

the Myaamia Heritage

class at the end of the Participants listen to Ciinkwia explain a group

semester. Through the activity during one of the group sessions. Photo

process of learning a by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

story, they would also

learn Myaamiaataweenki. Each participant chose their own story from one

of 46 found in David Costa’s recently released book “As Long As The Earth

Endures: Annotated Miami-Illinois Texts”.

We had a mix of seven students and staff participating in this course:

Undergraduate students: Elliot Baldwin (awansaapia), Kaleb McMullen

and Caleb Collins. Graduate students: Jared Nally (ahsapa) and Madison

Bastress.

Myaamia Center staff: Stella Beerman (akooka) and Haley Shea (kiišikohkwa).

These students spent a semester studying the stories on their own time

through a variety of different strategies (flashcards, writing the story down

verbatim, etc.) and participating in classes each week where we used the

stories as a basis for learning Myaamiaataweenki. I interviewed a few of

them so we could hear what they learned and how it impacted them.

Madison

Madison was the exception in class in that she is not Myaamia and had no

prior experience with Myaamiaataweenki. As a visiting scholar from NYU,

she thought it would be useful (and fun!) to participate in the storytelling

course to help to give her a better understanding of Myaamiaataweenki in a

way that could help her with her dissertation work. She chose an aacimooni

because she felt it was more appropriate since she was not Myaamia and

had not heard or told any Myaamia stories before. Originally she chose a

speech by Mihšihkinaahkwa ‘Little Turtle,’ but after some time working on

it, she decided to switch to something more manageable (aka shorter) that

she could have ready for the storytelling event. Her final story was a text on

step-by-step instructions for tanning a buckskin by Sarah Wadsworth. This

tied into a community program connected to the Reclaiming Stories Project

she participated in over the summer involving brain tanning a hide.

The class was difficult for her because she was playing catch-up compared to the other students who knew at least a little Myaamiaataweenki,

but she said the class was structured in a way that was adaptable to all the

different language abilities present. One of her favorite parts of the class

was leading the immersion sessions. This was a weekly activity that involved everyday objects (phone, keys, wallet, etc.) on the table in front

of the group. Everyone learned the names of the objects, how to describe

them, and interactions with the objects and the other people. Each session

involved taking turns leading, which meant asking questions about the objects (ex. How many keys do you have?), giving commands (ex. Give two

pens to awansaapia!), etc. Another part of the course she enjoyed was story

Students in the independent study pose for a group photo. Photo by

Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.

translation. Using a story I wrote, we each took turns reading a sentence

from the story then translating it and discussing it.

Elliot (awansaapia):

Awansaapia chose the Aalhsoohkaani about Paapankamwa and Mahweewa ‘Fox and Wolf’ with the ending of Mahweewa drowning himself

trying to find Paapankamwa. He grew up hearing that story and he’s always

liked it so that was what made him want to tell it in Myaamiaataweenki.

Knowing the English version of the story helped him learn the Myaamia

because it allowed him to know where in the story he was and, as he learned

pieces of the Myaamia, he could anchor to those during the telling. He has

wanted to learn an Aalhsoohkaani but it’s difficult to do on your own. Being

in a class with a storytelling focus held him accountable and made it more

fun because the rest of the group was going through the same thing.

Stella (akooka):

Akooka also chose a Paapankamwa and Mahweewa story and teamed

up with Awansaapia and Kiišikohkwa to tell one story, due to its length. The

parts of the class she enjoyed the most were the activities that did not relate

to the story. She said they allowed her to take a break from her daily story

practice while still learning Myaamiaataweenki, just in a different context.

When it came time to tell the story, she said she was nervous because of the

public speaking, but proud to do it, especially in front of other Myaamiaki.

It was also a great showcase for the students of other unique opportunities

they have and may not know about.

One of the difficulties of learning the stories is their seasonality. Aalhsoohkaana are only meant to be told during the winter, which begins with

the first hard frost and ends with the spring peepers and the first big thunderstorm. Our semester started at the end of summer, which meant we had

to rely on written practice and breaking the story into chunks until winter

began. Students would bring sections of their stories they didn’t understand

to class and we would work through them as a group. Topics ranged from

pronunciation, meaning of the words, word order, and more. We used a

variety of activities to understand the confusing topics and did group work

both in and out of class. When peepoonki ‘winter’ officially started, we

began practicing stories out loud in class. A key part of learning is a lot of

practice with opportunities for constructive criticism. Practicing in front of

each other allowed us to work through the stories in a similar situation as

the final.

