Aacimotaatiiyankwi

As we celebrate 25 years of language revitalization and cultural research, the Myaamia Center is excited to invite you to the 11th biennial Myaamiaki Conference on April 18, 2026, at Miami University! 

Since its founding in 2001, the Center has served as the research arm of the Cultural Resources Office of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, located on the campus of Miami University. Rooted in the 50+ year relationship between the Miami Tribe and Miami University, this unique partnership has been guided by the concept of neepwaantiinki ‘learning from each other.’ The Myaamiaki Conference is a unique opportunity for the public to see the results of that collaboration.

The upcoming conference will highlight the continued growth and innovation of the Myaamia Center. Hosted at the Shriver Center, presenters will share how they document and share Myaamia knowledge systems throughout the day. 

A few of the presentations to look forward to include: 

• The Future of Tribal-University Relationships: Dr. Cameron Shriver will explore the hurdles and opportunities of collaborative work between higher education and Native American communities, using the Myaamia Center as an example.
• Digital Innovation: Technology has always been an important part of the Miami Tribe’s cultural revitalization process. This year’s conference will preview Šaapohkaayoni, the Myaamia Education Portal, which serves as a digital home for language and cultural resources accessible to the Myaamia community living across the United States.
• Health and Wellness: A new area of research, nahi miiciona nahi weehsininki ‘Proper Foods, Proper Diet’, will be introduced. This project explores Myaamia perspectives on well-being through an online collection of recipes and nutritional knowledge.
• Heritage Student Experience: As always, the conference will conclude with a panel of Myaamia Heritage Award Program students. These students will share how their time at Miami University has helped them reconnect with their identity and foster a sense of pride in their heritage.

Additional presentations will discuss the National Breath of Life program and the importance of community-engaged scholarship. See the full schedule of presentations here. 

Between sessions, attendees are encouraged to visit presenter tables to ask questions and engage directly with the researchers.

This conference is a great opportunity for the Myaamia community, Miami University students, and the local community to learn about the work of the Myaamia Center. 

The Myaamiaki Conference is free and open to the public, but we ask that attendees register online. If you are not able to attend in person but would still like to see the presentations, the conference will be live-streamed and archived online. If you have any questions, please contact the Myaamia Center: myaamiakiconference@miamioh.edu. 

Credits:

Featured photo by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.