aatotankiki myaamiaki (2023)

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M I A M I

N A T I

N E W S

aatotankiki myaamiaki

Myaamia Publications – Vol. 16, No. 4, Fall-Winter 2022-2023 – Section A – News – Noošonke Siipionki Myaamionki

2023 Miami Tribe of Oklahoma General Council Meeting · June 24th

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 16, No. 4, 2023

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.

Section A: News

Chief’s Report 3A

General Council Meeting 2022 6A

Edge of Appalachia 6A

New THPO Deputy Officer

MYAAMIA PUBLICATIONS

Ohio Supreme Court Ruling

Miami Nation Cultural Resources Office

P.O. Box 1326

Miami, OK 74355

918-541-1300

Myaamia National Archives

Email: mtocro@gmail.com

Editorial Staff:

Julie Olds, Diane Hunter, Joshua Sutterfield,

Doug Peconge, Meghan Dorey, Bobbe Burke,

Madalyn Richardson.

Submission Requirements:

Photos: Photos submitted electronically should be saved at a resolution of 300 dpi,

sized at standard 4x6 or larger, and saved in jpg, tif, or pdf formats.

Eugene Brown Memorial Art ...8A

Learning from our Relatives... 8A

Historic Ribbonwork Items

NPS Fee Exemption

WEWIN Announcement

ARPA Project 9A

New Website Design

10A

Myaamia Center receives...

10A

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.

Section B: History & Culture

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.

Exhibit at Elkhart Museum

Blue Jacket and Little Turtle

Artist Spotlight: Jared Nally

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

Myaamia Sovereignty in the... 1B

Interactive Exhibit at MHMA 5B

Painted Hide Workshop Recap 6B

Hide Art Exhibit 6B

Facebook:

“MYAAMIAKI Miami Tribe

of Oklahoma”

Section C: Community

How The Heron Feels

“Aatotankiki Myaamiaki”

Myaamia Makerspace

Public Page, listed as “Miami Nation

Events”

Toopeeliciki: Highlighting...

MHMA Page, Listed as

“Myaamia Heritage Museum &

Archive”

REQUEST NEW

CITIZEN ENROLLMENT CARDS

The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma has issued a new

format for its Tribal Citizen/Member Identification

and Enrollment Card. The new plastic card allows

for the inclusion of a photograph of the Enrolled

Citizen/Member and also allows the inclusion of a

Myaamia name. Tribal citizens who wish to obtain

the new card should contact Tera Hatley, Member

Services Manager, at thatley@miamination.com

or by phone at 918-541-1324.

TRIBAL MEMBER ADDRESS UPDATES:

Contact Tera Hatley at thatley@miamination.com or by phone

918-541-1300.

Graduates 2C

Gardening at Drake House

aacimwita akima: The Chief Report

In this edition...

Winter Gathering Recap

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 16, No. 4, 2023

Lying Quietly 4C

One who is Born

Honoring the memory of...

Myaamia Resources

Back to School Funds &...

10C

Section D: Myaamia Center

Mahkihkiwa: the Myaam...

Introducing Šaapohkaayoni

Wrapping up the 50th Ann...

weeyakiteeheeyankwi neep... 4D

Section E: Eemamwaciki

2022 Eemamwiciki Summer... 1E

2022 SummerFest Recap

Myaamia Experience Event

Cultural Corner

Eemamwiciki Event Calendar 6E

Aya, Aya ceeki eeweemakiki. I write to

you from Noošonke Siipionki Myaamionki –

our Oklahoma homeland. Before I begin this

report, I must inform you of my greatest loss.

My beautiful wife, best friend, and sweetheart,

Gena, passed away from this life on Christmas

morning. Her departure has brought the season

of change to our lives that we had hoped was

much further away. I am doing ok, taking one

day at a time, and thankful for the beautiful

memories of our time together. Everyone has

been so kind with calls, cards, and letters. Mihši

neewe to those of you who were able to come to

the funeral. It meant so much to see so many of

you there, too and to hear how much you loved

her. God bless you all.

Our Tribal family now numbers 6,997 enrolled citizens. We are scattered, with citizens

living coast to coast and in distant countries.

Now more than ever, it is essential for us all

to know our history as the Miami Nation, to

understand what sovereignty means, and why

these things are so important to us as a federally

recognized Tribe. In this news-edition and our

community blog aacimotaatiiyankwi.org, we

have shared articles that help us all, especially

our young people, understand these things better. Our identity as the Myaamia Nation, and individually as Myaamia citizens, is everything to

us, and it is vital to our future.

We have worked hard over the past 25 years

to create cultural education events and resources to support families seeking to learn Myaamia

culture and language. I encourage you to visit

our many online resources, listed in this publication and make plans whenever possible to

travel to community events here in Miami or on

our property outside Fort Wayne, IN.

In recent tribal events, we enjoyed a tremendous turnout for our annual Winter Gathering

on January 27 & 28, 2023. Tribal members and

guests enjoyed the games, presentations, food,

and dancing. Over 150 guests traveled down

from Miami University, including University

President Greg Crawford and his wife, Dr. Renata Crawford, Provost Elizabeth Mullenix,

and several special guests from administration,

staff, and students. A panel discussion on Friday, January 27, titled “Celebrating Neepwaantiinki: The Path to Partnership,” focused on the

beginning and growth through five decades of

our relationship with the University. We enjoyed

winter stories that evening and gourd dancing,

socials, and stomp dances on Saturday night.

Weehki-kihkatwe, the new Myaamia lunar

year, began on February 22. Already the frogs

have called to ciinkwia, and his arrival on February 26 tells us it is time to lay down our winter stories here in Noošonke Siipiionki Myaamionki. To celebrate the Myaamia new year, the

Cultural Resources Office hosted a gathering at

the Council House in Miami, OK, with food,

games, music, and fireworks. The Cultural Resources Extension Office in Fort Wayne hosted

a similar celebration.

In past articles, we have shared information

about the federal funding received through the

CARES and ARPA acts. The use of these funds

is directed by the strict federal guidelines our

accounting and legal departments adhere to for

all expenditures for approved projects.

Since the new fiscal year began in October,

projects in cultural education, community wellness and economic development are underway

with several new employees. We welcomed two

new employees to handle our growing media

needs. The new miamination.com website and

the new format of this newspaper publication

are among their fine products. New employees are contributing to our in-person and virtual cultural education initiatives which will

soon introduce a long-awaited online education

portal. We have also welcomed new employees

to the all-new meat packaging and pecan processing plants here in Miami. CARES funding

provided for much needed improvements at the

Ethel Miller Moore Cultural Education Center

(old longhouse building), to better serve onsite

cultural arts education programs. Each area of

ARPA project growth has been well planned

and targets the community’s needs as allowed

for within the funding guidelines. Growth requires expansion, and we in Tribal leadership

work hard to address those concerns.

We are excited to announce the construction

of the new Myaamia National Archives will soon

be complete. This new facility, located next door

to Tribal Headquarters, will quickly be the archival, storm-safe home to our governmental and cultural archived collections. Completed with funding

through an Indian Community Development Block

Grant (ICDBG), the facility is the much-needed upgrade to the Tribe’s previous archive space inside

the old Tribal headquarters at 202 S. Eight Tribes

Trail in Miami, OK. During the 2023 National

Gathering Week, beginning June 19, we will host a

ribbon-cutting event for the new archives building.

Other expansion work includes a new maintenance garage and storage area at the Tribal

Headquarters. In addition, next door to headquarters, improvements are underway to the old

Mistletoe Express Depot building. This building will soon become the new home of the Miami Tribe Environmental Quality Department.

On the legal front, the Miami Tribe remains

actively enhancing its tribal District Court to assume jurisdiction of criminal cases that the state

lost jurisdiction over following the McGirt ruling. As you will recall, the 2020 Supreme Court

McGirt decision upheld the reservation of the

Creek Nation as intact because there was insufficient evidence Congress disestablished it. In

addition, the McGirt case applies to all Oklahoma Tribes, which results in the Miami Tribe

of Oklahoma now having jurisdiction to patrol

and make arrests in applicable situations on its

50-square mile shared reservation with the Peoria Tribe of Oklahoma.

New Ottawa County District Attorney Doug

Pewitt has been actively dismissing and transferring to appropriate Tribes applicable criminal cases. The Miami Tribe has had its own

tribal District Court in place since 2006 and has

prosecuted misdemeanor cases that occurred in

its casinos or on other trust land locations. PostMcGirt, the state will be sending to the Miami

Tribe 80 or more cases for our tribal prosecutor

to review and decide whether charges are appropriate. In addition, the Miami Tribe has initiated enhanced sentencing, which now allows the

Tribe to impose sentences not to exceed three

years imprisonment, fines of up to $15,000, or

both, for qualifying crimes, so long as the Tribe

has met specific requirements which include

providing a public defender if indigent criteria

are met. Previously, the Miami Tribe only had

the authority to impose a jail sentence of up to

1 year and a $5,000 fine.

Because maintaining a safe community is of

utmost importance to the Miami Tribe and its

neighboring Tribes, the Miami joined a Northeast Oklahoma Consortium of Tribes along

with the Ottawa Tribe, Eastern Shawnee Tribe,

Shawnee Tribe, Wyandotte Nation, and SenecaCayuga Nation. The Consortium is working

with City and County partners to address postMcGirt issues. In addition, the Consortium applied for and received federal funding for a Special United States Assistant Attorney (SAUSA)

to prosecute applicable major crimes occurring

on Indian lands in the federal Northern District

Court in Tulsa. The Consortium has selected an

outstanding young attorney with previous experience prosecuting major crimes in Oklahoma

to serve as its SAUSA.

The Consortium Tribes and City and County

Akima Eecipoonkwia

Chief Douglas Lankford

counterparts have worked together to address

the serious issue of assuming jurisdiction over

many cases that sat unprosecuted under the past

Ottawa County District Attorney. Judge Jennifer McCaffery, a proponent for the success

of the Consortium Tribes, has agreed to allow

tribal criminal dockets to take place in her Ottawa County courtroom on specified days each

month. The Miami prosecutor and court staff are

working hard to prepare for the Miami Tribe’s

first criminal docket in the Ottawa County

Courthouse set for March 30, 2023.

The Consortium Tribes plan to send major

crime cases to the United States Attorney’s Office in Tulsa until the new SAUSA is trained,

in place, and ready to accept tribal cases. Some

Tribes in the Consortium still use the Bureau

of Indian Affairs Court of Federal Regulation

(“CFR”) Court and are considering taking steps

to assume jurisdiction over criminal matters

and join the Miami holding its criminal docket

and sending qualifying cases to the Consortium

SAUSA.

Miami, Oklahoma, is in dire need of a new

detention facility and, of equal importance, a

treatment facility for those with mental health

or chemical dependency issues which is currently unavailable. The Consortium Tribes have

worked closely with the City and County to address this need and plan to continue with outreach to resolve this issue.

The Miami Tribe received federal funds

through a CTAS Grant to renovate space in the

Miami Tribe Headquarters building for a new,

large courtroom for civil and family law cases.

The Tribe is working with federal counterparts

to plan for this much-needed expanded court

space to benefit its Miami citizens.

Early planning is underway for our Eemamwiciki summer cultural education programs in

mid-June. Check out the Eemamwiciki Facebook page and the miamination.com website for

registration announcements.

Our National Gathering Week events will

soon be upon us. Be sure to mark your calendars

for the week of June 19 for the many events

leading up to our General Council meeting Saturday, June 24, 2023. An event guide will be

posted to the community’s Facebook group page

at MYAAMIAKI Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and

online at miamination.com.

Until then, enjoy brushing up on your lacrosse skills and practicing your Myaamiaataweeknki to be ready for the summer events.

Until we see you again, nipwaahkaako – be well,

Chief Eecipoonkwia – Douglas Lankford

The 2023 annual meeting of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma General Council

is set for Saturday, June 24th, in Miami, OK. Please watch the Miami Tribe of

Oklahoma Facebook page and website for updates on the meeting. On Facebook

at MYAAMIAKI Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and via website at miamination.com.

2 6 t h

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 16, No. 4, 2023

a n n u a l

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 16, No. 4, 2023

m y a a m i a

WINTER GATHERING

r e c a p

Madalyn Richardson

Cultural & Arts Education

Content Specialist

The 26th Annual Myaamia

Winter Gathering was a great

success. It doubled as a final

celebration of the 50th Anniversary of neepwaantiinki ‘learning from each other.’ This is a

phrase used to symbolize the

relationship between the Miami

Tribe of Oklahoma and Miami

University. The Miami Tribe has

kindled relationships with many

over the years as well.

A majority of this year’s

guests were visitors from Miami

University. Miami University

President Greg Crawford, University Ambassador Dr. Renate

Crawford, and over 100 others,

including deans, administrative

staff, academic faculty, and students, were in attendance. Myaamia students and Myaamia

Center faculty from Miami University helped facilitate and engage with other guests throughout the weekend.

We were also pleased to host

guests from other universities,

museums, and institutions with

whom important relationships

have been developed over the

years. Other members of the

Myaamia community also enjoyed coming together again after 3 years of limited contact due

to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Friday morning, the weekend began with a warm welcome

to all guests from Akima ‘Chief’

Douglas Lankford; members of

the Business Committee, Dustin

Olds, Scott Willard, and Donya

Williams; Kara Strass from the

Myaamia Center; and Julie Olds

of the Cultural Resources Office

of the MiamiTribe of Oklahoma.

Following this, guests enjoyed playing Myaamia games,

seenseewinki ‘bowl game’ and

mahkisina meehkintiinki

‘moccasin game.’ Many Myaamia students enthusiastically

helped guests learn and play

the games and use Myaamiaataweenki, ‘the Miami language.’

The Myaamia Makerspace also

hosted some hands-on, creative

activities. One was a ribbonwork-inspired bookmark activity using cut paper. The other

was a beaded bracelet activity

using colorful beads and letters to spell words and phrases

in Myaamiaataweenki. Both the

games and makerspace activities

were very popular, with around

130 guests learning and playing

games, making and taking home

one of their creations from the

makerspace activities, helping

others, or observing.

In the afternoon, The Path to

Partnership: Celebrating Neepwaantiinki presentation and

panel provided an insightful

look at those who have invested

in the relationship between Miami University and the Miami

Tribe over the years. The panel

was emceed by Dr. Cam Shriver.

Panelists with Miami University

who shared their personal and

professional experiences included Daryl Baldwin, Bobbe Burke,

Reed Anderson, Cory Foster,

and Dolph Greenberg. Tribal

members Kathy Carter Young,

Nate Poyfair, Joshua Sutterfield,

Kara Strass, and Haley Shea

shared their personal experiences with the Heritage Program at

Miami University. It revealed

how the program has shaped

their lives and influenced their

families. Perspectives from both

partners revealed how the path

to their partnership was forged,

nurtured, and sustained by both

the University and the Tribe.

Their stories provided insight

into what a 50-year relationship

in the making has required and

Continued on page 5A >>

Left: Miami tribal member Haley Shea tells a myaamia winter story. Right: Miami tribal member Jarrid Baldwin telling the story of

Wiihsakacaakwa going visiting. Photos by Jonathan M. Fox.

“ This annual

event allows Myaamia

people to come together

and connect with significant

aspects of their culture

through continual

revitalization efforts.”

<< Continued from page 4A

provided.

George Ironstrack, who serves as both the assistant director at the Myaamia Center and program director of the Myaamia Center education office, briefly introduced stomp dance and storytelling. This helped guests

understand how to participate respectfully and enjoy the dances and stories later that evening and the next day.

The meal Friday evening was kindly catered by Mariah Tyner, a local member of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe, and her team. Tyner is well

known for her Indian fry-bread, corn soup, beef and hominy, and grape

dumplings. Those in attendance enjoyed beef and hominy, wild rice with

pecans, roasted chicken and gravy, fried sunchokes, and venison meatballs with the venison provided by Kyle Lankford, Miami tribal citizen,

tribal police officer, and son of Akima Lankford.

Storytelling is a portion of Winter Gathering that

allows guests to hear Myaamiaataweenki being spoken in the telling of various stories from

myaamia ancestors that have been written down and preserved. Last

year, due to the smaller gathering of community members, a question and

answer session about the stories provided an excellent opportunity for

Myaamia people to learn more. That model was adopted again this year

to allow community members to ask questions and gain insight in a small

group setting, apart from non-myaamia guests.

Saturday morning, tours rotated between the Myaamia Heritage Museum and Archives (MHMA) and Tribal Headquarters. The MHMA currently hosts three exhibits; kiikinaana: Our Homes, Minohsaya: Myaamia

& Peewaalia Hide Art, and Keelonteehameekwi —Tending the Fire: Celebrating 50 Years of Neepwaantiinki. Visitors engaged with the various

exhibits and asked questions to gain a deeper understanding of the displays. They commented on how seeing Myaamiaataweenki in the traditional wiikiaami and modern living room settings was interesting. For

example, waapantenaakani is used for ‘candle’ and ‘lamp.’ Visitors also

connected the characters in the minohsaya ‘painted hide’ exhibit to the

winter stories from storytelling the night before. At Tribal Headquarters,

4 groups of roughly 25 people toured the facilities to learn more about

the Miami Nation, its operations, and programs and see the newly built

National Archives.

