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 this school year. 

On Saturday, May 16th, we gathered with our 10 Myaamia Heritage Program graduates and their families in the miloniteeheekaani ‘Myaamia classroom’ to celebrate our students’ completion of the Myaamia Heritage Program and graduation from Miami University. 

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, Kara Strass, and Megan Sekulich to wear during graduation ceremonies.

During their senior year, the Myaamia students work on a senior project combining 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, Myaamia Center staff, and the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma’s elected leadership. This year’s projects covered a range of topics, including computer science support, jewelry-making, health and wellbeing, stompdancing, and more. If you see one of our recent graduates, be sure to ask them about their projects. 

In the Myaamia Heritage course, students spent the year learning Myaamiaataweenki ‘Miami language.’ Students not only learned to speak about themselves, their families, and their daily lives, but also explored how Myaamia culture influences the language. 

In addition to the required coursework, the Myaamia Center hosted several workshops and cultural discussions. Myaamia students had the opportunity to learn fingerweaving, collect and process maple sap into syrup, and learn to sew ribbon skirts. 

Haley Shea and Gretchen Spenn led two cooking workshops, teaching a group of students how to cook with Myaamia ingredients, like bison, rabbit, persimmon, and root vegetables. 

Throughout the summer, several of our students will serve as counselors for the Eemamwiciki Summer Youth Programs in Miami, Oklahoma, and Fort Wayne, Indiana. 

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 22 incoming Myaamia Heritage first-year students! (Our largest class ever!)

Credits:

Featured photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.