This independent study was a test run for the whole group and based on

course feedback, it was a great success. I look forward to planning more of

these courses in the future, but for now, the storytelling threads have been

set down as the community prepares for neepinwiki ‘summer.’

Why should I join the

Myaamia Heritage Program

at Miami University?

They offer full tuition waiver for

Myaamia students to attend Miami

University.

Would I get to take a series of

courses to learn more Myaamia

history, language and culture?

Yes! Are you interested?

For more info, visit

www.miamioh.edu/miami-tribe-relations |

You can also contact Kara Strass at strasskl@miamioh.edu

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Myaamia Center, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2024

Aašitehkawaataawi ‘let’s Myaamia Culture in the Classroom

ciation.

meet’ Robbyn Abbitt

Stella Beerman

Cam Shriver

Historian, Miami University

Robbyn Abbitt (center) with her family. Photo

provided by Robbyn Abbitt.

Robbyn Abbitt, the GIS Coordinator for Miami University and the Associate Director of the

Dept. of Geography’s Geospatial Analysis Center,

recently became an affiliate of the Myaamia Center. You may have seen her at this year’s Winter

Gathering.

Robbyn has aided Myaamia mapping for many

years–perhaps her first interaction with Myaamia

mapping was with Joshua Sutterfield, director

of cultural education for the Miami Tribe, as he

worked on his Master’s thesis at Miami, completed

in 2009. Her work has included conservation and

environmental planning, and she frequently teaches GIS (which stands for Geographic Information

System) using applied projects for real-world clients. She came to GIS, and academic work at a

university, from a background as a field-based environmental scientist. “I truly enjoy teaching and

encouraging students,” she said. “We spend time

every semester outside and practicing public participation skills in the classroom. I do think GIS

is amazing, but even more amazing are the people

doing the work!”

Robbyn has also been instrumental in the ongoing work of the Aacimwahkionkonci ‘Stories from

the Land’ team. Aacimwahkionkonci aims to help

us understand, and in turn tell, the history of the

complex legal patchwork that has come to define

Myaamionki ‘the land of the Miamis.’ Her guidance has included overseeing the work of (to date)

six Master’s students in the geography department

who have worked for the Myaamia Center and

the Aacimwahkionkonci project. “The projects I

have worked on have given me challenges that I

wouldn’t typically have with teaching and developing course material,” Robbyn said. “I have been

able to keep my own GIS skills current and active

while advising graduate students working with the

Center. I also truly enjoy the fact that most of the

work I have done is answering questions for people about their families and their history.”

While Aacimwahkionkonci has been mainly

focused on research so far, Robbyn will continue

to be critical as the project adds new educational

materials for the Myaamia community.

“Having the opportunity to work with the

Myaamia Center, for me, has been one of the true

benefits of working at Miami University. The opportunity to work with the Center provides a way

for me to do the work that I enjoy, but think about

it in new ways. I’ve had the opportunity to explore

how environments and data about those environments are visualized outside of my traditional

western world view. The Center is also filled with

really amazing people that I enjoy having the opportunity to get to know better over time.”

Read more about Robbyn on her faculty biography at https://miamioh.edu/myaamia-center/

about/staff-faculty-affiliates/abbitt/index.html

She says this experience taught her that working as an art educator also means teaching histoTeaching about other cultures can be a unique ry, culture, and current events in her classroom.

challenge for instructors in the classroom. Rec- The experience left her feeling a responsibility to

ognizing this gap in her curriculum, Stephanie introduce interesting, thought-provoking topics

Danker, a professor of Art Education at Miami in her classroom, even if they may seem daunting

University, hoped to fill some gaps in her class or challenging.

preparing preservice art educators to gain K-12

She also learned how collaboration and reteaching licensures in

lationship-building can

Ohio.

make those challengIn 2017, she

ing lessons easier. She

reached out to the

felt encouraged to stay

Myaamia

Center

open-minded, ask quesabout collaboration

tions, and have open

opportunities. Workconversations

during

ing together with the

the class and appreciates

Myaamia Center eduthe Myaamia Center for

cation office, goals for

their patience and unStephanie’s class were

derstanding as the class

established which inlearned.