One of the other key features of the annual Myaamia Winter Gathering

is stomp and social dances. This year, the afternoon began with a gourd

dance enjoyed by many guests, relatives, and friends. After dinner, stomp

and social dances started and carried on in song and dance until midnight.

This annual event allows Myaamia people to come together and connect

with significant aspects of their culture through continual revitalization

efforts. However, guests of all ages and experiences enjoy participating

in the dances. Many individuals from other tribes and several Myaamia

tribal members participated as leaders and shakers.

The Annual Myaamia Winter Gathering has grown and flourished

over the years. This year has once again provided shared memories and

relationship-building. The Miami tribe looks forward to celebrating Myaamia culture again next year and for many generations to follow.

Reprinted from the Aacimotaatiiyankwi Myaamia Community

Blog - posted Feb. 2, 2023

Upper Left: From LtoR: Donya Williams, Secretary Treasurer; Jacey Holcomb, Miami Nation Pow Wow Princess; Sophie Olds, Miami Nation Jr.

Princess; Shannera McCoy, Miami Nation Tribal Princess. Photo by Scott Kissell, MU. Upper Right: Myaamia students, university guests, and

others playing mahkisina. Photo by Jonathan M. Fox. Above left: Miami University guests making ribbonwork inspired bookmarks. Above Right:

Miami University guests making bead bracelets. Photos by Madalyn Richardson. Lower Left: LtoR: Panelists Daryl Baldwin, Reed Anderson,

Dolph Greenburg, Bobbe Burke, Cory Foster. Lower Right: from LtoR: Panelists Kathy Young, Haley Shea, Nate Poyfair, Kara Strass, Joshua

Sutterfield. Photos by Jonathan M. Fox.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 16, No. 4, 2023

General Council Meeting 2022

Staff Article

The 2022 Miami Nation General

Council meeting was held on June 25th

in the Nation’s Council House in Miami,

OK. There were approximately 350 total

in the audience, including underage citizens, spouses, and guests.

Before the meeting, Miami Nation

Princess Grace Lankford presented the

Lord’s Prayer in sign language as Ivalah Allen sang the lyrics in Myaamiaataweenki. Next, Myaamia singers George

Strack, Kara Strass, Haley Shea, George

Ironstrack, and Jarrid Baldwin sang the

community song, followed by Haley

Shea’s solo performance of an original

song, both in the Myaamia language.

Elder George Strack spoke the invocaton in Myaamiaataweenki and translated his words for the audience.

Elders reaching 75 years of age were

gifted Pendleton blankets, and veterans

were recognized and gifted for their service.

Chief Douglas Lankford formally

called the meeting to order and established a quorum for business with 177

voting-age Myaamia citizens in attendance. The Chief recognized Tribal youth

in attendance, aged 10 – 17, who were

given a folder of information regarding

the meeting and thanked them for their

interest and attendance to the affairs of

their Nation.

Following the agenda of the meeting,

Chief Lankford called for the motion to

approve the minutes of the 2021 General Council Meeting, followed by his annual State of the Nation address. Donya

Williams read the Secretary-Treasurer’s

report. New business was presented, including a presentation by Peter Murphy,

CEO of Miami Nation Enterprises.

The Business Committee honored

Tribal Elder James Battese for his work

designing and overseeing the completion

of the new Four Wings Park located next

to the Nation’s dance arena in Miami,

OK. In addition, cultural Resources Officer Julie Olds was honored with a medal

for supporting Myaamia Cultural revitalization.

Elections for Business Committee positions were conducted according to the

constitution, with nominations from the

floor and in-person voting. For the Tribal Business Committee, Chief Douglas

Lankford was re-elected by acclamation

to a 3-year term as Chief, and Second

Councilman Scott Willard was re-elected

to a 3-year term.

Nominations and voting for the Grievance Committee. followed Elected to

3-year terms were Michael Watson and

Shelva Sooter.

Following elections for committee

seats came the custom of electing community ambassadors to serve as Miami

Nation Princess and Miami Nation Junior

Princess. Miss Shannera McCoy was

elected to the 2-year term of Princess, and

Sophie Olds to the 1-year term of Junior

Princess.

Second Chief Dustin Olds made the

elections official by administering the

Oath of Office to those elected.

Old Business and Open Forum discussion followed. Chief Lankford offered

Closing Remarks and a prayer. The meeting was adjourned and

was followed by a

community lunch.

The day’s activities ended with

the Miami Nation Pow Wow

at the Tribe’s

dance

arena

next to the

Council House.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 16, No. 4, 2023

Edge of

Appalachia

Diane Hunter

Tribal Historic Preservation

Officer

Akima Eecipoonkwia, Chief Douglas Lankford adressing those

gathered for the Miami Nation General Coun cil Meeting, 2022.

Photo by Karen L. Baldwin.

Miami Nation Princess, Grace Lankford presents the Lord’s

Prayer in sign language. Photo by Karen L. Baldwin.

Last fall, at the Ohio Tribal

Nations Conference, representatives from 14 tribal nations

were invited to the Edge of Appalachia preserve a homecoming

for the Nations. The property

was stunning, with rolling hills

and lush forests in full fall colors. The Nature Conservancy

director for the North American branch and personnel were

gracious hosts that proposed a

partnership between the Nature

Conservancy of Ohio and the

assembled tribes, and the tribes

were invited to tour the property.

A world-spanning nature conservancy that owns over 2 million acres to protect them from

human encroachment. However,

Native and Western people’s

conservation ideas are different,

as TNC has found out in various

locations around the world. To

us, we are a part of nature, not

apart from it, so entirely excluding humans deprives nature of a

fundamental pillar of the ecosystem. This topic is only one of a

few a potential partnership will

have to discuss.

New

Deputy

Officer in the

THPO Staff Article

Photo by Scott Kissell, MU.

Miami Nation Elected officials. From LtoR: Second-Chief

Dustin Olds, Secretary Treasurer Donya Williams, Chief Douglas Lankford, 1st Council Person Tera Hatley, and Second

Council Person Scott Willard. Photo by Karen L. Baldwin.

Miami tribal member James Battese is honored by the Business

Committee. Photo by Karen L. Baldwin.

Elders being recognized with blankets at the 2022 Miami Tribe of

Oklahoma’s General Council meeting. Photo by Karen L. Baldwin.

The Cultural Resources Office (CRO) welcomed Logan

York to the Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) as the

new Deputy Tribal Historic Preservation Officer in April 2022.

Logan is familiar to many

myaamiaki as he grew up participating in Tribal events. He

attended eewansaapita beginning at nine years old and was

later a counselor at the camp.

As a myaamiaki student at Miami University, he continued his

education about Miami people,

language, culture, and history

while obtaining his Bachelor

of Arts degree in anthropology,

with minors in archaeology and

history. After graduation, he

gained experience in archaeological excavation, working

with Algonquian Consultants.

This archaeology firm advises

the Miami Tribe CRO. In his

free time, he uses reenacting

events to educate the public on

the true history of myaamionki,

our traditional homelands.

Logan’s education and experience perfectly suit the work

he is now doing with THPO Diane Hunter to preserve and protect places of historic and cultural importance to myaamiaki

and give talks on the history of

the Miami people and the Tribe

today.

Logan grew up in Kansas

and Missouri but currently lives

within the myaamia ancestral

homelands in Cincinnati, Ohio.

This aerial view shows the entirety of the Octagon Earthworks and Moundbuilders Country Club golf course in Newark. Photo by Ohio History Connection.

Ohio Supreme Court Ruling Preserves Octagon Earthworks in Newark, OH

Diane Hunter

Tribal Historic Preservation Officer

A few days ago in Fort Wayne, Indiana, waiting for

take-out, a woman told me about her amazing visit to the

Great Wall of China. I replied that we have amazing earthworks in neighboring Ohio. She had never heard of the

monumental earthworks that are so close to home.

I have never been to the Great Wall of China, but recently I visited the Newark Earthworks twice. In September, an evaluator for the World Heritage nomination

process toured the Newark Earthworks. As Tribal Historic

Preservation Officer (THPO) for the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, I was fortunate to be invited to join his group to

represent my nation. I visited again in early November as

part of the Ohio Tribal Nations Conference, hosted by the

Ohio Department of Transportation and the Ohio History

Connection.

The Newark Earthworks, built more than 1500 years

ago, are amazing examples of the creative genius of our

Native ancestors. The earthworks are especially impressive when I think about how they were made. Our ancestors located their creation in a prairie, wisely avoiding the

removal of forest trees. Carrying basketfuls of soil, sometimes long distances, took unbelievable labor and required

incredible dedication to their goal. Even more impressive

than the labor was the intelligence and understanding of

geometry, astronomy, and other sciences necessary for

creating perfect circles and squares and octagons with repeated sizes and areas, all aligned to each other and to the

phases of the moon. This was, of course, all done without

the help of computers to do the calculations. Given no

evidence of a writing system, we must assume that their

observations and calculations were all done in their heads

and passed down orally. It makes me think that we today

are quite primitive in comparison.

During my first visit, after seeing the Great Circle, I

was not sure what to expect at the Octagon Earthworks.

I anticipated that this site would be no less a work of

genius than the Great Circle, but I have heard for

many years about the desecration of this site by

a golf course placed over it.

My job as THPO is to preserve and protect places of historic and cultural significance

to my people. It was through these eyes that I

viewed the golf hole in the center of an earthwork circle that happened to be the exact size

of the putting green inside

it. Golfing is for pleasure.

It does not belong on a

sacred site. Imagine

a golf course in

the Grand Canyon. Just so, a

golf course is not

appropriate

this monumental

site. During my

second visit to

the Octagon Earthworks, our hosts were

not able to obtain permission for us to enter the golf

course, and we were only able to see the earthworks from the observation platform. I felt angry that we were not able to enter the sacred

site that our ancestors left for us.

I have said little that those who follow this

column have not already heard. My friends who

have written for this space have expressed much

the same sentiments. Yet, I believe these expressions of amazement and concern deserve and require

repeating. I hope the Newark Earthworks will soon be

inscribed as a World Heritage site. Then the whole world

will know how sacred and monumental these places are.

This column was originally written for publication in The

(Newark) Advocate in Ohio, found at www.newarkadvocate.com - Published, Dec. 13, 2022

Exterior, east-facing wall of the archive viewed from parking lot. Staff Photo

Myaamia National Archives Nears Completion

Staff Article

In 2018, the Miami Nation was awarded an

Indian Community Development Block Grant

by the US Department of Housing and Urban

Development to build a place for the safe keeping of governmental and cultural archives. After a short delay due to the COVID pandemic,

the building broke ground in January 2022, and

steady progress has been made over the year. It

is now very near completion.

Located on the east side of Tribal Headquarters, the building features a secure archive

space of 930 square feet and a 470 square foot

“Newark Earthworks,

built more than

1500 years ago...”

The Octagon Earthworks is at 125 N. 33rd

St. in Newark, Ohio.

Photos by Ohio History

Connection.

Interior of the archive en progress. Staff Photo.

room for processing or viewing collections.

This building will replace the original Myaamia

Heritage Museum & Archive collections storage

and office in the former headquarters building.

Under the oversight of the Secretary/Treasurer,

the governmental archives will also be consolidated at this location.

Unfortunately, a manufacturing backlog is

causing a delay in installing a backup generator. Without this equipment, the building will

not be fully functioning until the Summer of

2023. Tribal leadership hopes to host tours of

the new space during National Gathering events

Photo by Jonathan M. Fox.

next June.

MHMA to Host

Eugene Brown

Memorial Art

Show

Meghan Dorey

Manager, Myaamia Heritage Museum &

Archive

In October 2022, the Miami Nation took

advantage of an opportunity to reacquire several items sold to collectors and removed from

the Miami community approximately 100 years

ago. These items include silverwork and textiles, several of which are adorned with dis-

tinctive Miami ribbonwork patterns. The items

have been placed into the Myaamia Heritage

Museum & Archive collection. Museum staff

will be working with professional conservators

to ensure proper handling, storage, and display

procedures are followed so that the entire Myaamia community can learn about and enjoy

these pieces for generations to come. Look for

more details and photos in the next edition of

Atotankiki Myaamiaki!

National Parks Fee Exemptions

Staff Article

The Miami Tribal Historic Preservation Office received a notice that may interest many Myaamiaki. The National Park Service reminded us that “in certain circumstances, members of

American Indian Tribes...are exempt from paying entrance fees at National Parks. The fee exemptions may apply to several non-recreational activities, including:

- First Amendment activities.

- Special park uses.

- NPS-authorized research activities.

- Federal, State, tribal, and local government business.

- “Traditional” activities by members of American Indian Tribes and other traditionally associated groups.

- Leaseholder and property owners accessing their property;

- Outings conducted for non-commercial educational purposes by schools and other bona fide

academic institutions.”

The memo notes, “As a matter of policy, the NPS takes an expansive interpretation of the

phrase ‘traditional activities’ in deciding what does and does not constitute a recreational activity. The NPS acknowledges that the phrase ‘traditional activities’ is neither a static concept, nor

is it a set of neatly listed activities that can be defined by the NPS, but should be defined by the

members of the respective communities themselves. Traditional activities by their very nature

are broad and cover everything from plant gathering to passing on tribal expertise and indigenous

knowledge, which may occur while engaged in other activities that appear to be recreational in

nature, such as hiking or fishing.”

Each National Park may have local policies and procedures about this exemption. Contact

the park staff for details before arriving at a National Park and expecting a fee exemption.

as the Chairperson for the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Enrollment Committee and serves on the

Miami Business Regulatory Commission.

In addition to many tribal leader duties and

responsibilities, since 2007, Donya has worked

full-time first as the Tribe’s Myaamia Student

Services Coordinator and currently as the Director administering the Tribe’s scholarship

program, back to school funds program.

Donya serves as Vice-Chairperson for the

Claremore Indian Hospital Advisory Board of

Directors, a 17 Tribe consortium. She is the

elected Chairperson and past Secretary for the

Northeast Tribal Health Service Clinic Governing Board of Directors for the eight Northeast Tribes the facility serves. She served on

the Miami Nation Enterprises Board of Directors (2016), the Inter-Tribal Bison Cooperative

Board of Directors (2007- 2010), and served a

three-year term on the Oklahoma Civil Rights

Commission. Donya serves as a tribal leader

representative for the United Indian Nations

of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas and Women

Empowering Women for Indian Nations. She

was an honoree receiving the WEWIN Lifetime

Achievement Award in 2015. As an advocate

for Indian Gaming Donya, Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr. served as an honored guest speaker at

the grand opening of the National Indian Gaming Association headquarters in Washington,

D.C., and has presented at other Native conferences across Indian Country.

Donya is an active participant in Myaamia

culture and language and has made a difference

in the lives of so many people through her spirit

of love and compassion for humanity, which is

underscored by a deep and selfless love for her

people. A much-loved tribal matriarch gave

Donya the Myaamia name peekokihkwa. The

translation of her name means Peace Woman.

Donya lives in Bluejacket, Oklahoma, with her

husband Jamie and has three children and five

grandchildren.

Reprinted with permission.

ARPA Noošonke team left to right: Nate Poy- ARPA Kiihkayonki team left to right: Dani

fair, Jordan Janeway , Madalyn Richardson, and Tippmann, Claudia Hedeen, Kirk Strass, and

CRO team member Morgan Lippert. Staff photo. Doug Peconge. Staff photo.

The American Rescue Plan Act or ARPA funding has provided great

opportunities to expand the reach of cultural education for the Cultural

Resources Office (CRO) of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and the Cultural Resources Extension Office (CREO) of Fort Wayne, Indiana. ARPA

funding for the noošonke team in Miami, Oklahoma, dedicates its work

to aiding and increasing distance learning opportunities for tribal members, providing access to cultural education materials and content that

was hindered due to the COVID-19 virus. The ARPA kiihkayonki team

in Indiana is structured to support furthering cultural education through

property and resource development for the community’s health and wellbeing. Both projects promote cultural education and communication

within the tribal community.

Enrolled tribal citizen Nate Poyfair leads the ARPA noošonke team, as

the noošonke project manager, with Jordan Janeway as the communications and media specialist and Madalyn Richardson as the cultural and arts

education content specialist, moving from her former position as the makerspace coordinator. Together they work to create content that community

members can access through distance learning settings. Distance learning

can be achieved through the internet using video recordings, email, social

media, print publications, distanced face-to-face learning, and outdoor activities that protect and connect tribal members nationwide.

Nate’s responsibilities require him to oversee and lead the ARPA projects in Miami, Oklahoma, to share with the greater tribal community. He

has previously worked in multiple management positions that required

the development of leadership, planning, and other skills that assist him

in his current role. “Although I have not worked in an educational role

specifically, I have experience in working within the tribes’ educational

spheres, and I have found that to be paramount in adapting to the position

of ARPA Project Manager,” Nate says. His experience has made interacting with the educational teams and other departments within the Tribe

easier, allowing him to adjust to the new role comfortably.

