From June 23-27, the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma will be holding its annual National Gathering Week in Noošonke Siipionki ‘Miami, OK.’ Tribal citizens will travel from all over the United States to be with friends and relatives to dance, play games, share meals, and celebrate Myaamia culture and exercise Tribal sovereignty by participating in the General Council Meeting.
We look forward to seeing everyone. peehkhkanaweeko ‘safe travels’! For the full, detailed National Gathering schedule with times and locations, please visit miamination.com/national-gathering-week-2026
New to this year’s National Gathering Week is Ohi:yo’: We’re Still Here at the Myaamia Heritage Museum (28 N. Main Street). This small art exhibition is on loan to the museum from the Great Circle Alliance, an independent non-profit organization committed to telling the Indigenous stories of the Ohio River Valley and the Newark Earthworks. The exhibition features three artists who are citizens of Tribes with historic homelands in present-day Ohio: Travis Mammedaty (Seneca-Cayuga), Holli Mangell (Eastern Shawnee), and Dani Tippmann (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma). The exhibit will be open until September 30, 2026.
While you’re visiting Ohi:yo’ make sure to check out neehaapiikasiciki: the Healing Threads of Myaamia Ribbonwork. This exhibit explores the history and production of ribbonwork, the processes that led to its dormancy within the Myaamia community, and the decades-long effort to reclaim and revitalize the art practice. Neehaapiikasiciki is the first time that historic Myaamia ribbonwork has been in Miami, Oklahoma, for tribal citizens to enjoy since the pieces were collected and removed from the community over 100 years ago. This exhibit is in its final months and will be coming down later this fall, so do not miss your chance to experience this powerful story!
See the week’s events:
Tuesday June 23 – Myaamia Makerspace Open House
Myaamia community only, not open to the public
The week kicks off at the Ethel Miller Moore Cultural Education Center, also known as the Myaamia Makerspace. Since 2022, the Myaamia Makerspace has served the Miami Tribe as a space for creativity, learning, and connecting with Myaamia art forms, hosting workshops for fingerweaving, beading, pottery, and ribbonskirts. The Makerspace will be open to tribal citizens and their families to try new arts and crafts or bring their own in-progress art projects. Lunch will be provided! Please RSVP by email to Joshua Sutterfield at jsutterfield@miamination.com.
Wednesday, June 24 – Beading Workshop
Myaamia community only, not open to the public
A beading workshop will be held at the Myaamia Makerspace on Wednesday, June 24, from 9 AM–4 PM. Led by Myaamia Heritage Museum Manager Meghan Dorey, participants will learn loom beading and create projects such as bracelets, keychains, and bookmarks. Lunch will be provided! Please RSVP by email to Joshua Sutterfield at jsutterfield@miamination.com.
Thursday, June 25 – Myaamia Family Day
Myaamia community only, not open to the public
Myaamia Family Day is a day of fun and friendly competition for all ages at the Miami Tribe’s lacrosse field. Events for youth and adults include archery competitions, lacrosse challenges, and noncompetitive tomahawk throwing.
Friday, June 26 – Cultural Education Day, Lacrosse, and Stomp Dance
Myaamia community only, not open to the public
Lacrosse Game
Friday morning will have the community lacrosse game, one of the most anticipated events of the summer, bringing Myaamiaki ‘Myaamia people’ of all ages together for a friendly (but fierce!) match.
Only wooden pakitahaakana ‘lacrosse sticks’ are used for the community game, a standard that began in 2019. That year marked the first time in more than two centuries that every player on the field carried a wooden pakitahaakani ‘lacrosse stick’ made by a member of their own community. The sticks were made by tribal citizen and Cultural Resources Office employee Doug Peconge at the request of Akima ‘Chief’ Douglas Lankford, using wood gathered from Myaamia homelands in northern Indiana and southern Michigan. For more information on the “Big Game” and the revitalization of Myaamia lacrosse, read this blog post by George Ironstrack and this article in Indian Country Today.
Afternoon Presentations
Following lunch at the Prairie Sun Event Center, staff from the Miami Tribe Cultural Resources Office will give a presentation on stomp and social dances, along with demonstrations. Kiiwahtekaataawi koteenki ‘Stomp dancing’ in particular has a long history within the Myaamia community. The dance was originally learned from the Shawnee in the distant past and was also sometimes referred to in Myaamiaataweenki as Šaawanokaanki, meaning “the Shawnee Dance.” Learn more about the history of stomp dancing.
Stomp and Social Dances
Beginning at 6:30 PM, the Miami Tribe will host social and stomp dances at the Miami Nation Dance Grounds (54505 E. 65 Rd).
Saturday, June 27 – General Council Meeting and Annual Powwow
General Council Meeting (Myaamia community only, not open to the public)
On Saturday, Miami Tribe citizens and their families will gather at the Miami Tribe’s Council House to hear updates from Tribal leadership and participate in elections for the Miami Tribe’s Business Committee, Grievance Committee, and Tribal Ambassadors.
25th Annual Miami Nation Powwow (Open to the public)
This year marks 25 years of the Miami Nation Powwow! Join us in celebrating this milestone with gourd dancing, competition and exhibition dances, and end the night with stomp and social dances. For the full powwow schedule, visit the Miami Nation Events Facebook page.
To learn more about the week, read the 2025 Annual Gathering Recap.
Aacimotaatiiyankwi 
Leave a comment