cluded students gainParticipation

ing experience build- Miami Tribe leadership and staff pose with Stephanie’s class led

ing relationships with Stephanie and preservice educators in 2021. Mitchell Meikle, a 2022

Myaamia people and Photo by Scott Kissell, Miami Universit.

graduate, to reach out

the collaborative proto the Myaamia Center

cess of planning leswhen he was tasked with

sons about Myaamia

organizing an outdoor,

culture.

educational experience

Today, Myaamia

as a program manager at

Center staff work

Pyramid Hill Sculpture

with Stephanie’s class

Park in Hamilton, Ohio.

each year to prepare

Due to Pyramid

the preservice eduHill’s audience primaricators to deliver lesly being those interested

sons about the Miami

in local culture and hisTribe to local elementory, and Mitchell’s pretary students. There

vious experience workare only seven eduing with the Myaamia

cational standards for

Center, he wanted to inK-12 students about

clude information about

Indigenous

people

the Myaamia people in

in the state of Ohio.

his programming at the

These standards only

park.

cover pre-1900 conSince it was a sumtent, meaning most

mertime activity, with

children are learnone of the primary goals

ing about Indigenous

being connecting parcommunities as his- Fourth graders showing off their ribbonwork- ticipants with nature,

tory lessons, the im- inspired bookmark craft. Photo by Maria Jose Mitchell worked with

plication being that DeSantiago Galan.

Myaamia Center staff

these distinct cultural

to develop an activity

and political Indigabout the Green Corn

enous communities

Moon and the ecological

don’t exist in the 21st

changes it signals. Parcentury.

ticipants created a craft

The collaboration

focused on Myaamia

between the class and

vocabulary and agriculthe Myaamia Center

tural practices taking

not only allows preplace during that time

service educators to

of year. Andrew Sawgain priceless experiyer, Myaamia Center

ences developing and

outreach specialist, also

teaching material but

attended the event to

also allows the local The Miami Tribe’s elected leadership often help answer questions

elementary students meets with preservice educators while visiting from participants and

to learn more about campus. Molly met with Chief Lankford, Tera their guardians about

the people with whom Hatley, and Donya Williams during a campus Myaamia culture.

they share the land.

visit in 2021. Photo by Scott Kissell, Miami

Mitchell would like

As the collabo- University.

to say mihši neewe ‘a

ration continues to

big thank you’ to the

grow and develop, I asked some Miami Univer- Myaamia Center staff, especially Kristina Fox

sity graduates how this experience impacted their and Andrew Sawyer, for their help in developing

education and career development.

and participating in this program. He is grateful

For Molly Ensor, a 2023 graduate, this expe- for this experience and hopes to work with the

rience was invaluable. In Stephanie’s class, she Myaamia Center in the future as he transitions to

worked with the Myaamia Center to create, de- teaching at a local high school.

velop, and revise a lesson about Myaamia ribbonwork, and to teach students about cultural appreCommunications Specialist, Myaamia Center

keešhtooyankwi

 we make it!

@MyaamiaMakerspace

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Myaamia Center, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2024

Myaamia Student Experience Through the Years

Haley Shea

Office of Assessment and Evaluation,

Myaamia Center

As part of my work within the Office of Assessment and Evaluation, our team has the honor

of meeting with every single Heritage Award Program (HAP) student before they start the program

their first year at Miami University and again after

their final semester. During both of these meetings,

we are “interviewing” them about their personal

experiences with the tribe, their Myaamia identity,

and the Heritage Program itself. The goal of these

interviews are threefold:

1. To understand the student experience within the HAP so that we can continue to improve the program over time.

2. To understand how intensive language and

cultural education impacts Myaamia students.

3. To understand change within the HAP

community across time.

These interviews are transcribed and examined

for themes or important trends that come up in

many of the interviews to make conclusions about Miami University Moccasin Workshop with Heritage Award Program Students, 2022. Photo by

Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

these three goals.