After studying at Miami University, Jordan joins the Cultural Resources team as the ARPA Communications and Media Specialist. While

studying design, Jordan found a new passion in coding. She combined

the two into a love of web design and development. She worked doing

freelance design, which helped her develop time-management skills that

helped her excel in her new position with the Tribe. Her ARPA goals are

to provide a new and streamlined website that is easy to use for all tribal

members, increase the presence and availability of social media, and finally, learn more about the Tribe and increase her cultural knowledge.

She appreciates how welcoming everyone in the community has been

and says she can’t wait for what’s to come.

Madalyn’s work focuses on designing and developing educational

content to be accessible across various platforms and publications. She is

a Graphic Design graduate passionate about child literacy and learning.

These are both valuable in supporting her work with the Tribe and allow

her to develop educational content that is effective and relevant. The

guidance she receives from other members of the MTO education teams

is invaluable, and she’s grateful to be involved in the efforts of CRO and

eemamwiciki. In the past few months, she has focused on designing a

book with information on the myaamia lunar calendar. As she continues

to promote distance learning, there will be a growing library of publications and videos for at-home learning or use at educational events.

To achieve the ARPA goals in kiihkayonki, the Cultural Resources

Extension Office (CREO) brought on additional staff. Doug Peconge

moved from his position as a community programmer to the kiihkayonki

ARPA project manager, Dani Tippmann is the kiihkayonki ARPA community foods program director, Claudia Hedeen is our kiihkayonki ARPA

education and wellness coordinator, and Kirk Strass is our ARPA maintenance specialist. All four staff members are enrolled tribal citizens.

In the fall of 2021, the Tribe also took possession of a 45-acre property

northwest of Fort Wayne, Ind. The purchase of that property was made

possible through ARPA funds. Over the next four years, the CREO in

Fort Wayne, will focus on the ARPA guidelines for cultural education,

food support, community health, and well-being.

Doug’s responsibilities are overseeing the ARPA project in Fort

Wayne and managing the 45-acre Fritz Road property. His previous experience as the Community Programmer has allowed him to become a

well-known community member and easily transition into his new position. He is grateful to have a growing team as they work to increase

community-available resources and experiences through ARPA projects.

Dani served as the director of the Whitley County Museum, in Columbia City, Indiana, for 12 years and has years of experience in public

presentations. She also has tremendous plant and gardening knowledge

that will be instrumental in developing our garden. She hopes to apply

what she learned to our garden space and create an educational space

that provides fresh vegetables for our community. The CREO held a seed

swap following the Fall gathering. Dani and Rebecca Hartleroad, whose

sons are enrolled tribal citizens, share native garden seeds with community members to plant in their gardens.

Claudia has been a yoga instructor for 12 years and loves spending time outdoors. Her teaching experiences serve her well as she develops cultural education programming for the kiihkayonki and greater

myaamia community. Claudia began working for the Tribe in September

and learning about community programming. Her first week in her new

position consisted of preparing for the CREO for the Fall Gathering.

Tribal leadership held its first community informational gathering since

the pandemic. She did a tremendous job ensuring everything was ready

for the business committee’s event and dinner. She is currently working

on developing new cultural programs for community members.

Kirk worked for over 30 years for the City of Huntington, Indiana,

in waste management. He then worked for the Huntington County library

doing maintenance. Kirk started working for the Tribe over the summer,

where his primary focus was maintaining the grounds. He spent 10-plus

hours a week mowing the property, keeping the trails open and the place

looking beautiful. The removal of invasive plants created large debris

piles on the property. Rather than burn them, the CREO staff converted

the debris into wood chips. The wood chips and cardboard left behind by

the previous owner will help reduce weeds in the garden, allowing it to

be pesticide-free.

The noošonke and kiihkayonki ARPA teams look forward to 2023

and the opportunities it will provide to the myaamia community.

10A

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - News, Vol. 16, No. 4, 2023

Miami Tribe of

Oklahoma Has

Launched New

Website Design

N E W S

Myaamia Publications – Vol. 16, No. 4, Fall-Winter 2022-2023 – Section B – History & Culture – Noošonke Siipionki Myaamionki

Myaamia Sovereignty in The 21st Century

powers and to the degree that a nation loses its sense of cultural identity,

Assistant Director, Myaamia Center Director, Education Office

to that degree it suffers a loss of sovereignty.”

A sovereignty that springs from culture is a sovereignty that can

As a part of the Myaamia Heritage Program at Miami University, our be innately Myaamia at its core. Our sovereignty has always had its roots

students take part in a series of courses that help them to better understand in Myaamia culture. In the distant past we would have referred to the

who our people are today and who we were in the past. One of these cours- health and strength of our communities using our language to express

es focuses on key issues that our community faces today and the important concepts inherent in our culture. Colonization certainly changed some of

role that sovereignty plays in helping us respond to those issues.

this for our people. Aspects of our political sovereignty were shaped by

At a basic level in the global political community, sovereignty is treaties, legislation, and supreme Court rulings, but at its core our soverusually understood to reflect political power. A nation is understood to be eignty is still defined by our people.

sovereign if it governs itself. In this course we work together to complicate

Deloria gets at this deeply empowering notion when he describes

this basic definition of sovereignty and develop our understanding of what sovereignty as revolving “about the manner in which traditions are deit means to be sovereign from a Myaamia point of view.

veloped, sustained, and transformed to confront new conditions. It inIn this quest, we are

volves most of all a strong

aided by the deep thinking

sense of community discipline

and wise words of the Dakota

and a degree of self-containscholar Vine Deloria Jr. (1933ment and pride that transcends

2005). Deloria was a citizen

all objective codes, rules, and

of the Standing Rock Sioux

regulations. Unless individuTribe and over the course of

als have a commitment to a

his adult life was widely reclarger whole they cannot funcognized as a foremost thinker

tion efficiently and unless a

on a wide array of topics that

nation is composed of comcontinue to impact tribal namitted individuals it cannot

tions whose homelands fall, at

function with the efficiency

least in part, within the boundthat sovereignty is meant to

aries of the United States.

describe.” (27)

Our class relies heavily on

Near the very end of the

a short but complex 1979 esessay, Deloria emphasizes

say by Deloria entitled “Selfthat sovereignty is not a fixed

determination and the Constate that a nation achieves but

cept of Sovereignty.” In this Newly elected officials are sworn in at the 2022 Miami Tribe of Oklahoma’s Gen- rather a never-ending process

brilliant bit of writing Deloria eral Council meeting. Photo by Karen L. Baldwin.

of development. If sovereignlays out multiple overlapping

ty has a use to us today as an

ways in which tribal nations could think about sovereignty. He begins English word and an inter-cultural concept, it is because it allows us to

with what he considers to be the common definition of the word as used “describe the process of growth and awareness that characterizes a group

by nations around the world: “Sovereignty was the absolute power of a of people working toward and achieving maturity.” (28)

nation to determine its own course of action with respect to other naIn class, we use these varying definitions to get our group thinking

tions.” When we discuss this definition in class we emphasize how this about the importance of cultural sovereignty. We are a nation that is endefinition centers notions of independence and separateness between na- gaged in an inter-generational effort of communal revitalization of our

tions. Control of territory through the use of military force is usually es- language and culture. Instead of a sovereignty hyper focused on indepensential to the operation of this type of sovereignty.

dence, our beliefs and practices force us to remember that we are at our

This common understanding of sovereignty can be contrasted with strongest when we recognize the interdependencies that connect us to

a type of sovereignty that Deloria felt had its foundation in each nation’s other human beings as with the non-human world around us.

unique culture. Legal manifestations of sovereignty exist to protect and

Vine Deloria Jr.’s essay continues to give us much to think about in

care for the people of the nation. In class, we usually ask some version terms of the foundation role of our culture in our sovereignty as a people.

of the following question: if the people cease to exist as a distinct and I’m certain that the next time we read his essay we will draw new indifferent nation, then what is the purpose of governmental sovereignty? sights from this brilliantly complex work.

Near the end of the essay, Deloria makes the strong argument that sov- Reprinted from the Aacimotaatiiyankwi Myaamia Community Blog ereignty consists “more of continued cultural integrity than of political posted Oct. 25, 2022

George Ironstrack

The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma’s progress on new website. Staff photo.

calendar that allows our members to view all upcoming events, no matter where they are to take

place and save them to their personal calendars.

The development of this project has been and

will continue to be an ongoing process, so we

ask for your patience and understanding while

we are still under construction and early stages

of such considerable changes.

We understand that many people may be

used to the previous site and how to navigate its

menu, and it may take time to readjust to the update. Please call our number (918) 541-1300 if

you have any questions or would like assistance

navigating the new website and menu options.

A screenshot of the new site is above. Please

note some things may change on the site after

this newspaper publication.

Myaamia Center receives $472,397 Robert Wood Johnson

Foundation Grant

Stella Beerman

Communications Specialist, Myaamia

Center

The Myaamia Center has been awarded a

$472,397 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson

Foundation (RWJF) to fund the development of

assessment and evaluation protocol regarding

current and past ideas of health and wellness

within the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

The Myaamia Center — a research-focused

collaboration between Miami University and

the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma — focuses on

Myaamia language and cultural revitalization.

A project titled “Myaamia nipwaayoni: Tribal knowledge as a source of well-being” will be

funded by the three-year grant from RWJF, a

philanthropic organization dedicated to improving health and well-being in the United States.

Haley Shea, Myaamia research associate

and co-principal investigator of the project,

said the goal is to develop and measure interventions. The team wants to better understand

what health and wellness mean to the Myaamia

community to create better wellness programming based on this knowledge.

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Chief Douglas

Lankford wrote in the grant application, “We have

long been interested in a more formal and robust

understanding of the links between language and

culture and our community’s well-being.”

The Miami Tribe community has seen plenty of anecdotal and observational evidence of

how the community has benefitted from the

language and cultural revitalization. However,

tribal leadership and Myaamia Center researchers wanted to measure these benefits and continue using those metrics to make improvements

within the community.

In 2012, they created the Nipwaayoni Acquisition and Assessment Team (NAATeam) to

begin “observing, interpreting, and documenting” the impacts of cultural and language education within the community.

Using these assessments, historical data,

and new research taking place during the project, Myaamia Center researchers hope to work

with the NAATeam to create a culturally based

Myaamia Wellness Model.

The Myaamia Wellness Model will lead to a

N A T I

iiši-mihtohseeniwiyankwi

aatotamankwi

Staff Article

The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma is proud to

announce a new and updated look and design

of the tribal website! The new Noošonke Media

and Communications Specialist, Jordan Janeway, has been working on updating the website

to give it a fresh face, improve functionality,

and make it a more accessible tool for all tribal

members. After much time, effort, and invaluable insight and guidance from the entire Cultural Resources Office team and others, the new

website is up and running. Still located at www.

miamination.com, keep an eye out for our website’s latest changes and layout. Due to circumstances beyond our control, some information

is changing and, therefore, not on the new site.

We appreciate your patience while we are still

under construction.

When the tribe decided to update the site,

we looked at our community to see what was

needed or had not been provided in the past. We

began by asking questions and developing goals

for what we wanted to accomplish with the new

site.

The new site will provide a new and reorganized streamlined menu system and our new

M I A M I

Myaamia community members of all ages kick off a lacrosse game in Miami, Oklahoma in 2019.

Community peekitahaminki, ‘lacrosse,’ games are commonly played at community gatherings.

Photo by Karen L. Baldwin.

measurement tool that community researchers

can use to measure wellness within the Miami

Tribe community and will ultimately assist the

Myaamia Center in incorporating health and

wellness topics into Myaamia programming and

educational materials.

“So many health-related interventions are

not as effective as they could be because they

are not culturally specific,” Shea said.

The Myaamia Center takes a strength-based

approach, where the researchers evaluate what

makes the community strong, rather than focusing on weaknesses, and invests in those activities to nurture community well-being.

Eventually, the team will create a manual,

detailing the research process and outcomes in

hopes of helping other tribal communities create their own, culturally specific understandings and measures of health and wellness.

The research team hopes this manual will

empower communities to determine interventions and health-promoting practices to support

health in their own unique communities.

As always, the forefront of the research is

to serve the Miami Tribe community, Shea explained. To ensure this research is best serving

the community, members of the Miami Tribe of

Oklahoma’s Cultural Resource Office will be

involved in the project.

Miami Nation News is on Facebook & Twitter

@MyaamiaNews AATOTANKIKI MYAAMIAKI

Daryl Baldwin, executive director of the

Myaamia Center, and Shea are working together as co-principal investigators. While members

of the Myaamia Center’s NAATeam and Office

of Assessment and Evaluation will conduct and

analyze research, a technology team will be

working to update the current database and visualization applications to house the new data.

Members of the center’s education office and a

community health team will also be involved in

the project.

Consulting on the project will be Joseph

Gone, faculty director of Harvard University’s

Native American Program; Roy Oman, professor of Public Health at the University of Nevada-Reno; and Ryan Rhodes, director of the

Behavioral Medicine Laboratory at the University of Victoria, Canada.

The project team expects the initial research

and documentation to take place in multiple phases over the next three years. However, as Shea

explained, work like this is never truly done.

“This is an ongoing project and we will forever be engaged in this work,” Shea said. “The

benefits of this project within the Miami Tribal

community will extend far beyond these first

three years.”

Reprinted from the Miami University News, miamioh.edu/news - posted Aug. 9, 2022

Myaamia Maple Sugaring Exhibit Opens at

the Elkhart County Historical Museum

Staff Article

The Myaamia Heritage Museum & Archive (MHMA) staff traveled to Bristol,

Indiana in August to install an exhibit on

maple sugaring at the Elkhart County Historical Museum. The exhibit had been previously installed at MHMA in 2018, and it

will remain on display at the Elkhart County

Historical Museum through March 2023.

For the exhibit, MHMA staff Meghan

Dorey and Morgan Lippert presented an

interpretation of a Myaamia siihsipaahkwikaani ‘maple sugar camp.’ The camp

explains the sugaring process and showcases a variety of sugaring tools, some of

which date back to the late 18th and early

19th centuries. The exhibit also discusses

why the practice of maple sugaring fell

away from the Myaamia community after

removal to Kansas and Oklahoma, as well

as how the tradition has since been revitalized.

MHMA staff collaborated with Julie

Parke, Museum Administrator. Ms. Parke

says visitors to the museum have enjoyed

the exhibit, particularly the way in which

the exhibit incorporates multi-senory expe-

riences including smells, sounds, and even

tastes. She explains, “Siihsipaahkwikaani

has been very popular with our visitors.

When we share that the exhibit was created by and borrowed from the Myaamia

Heritage Museum & Archive in Oklahoma,

it gives us an opening to explain the Miami origins along the St. Jospeh River and

in northern Indiana and why the Miami are

headquartered now in Miami, Oklahoma.”

This isn’t the first time the Elkhart County Historical Museum has worked with the

Miami Nation. Tribal Historical Preservation Officer Diane Hunter previously helped

the museum’s staff update their main exhibit, Crossroads of Elkhart County, to include

a more in-depth and accurate representation

of Myaamia people’s historical and present

connections to the area.

The MHMA invites those who can visit

to experience these collaborative efforts.

The Elkhart County Historical Museum

has free admission and is open Tuesdays

through Saturdays from 9am to 5pm. It is

located at 304 West Vistula Street in Bristol, Indiana. If you are travelling a distance, you may wish to call ahead; the museum can be reached at (574) 848-4322.

Recreation of a Myaamia siihsipaahkwikaani ‘maple

sugar camp.’ Photo by Morgan Lippert.

MHMA Curator of Exhibitions Morgan Lippert (left)

and Manager, Meghan Dorey (right) during installation.

Photo courtesy of Elkhart County Historical Museum.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 16, No. 4, 2023

Introducing the

Foundations of

Myaamiaataweenki

Course

Available now through

Šaapohkaayoni: A

Myaamia Portal

This online, self-directed

course teaches the

foundations of the miami

language in a video format

with worksheet exercises to

help you review the topics.

mc.miamioh.edu/eduportal

The 2023 annual

meeting of the Miami

Tribe of Oklahoma

General Council is set

for Saturday, June

24th, in Miami, OK.

kiiloona

myaamiaki

‘we are Miami’

A series of community

gatherings discussing

Miami History will begin

later this summer.

Keep an eye out for more

information online and

on the Myaamiaki

Facebook page.

Blue Jacket and Little Turtle

Diane Hunter

Artist Spotlight: Jared Nally

ing spoken again and how we were in a time of

re-awakening. People were getting called back

to the community. So I consider textiles and

Meet Jared Nally, a Myaamia student who weaving to be a gift that allowed me to come

is currently seeking a Master’s degree in Envi- back to the community.

ronmental Science at Miami University. He is a

Joshua: Do you remember the first piece

recipient of the Aanchtaakia Graduate Fellow- you ever made? The first weaving piece.

ship. Aanchtaakia is the Myaamia word meanJared: Myaamia weaving?

ing ‘change maker.’ This fellowship is specifiJoshua: How about both? Do you rememcally designed for tribal scholars motivated to ber the first piece you ever weaved?

make positive change in tribal communities and

Jared: Yes. And it’s a two-part answer. In

to share their research or interests on Miami grade school, we made little paper plate weavUniversity’s campus. Jared is a talented weaver ings where you put notches on the side and

and sees his craft as a connection to his com- wove in a circle. So that’s my first very basic

munity. I was fortunate to be able to spend some idea of what weaving was. But coming to weavtime with Jared and conduct an extensive inter- ing as a practice, I kind of dove headfirst into

view. As you will see below he sees his craft the deep end, and I did a pretty wide twill piece

as a doorway to giving back to the community on a four-shaft loom that I made into a pillow

and adding to the ongoing revitalization of our for my sister. That’s, I guess, my first conneccultural ways.

tion to my identity as a

Joshua: Tell us

weaver.

who you are.

