Earlier this month, November 6-11, 2023, the Myaamia Center and Miami University Athletics Department held the annual Celebrating Miami: Tribe and University Week. During the week, each athletic event highlights the relationship between the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and Miami University, and each athletic team wears uniforms featuring the Myaamia Heritage Logo. Myaamia Heritage students help to plan all of the activities during the athletic events, including games, trivia, and in-game recognitions.
All five elected Myaamia Tribal leaders and staff from the Cultural Resource Office, traveled to Oxford, Ohio for the week to take part in the celebrations. Along with the athletic events, a number of activities were planned throughout the week for Tribal leaders to learn more about our campus partnerships and projects.
TUESDAY:
With Tribal leadership and guests arriving on campus Monday afternoon, events officially began on Tuesday, November 7th with several visits to classes across campus. Tuesday morning started with visits to two art classes to hear more about the Miami University students’ experience teaching local 4th, 5th, and 6th-grade students about the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, our history, our people, and our art. Our Myaamia lesson collaboration with Dr. Luke Meeken and Dr. Stephanie Danker reached 450 elementary students this year!
That same evening, Tribal leadership participated in a Q&A session in the Myaamia Heritage class. This year, the Heritage class is focusing on sovereignty and current issues in Indian Country, so the students were prepared with great questions for Tribal leadership about the Miami Tribe’s government, law, and history.
WEDNESDAY:
On Wednesday evening, many Myaamia Center staff and Myaamia Heritage students watched the Redhawk Football Team play against the Akron Zips Football team. Myaamia Heritage students Kaleb McMullen and Mia Bowels delivered the game ball with Secretary-Treasurer Donya Williams at the start of the game. Myaamia attendees of the game were also invited to participate in an in-game recognition after the 1st quarter.
THURSDAY:
Secretary-Treasurer Williams, First Councilperson Hatley, and Kara Strass, director of Miami Tribe Relations, were invited to speak in the course Native American Women taught by Dr. Sandra Garner. The course is designed to provide students with a broad overview of Native American perspectives on a variety of topics including Indigenous viewpoints on research methods, environmental activism, politics and policy, and critical analysis.
After class, they met up with the rest of the Tribal leadership and Myaamia Center staff for a Myaamia lunch in Maplestreet dining hall. The Myaamia Center worked with Maplestreet to determine ingredients that could be sourced for the meal and provided recipes for inspiration. The meal included turkey, bison, squash, wild rice, hominy, cranberries, and other ingredients important to Myaamia people.
[Photo by Scott Kissell, Miami University]
FRIDAY:
Although the week was beginning to wind down, there was still plenty for Myaamiaki to do on Miami’s campus. Tribal leadership visited faculty who are taking part in the Indigenizing the Curriculum workshop to meet participants, answer questions, and learn about the curriculum they are working to build.
In the evening, we went over to Millett Hall to watch the Miami Redhawk Volleyball team vs. the Akron Zips. Myaamia attendees were invited to participate in an in-game recognition and Chief Lankford, Second Chief Olds, Daryl Baldwin, Haley Shea and myself participated in a t-shirt toss to fans.
SATURDAY:
The week of celebrations and activities wrapped up on Saturday watching the Miami Redhawk Hockey team vs. Colorado College. Tribal leadership and Myaamia guests were invited to watch the game from the President’s box by Miami University President Gregory Crawford and Dr. Renate Crawford. Myaamia guests participated in an in-game recognition and Myaamia students participated in a number of events throughout the game.
A favorite activity during the game was the “Skyline Drop” where Second Councilperson Willard and Myaamia students dropped Skyline gift cards to the crowd from the catwalk above the arena. For those unfamiliar, Skyline is a well-known quick-dine restaurant in the Cincinnati area with dishes like spaghetti, hot dogs, and french fries smothered in cheese and chili. (I recommend trying it if you ever get the chance, it’s one of those things people either love or hate.)
Celebrating Miami Week is a great opportunity for tribal leadership to visit campus as well as gather with the Myaamia community on Miami’s campus. Mihši neewe to everyone who participated and made this week possible including; the Miami Tribe’s elected leadership; Chief Doug Lankford, Second Chief Dustin Olds, Secretary-Treasurer Donya Williams, First Councilperson Tera Hatley, and Second Councilperson Scott Willard, Miami University President and Dr. Crawford, the Miami University Athletic department, and our Myaamia Heritage students.
Aacimotaatiiyankwi 
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