Aacimotaatiiyankwi

When Madison Angelo and Kathy Carter Young saw each other at the 10th biennial Myaamiaki Conference, the two women’s faces lit up as they embraced for a hug, before immediately jumping into excited greetings and laughter. 

Looking at the pair, it’s easy to assume they are old friends, maybe even close relatives. In reality, Angelo, a second-year student in the Myaamia Heritage Program (MHP) at Miami University, was meeting Young, a Myaamia elder and parent of MHP alumni, in person for the very first time. 

The two began video chatting a few weeks prior when they were matched through the aanhkwiniikioni ‘Linking the Generations’ program. 

The program is the result of a partnership between the Myaamia Center and the Scripps Gerontology Center, both at Miami University. Based on the Scripps/AVID program  (Arts-based, Virtual, Intergenerational, and Dementia-friendly), this program aims to connect Myaamia young adults with Myaamia elders. The goal is to reduce loneliness and connect Myaamia people virtually through art and shared culture. 

“We found out we both like art, so now we create art based on community stories and the [Myaamia] language,” Young said. “It’s a lot of fun and we’ve had a lot of laughs.” 

The Myaamia Center facilitates the matching of pairs and scheduling. As well as a series of culturally based discussion prompts and activities to pass the time, but so far, during their four meetings, Young and Angelo haven’t needed much support. 

“We just go with the flow,” Angelo said. “We’ve looked through and seen some interesting prompts, but we’ve kinda just done what feels natural.” 

Sometimes, the one-hour time slot goes by too quickly as they discuss family histories and cultural knowledge while working on art projects. They even lose track of the time, exceeding the meeting time and asking to stay on “just a few more minutes” before wrapping up the weekly call. 

Angelo decided to participate in Linking the Generations after hearing about the opportunity in the Myaamia Heritage class. She had some flexibility in her schedule and wanted to make new friends within the Myaamia community. 

“Before, my main access to the community was other students in the Myaamia Heritage Program or folks at the Myaamia Center,” she said. “So, this has been a great opportunity to meet other people.” 

For Young, the decision to participate wasn’t as easy. As an active member of the Myaamia community with a large family and many commitments, she felt too busy to take on another responsibility. However, she was driven to sign up after speaking with a program coordinator about the opportunity.

“Ya know what?” Young thought to herself at the time. “My community needs to be a priority. I need to do this.”

So, she told the program coordinator she was available for one hour on Sunday afternoons, and as luck would have it, Angelo was available during that time. 

“This sense to prioritize my community came on strong,” Young said. “It’s been a really positive experience and I’m so glad I did it.” 

Young values spending time with young adults in the MHP. Having learned much of her cultural knowledge from her child and grandchild who graduated from it, connecting with Angelo has allowed her to continue similar conversations. 

Angelo has also valued the time shared with Young, as it has broadened her perspectives and inspired her to spend more time with her own family members. 

“She [Young] asks me questions about family history I don’t know the answer to,” Angelo said. “So it inspires me to talk to my grandparents about things I would have never thought to ask on my own.” 

While the two formally completed the program in the spring of 2024, they look forward to seeing each other at Myaamia community events and plan to stay in touch, regardless of whether they sign up for the fall program. 

“There really is a family connection with the shared culture,” Young said. “She already feels like another one of my grandbabies.” 

The next aanhkwiniikioni ‘Linking the Generations’ session will begin in the fall of 2024 and is open to any Myaamia community members (ages 18+), including tribal spouses. To sign up, visit AVID.ScrippsOMA.org/get-started and select the “Myaamia” group. 

Questions? Contact Tina Fox, Myaamia Education Coordinator, at markskm@miamioh.edu