Joshua: So, what

Jared: aya ceeki

about your first Myahsapa neehi Jared

aamia piece?

weenswiaani. I grew

Jared: During my

up in Kansas, and

first semester at Haskell

I’m a descendant of

[Indian Nations Unithe DeRome family. I

versity], I was really

grew up outside of the

interested in doing traOklahoma and Indiana

ditional textile work. Jared with several pieces of his work. Photo by

Myaamia communiAnd so, I founded the Karen L. Baldwin.

ties, but was called

Haskell Hand Weavers,

back to the Myaamia

a student club for all of pursuing my Master’s in Environmental Scicommunity in my 20s.

us to come, participate, ence degree with a concentration in applied

I am a weaver.

and share our different ecology and conservation. That concentration

Joshua:

How

tribal textile traditions. area is really looking at destructive relationwould you describe

We started out doing ships that have taken place in myaamionki (the

yourself as an artcoil basketry, but from lands of the Myaamiaki) through colonization

ist? What is your aesthere, we got to partici- and forced removal. We haven’t been in some

thetic and what’s your

pate in a fingerweav- of these places to maintain our ecological refavorite medium to Jared demonstrating his work on a woven bag. ing workshop by Cindy lationships, and so now we have environments

Photo by Karen L. Baldwin.

work with?

Warrington, who’s Ho- with invasive species, and some of the plants

Jared: I don’t reChunk. Several of our and animals we have relationships with are no

ally call myself an artist, although I do get club members attended her workshop, and that longer present. My work is hopefully to restore

called that by others. I guess the easy part of is how I learned how to fingerweave garters and some of these relationships. One relationship

that question is “what medium I like to work it was my introduction to Myaamia textiles.

that I am currently focused on is looking at bulwith” — I like textiles. It’s part of why I don’t

Joshua: How has your view of yourself as rush, making sure that if we want to do cultural

consider myself an artist. The utility and aes- a weaver changed during your time interacting work with bullrush, if we want to start doing

thetic of textiles goes hand in hand, and I view with your community?

bulrush mats workshops, that we have bulrush

that differently from art. I like that about a lot

Jared: I think being a weaver has informed present in Myaamia spaces. That might take

of our cultural objects. Somebody took the time how I interact with the community and pro- some ecology and conservation work to make

to make things that were useful and they also vided a way for me to

sure some of our tribal

spent the time to incorporate a Myaamia aes- give back. I think the

land acquisitions have

thetic into them. That’s what I think I do when biggest thing weavbulrush

reestablished

I create my pieces. They’re always an item that ing has allowed me

and that we’ve done the

has purpose or use, and inherently, by craft, to practice, is what

work to know that those

they turn into something beautiful. So, I don’t I call “indigeneity”

populations can support

necessarily think of what I make as art. Not to and in a sense, what

cultural use.

corner Myaamia people into having to always being a Myaamia

Joshua: Can you tell

make something useful to use Myaamia aesthet- person means to me.

us a little bit about your

ics, because we don’t always do that. But, I like To give an example,

experience and your

the ability to do that in my work.

when you start a textime at Haskell, how

Joshua: When did you first start weaving? tile project and learn

did that sort of change

Jared: I think the story that you’ll want to how to process mayour art and your view

start with is the background of how I grew up. terials to turn into

or your craft and your

I didn’t grow up in a Myaamia space. After I thread that you turn

view as a weaver, of

graduated high school and became an adult, I into the final product,

yourself even?

started to figure out my hobbies and interests. you start looking at

Jared: Haskell gave

Knitting was one of the first, and knitting led to the places you live as

me an intertribal idenweaving and then to spinning. I accrued skills being able to provide

tity. It also forced me to

that were deeply embedded in culture. There’s these materials which

come back to our coma lot of cultural traditions just within knitting. I gives you a sense of Jared demonstrating his weaving technique munity and ask quesknew about my Myaamia heritage, but I hadn’t how places take care on his current sash project. Photo by Karen L. tions about Myaamia

connected with it, and I saw textiles as a way of people. So, I think Baldwin.

practices because I had

to connect with my Myaamia community and being a Myaamia perfriends that were curious

culture. It was that idea, in combination with son and being a weaver has allowed me to start about what we do. I think Haskell informed my

reading our tribal newspaper, that made me connecting with our traditional ecology, and Myaamia identity just through comparison with

feel comfortable reaching out and attending that informs how I fit in our community and my peers. It got me to be very in touch with how

my first national gathering where I was able to how I practice Myaamia indigeneity.

different communities see themselves, see their

meet people in our community and start to learn

Joshua: This kind of connects to what your ecological relationships, and how that’s been

about some of our textile traditions.

graduate work is going to be, correct? Tell us a reflected in some of the material culture they

When I first started talking to people in our little bit about that.

have — some of the textiles that they produce.

community, they talked about our language beJared: So, I’m here at Miami University Continued on page 6B >>

Joshua Sutterfield

Tribal Historic Preservation Officer

Myaamiaki who live in the Fort Wayne, Indiana area, and perhaps others as well, may have

seen recent news reports about a company in

Fort Wayne named Blue Jacket and a sculpture

of Shawnee chief Blue Jacket that the company

commissioned to be placed on their property

on South Calhoun Street. The question for Myaamiaki may be who was Blue Jacket, and why

was he important in Fort Wayne?

Born in the 1740s, Weyapiersenwah (later

known in English as Blue Jacket) was raised in

southern Ohio, likely in present-day Ross County. By the 1770s, Blue Jacket had become the

war leader for his village along the Scioto River.

The earliest references to him document his participation in Lord Dunmore’s War in 1774, in

which Shawnee and Iroquoian (primarily Seneca

and Cayuga) forces fought against the British in

present-day West Virginia and Kentucky, land

that was hunting grounds for Shawnees, Myaamiaki, and many other tribal communities.

Over the next several decades, conflicts like

Lord Dunmore’s War became a regular occurrence in Ohio and Kentucky as Americans continued to pour across the Appalachian Mountains demanding Native lands. During the 1780s

and 1790s, Blue Jacket continued to serve as a

Shawnee war leader, fighting to protect Shawnee rights and lands during what Myaamiaki call the Mihši-maalhsa Wars or the American

Wars and which the Americans often call the

Northwest Indian Wars.

As American violence escalated, Blue Jacket’s village and many other Shawnee villages

in southern Ohio fled northward after Logan’s

Raid in 1786. During the raid, American forces,

led by General Benjamin Logan of the Kentucky militia, attacked several villages, including Blue Jacket’s, killing and capturing Shawnee women, children, and elders. Following the

attack, Blue Jacket and his village relocated

to Miamitown, a large Myaamia village led by

Le Gris across the river from Kiihkayonki, in

the present-day Lakeside area of Fort Wayne.

As Myaamiaki,

always

think

of Mihšihkinaahkwa (Little Turtle) as the great

war leader during the Mihši-maalhsa Wars,

and he certainly led Myaamiaki forces during

the wars. The wars included several battles in

which forces from as many as nine tribes fought

together against the American invaders. One of

the most notable battles in 1791 is known as

St. Clair’s Defeat, in which an alliance of tribes

handed the American troops led by General

Arthur St. Clair the greatest defeat of the U.S.

Army in history. Although many tribes fought

in this battle, three leaders are recognized as

the great military strategists who planned and

led their men to battle. Those three leaders

were Mihšihkinaahkwa leading the Myaamiaki,

Blue Jacket as leader of the Shawnee, and Buckongahelas leading the Delaware troops.

The other significant military encounter

of the Mihši-maalhsa Wars was in 1794 and is

called the Battle of Fallen Timbers. In anticipation of battle, the war leaders of seven tribes met

to strategize their next move. A story is told that

at this gathering, Mihšihkinaahkwa expressed

doubts about the wisdom of continuing to fight,

and Blue Jacket challenged him, successfully arguing that battle was necessary. That story was

only first recorded decades later, so the facts

of the matter may be questionable. However, if

true, Mihšihkinaahkwa was right. The Battle of

Fallen Timbers ended with the Native forces retreating, and the Americans followed the battle

by burning all the tribes’ villages and cornfields

along the Taawaawa Siipiiwi (Maumee River).

They ended at Kiihkayonki, a metropolitan area

of Myaamia, Shawnee, and Delaware towns,

and built a military fort, which they named Fort

Wayne in honor of General Anthony Wayne,

who led the Americans at Fallen Timbers.

After the Battle of Fallen Timbers, the tribes

agreed to seek peace with the Americans and

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 16, No. 4, 2023

eemamwaciki, Cultural Education Director

Charcoal portrait of the Miami War Chief

Mihšihkinaahkwa (Little Turtle) by Julie Olds.

signed the 1795 Treaty of Greenville. Blue Jacket represented the Shawnee at the treaty, and

contrary to Myaamia tradition, in which war

leaders become civil leaders only after a transition of many years, Mihšihkinaahkwa was chosen to lead the Myaamia delegation at Greenville. He was the only tribal leader to stand up

to General Wayne, who was leading the American delegation, and we still have the text of his

eloquent speech.

According to reports from the time, after

the Treaty of Greenville, Mihšihkinaahkwa and

Blue Jacket were not friendly with each other.

They each claimed to be the one who led the

Native troops to victory at St. Clair’s Defeat.

Their enmity was such that they refused to

speak together when in each other’s presence.

In the Fall of 1796, General Wayne, leading a

delegation of Native leaders to Philadelphia,

reported that included in their party was “the

famous Shawanoe Chief Blue Jacket, who, it is

said had the Chief Command of the Indian Army

on the 4th of November 1791 against Genl St.

Clair, The Little Turtle a Miamia Chief who

also claims that honor, & who is his rival for

fame & power…refuses or declines to proceed

in Company with Blue Jacket.” The noticeable

hostility by Mihšihkinaahkwa towards Blue

Jacket (which was presumably reciprocated)

likely factored into Blue Jacket’s decision to relocate his village to a mixed Shawnee-Wyandot

village near Detroit.

The animosity between the two former allies continued for the remainder of their lives

as each sought different solutions in response

to American expansion. Blue Jacket later supported his fellow Shawnee Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa (known as the Shawnee Prophet) in

their efforts to continue military opposition to

the United States. However, he died soon afterward in 1810. Mihšihkinaahkwa, who opposed

the influence of the Shawnee brothers, died

two years later in 1812 at the home of his sonin-law Eepiihkaanita (William Wells) in Fort

Wayne.

For additional information:

John Sugden, Blue Jacket: Warrior of the Shawnees, (University of Nebraska Press, 2000)

St. Clair’s Defeat, https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.

org/2014/05/19/the-mihsi-maalhsa-wars-part-iii/

Battle of Fallen Timbers and events leading to it,

https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2016/01/01/mihsimaalhsa-wars-part-iv-the-battle-of-the-taawaawasiipiiwi/

Treaty

Greenville,

https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2016/10/03/the-treaty-of-greenville-1795-part-1/. https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.

org/2021/03/01/the-treaty-of-greenville-1795-part-ii/

Mihšihkinaahkwa (Little Turtle) Speech at Greenville,

aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/04/13/four-versionsof-a-little-turtle-speech-at-greenville-1795/

A Brief Biography of Mihšihkinaahkwa (Little Turtle),

https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2020/01/20/biography-of-little-turtle/

Visit kaakisitoonkia.com is the online portal of the Myaamia Heritage Museum &

Archive, presenting archival and museum items related to Miami heritage.

pisentawaataawi (let’s listen to him) - Myaamia historian George Ironstrack, Assistant Director of the Myaamia Center at Miami University, speaks well and discusses Myaamia

language and culture in a podcast from the “Conversations at the Washington Library” se-

ries on Anchor.FM. Listen at anchor.fm/mountvernon/episodes/179--Revitalizing-MyaamiaLanguage-and-Culture-with-George-Ironstrack

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 16, No. 4, 2023

<< Continued from page 5B

am on a journey to reconnect all of that, and I’m not quite there. I just

Joshua: How do you incorporate Myaamia imagery into your work? harvested some milkweed that I hope begins that journey of fully taking

Jared: It depends on what I’m working on. When I do fingerweaving, plant material to finished product. I think that is probably an important

it’s not necessarily what I would consider iconographic. You’re not do- thing to talk about with revitalization, is deciding what place you’re going figure work. So, a lot of it is brought in through color combinations. ing to start at. And for me, it’s learning how to create the object and then

If I want to be intentionally Myaamia, I might do a lot of red, black, and really figuring out what comes into play to make that piece. Sometimes

white work because all that contrast contributes to “shimmer”. But if we it’s the other way around where you might learn how to process material

think of the idea of shimmer beyond just those colors, we can bring in and then take material to a final product. I guess that’s a future goal.

other colors, and we certainly see other colors used historically, and that

Joshua: My next question is about the future. So, this is perfect.

builds on the idea of shimmer.

Jared: I think my identity as a weaver, and part of my journey as a

When I make twined bags, there’s a lot more imagery directly con- weaver and what I’m working towards is the ability to, and what I guess

nected with our Myaamia community. There is the intention of having is an extension of essentially body sovereignty, to clothe myself. The

both sides of the bag represent ciinkwia and lenipinšia, even if they’re idea that currently within our nation, we’re outsourcing how we clothe

just geometric representations. There’s this contrast between those two ourselves and that a lot of the other material parts of our community

sides. Something I’m trying to do on the bag I’m currently working on is, come from external sources. A lot of times that has environmental conseI think, an important aspect of Myaamia aesthetics seen in the Peconge quences. So, re-learning how to do some of these things is with the idea

bag (See Figure B). The edges of the geometric shapes aren’t clearly de- that in the future I will have the skills and materials to be able to clothe

fined. It could be really sharp, but the Peconge bag, I don’t know what to myself. That’s something that I think is really important when evaluating

call it, but it has “feaththe success of my life, what

ered edges”. I think that

I’m really working towards,

is part of that shimmer

not just as a weaver. I think

aesthetic. There’s more

part of that is re-learning

visual tension between

how to have that connectedthe items not being clearness to place. And until I’ve

ly defined. I think that’s

reconnected, until I’ve repart of its shimmer. The

established how a place can

more you try to see the

take care of me, I don’t feel

border between dark and

like I quite belong to that

the light, the more that it

place. And so, I think part

seems to be obstructed. I

of that journey is with cloth

think that’s part of it.

and learning how to clothe

Joshua: Can you

myself.

speak a little bit more

Joshua: How do you see

about shimmer itself and

yourself or how do you see

where this idea came

working with the Myaamia

from?

