Aacimohtaatiiyankwi

Throughout June and July, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma staff welcomed Myaamiaki ‘Myaamia people’ to the Eemamwiciki 2026 Summer Programs to explore the theme: eeweentiiyankwi ‘Kinship.’

Each year, the Miami Tribe hosts Summer Programs for tribal members ages 6 and older in both Kiihkayonki ‘Fort Wayne, Indiana’ and Noošonke Siipionki ‘Miami, Oklahoma.’ The 5-day experience is designed to teach participants about Myaamia language and culture while having fun and bonding with community members. 

In June 2026, 56 participants were welcomed to the Saakaciweeta, Eewansaapita, Maayaahkweeta, and Neehsapita programs in Oklahoma. In July, 79 people participated in Saakaciweeta, Eewansaapita, and Neehsapita in Indiana. 

Young adults in the Myaamia community serve as counselors for Saakaciweeta and Eewansaapita, many of whom are alumni of the youth programs or attend Miami University through the Myaamia Heritage Program. Some of these counselors live locally in Oklahoma or Indiana, while others travel to participate. 

The curriculum for the programs is the same in both locations, and each program follows the same theme throughout the week. Saakaciweeta participants (ages 6-9) explored Myaamia kinship by practicing language to talk about their families, constructing dioramas of their homes, and playing games with one another. There were 32 participants in Saakaciweeta this year, 14 in Oklahoma, and 18 in Indiana. 

Eewansaapita participants (ages 10-16) spent the week weaving a visual representation of a family tree, crafting a mural project of their Myaamia kin, learning about the locations of their Myaamia families throughout time, and learning kinship terms in Myaamiaataweenki ‘the Myaamia language.’

The week included many games of peekitahaminki ‘lacrosse’ and mahkisina meehkintiinki ‘moccasin game,’ time exploring connections to each other, and lots of good eating. There were 55 participants total, 20 in Oklahoma and 35 in Indiana. 

In Oklahoma, our annual lacrosse game with the Seneca-Cayuga Nation was cancelled due to thunderstorms, so instead the Miami Tribe hosted Stomp and Social dances with the Seneca-Cayuga. While it was sad the group couldn’t play the game, it was still a fun-filled afternoon of dancing and connecting with our neighbors. 

There were three Maayaahkweeta participants (ages 17-18) in Oklahoma who spent the week deepening their knowledge of Myaamia genealogy and naming practices, as well as participating in a variety of activities like visiting the Myaamia Heritage Museum and Archive, and helping Doug Peconge craft Myaamia lacrosse sticks. These participants also take on leadership roles by sharing what they have learned throughout the week with youth participants in the Eewansaapita program.

The adult program, Neehsapita, welcomed 29 participants, 13 in Oklahoma and 16 in Indiana. Participants in both locations enjoyed presentations on cultural practices, such as Myaamia foods and genealogy, as well as crafted small wampum projects to represent their families.

In each location, the Eemamwiciki Summer Programs ended with a celebration, where the Myaamia community was invited to view the youth participants’ art projects and share a meal. 

Programs in both locations experienced extreme weather in unique ways, with Miami, Oklahoma experiencing a lot of rain throughout the week and Fort Wayne, Indiana being impacted by smoke from Canadian wildfires. We appreciate all of our participants, counselors, and staff for being flexible in our activity schedules to ensure everyone stayed safe and continued having fun! 

In 2027, the Summer Program theme will be ašiihkiwi neehi kiišikwi ‘Earth and Sky.’ 

Applications for the programs will become available in spring 2027 on Šaapohkaayoni and the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma’s website. 

Questions? Contact our cultural education team at eemamwicki@gmail.com 

Credits:

Featured photo by Jonathan Fox, Myaamia Center.