At the same time, we also give HAP students

a survey called the connectedness scale to better understand how connected their time within the HAP. Again, the pre-existing sense of community when

they feel to their Myaamia community and to their own Myaamia identity they enter the HAP depends on their experiences to date, but all report an

at the two timepoints. This survey asks questions about their participation increase in sense of community. This exists within the Miami University

in tribal events, intentions to seek knowledge/support, looking to the tribal community, feeling particularly unified with and connected to one another.

community for guidance, and much more. We hope to understand how the Going through three years of content with all students together and engaging

HAP impacts their own sense of connectedness as a Myaamia person.

in activities outside of classes helps them get to know one another as well

as promote a sense of community. Additionally, we also take a group of

Overview of findings

students to Miami, Oklahoma for Winter Gathering each year and students

Through this work, we have identified that the HAP generally has a sig- serve as our counselors for the Eemamwiciki Summer Programs. As a result

nificant positive impact on the students’ identity and sense of connected- of these types of extracurricular opportunities, students also report a greater

ness within the Myaamia community. While there are of course individual connection to the broader tribal community.

differences in experiences, these are conclusions based on patterns in the

We even have quantifiable data to support these claims from the interinterviews.

views. Since we give students the connectedness scale both before and after

Theme #1: Identity

the HAP, we compare their responses at the two timepoints. Consistently,

There really seem to be about three “typical” student profiles. First in- we have observed a statistically significant difference between pre-test and

cludes students who enter the programming having little or no exposure to the post-test scores on this scale, with students indicating a greater sense of contribal community. Most of these students report knowing they are Myaamia

nectedness after going

(or “Native”) but don’t know much beyond that. However, there are a few still

through the program.

who report learning they were Myaamia during their college search when a

Theme #4: Pride

family member tells them about the HAP. The second type of student includes

To me, this is one

those who knew they

of the more interesting

were Myaamia growfindings of our intering up and sporadically

views. Throughout the

attended tribal events.

years, we have noticed

Often, these students

that students talk about

will say they remember

pride in being Myaamia

going to family events/

significantly more at

reunions or different edpre-test compared to

ucational opportunities,

Heritage Award Program Students at the 2024 post-test. It could be

but there was little conWinter Gathering in Miami, Oklahoma. Photo easy to say that the protinuity between them.

by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

gram decreases a sense

The third and final proof pride, but I don’t

file includes students

think that’s the case.

who grew up knowing Addison Patrick at the Eewansaapita Summer

Our team’s hypothesis

they were Myaamia, had Program in 2007 and as a counselor at the

on this is that this stems

family members who Eewansaapita Summer Program in 2017.

from multiple generencouraged their iden- Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

ations of trauma and

tity exploration, went to

cultural loss. Since our

the Eemamwiciki Summer Programs, and regularly attended tribal events.

community lost a lot

From these profiles, you can see that the likely identity from a Myaamia

of the knowledge and

perspective differs based on which group they align with at the “pre-test” or

cultural

information

their initial interview prior to attending the HAP. However, regardless of the

that we once held near

group they are in, most students (if not all) report significant improvements Heritage students during a visit from Miami to our hearts, the thing

in their Myaamia identity after they have been through the HAP. In particu- Tribe leadership in November 2023. Photo by we had to hold onto is

lar, they feel they can communicate their identity and information about be- Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

and was our pride in being Myaamia with other people – both within and outside of the tribe. They

ing Myaamia. Parents

feel more confident and comfortable in who they are as a Myaamia person and grandparents teach, and taught, us that we should be proud of being

and are more able to express that in ways that feel genuine compared to the Myaamia and this is what helped us to stay connected and survive as a peopre-test. Much of this comes from improvements in their understanding of ple. So, when students attend the HAP at Miami, they now have much more

the Myaamia knowledge system

to ground their identity in than just their sense of pride in being Myaamia.

Theme #2: Knowledge

While the pride has not decreased, it isn’t the thing they hold onto as tightly

The second major theme that arises from these interviews is a signif- anymore.

icant increase in Myaamia knowledge as a result of the HAP. Even those

who reported having some knowledge prior to attending (those who went Closing the loop

to Eemamwiciki Summer Programs growing up, for example), report that

The most important part of our team’s work is in what we call “closing

the program goes much more in-depth than they anticipated. Students feel the loop” with feedback. Our interviews and surveys don’t mean much if

they gain an understanding of Myaamia history, ecology, language, art, food, they don’t inform future programming or what we do moving forward. So,

and much more. This knowledge sets them up t

This text is long and has been trimmed here. Open the source document for the complete record.

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