Center and participating

Jared: My idea of

with the Heritage Class as

“shimmer” comes from

influencing your future

extensive cultural work

craft?

that came before me. I’ll

Jared: So, I kind of hintprobably not get everyed at this earlier that when

body in there, but Karen,

I attended Haskell, it was

Scott, George, Kara and

very inter-tribal and diseveryone who helped in

covering what it meant for

creating the ribbonwork

me to be a Myaamia person

book were thinking rein that inter-tribal context.

ally intently about MyNow that I’m attending

aamia aesthetics when

Miami University, and I’m

examining

ribbonwork

working with the Myaamia

pieces and coming up

Center, and I’m around a

with how we think about

Myaamia community ala Myaamia aesthetics

most daily, I’m starting to

historically and today,

figure out what it means

and how that informs ribto be a Myaamia person in

bonwork practices. One

a Myaamia context. That

of those components was

has really been amazing,

shimmer, and I’ve kind

because I’m not only seeof internalized it as an

ing how I fit in the comaesthetic representation

munity, but I’m seeing how

of power. The idea that

the work everyone at the

power is kind of a glitCenter does contributes to

tering light. When you

community health and how

bring that idea into garwe each play an important

ments like ribbonwork,

part in our community. So,

shimmer, is…I want to

I think it really makes me

call it, like a visual disvalue people in our commusonance. It’s hard to look

nity. I think it also strengthdirectly at shimmer beens the relationships I have

cause it’s bright and has

with those individuals. And

movement. The harder

it makes me really excited

it is to look at, the more

to do the work that I plan to

power. And so that idea in

do coming out of my Masdesign, the busier or more

ter’s program.

dissonance there is in its Above: (Figure A) Jared with several pieces of his work including a sash he’s currently

Joshua: Tell me a little

aesthetic, the more am- working on. Middle Left: (Figure B) Panel bag by Jared Nally on display for weeyaaki- bit about your thoughts

plified, the more it em- teeheeyankwi neepwaantiiyankwi: Celebrating 50 Years of Learning from Each Other (Oc- about gifting and selling

bodies that idea of shim- tober 10-November 5th, 2022) at the Oxford Community Art Museum (Ohio). Middle Right: items and such.

mer. You have to look (Figure C) Jared demonstrating his weaving technique for his current bag project. Below:

Jared: I don’t know if

away because of it being (Figure D) Jared demonstrating his weaving technique. Photos by Karen L. Baldwin.

it’s necessarily a Myaamia

so powerful. And so, trypractice or something I deing to bring in that idea that your eye does not want to rest on a piece is veloped from relationships I made at Haskell, but I found it really imporsomething that I think is important. And so that’s where I think that idea tant that when I learned something new, the first thing I made with that

applies to twined bags. Your eye does not want to rest on the edge of that knowledge was gifted. That’s something I do because I think it acknowlimage because it’s not clearly defined. When I do fingerweaving, I try to edges the fact that I’m learning something, and that knowledge was a

incorporate that as well.

gift shared with me. So, continuing that idea of receiving a gift, there is

Joshua: Is there anything else about the current pieces you’d like reciprocity with gifting what you made from that exchange. So, most of

to talk about?

the things I’ve made, if I’ve done something for the first time, whether

Jared: iihia, there’s been a top-down approach of how I’ve learned. it’s the first time I fingerwove or the first time I did a twine bag, those

Specifically the twined bag work that I’m in the middle of almost goes all were gifted to show the significance of what it meant for me to learn.

against how learning a bag traditionally would have been. I’ve started I don’t know if that’s something the whole community can develop or

with commercial linen yarn, and that kind of embodies the idea of bast should, but it’s something I found pretty important in my self-practice.

fiber bags. I’ve been learning or trying to replicate the techniques that I As I continue to learn new things, I intend to continue that practice.

see first in order to start with making a bag. And then from that, working I think it also helps me develop relationships. A lot of the things I’ve

back to sourcing materials, to learning how to process, let’s say, bass- made, I’ve gifted or traded as a way to recognize relationships that I have

wood for the bag. And so those are the steps I’m working towards so that in my life. So, I have a little bit of work to do to wrap my head around

I can fully reconnect that circle of reciprocity between me taking care of wanting to sell things I make, but one thing I think I will never sell are

a place and a place producing raw materials for me to turn into a bag. I Continued on page 7B >>

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 16, No. 4, 2023

<< Continued from page 6B

to be represented in a museum

works where I processed the

with our textiles. And I think a

material myself and created the

big thing we face in our comobject from that. I think that

munity as Great Lakes people,

the gift of being able to proand something I had to unlearn

cess and turn something from

myself, is the false idea that

our environment, from one of

our only clothing was furs and

our relatives in myaamionki,

we didn’t have textiles. We

isn’t something to be profited

had a lot of techniques in our

off of. I think that’s something

community and a lot of matefor us to continue that relationrials. Scott Shoemaker was reship building with, so I don’t

ally helpful in sending me exthink I will ever take a piece

amples of fingerwoven sashes

like that and turn around and

and the Peconge bag, because

sell it. I think the pieces, if I do A close up of the materials being used in Jared’s current bag project. Photo by I didn’t know we made things

that, will be commercial mate- Karen L. Baldwin.

like that. When I first started

rials.

my journey into Myaamia texJoshua: iihia. So, you mentioned this piece over here, where is that tiles and he sent me things, my reaction was, “oh my gosh, we did that”. We

going?

made bulrush mats, and we have some awesome textile techniques.

Jared: To the Indiana University Museum of Archaeology and AnJoshua: I only have one last question, and it’s the big open ended

thropology, their new museum. I need to get to work. That’ll be Thanks- one. What else do you want people to know about you and your craft,

giving break, I think I got like 40 hours left on it. I’m thinking it’s over your weaving? Really the question is about if there is something we

80 hours total of work. I don’t like thinking about how long something’s missed? It’s been a pretty wonderful interview. I appreciate you so

going to take me, and thinking of how much I should sell my work. That much.

feels problematic to value my work in our community that way when it

Jared: Practicing weaving not only connects you to culture, but it

goes beyond making tangible products. But I had to do that for this bag, connects you to ecology. I think it’s a new lens to see the world, kind of

and I think it makes it less enjoyable to do when I’m counting down the like what I’ve mentioned, nature looks more like a shopping cart now.

hours or having to keep track. The things I typically make, I don’t keep It’s also a lens to view a lot of historic events. So, the fact that most

track of how long it takes me because it’s just going to take as long as it of history is tied in some way to textiles is, I think, a really interesting

takes. And it’s pretty meditative to do the work. I think it got me through thing. Colonization was powered by woven sails and cotton played a big

the pandemic.

part in the displacement of tribes in the U.S. And it wasn’t just the US. I

Something like this (points at a current piece, a sash). I don’t really mean, India had the whole cotton-calico thing with their occupation by

know how long it’s taken me to do. I love doing this one more than I like Britain. A whole lot of the world conflicts kind of come back to textiles.

doing that one. And it’s not that I like the technique more. It’s just be- Textiles are cool and definitely shaped the world.

cause this will be one of the first items, I get to keep myself.

From the Aacimotaatiiyankwi Myaamia Community Blog - posted Dec. 1, 2022

The thing that drives the museum project is knowing that we’re going

Interactive Exhibit At MHMA Explores Relationship Between Myaamia Homes & Language

Morgan Lippert

Curator of Exhibitions, MHMA

NAGPRA Historian, CRO

Over time, homes have served as sites for

teaching and learning for the Myaamia people.

But as homes change over time, so has the way

we talk about them. The Myaamia Heritage Museum & Archive’s newest exhibit, kiikinaana—

Our Homes, explores how myaamiaataweenki,

‘the Miami language,’ is an adaptive language

that has evolved alongside Myaamia homes.

We know that in myaamiaataweenki, many

objects have literal translations in English that

reflect the object’s defining characteristics.

An example is minehkwaakani, the Myaamia

word for cup, which translates to “the thing to

drink liquid.” The Myaamia Center’s staff has

used this format to create words for 21st-century household objects—like kiinteelintaakani

for computer, which literally translates to “the

thing that thinks fast.” The exhibit discusses

this creative process, providing visitors with a

wide range of words they can use around their

own homes!

Objects with these types of literal transla-

tions are central to the exhibit’s interactive

feature. When entering the exhibit, visitors are

provided with notecards displaying the word for

a household object in myaamiaataweenki and

its literal translation. The goal of the game is

to match the notecards with the objects that are

scattered throughout the exhibit’s two Myaamia

home setups: a traditional domed wiikiaami to

represent what a Myaamia home might have

looked like in the 18th and 19th centuries and

a contemporary living room to represent what

many Myaamia homes look like today.

By playing the game, visitors can see how

myaamiaataweenki is a living, breathing language that adjusts to fit the needs of the Myaamia community. Apart from the matching

game, visitors can also learn about the history

of Myaamia homes and architecture, specifically the techniques Myaamia women used before

removal to create homes that protected their

families from the harsh Great Lakes winters.

Mihšineewe to the Myaamia Center for their

assistance with this exhibit! kiikinaana—Our

Homes will remain up through 2023 at the MHMA’s location at 28 N. Main Street, Miami, OK.

Expand your

vocabulary

Download the

Myaamiaataweenki

Dictionary!

ILDA Dictionary

Deﬁnitions from over

2,000 entries

Myaamia students from Miami university viewing the exhibit, kiikinaana — Our Homes. Photo

by Jonathan M. Fox.

Audio pronunciations

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - History & Culture, Vol. 16, No. 4, 2023

Minohsaya ‘Painted Hide’ Workshop Recap

Cam Shriver

Myaamia Research Associate & Visiting

Assistant Professor, Department of History

teller George Ironstrack also helped put the minohsaya into conversation with Miami-Illinois

culture stories, such as the Young Thunder Beings, ciinkweensaki. In more focused dialogues

we also thought about the diplomatic uses of

gifting robes like those now held in Paris. Scott

Shoemaker showed the continuation of aesthetic

forms into the ribbonwork of the more modern

eras, and cultural practitioners (including both

Cultural Resource/Preservation Offices from

the Miamis and Peorias, respectively) deepened

our appreciation for community needs today.

If you have a chance, visit the “Minohsaya:

Myaamia & Peewaalia Hide Art” is an exhibit

curated by Morgan Lippert and Meghan Dorey

and currently on display at the Peoria Tribe’s

Cultural Preservation Center (CPC) in Miami.

Myaamia citizens who could not see the exhibit at

MHMA are welcome to view it at the CPC from 9

am-3 pm, Monday-Friday. It is an excellent display and worth a visit.

Miami and Peoria people are working together in considering why hide painting deserves revitalization, as well as how to accomplish that objective. Join the conversation at

aacimotaatiiyankwi.org.

From the Aacimotaatiiyankwi Myaamia Com- A sample painted hide from the hide painting

demonstration.

munity Blog - posted Aug. 23, 2022

As blog readers may recall, a group of artists, educators, and scholars have been discussing Myaamia and Peewaalia ‘Miami and Peoria’

painted hides held in a museum in Paris, France,

and thinking about revitalizing the meaning and

practice of this artistic form. In early August of

2022, a group got together in Miami, Oklahoma. The goal? Practice painting deerskin hides,

and continue brainstorming what it might mean

for our understanding of the past and present.

In addition to the enjoyment of being together as Miami and Peoria citizens and allies,

the summit included several learning sessions.

Two highlights were collaborator and artist Jamie Jacobs (Tonawanda Seneca) discussing artistic change over time in his community, and

Michael Galban (Washoe/Mono Lake Paiute)

helping us to make paint from alamooni ‘ochre’

and design tobacco pouches from brain-tanned

deerskin. Michael is the manager and curator

of the Ganondagan State Historic Site’s Seneca

Art & Culture Center in upstate New York. We

all feel a deep sense of gratitude to Michael and

Jamie for traveling to Miami, Oklahoma and

sharing their knowledge with us.

As a group, we discussed aesthetics, the culturally specific identification of artistic beauty

in objects and performances. It is clear enough

that the old minohsayaki ‘painted hides’ are artistic expressions of their makers from back in

the 1700s. The Illinois minohsayaki share commonalities with other communities, from the

Senecas in New York to the Cherokees of the

South, to Osages to the West. We spent a lot of

time considering the aesthetic grammar of the

colors and shapes inscribed on the robes. Story- A demonstration of the tools and techniques.

Pigment used to make paint for the demonstration.

M I A M I

N A T I

N E W S

meenapiyankwi

Myaamia Publications – Vol. 16, No. 4, Fall-Winter 2022-2023 – Section C – Community – Noošonke Siipionki Myaamionki

How the

Heron Feels

Kolby Lankford

Community Member Article

A great blue heron, waapinkosita sakia, is

standing stoically near the bank with water up

to his knees. Posed like a statue, he is patiently

waiting for the Creator to deliver his breakfast. A great hunter, from a line of great hunters, makes his move as an unsuspecting hickory

shad swims near the surface. It’s over as quickly as it began, and Heron is fed and happy for

another day. I can’t help but think I know how

Heron feels when he makes his catch, it must

be the same feeling I get when I make mine.

Heron is no doubt a better fisherman than we

are, but if willing to learn there are many things

he can teach us. He will show us where the bait

fish want to be. Because where they are, bigger

predator fish tend to be hunting as well. Those

predator fish can make a fine meal, some of

them will feed a good number of people off just

one catch.

As a people we have made great strides in

the revitalization of our culture and language.

Something that we can all be proud of. But I feel

there is an often overlooked part of our culture

that is significant to what makes us who we are

as a people. Our food and more importantly the

ways we obtain it. With becoming a “civilized”

people, we have grown away from our traditions

of eating what Creator provides us. A part of todays world is that not everyone has easy access

to, or the knowledge, to harvest their own food.

But don’t you worry! The flip side to that coin

is access to a plethora of resources for learning

that lost knowledge back. Our tribe has made

a resource of native plants and their traditional

uses, The Myaamia Ethnobotanical Database,

( https://mc.miamioh.edu/mahkihkiwa/ ) and it

is a great tool to learn about commonly found

edible and medicinal plants. Edible plants are

all around us! And entry to foraging some of

your own food isn’t as out of reach as you might

think. Did you know dandelions are completely

edible? Or that they are commonly used in teas

and have many health benefits?

Let’s get back to the idea of knowing how

Heron feels when he makes his catch. There is

something special that happens deep inside us

when we catch a fish. It’s a feeling that almost

can’t be described. A few days ago I asked tribal member Fisher Lankford a simple question,

“How did it make you feel when you caught your

first fish all by yourself?”. It had been about 6

months since it had happened, pretty much an

eternity for a 4-year-old. His eyes lit up and he

nearly couldn’t contain himself to answer, “It

made me so happy! My heart was beating faster

and faster! And I thought if I can catch one, then

I can catch another!” The incident he remembers so well and got him all excited just thinking about, happened at a small creek less than 5

miles from our house last summer. It was just a

small perch but he cast and caught it all on his

own. He couldn’t have been more happy or excited. I can’t help but think maybe his reaction

is more than just the influence of his father rubbing off on him. I think it’s deeper, I’ve never

seen any person who didn’t enjoy

catching a fish. Plenty don’t

want any part of

baiting a hook or touching the fish, but everyone loves the catching part. Maybe that feeling

everyone gets is why we succeeded as a people.

It wasn’t very long ago, and for a long time

before, that we were in the same shoes as our

brother heron. When there’s no grocery store to

hit when you’re hungry, catching that fish becomes awful important. Could that special feeling be rooted in knowing you’re fed and happy

for another day?

There are many ways to harvest your own

food, from making a dandelion greens salad to

backpacking into the mountains in chase of an

elk. It can be as easy and convenient or labor

intensive and difficult as you wish it to be. Anyone who has had a bite of properly prepared elk

backstrap can begin to understand the desire to

go through the work and attempt to harvest one.

Another thing worth noting is that wild game is

the most eco-friendly, sustainable, and organic

food that can be found anywhere.

In closing I want to nudge all of you to make

it a goal to harvest more of your own food, on

whatever level you are comfortable with. Maybe

you have a nephew or granddaughter you want

to spend some quality time with. I can’t think

of anything more memorable than taking them

fishing, squirrel hunting, or even for a hike on

public land looking for edible mushrooms and

plants. If you find some that you don’t know

then you can take pictures to identify them later

and expand your knowledge. No matter what

happens it is likely to be an experience you both

long remember. If there’s any way I can assist

your journey to harvesting more food, feel

free to reach out, I will gladly help

how I can.

keešhtooyankwi ‘we make it’

at the Myaamia Makerspace

From LtoR, Back row: Julie Olds, Miami Tribe member; Elizabeth Ellis, Peoria Tribe Member; Eric

Toups, University of Illinois; Robert Morrissey, University of Illinois; Cam Shriver, Miami University; George Ironstrack, Miami Tribe member; Michael Galban, Seneca Art and Culture Center, NY.

Front Row: Charla Echohawk, Peoria Tribe member; Burgundy Fletcher, Peoria Tribe member;

Wesley Farless, Peoria Tribe Member; Scott Shoemaker, Miami Tribe member; Madison Bastress, A participant creates pigment for painting

from a rock. Photos by Doug Peconge.

New York University; Krystiana Krupa, University of Illinois; Scott Willard, Miami Tribe member.

Exhibit at MHMA Explores Hide Art

Morgan Lippert

Curator of Exhibitions, MHMA

NAGPRA Historian, CRO

ity and creativity of the Myaamia and Peewaalia

women who created minohsaya but also how the

art form is connected to other aspects of Myaamia

and Peewaalia culture, such as storytelling.

A section of the exhibit focuses on the ways in

which the shapes and imagery found in minohsaya

are still incorporated into the lives of Myaamia

and Peewaalia people today through ribbonwork,

t-shirts, and tattoos. Deputy Tribal Historic Preservation Officer mihšihkinaahkwa Logan York has a

tattoo inspired by one of the minohsayaki in Paris

and is quoted in the exhibit about this expression

of cultural identity: “I have always been active as

a Miami person, and showing that in any way I can

has always been important to me. I believe showing one’s heritage is essential, and a traditional way

for us is tattooing. This practice of tattooing fell

out of favor with removal and boarding schools,

and if I don’t help revitalize these kinds of things,

who will?”

Other exhibit highlights include bone tools

like those used in minohsaya making and a Pendleton blanket commissioned by Miami University in

the 1990s. The blanket’s design is inspired by one

of the Miami-Illinois minohsayaki.

The exhibit will travel to the Peoria Tribe’s

Cultural Preservation Center (CPC) in Miami at

the beginning of March for their citizens to enjoy

during their General Council meeting. It will remain on display there through the summer. Myaamia citizens who could not see the exhibit at

MHMA are welcome to view it at the CPC from

9 am-3 pm, Monday-Friday. Follow the Myaamia

Heritage Museum & Archive Facebook page for

updates about this exhibit!

