Aacimotaatiiyankwi

It’s hard to believe another school year has come to an end for the Myaamia Heritage students at Miami University! Before Myaamia Center staff turn our attention toward the Eemamwicki Summer Programs, we wanted to share some highlights from the 2024/25 school year. 

On Saturday, May 17th, we gathered with our 10 Myaamia Heritage Program graduates and their families in the miloniteeheekaani ‘Myaamia classroom.’ We celebrated our students’ completion of the Myaamia Heritage Program and graduation from Miami University with a series of gifts.  Each graduate received a special t-shirt designed by Julie Olds, a wooden lacrosse stick made by Doug Peconge, and a Myaamia stole with hand-sewn ribbonwork created by Karen Baldwin to wear during graduation ceremonies. 

During their senior year, the Myaamia students work on a senior project that combines what they have learned in the Myaamia Heritage course and their area of study at Miami University. The goal of the project is to give back to the Myaamia community, in whatever way the students want to define it. In April, we held a senior night event where students presented their projects to their peers and Myaamia Center staff. This year’s projects covered a range of topics, including film, genealogy, jewelry-making, and more. If you see one of our recent graduates, be sure to ask them about this experience.

In the Myaamia Heritage course, students spent the year exploring Ecological Perspectives and History. This course series uses geography to connect history and ecology from a Myaamia perspective. Students spend the majority of their classes outside exploring Miami’s campus while taking part in a variety of activities like eating Myaamia food, hiking, and playing games. 

In addition to the required coursework, the Myaamia Center hosted several workshops and cultural discussions for our students focused on fingerweaving, ribbonwork, jewelry-making, and more. Scott Shoemaker and Jared Nally, two Myaamia textile artists, taught a group of students to make mahkisina ‘moccasins.’ They led the students through the entire process from measuring and cutting the hides to sewing the final pieces together. Mihši neewe ‘a big thank you’ to these artists for visiting campus to share knowledge with our students. 

Throughout the summer, several of our students will serve as counselors for the Eemamwiciki Summer Youth Programs in both Miami, Oklahoma, and Fort Wayne, Indiana. Additionally, the Myaamia Center is hosting its first-ever summer internship experience for Myaamia students. The Akimaansa internship will offer students immersive learning experiences that bridge academic study with real-world application. The internship will focus on training participants to share Myaamia language, culture, and history at events throughout the summer, including the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. 

As the end of another busy school year winds down, we’re sad to see our students leave Oxford but are looking forward to welcoming them back in the fall, along with our new cohort of Myaamia Heritage students!