Aacimotaatiiyankwi

The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma held its Annual General Council Meeting on Saturday, June 29, in Noošonke Siipionki ‘Miami, OK’ to hold tribal elections and share important updates with Tribal citizens. 

The meeting opened with a prayer and community song, followed by Akima ‘Chief’ Lankford’s State of the Nation Address. Aakimwa ‘Secretary-Treasurer’ Donya Williams presented the financial report before Daryl Baldwin shared updates on the Myaamia Center, the Tribe’s research office at Miami University. Finally, Lance Theobald, Myaamia citizen and CEO of Miami Nation Enterprises shared updates on the Tribe’s businesses. 

With 204 voting members present, elections began promptly after the updates. This year, two seats on the business committee and two seats on the grievance committee were up for election. On the business committee, Dustin Olds was re-elected to his position as Niišonaminki Akima ‘Second Chief’, and Tera Hatley was re-elected to her position as Aacimwa ‘First Councilperson’, both three-year terms. Stacey Williams won one of the seats on the grievance committee and Kolby Lankford was re-elected in the other, both three-year terms. 

As votes are counted by a team just off the stage, members of the business committee raffled off door prizes to the crowd waiting for results to be announced. Lucky winners left the meeting with lacrosse sticks, community flags, wool blankets, and other prizes. 

The final elections of the day were for the Tribal Ambassador and Jr. Tribal Ambassador. These are positions for young female leaders to represent the community at public events. Sophie Olds was elected as the Tribal Ambassador for a three-year term and Abigail Pollock was elected as the Jr. Tribal Ambassador for a one-year term. Both Sophie and Abigail are long-time participants in our summer youth programs: Saakaciweeta and Eewansaapita.

As the meeting wrapped up, everyone was invited to the Prairie Sun Event Center just down the street for a community meal, before the Miami Nation’s Annual Pow Wow in the evening. 

While the General Meeting takes place on Saturday, events are hosted throughout the week for citizens and their relatives to spend time with one another celebrating Myaamia culture. 

Starting on Wednesday, June 26, Scott Shoemaker led a Myaamia ribbonwork workshop at the Prairie Sun Event Center. With help from the Myaamia Makerspace team, about 30 people learned the process and were able to take home supplies to finish their projects. While most people made adjustable hat bands, others modified the project to make bracelets. 

That evening, Myaamia community members were invited to a reception for the St. Clair’s Defeat Revisited exhibit currently displayed at the NEO A&M College in Miami, OK. The traveling exhibit introduces guests to the complex history, context, and aftermath of the battle, with respect to the nine Tribal Nations involved in the defeat. It will be on display until December 1, before it moves to the Ohio History Center in Columbus, Ohio.

On Thursday, June 27, Family Day was hosted at Drake House, where there were competitions for archery and lacrosse, as well as non-competitive tomahawk throwing for those interested. 

Several rounds of each competition were played to accommodate the number of participants and activities went late into the evening. The Miami Tribe provided both lunch and dinner throughout the day and the Myaamia Makerspace set up a station to make beaded jewelry. 

After dinner, a fire was lit behind the house for a stomp dance. The dance began with the Lead Caller starting a song and the Shakers keeping rhythm with their cans. The other dancers fell behind them as their ever-growing line spiraled around the fire. After several songs, the Shakers and Callers grew tired and wrapped up their dancing. 

The next morning, Friday, June 28, community members gathered at the Tribe’s lacrosse field behind the Council House. Despite the heat of the day, Myaamia people of all ages played an intense game that was ultimately won by the red team. 

Following the game, everyone was invited back to the Prairie Sun Event Center for a well-deserved meal and cultural education presentations. This year, the community learned about the Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO), the Tribe’s use of search-and-rescue dogs, Myaamia ribbonwork, and St. Clair’s Defeat. 

During these presentations, Jennifer Jordan Hall was honored with a blanket for her work with search-and-rescue dogs, who have been instrumental in locating burials to ensure they are protected. The dogs, named Pocket and Wick, were gifted dog beds for their efforts. 

Meghan Dorey also announced “neehaapiikasiciki: The Healing Threads of Myaamia Ribbonwork,” an exhibit that will bring historical pieces from the collections of the National Museum of the American Indian and the Cranbrook Institute of Science to the Myaamia Heritage Museum and Archive in Miami, OK. The exhibit will be open from January 22, 2025, to July 3, 2026, allowing folks to stop by and see it during Winter Gathering or National Gathering Week.

That evening, the first night of the Miami Nation’s Annual Pow Wow began on the Pow Wow grounds behind the council house with the Grand Entry. Dances, food, and vendors went late into the night before the event wrapped up and everyone went home to rest for Saturday’s events. 

While voting for leadership is a crucial part of exercising tribal sovereignty, participating in opportunities to learn about Myaamia culture continues to strengthen bonds within the community. Looking forward, tribal members should keep an eye on miamination.com for more opportunities to gather, learn, and create together, like the Winter Gathering set for January 2025.