In August 2022, the Myaamia Heritage Museum

and Archive (MHMA) installed its newest exhibit

Minohsaya: Myaamia & Peewaalia Hide Art. The

exhibit expands on the work of Reclaiming Stories,

an ongoing collaborative project between tribal

cultural experts, artists, and academics dedicated to

researching early Myaamia ‘Miami’ and Peewaalia ‘Peoria’ culture. This group includes Myaamia

citizens George Ironstrack, Scott Shoemaker, and

Julie Olds, as well as Myaamia Center employees

Dr. David Costa and Dr. Cameron Shriver. Funded

by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation through the

Humanities Without Walls Consortium, Reclaiming Stories aims to revitalize knowledge of minohsaya ‘hide art.’ It will give the Myaamia and

Peewaalia communities opportunities to reconnect

with the art form, reclaim its meanings, and create

new practices for generations to come.

Minohsaya: Myaamia & Peewaalia Hide Art

highlights an 18th-century collection of MiamiIllinois minohsayaki ‘painted hide robes’ held by

the Musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac in Paris.

In doing so, the exhibit explores minohsaya’s place

within other indigenous communities, its connections to Myaamia ethnobiology, and the role it has

and continues to play in inspiring Myaamia and Left: MHMA Curator of Exhibitions Morgan Lippert (right) discussing the exhibit with KrystiaPeewaalia people’s sense of cultural identity and na Krupa from the University of Illinois. Right: Reclaiming Stories team members Tosan Wesley

community. Visitors learn not only the ingenu- Farless and George Ironstrack during their tour of the exhibit. Photos by Doug Peconge.

Madalyn Richardson

Cultural & Arts Education Content Specialist

“What exactly IS a makerspace?” you might ask yourself and the answer is that a makerspace is both a space to make and the space you make it. For some it might be an art studio, coding

lab, or prototype center, for another it is an experimental kitchen, woodshop, or gift-making center,

and for another it’s a place to spend time with friends, meet community members, and learn something new. Each of these projects define a makerspace and each description would be right! And a

makerspace can be so much more.

The developing Myaamia Makerspace at the Ethel Miller Moore Cultural Education Center

(EMMCEC) in Miami, OK is a space to learn from others, experiment with raw materials and innovative technology, feed your imagination, reflect on cultural identity, and learn to make the most of

your creativity. At the Myaamia Makerspace, keešhtooyankwi – ‘we make it,’ but we also help bring

ideas to you through online, distance learning. Through the space both on-site and online we hope

to provide you with the tools and resources to make and share art, community, skills, and memories.

In 2021, the building at EMMCEC received a complete makeover and much needed interior

remodel. By that fall, the Myaamia Makerspace program began to take shape under the direction of

Meghan Dorey from the Myaamia Heritage Museum and Archive and myself, Madalyn Richardson,

as the first Makerspace Coordinator. Over the next few months, Meghan and I worked closely with

Joshua Sutterfield, the Miami Tribe’s Cultural Education Director, and the Eemamwiciki team to

develop programming for the makerspace.

In April, the Myaamia Makerspace hosted its first events, focusing on Myaamia ecology. Conversations with Joshua, community member Dani Tippmann, and Madalyn provided information

about Myaamia ecological perspective, leninši – ‘milkweed,’ and Myaamiaataweenki – ‘the Miami

language.’ The community also came out to help clean up the grounds of the Ethel Miller Moore

Cultural Education Center one sunny afternoon.

Supported by a grant from the Institute of Museum & Library Services, the Makerspace itself

has been brought to life with new shelving, tools, and materials freely available to use. In June, we

were pleased to set up and gather supplies to prepare for Eemamwiciki camps and National Gathering Week, where we hosted an Open House to kickoff onsite events. Attendees at the Open House

enjoyed “Make-a-Game, Play-a-Game” activities, including decorating moccasin game pads with

vinyl, decorating dice bowls, and making their own sets of dice from Kentucky coffee tree beans.

The Makerspace is now available for use during regular business hours, but we ask those interested

in visiting to call or message ahead to ensure staff are available. Be sure to follow along @MyaamiaMakerspace on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube in order to stay up to date on makerspace activities.

A young tribal member helps color the welcome poster at the Myaamia Makerspace.

Tribal member making her own mahkisina

game at the Open House event.

FOLLOW THE

MYAAMIA MAKERSPACE

ON FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM

Tribal member Megan Mooney wood burning

a seenseewinki bowl at the Open House event.

Photos by Karen L. Baldwin.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 16, No. 4, 2022

Toopeeliciki: Highlighting Accomplishments & Honors Bestowed on Miami Citizens!

Eight Myaamia Graduates

from MU in 2022

Mother and Daughter,

Author and Illustrator

Team

Community Member Article

Miami Tribal members Melinda Kasten

and her daughter, Makayla Wood, have recently had a children’s book published. Little Chick’s New Home is a powerful message

about belonging and acceptance, despite our

differences. The book was written for Me- Melinda Kasten (left) and

linda’s own foster daughter when she was daughter Makayla Wood

going through a time of searching for her (right) are Myaamia citiown belonging and acceptance. Melinda and zens and author and illusMakayla’s hopes are that all children (and trator team. Community

adults) that read this story will know that they member photo.

have value and are loved. The story is about

a little chick who has lost her way and is trying to find a place to stay on

the farm. The animals aren’t accepting because she looks and acts different

than them, but when she finds Shiloh Shepherd, he explains what love and

acceptance really looks like. The colorful illustrations and poetic rhythm of

the story have been enjoyed from preschoolers all the way through middle

schoolers. This inspiring story will bring tears to your eyes as you follow

Little Chick on her journey. Little Chick can be purchased from Melinda’s

website www.mkinspirations.com. Books ordered from her website will be

autographed and personalized messages can be requested.

Right: LtoR: Madison Wood, Zac Sine, Emma Humenay, Lela Troyer,

Stella Beerman, and Josh McCoy. LtoR: Megan Sekulich and Emma

Fanning. Photos by Karen L. Baldwin.

We would like to congratulate the following Myaamia, 2022 spring

graduates from Miami University:

Madison Wood received a degree in Education Studies. Zac Sine

completed a degree in Social Work. Emma Humenay completed a degree

in Kinesiology and Health. Lela Troyer graduated with a degree in

Communication Design. Stella Beerman completed a degree in Journalism

and Emerging Technology and Business Design. Josh McCoy received a

degree in Computer Science.

We would also like to congratulate the two 2022 winter graduates:

Emma Fanning graduated with a degree in Anthropology. Megan Sekulich

received a degree in Studio Art.

Miami citizen awarded Miami citizen admitted

$492,000 Mellon Foun- to Minnesota Bar

Miami Tribal citizen

dation grant as Univerlenipinšia, Ian Young,

was admitted to the Minsity faculty member

Miami citizen, John Bickers’ and his colleague Noël

M. Voltz were awarded a

$492,000 Mellon Foundation

grant as assistant professors

of history at Case Western

Reserve University’s College

of Arts and Sciences. The

grant will be used to support

work meant to provide a more

accurate and comprehensive

narrative of Black and Native

American political life in the

United States before the modern Civil Rights movement.

To learn more about

the work being done by

Voltz and Bickers’ and

their research team please

visit,

thedaily.case.edu/

case-western-reserve-university-faculty-membersawarded-492000-mellonfoundation-grant/

lenipenšia,

Ian Young

nesota Bar in November

2020. After spending

some time working as

a public defender, he is

now working as a staff

attorney for the Fond du

Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in northern Minnesota.

Miami citizen graduates

from Kansas

State University

Above: Noël M.

Voltz.

Below:

John

Bickers, Miami

tribal

citizen.

Photo courtesy of

‘The Daily,’ Case

Western Reserve

University.

Miami Tribal member

Brakelle Rose Bullock graduated with her bachelors of sciBrakelle

ence in sociology degree with

an emphasis in criminology Rose Bullock

and a minor in conflict analysis and trauma studies on Dec. 10th, 2022 from

Kansas State University. We congratulate her in

her achievements.

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!

For more information and

application, visit:

www.in.gov/inaiac/resources

/education-resources/

scholarshipresources/

OBITUARIES, BIRTHS,

MARRIAGES, GRADUATIONS

2023 Eemamwiciki Program

Applications Now Available!

Theme:

kiikinaana ‘Our Homes’

In-Person programs:

June 12-16, 2023 - Miami, OK

| July 17-21, 2023 - Fort Wayne, IN

At Your Own Pace Programs:

Begin June 19 - Online

Application Deadline:

May 26, 2023

Keep an eye out for your application in your mailbox!

& OTHER HONORS OR

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma citizens

and their family are encouraged to

submit obituaries, birth and marriage

announcements, graduation and other

achievements to this Myaamia Community publication.

Send detailed text and a color or

black and white photo to the Cultural

Resources Office at:

mtocro@gmail.com

Photo resolution: 300 dpi

Minimum photo size: 3” x 3”

Formats: tif, jpg, pdf, psd

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Communitty, Vol. 16, No. 4, 2022

Gardening at the Drake House

Madalyn Richardson

Cultural & Arts Education Content Specialist

The gardens at the historic Drake House in myaamionki noošonke

siipionki ‘Miami, OK,’ have provided food and an opportunity to experiment with and demonstrate various techniques for use in both smalland large-scale production. The Drake House property was added to the

Tribal Registry of Historic Places in 2006 and has been home to many

cultural events and activities for years. Over the past couple of years, the

Natural Resources Office (NRO) staff of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma

have been cultivating gardens, new projects, and community involvement to improve horticultural capabilities and establish greater food sovereignty. The employment of various gardening techniques and practices

assumes the risks of experimentation to share reliable information with

the community. This year it produced enough food that the Tribe hosted

our first community food-sharing events. The purpose of the gardens is

for knowledge sharing, skill sharing, food sharing, and growing food

sovereignty.

In the spring of 2020, plans were developed, and modest efforts at container growing were initiated. In the following spring of 2021, a thorough

cleanup ensued, and more designing and layout for the space began. The

staff utilized experimental gardening methods to discover and develop

best practices that can be shared with and adapted by community members. Each season provides opportunities to try new planting methods,

refine the gardening process, observe what does and doesn’t work well,

and continue cultivating a horticultural knowledge base.

Even when a specific

process might fail or

prove unsuccessful, it

provides more insight

into what could work

well and informs what

to try next.

When

walking

around the gardens

at the Drake House

property, one will notice several different

types of gardening

methods being used.

There are raised beds,

container

gardens,

matted gardens, and

trellis gardens. Raised

beds allow plants to

get started without

flooding and allow

the soil to be mixed

with desired ratios of Tomato plants at the Drake House Garden. Phosand, soil, compost, to by Joshua Sutterfield.

and other materials.

Containers and vertical gardening practices are easily adapted to urban

garden settings where space can be limited. The hanging trellis system

for tomatoes works very well since it supports vines, allows the plant to

grow to its full potential, and makes the fruit more accessible. Utilizing

containers, matting, and trellis systems increase space efficiency, manages irrigation, provides weed maintenance, and eliminates plant competition.

The white containers, which can be seen lined up in rows, are called

RootTrappers, made by Root Maker. They were selected due to their

unique “Air Pruning” technology that allows plants to grow more root

mass. According to Natural Resources Officer and Second Chief Dustin

Olds, “if they [plant’s roots] circle, they go around and around, and that

is not good for the plant.” Air Pruning works by allowing airflow through

tiny perforations in the container wall. When the root gets to the container’s edge, it becomes pruned by the air, and rather than circling around,

it begins to grow smaller roots behind the pruned end, which creates

greater overall root mass compared to conventional containers.

The garden produces beets, broccoli, carrots, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, jalapeños, kale, lettuce, Myaamia miincipi (Miami white corn), onions, potatoes, radishes, Swiss chard, squash, strawberries, cantaloupe, pumpkins, tomatoes, and zucchini and still has room

to grow, trying new things each year. Some of the crops that Olds really

A young visitor with their harvested strawberries. Photo by Joshua Sutterfield.

hopes to focus on in the upcoming seasons are early- and late-season

greens, melons, tomatoes, pumpkins, and Miami corn. Over the next few

decades, plans include expanding the project to grow the Myaamia miincipi seed bank for cornmeal products and to grow enough produce to

make healthy foods available to the Tribal community at a competitive

price. Another very important element of the future food system will be

to share gardening know-how for families to grow their own produce.

Olds says, “Bottom line, it’s all about independence, and [food] sovereignty is a part of that.” He hopes that having a place to come and see

these gardening practices in action will encourage and inspire community members to grow for their own families and others. The long-term

goal is to create capability, resilience, and long-term sustainability while

promoting food sovereignty and independence for the entire Tribe.

Our first community food-sharing event was May 21, 2022, when

around 40 Tribal members enjoyed a cookout and community harvest.

All that came were able to see the gardens, enjoy fresh produce – as well

as some of last year’s pickles – and take part in harvesting both food and

knowledge over the course of the day. The strawberries were the most

popular pick and continued to be the most popular produce at all foodsharing events that followed. As the garden continued to produce, we

hosted a total of five more events from June 2 through July 7, sharing

food with over twenty Tribal families over the summer.

The gardens will

continue to grow and

be a place to glean

knowledge, gather the

community, and reap

the fruits of our labor.

“I wanted to have really heavy community

involvement,”

said

Olds, “… a community

component where when

we say we’re feeding ourselves, we’re

feeding each other.”

The gardening efforts

may one day grow

to include gardens at

many other locations

on Tribal lands. More

importantly, they may

inspire food production in the backyards,

decks, and windowsills

of Myaamia families.

From the AacimotaSecond Chief Dustin Olds serving dinner with atiiyankwi Myaamia

the rest of the Business Committee at the 2020 Community Blog Winter Gathering in Miami, Oklahoma. Photo posted Oct. 11, 2022

by Jonathan M. Fox

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!

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 16, No. 4, 2023

waanantakhšinka “Lying quietly”

Gena Lee Moore

Lankford

Sept 12, 1968 – Dec

25, 2022

Gena Moore Lankford joined the Kingdom

of Heaven on Christmas

morning, December 25,

2022, surrounded by

loved ones at her home

in Miami, Okla. Gena is

a cherished wife, mother, daughter, nana, sister,

aunt, best friend and Noošonke Ninkya of the

Miami Nation.

Gena fought a courageous battle against cancer for almost five years and proved the doctors

and specialists wrong by thriving for so long.

In hard times she had learned three things...she

was stronger than she ever imagined, Jesus was

closer than she ever realized, and she was loved

more than she ever knew.

On September 12, 1968, Gena was born with

big brown eyes and a sweet smile to Donna

McKinney (Moore) Gunning and the late John

Moore in Vinita, Okla. Gena was raised with her

sisters, Kerry Moore Page and Sheila Moore in

Bluejacket and Welch and later received the gift

of her stepfather, Kenneth Gunning.

Upon graduation from Welch High School in

1986, Gena married Scott Bullard and became

an extraordinary mother to her much-loved

children, Lindsey Kay and Ben Heston Bullard.

During their childhood, Gena’s fierce devotion

and strength was evident in all of the sacrifices

she made through the years.

As a single mother, Gena completed college and was graduated from Oklahoma Wesleyan University in Bartlesville. She began her

professional career in human resources for the

Dana Corp and Pillsbury Company in Vinita,

Okla. She continued her career as Director of

Human Resources for the Miami Nation Enterprises in Miami, Okla.

Gena met the love of her life and wed Douglas Lankford in the presence of their families

and friends on June 27, 2008. She was blessed

to add his children, Kyle, Michelle and Kolby

Lankford to her family.

Doug was elected to Chief of the Miami Nation in 2013, and Gena dedicated her time to

supporting his role as leader of the Nation by

welcoming many tribal members, elders and

visiting dignitaries in their home and during

their travel. She was honorably bestowed the

name of Noošonke Ninkya, which translates to

“Oklahoma Mom.”

More than all other accomplishments in her

life, Gena loved her role as a Nana and showered her nine grandchildren with love and attention every moment possible. Christmas was her

favorite holiday and as Nana, she spent months

preparing to make it magical for each grandchild. She rejoiced in the joy each Christmas

brought and was blessed to celebrate again last

week.

To know her was to love her and close friendships grew among everyone Gena met, but her

lifelong best friends Kathy, Laura Lee, and Kelly were more special to her than all others.

Gena is survived by her husband, Chief

Doug Lankford, her daughter Lindsey (Bullard)

Rovenstine, son-in-law Caleb and her grandsons

Chett and Cal; her son Ben Bullard, daughterin-law Natalie and her granddaughter Brie Ann

and grandson Noah; her mother, Donna (Moore)

Gunning and stepfather Kenneth; her sisters

Kerry (Moore) Page and brother in-law Jon,

and Sheila Moore; her stepsons Kyle Lankford,

daughter-in-law Michelle and children Kadi,

Hagen and Ansley; Kolby Lankford, daughterin-law Stephanie and children Fisher and Briar;

her nieces and nephews, Cale, Chandler, Madison and Dakota; and her other sisters and best

friends Kathy (Tullis) Floyd, Laura Lee (Russell) Griffin and Kelly (Jennings) Miller

Karen Sue Baum

Aug 24, 1965 – Oct 3, 2022

Karen Sue Baum of Miami, OK passed from

this life Monday, October 3, 2022 at St. John

Medical Center in Tulsa, OK. She was 57. Karen was born August 24, 1965 in Miami, OK to

Charles and Wanda (Leonard) Turley. She grew

up in the Miami and Picher area and had lived in

Wisconsin for 30 years. She was a homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her parents

and 2 brothers, Larry Leonard and Charles Turley.

Survivors include 2 daughters, Miranda

Turley of Miami, OK and Kristin Baum of Bay

City, WI, 1 step- son, Dustin Baum of Delaware, 2 sisters, Brenda Underhill of Miami, OK

and Betty Anderson of Granite Falls, MN and 4

grandchildren, Ayanni Lipscomb, Shaylee Lipscomb, Keely Baum and Ezee Baker.

Services were placed in the care of Paul

Thomas Funeral Home and Cremation Service

of Miami, OK. Online condolences may be

made at www.paulthomasfuneralhomes.com.

Dessie Annette Vaughn

Aug 30, 1962 – May 30, 2022

Dessie Annette Vaughn, 59, Homer, passed

away at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical

Center on Monday, May 30, 2022.Dessie was

born on August 30, 1962 in Peru, IN, and was a

member of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. She

was the daughter of the late Paul and Elizabeth

Ray, the late Patricia and Joseph Turner, Ella

and (late) Ralph Summers, and (late) Ronald

and Carrie Hartleroad.

Dessie was a talented and amazing artist.

She had a big personality and a big heart as

well as a business degree from the University

of Phoenix. She loved to garden and loved her

family, especially her grandchildren. She will

be forever missed.

Besides her remaining two mothers, she is

survived by her two daughters, Caprise (Kenny) Wilson and Candice (Joshua) Richey; her

grandchildren, Morris Jacob Hughes, Eden Wilson, Dessie Hughes, Bella Richey and Brystal

Richey; her siblings; and her many nieces and

nephews and cousins.

A direct cremation will take place per her

wishes. No funeral services will be held. Her

family was to host a celebration of life at a later

date to correlate with her 60th Birthday.

Her family requests to donate any contributions to a charity assistance program for cancer

patients in her honor.

Sandra Joann Rogers

Feb 9, 1958 – Sept

17, 2022

Sandra “Sandy” J.

Rogers, 64, of Olathe,

Kansas, passed away on

Saturday, September 17,

2022. She was born on

February 9, 1958 in Joplin, Missouri to John and

Imogene (Parsons) Tipton.

Sandy grew up in the Badger Community

in rural SE Kansas and attended schools in the

Columbus school district. Upon graduating high

school, she was accepted into Nursing School

at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s of

Science in Nursing. She married Donald Rogers

on August 2, 1980 in Crestline Kansas. During

her nursing career, Sandy worked at Mt. Carmel Medical Center, Pittsburg Kansas, Gardner

Hospital, Gardner Kansas, and Olathe Medical

Center in Olathe Kansas. In her free time, she

enjoyed being outdoors, fishing, traveling, and

most importantly reading the Sunday paper every page every word!

Sandy is survived by her loving husband,

Donald Rogers, and their daughter, Dominique.

She was preceded in death by her parents,

John and Imogene Tipton, and her sister, Helen

Tipton.

Loralyn Gali Marie Gensicke

The family received guests for a visitation

Dec 2, 2013 – April 19, 2022

from 2:00-4:00pm on Sunday, September 25,

Loralyn Gail Marie Gensicke, 8, passed 2022, at Penwell Gabel’s Olathe Chapel.

from this life on April 19, 2022.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that

memorial contributions in Sandy’s memory be

made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 3846 W

75th St #4126, Prairie Village, KS 66208.

Richard B. “Dick”

Moore

April 29, 1947 – Aug

24, 2022

Richard B. “Dick”

Moore, 75, of Kokomo,

passed away at 6:06 a.m.

on Wednesday, August

24, 2022, at Ascension

St. Vincent Hospital in

Indianapolis. He was

born April 29, 1947, in Huntington, to Roy

B. and Juanita S.(Owens) Moore. On July 12,

1969, he married Margaret M. “Margi” Seifert,

in Huntington, and she survives.

Dick was proud of his Miami Indian Heritage. He was the great-great-great grandson of

Miami Chief Jean Baptiste Richardville, after

whom Howard County was originally named.

Dick graduated from Huntington Catholic High

School in 1965 and attended Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. He also served in the

United States Army Reserves in Ft. Wayne.

Dick worked as County Surveyor in Huntington County prior to moving to Kokomo in 1972,

where he began his career at Anderson Land

Title as its manager. Dick and Margi purchased

the title company in 1985 and gave it the family name, Moore Title & Escrow, in 1998. They

expanded the business into Tipton and Clinton

counties, opening offices in both Tipton and

Frankfort. With Margi and three of his children

actively involved in the business, Moore Title’s quality of service was truly a family affair

through the years. It’s a tenure and a legacy that

Dick was always proud of. He served as president and eventual owner for a total of 50 years

before retiring and selling the business on June

6th of this year.

Dick brought integrity and professionalism

in everything he did at home, at work and in

the community. He was an active member of

many organizations through the years, including the Indiana Land Title Association, Realtors Association of Central Indiana, Howard

County Homebuilders Association, St. Joseph/

St. Vincent Hospital Executive Board, Kiwanis Club, Rotary Noon Club, United Way,

Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance, Knights of Columbus, and St. Joan of

Arc Catholic Church, where as a parishioner he

served as a member of the Finance Committee.

He was also instrumental in the recent installation of the Safe Haven Baby Box two years

ago at Kokomo Fire Station 1 on June 11, 2020.

He coached many years for St Joan of Arc/St

Patrick Basketball, UCT Youth Baseball and

YMCA Youth Basketball-which is why he was

lovingly known as “Coach” by his close friends.

And it wasn’t uncommon to see him coaching

a baseball or basketball team for his own kids

or grandkids, working a fundraising event with

friends or volunteering in the community with

family.

In addition to his wife, Margi Moore,

survivors include his children, Tyler (Ann)

Moore, Terri (Jeremy) Burke, Mindy (Danny)

Dean, Shelly (Mike) Wood and Mike (Erica)

Moore;grandchildren, Claire, Jacob, Emma,

Joe, and Owen Moore, Parker and Mitchell

Dean, Conner and Madison Wood, and Vivienne, Quinn and Hunter Moore.

He was preceded in death by his parents;

brother, Gary Moore; and grandson, Asher Moore.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Monday, August 29, 2022, at

St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 3155 S. 200

W., Kokomo, with Rev. Frs. Elliot Zak, Ted

Dudzinski and Brian Dudzinski the concelebrants. Burial will follow in Albright Cemetery

with military honors provided by the United

States Army and the Kokomo VFW Military

Rites Team. Friends are invited to visit with the

family from 3 to 7 p.m. on Sunday at the church

where the Rosary will be offered at 7 p.m., followed by a Myaamia Native Farewell ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in

Dick’s honor to St. Joan of Arc Church or to

The Richard “Dick” Moore Family Memorial

Fund in care of The Community Foundation of

Howard County.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 16, No. 4, 2023

waanantakhšinka “Lying quietly”

Barbara Smith

Griffin

Oct 6, 1932 – July 8,

2021

Linda Ruth Prater

Nov 27, 1943 – June

20, 2022

Linda Ruth Prater,

78, a longtime Miami

area resident passed

away at her home on

Monday, June 20, 2022.

Linda was born on November 27, 1943, in Miami to Joseph Van and

Dolly Ruth (Fell) Olds. On October 20, 1962,

Linda married her love of forty-five years Rush

Prater. Mrs. Prater was a homemaker in the truest sense, she loved the Lord, loved her family

and was an amazing cook. Linda was known to

fix breakfast most mornings for her son Travis, she made wonderful noodles, and will have

many recipes that will get passed down. Mrs.

Prater never met a stranger and loved to visit.

Linda was a member of Cutting-Edge Ministries. Mrs. Prater was preceded in passing by

her parents Joseph and Dolly Olds, her husband

Rush who passed in 2008, a sister Peggy McCord and a brother Joe Don Olds.

Those will carry Linda’s Legacy will be her

son Travis Prater and his wife Billi Jo of Miami, her granddaughters Leanna Prater, Liberty

Prater, and Roxanna Prater.

Visitation was held on Thursday, June 23,

2022, at Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM.

There was a Celebration of Life on Friday,

June 24, 2022 at 2:00 PM at Cutting Edge Ministries with Reverend Monroe Cole officiating.

Ronnie J. Peconga

Interment will follow at Seneca Cemetery in

June 11, 1952 – Jan Seneca, Missouri under the care of Brown-Win12, 2023

ters Funeral Home and Cremation Service.

Ronnie J. Peconga, 70,

Friends and family may send the family

of Barbee Lake, died Thurs- notes of encouragement by viewing Mrs. Pratday, Jan. 12, 2023. He was er’s Tribute Page at www.brown-winters.com.

born June 11, 1952, in Fort

Betty Lou Burtrum

Wayne, to Peter and Violet

July 18, 1924 – Sept 1, 2022

(Sproat) Peconga. He was

Betty Lou (Staton) Cole Burtrum, of Counited in marriage to Christa Angelika (Oed) Peconga. shocton, passed away on Thursday September

He enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving dur- 1, 2022 at the Riverside Manor, in Newcomering the Vietnam conflict. He was honorably dis- stown, with her daughter, Jan Whitehawk, at her

charged in 1979. Ronnie was a member of The bedside. Betty was born in Long Beach, California on July 18, 1924 to the late Lloyd and

Miami Nation Tribe of Oklahoma.

Ronnie will be lovingly remembered by his Irma (Garner) Staton.

She graduated from Miami High School, in

sons, Brian, Perry and Parnell Peconga; daughters, Penny, Patricia and Pricillia; sisters, Rae Miami, Oklahoma in 1942. In 1943, she was a

Remington, Virginia and Rox Gayheart, War- Rosie the Riveter for Douglas Aircraft Manusaw; and brother, Mike Peconga, Peru. He was facturer in Long Beach, California. In 1946, she

preceded in death by his father and mother; married Jack Cole and in 1967 married Charles

wife, Christa Angelika (Oed) Peconga; com- Burtrum. Together she and Charles were owners

panion, Joyce Skinner; brother, Rickey; and and operators of car dealerships in Oklahoma,

Texas and Arizona. Betty also managed the cossons, Phillip and Peter.

A visitation with family and friends was held metic department at Milner- Berkey in Miami,

at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, in McHatton- Oklahoma for several years during the early 1960’s.

Betty was an enrolled member of the Miami

Sadler Funeral Chapels, 2290 Provident Court,

Warsaw. Funeral services in celebration of Ron- Tribe of Oklahoma. She was also a member of

nie’s life were held at noon in the funeral chapel the Phoenix First Baptist Church in Phoenix,

with Pastor Hedgel Lee Perry officiating. Interment Arizona where she taught Sunday school.

Betty was a very kind and giving woman who

was at 2:30 p.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery, Peru.

loved having family and friends in to entertain.

Veteran

She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother and sister. Betty never met a strangJeremy Cherry

er and was a loving, friendly person who will be

May 1, 1976 – Sept 19, 2022

deeply missed by those who knew and loved her.

Jeremy Cherry, 46, a resident of Miami

Betty is survived by her loving daughter,

passed away on Monday, September 19, 2022. Jan (Jack) Whitehawk of West Lafayette; two

Jeremy was born on May 1, 1976, in Miami granddaughters, Tiffany (Kenny) Shaw of Newto John W. Cherry II and Kathy (Buchanan) comerstown and Tricia Whitehawk of West

Goodman. Jeremy graduated from Miami High Lafayette; two great-grandchildren, Lincoln

School with the Class of 1994. He loved to deer (Makenzie) Shaw and Alexis Shaw of Newhunt and fish. Jeremy was preceded in death by comerstown; one sister, Sandra Wallingford of

his dad John Cherry.

Albuquerque, New Mexico; two special nieces,

Survivors include his mom Kathy Goodman Christi McBride and Kelli Rogers both of Albuand stepdad Joe Goodman of Miami, his brother querque and several great- nieces and nephews.

Brandon Cherry and his wife Chanda of Kansas

Along with her parents, Betty is preceded in

City, his grandmother Wynema “Nanny” Buchan- death by both of her husbands.

an, along with his aunts, uncles and other relatives.

Per Betty’s wishes, a cremation took place

Visitation was held from 6:00-7:00 PM on with burial in Scottsdale, Arizona. Given-DawTuesday, September 27, 2022, at Brown-Win- son-Paisley Funeral Home served the family.

ters Funeral Home and Cremation Service in

June Beverly Sligar

Miami. A graveside service followed at 2:00

Aug 13, 1924 – April 20, 2022

PM, Wednesday September 28, 2022, at Grand

June Beverly Sligar, 97, passed from this

Army of the Republic Cemetery in Miami.

Friends and family may send the family notes life on April 20, 2022.

of encouragement by viewing Jeremy’s Tribute

Page at www.brown-winters.com.

Barbara Smith Griffin, 88, of Nashville left

this world on Thursday,

July 8, 2021. Barbara

Smith married Charles W.

Griffin, Junior on November 25, 1954. They shared

a passion for skeet shooting, travel, gardening and

their pets. Barbara was a devoted wife to Charles

for more than 50 years and his vigilant caregiver

following a stroke he suffered in his 50s.

A life-long learner, Barbara was a graduate

of the formerly known Peabody College. Barbara was one of the first hired by the newly created Ensworth School in 1962 and served as the

school’s librarian for more than 26 years. She

was a great lover of books and avid reader and

shared that love of words with thousands of students and her friends throughout her life.

Barbra was also the granddaughter of Jane

Drake, the namesake of the historic Drake

House, a Miami Tribal Historic Property.

In addition to Charles, she was preceded in

death by her parents and in-laws. She will be

missed dearly by her friends and neighbors as

well as her cat Tiger 2.

A Gathering of family and friends was held

from one until three o’clock in the afternoon on

Friday, July 16, 2021 at Mount Olivet Funeral

Home, with burial that followed.

Veteran

Rebekah Mae Mitchell

April 2, 1999 – Oct 7, 2022

Rebekah Mae Mitchell, 23, of Park City, KS,

passed away on Friday, October 7th, 2022, in

Tampa, Florida of medical complications. She

was born April 2, 1999, in Independence, KS, to

Frank, Jr and Dana (Bryant) Mitchell. A beloved

mother, daughter, sister, granddaughter, girlfriend, cousin and friend. Rebekah was a beautiful person inside and out, soft spoken and gentle,

she loved all in her life with a fire that could not

be kindled. She enjoyed art, sewing, computers,

music, fuzzy socks and most of all her daughter.

Rebekah was home schooled and active in

the local home school group in Bartlesville,

Oklahoma. One year, in grade school, she did

UpWards Basketball with her sister Elizabeth.

Every year she was in a bowling league with

her other homeschool friends, a weekly Physical Education class where they did all kinds of

sports/fitness activities together and was involved in other activities throughout each year.

In high school she joined Bartlesville Southern

Baptist church and was active with their youth

group.

She took the Marketing class at Tri- County

Tech in Bartlesville, Oklahoma her junior year.

She loved it. She loved dressing up professionally. She had perfect attendance there too

and made the honor roll. That class was part of

D.E.C.A and at their yearly competition her and

her partner won 3rd place. She could have gone

to Nationals but was starting to get very sick.

That summer she was diagnosed with G.P.A.

(aka – Wegener’s Granulomatosis) She was too

sick to do the second year of the program. Rebekah graduated May 2017.

Her first job was as a housekeeper at St.

Francis Hospital in Wichita, KS. She only

called in sick once or twice. She would come

home so tired that all she could do was go to

bed, yet she was determined to keep going.

She later worked as a housekeeper at Regent

Park Assisted Living where her sister Kati worked.

She loved getting to talk with the residents there.

Then she got a job with Visiting Angles where she

would go to a person’s house to help them with

daily living, keep them company and take them

grocery shopping. Rebekah really enjoyed helping people out and getting to know them.

Last year she started the Aviation Maintenance Technology Degree at WSU Tech. She

completed one semester then decided to take a

break and go stay in Apollo Beach, Florida.

Rebekah was preceded in death by her beloved brother Zachary Mitchell.

Rebekah is survived by her boyfriend Jesse

Hunt, their daughter Ruby, and his daughter

Quinn of Apollo Beach, FL; parents Frank, Jr.

and Dana Mitchell of Park City, KS; siblings

Nathan Bryant of Valley Center, Kati Mitchell

of Park City, Elizabeth Mitchell of Bel Aire,

Nehemiah Mitchell of Valley Center, Samuel

Mitchell of Park City, and Ezra Mitchell of

Park City; grandparents Fred and Diana Bryant of Valley Center, KS, and Frank and Debbie

Mitchell of Coffeyville, KS; Uncle Travis and

Aunt Kris Bryant of Valley Center, KS, Aunt

Cherie and Uncle Jim Larkin of Garden Plain,

KS, Aunt Lisa and Uncle Mike Shivers of Cherryvale, KS; cousins and friends.

The family would like to express our thanks

for the wonderful help and prayers given during

this time. We don’t know how we would have

made it through this without you all.

The Funeral Service in memory of Rebekah

was held on Monday, October 31, 2022 at 10:30

a.m. at Baker Funeral Home, 100 S Cedar Ave,

Valley Center, KS 67147, with Pastor Don Mayberry officiating. A graveside service followed

the next day Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at 2:00

PM at Myaamia Heritage Cemetery, 51908 E.

30 Rd., Miami, OK 74354.

MYAAMIA

HERITAGE CEMETERY

Tribal citizens may reserve burial

plots at no cost at the Myaamia

Heritage Cemetery.

Contact Tera Hatley at thatley@

miamination.com or by phone at

918-541-1324.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 16, No. 4, 2023

waanantakhšinka “Lying quietly”

Trey Alexander Cunningham

Oct 18, 2002 – Dec 5, 2022

Trey Alexander Cunningham of Grove, OK

passed from this life, Monday, December 5,

2022 at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, MO. He

was 20. Trey was born October 18, 2002 at Miami, OK to John and Melanie (Nielsen) Cunningham. He had lived in Grove, OK for the

past 4 years moving from Miami, OK. Trey

was a forklift operator for Renew Bio Mass in

Commerce, OK and a member of First Christian

Church in Miami, OK.

Trey was preceded in death by his paternal

grandfather, Delphin Ralph Cunningham and 2

uncles, Daniel Nielsen and Douglas Nielsen.

Trey is survived by his parents, John and Melanie Cunningham of Grove, OK, 1 sister, Jewel

Nicole Cunningham and companion Chris Leaks,

Jr, of Pine Bluff AR, 1 nephew Chris Leaks, III,

paternal grandmother, Grace Ann Cunningham

of Miami, OK, maternal grandmother, Linda

Hollan and husband Terry of Miami, OK, maternal grandfather, Steve Nielsen and wife Debbie

of Wichita, KS, his girlfriend, Valeria Lerma of

Joplin, MO and 1 uncle, Casey Cunningham of

Kansas City, MO and loved his dog “Ratchet.”

Celebration of Life Services were held at

11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 10, 2022 at

First Christian Church in Miami, OK. Rev. Jim

Land officiated. Inurement will follow in the

Miami Nation Cemetery, northwest of Miami,

OK. Services were placed in the care of Paul

Thomas Funeral Home and Cremation Service

of Miami, OK. Online condolences may be

made at www.paulthomasfuneralhomes.com.

Amanda Michelle

Hollingshead

March 29, 1982 –

Sept 5, 2022

Amanda

Michelle

Hollingshead, age 40,

of Shawnee, OK passed

away on Monday, September 5, 2022 in Arkansas. She was born March

29, 1982 in Shawnee,

OK to David and Joanie (Gokey) Scovel. Amanda grew up in Tecumseh. She attended Tecumseh Public Schools and graduated with the THS

Class of 2000. Amanda married Jonathan Hollingshead on September 16, 2016 in Las Vegas,

Nevada. She worked for 21 years at Dean McGee Eye Institute as a certified Angiographer.

Amanda was a member of The Evangelistic

Center Church. She loved spending time and

playing with her children. Amanda also enjoyed

traveling, taking pictures, and family dinners.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Charles and Betty Scovel; and nephew,

Jackson Hollingshead.

Those left to cherish her memory are her

husband, Jonathan of the home; children, Kassidy Hollingshead, Kash Hollingshead and Eli

Hollingshead; parents, David and Joanie Scovel; sisters, Candy Green and husband, Kendell,

Autumn Munier and husband, Brian, Charli

Scovel and Cheyenne Scovel; brother, Montana

Scovel; grandparents, Leo and Mary Gokey;

mother-in-law, Star Hollingshead; father-inlaw, Mark Hollingshead; brother-in-law, Daniel Hollingshead; sister-in-law, Crystal Smith;

Jacob L. Brandt

nieces and nephews, Skylar Hathorn, Hunter

Aug 18, 1982 – Jan 7, 2023

Hathorn, Jaycee Munier, Ryder Scovel and PayJacob L. Brandt of Kiefer, Oklahoma, passed ton Munier; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins,

away on January 7, 2023, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. extended family and friends.

He was 40 years old.

Visitation was 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday,

Jacob was a devoted husband and dad to his September 9, 2022 at Cooper Funeral Home.

four children. He enjoyed watching his kid’s Service was be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Septemsporting events, motorcycle rides with his wife, ber 10, 2022 at Evangelistic Center Church with

golfing, fishing, and car shows. He loved any Pastor Noah Willoughby officiating. Burial foladventure he could find or conjure up.

lowed at Forest Hill Cemetery under the direcJacob’s profession was in the collision re- tion of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh.

pair industry. A highly skilled auto body techniLisha Lee Gatchel-McKinley

cian, he excelled at his craft due to his meticuJan 4, 1962 – Aug 8, 2022

lous eye for detail and incredible work ethic.

Lisha Lee Gatchel- McKinley, 60, a lifetime

His mechanical expertise was genius. His skill

set far too expansive to list. Through hard work resident of Wabash, Indiana passed away on

and determination, he proudly reached his goal Monday, August 8, 2022, at her daughter’s home

of Production Manager at two collision repair in Wabash. She was born on January 4, 1962, to

Foster Jr. and Barbara (Edwards) Gatchel.

centers.

Lisha was a 1980 graduate of Wabash High

There was never a dull moment in Jacob’s

presence. He thoroughly enjoyed being the life School. She married William “Bill” McKinley

of any party and making sure everyone else had on October 31, 2019. She worked at 5 Hour Ena good time (even if it was at their expense). ergy Living Essentials in Wabash.

Lisha is survived by her husband, William

He was known for his movie quoting skills and

mad dance moves. In addition to his quick wit- McKinley of Wabash, Indiana. Two daughters,

tedness and humor, Jacob had the biggest heart Alexis Rautenkranz of Wabash, Indiana, Jennifer Meadows (Chris Nelson) of Wabash, Indiand would do anything for anyone.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Brandt, ana; one stepdaughter, Ashley (Mike) Vanderof 16 years and four children Loren, Gambit, mark of LaFontaine, Indiana; two grandchildren

Piper and Willow. His father Richard Brandt; she raised, Dylan and Dustin Mitchem; her parSiblings: Brothers Jeremiah (Wife Melissa) and ents, Foster and Barbara Gatchel Jr. of Wabash,

Joshua; Sisters Jessie and Jordan; Grandmother Indiana. Two brothers, Vince (Theresa) Gatchel

Wanda Stagg. In- Laws Gary & Cathy Zenner; of Lagro, Indiana, and Foster W. (Abby) GatchAmanda Weber (Husband Seth Weber), Jessica el of Wabash, Indiana. Three sisters, Beverly

Voros (Husband Jake Voros), Tiffany Cock- (Mark) Dillon, Kimberly Gatchel, and Barbara

rell (Husband Seth Cockrell). Nieces: Sierra, (Joakim) Abrahamsson, all of Wabash, Indiana;

Madison, Brooklyn, Allison, and Allie Brandt; 7 grandchildren, 3 step grandchildren, 5 great

Evie Weber, Avenue Cockrell, and Perry Voros. grandchildren; and her two beloved Beagles,

Nephews: Colton, Connor, Logan, Brody, and Athena and Crockett. She was proceeded in

Xavier Brandt. Liam Weber, Maverick Cock- death by one daughter, Diana Mitchem, one

rell; Wyatt and Brady Voros. Along with innu- stepson, Brodey McKinley, and one sister, Donmerable family, colleagues, and friends includ- na Stewart.

Funeral services were held at 1:00 p.m. on

ing his best friend, Andrew Walker.

Celebration of Life services were held at Saturday, August 13, 2022, at McDonald Fu2:00 PM, Saturday, January 14, 2023 at Schaudt neral Homes, 231 Falls Ave., Wabash, Indiana

Glenpool-Bixby Funeral Service Chapel, 1329 46992. Burial will follow at Memorial Lawns

Cemetery in Wabash, Indiana.

E. 151st St. Glenpool, Oklahoma 74033.

Visitation was from 10 a.m. until the time of

Samuel Allen Smith, Jr.

the service at 1 p.m. Saturday August 13, 2022,

Mar 3, 1977 – Sept 21, 2022

at the funeral home.

Samuel Allen Smith, 45, passed from this

Memorials can be directed to Robbars

life on April 20, 2022.

Houndsong Rescue http/www.houndsong.com

McDonald Funeral Homes, 231 Falls Ave.,

Wabash, Indiana 46992, have been trusted with

Lisha Gatchel-McKinley’s final arrangements.

Online condolences may be directed to the

family at www.mcdonaldfunerals.com

Billy Dale Watson, Jr.

July 8, 1950 – July 14, 2022

Billy Dale Watson, Jr. of Baxter Springs, KS

passed from this life Thursday, July 14, 2022.

He was 72. Billy was born July 8, 1950 in Holly,

CO to Billy Dale and Clara (King) Watson. He

had lived in Baxter Springs since 2005 moving

from Ulysses, KS. He served in the U.S. Marine

Corps during Vietnam. He was a truck driver

for Werner Trucking and was a member of the

Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Billy is survived by his wife Lorie Watson

of the home, 1 daughter, Shawna, 3 brothers,

Anthony Duane Watson of Commerce, OK,

Douglas Quinton Watson of Commerce, OK and

David Kent Watson of Joplin, MO and 1 sister,

Debra Kay Wilson of Commerce, OK.

Memorial services were held at 10:00 a.m.

Monday, July 25, 2022 at Paul Thomas Funeral

Home Chapel in Miami, OK. Rev. Shawn Dotson officiated and Native American Rites were

conducted by Chief Doug Lankford. Inurement

was at the Miami Nation Cemetery with Military Rites. Services were placed in the care of

Paul Thomas Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Miami, OK. Online condolences may be

made at www.paulthomasfuneralhomes.com.

Veteran

Rhonda Sue Garcia

July 24, 1954 – Dec 3, 2022

Rhonda Sue Garcia of Wyandotte, OK

passed from this life Saturday, December 3,

2022 at Mercy Hospital in Joplin, MO. She was

68. Rhonda was born July 24, 1954 in Baxter

Springs, KS to Donald and Myrtle (Friend) Fanning, Sr. She had lived in Wyandotte since 2007

moving from Salem, OR and was a sales associate for Wal-Mart in Oregon.

She was preceded in death by 1 daughter,

Jennifer Stovall, her parents, 1 brother, Don

Fanning, Jr. and 1 sister, Kay Lynn Barker.

Survivors include 1 son, Shawn Stovall and

wife Valerie of Wyandotte, OK, 1 Daughter,

Amanda Hernandez and husband Frank of Wyandotte, OK, 1 sister, Donna Vasquez of Beaverton, OR, 7 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday, December 7, 2022 at Miami Nation Cemetery northwest of Miami, OK. Charlie

Diebold will conduct Native American Rites.

Diego Fernandez, Roy James Stovall, Effarin

Caratachea, Passhion Salazar, Angel Salazar

and Allen Griffith will serve as pallbearers.

Services have been placed in the care of Paul

Thomas Funeral Home and Cremation Service

of Miami, OK.

Michael “Mike”

Dean Wisler

May 23, 1969 – Dec

27, 2021

Michael

“Mike”

Dean Wisler, otherwise

known as Wiz, age 52

of Lake Villa, IL passed

away Monday December

27th, 2021. He was born

May 23rd 1969, in Arizona the first born son of Monte & Rosa Wisler.

Mike was a child that never quite understood the word, “no.” He did life his way and

was always the life of the party. Mike was the

kind of guy that walked into a room and everyone yelled “Hey Wiz!” He had a lot of hobbies over the years, but he especially enjoyed

his time coaching youth basketball. Mike also

had a love for theatrics and even landed himself

a few roles in movies over the years. He was

the happiest when he was with his friends and

family sharing laughs. Mike had a larger than

life personality and could always put a smile on

anyone’s face.

Mike is survived by his parents, Monte and

Rosa Wisler; siblings, Jon Wisler, Jaime Wisler,

and Ashley (Aaron) Williams; nephews, Brandon and Matthew Wisler, Anthony and Dustin

Baca, and Austin Williams; and niece, Avery

Williams. Mike was preceded in death by his

uncle, Michael Lee Wisler.

Aatotankiki Myaamiaki - Community, Vol. 16, No. 4, 2023

Kweehsitawankwi: Honoring the Memory peenaalinta

of Friends Of The Miami People

“One who is born”

Randall “Randy” L. Buchman

passed away peacefully at Glenn Park

of Defiance, Ohio

on July 28, 2022, at

the age of 93 years.

“Randy” is survived

by his loving wife

of 70 years, Marilyn; his daughter,

Debby Coffman and

The late Randall “Ran- husban Tom; eldest

dy” L. Buchman. Photo son, Randy Buchman

used from Schaffer Fu- and wife, Sonia; and

neral Home.

youngesst son, Kevin

Buchman. His grandchildren are Jon and Ben Coffman, children of

Debby and Tom; Melisa and Grant Buchman,

children of Randy and Sonia; Natilie and Nathan Buchman, children of Kevin.

Randy was born in Fremont, Ohio, on May

12, 1929. He graduated from Oak Harbor High

School in 1947, went on to earn a B.A. in history from Heidelberg College in 1952, where he

met his wife, Marilyn, during his freshman year

in college. He recieved his M.Ed. at The Ohio

State University. After teaching and coaching

at the high school level at West Jefferson and

Ravenna, Ohio, Randy moved his family to Defiance where he serves as a professor, coach,

administrator, archeologist, historian and author at Defiance College. Randy also became

the first historian for the city of Defiance and

curator of The Tuttle Museum.

A private service was held with immediate

family. A celebration of life service was held

Saturday, October 1, 2022, at 9 a.m. at St. John

United Church of Christ.

Memorial donations may be given to The

Buchman Scholar’s Endowment through Defiance College, the Tuttle Museum, the future

Buchman Park on the Glaize through the City of

Defiance, or St. John United Church of Christ.

Randy was a visionary individual that viewwed the future through the lens of the past. This

perspective allowed him to build on the foundations that were already present to build a future

that would not forget its history. He respected

individuals; his students, close friends, collegues, and those he knew through history.

Late Chief Floyd Leonard and Randy shared

a friendship. A friend of Randy and tribal member Daryl Baldwin honored him in stating, “Randy will be missed by many of us. Aside from his

love of local history, Randy always made sure

his audience was aware that tribes still exist as

living people from vibrant communities. There

were several occasions when Randy would invite tribal leaders to participate in his public

programs in order to provide a contemporary

voice for participants.”

Obituary referenced from The Crescent-News.

Dr. Hugh Morgan

of Oxford, Ohio

died peacefully on

Tuesday,

December 6, 2022, at Serene Suites in Blue

Ash

surrounded

by friends and colleagues. He was 86.

Hugh taught at Miami University from

1980 to 2003 and

retired as a beloved

Professor Emeritus

of English and Journalism.

Hugh was also a lifelong vegetarian who meditated daily, and he often returned to his “four

pillars” of meditation: Peace within the world,

racial equality, gender equality, and developing

one’s humanity and responsibility.

Hugh was born on August 8, 1936, and attended

Roman Catholic schools in Cleveland, Ohio;

LaGrange Park, Illinois; and Canon City, Colorado. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1958 with a B.A. in journalism, and he

earned his M.A. there in 1967. He worked as

a correspondent for the Associated Press in offices in New Orleans, El Paso, Jackson, Lansing

and Detroit, where he remembered covering a

speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and personally interviewing him. Hugh earned a doctorate in American History in 1985 from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, writing

his dissertation on the American press’ perceptions of Mexican President Lazaro Cardenas

during the 1930s.

When Hugh joined Miami’s English Department in 1980, its journalism program was foundering. Hugh was instrumental in its revival.

First, he brought significant personal experience from his career as a professional journalist, experience that he readily shared with his

students. Then he brought an unbelievable commitment to the success of the program. A former department chair testifies that no one spent

more time than Hugh in Bachelor Hall talking

with students and offering them guidance and

attention. If students were having academic

problems, they would come to him; if they were

having social problems, they trusted his counsel. Another department chair could not remember a time when Hugh was not there with his

door open and working one-on-one with groups

of students on their assignments. At 8 a.m. on

Sunday mornings Hugh would be there to open

the computer lab for students who couldn’t get

there during the week. As a colleague put it,

“Hugh’s life was a blessing for others, though

not easy for him.”

In 1992 Hugh was chosen Educator of the Year

by the Miami University Alumni Association on

the basis of nominations from former students.

In both 1996 and 2000 Hugh was selected by

Miami seniors and Associated Student Government as the university’s most Outstanding Professor.

Dr. Hugh Joseph Morgan met Chief Floyd Leonard when Chief was on campus to be a speaker

at the inauguration of President James Garland

in April 1997. From then on, Hugh became

enamored with Chief Leonard and the Miami

Tribe of Oklahoma (MTO).

In the summer of 1998 Hugh spent his summer in

Miami, Oklahoma, working with four students

to produce the first newspaper that the Miami

Tribe of Oklahoma ever had. That first paper

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