Throughout 2022, the Miami Tribe celebrated the 50th anniversary of our community’s relationship with Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. As we wrapped up the celebrations at the Myaamia Winter Gathering in January, we wanted to reflect on everything that happened this year. The events that took place on Miami’s campus wouldn’t have been possible without…
Category: History
Myaamia Winter Gathering 2023
The 26th Annual Myaamia Winter Gathering was a great success. It doubled as a final celebration of the 50th Anniversary of neepwaantiinki ‘learning from each other.’ This is a phrase used to symbolize the relationship between the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and Miami University. Many relationships have been kindled by others and the Miami Tribe…
The Battle of the Mississinewa, 1812
It was cold, that much we know. A decade plus two centuries ago, the War of 1812 made its violent impact on the Myaamia and Delaware families living along the Nimacihsinwi Siipiiwi ‘Mississinewa River.’ It happened along a stretch of the river near where Meshingomesia and his band would put their schoolhouse a couple of…
The Battle of the Wabash
On November 4, 1791, news of the Battle of the Wabash hit Native nations and the U.S. like a thunderclap. The Native victory shocked the United States. Miamis and their allies returned home, having defended their territory for another year. Following the Battle of Kiihkayonki the previous year, the United States re-mobilized, hoping to force…
The Battle of Kiihkayonki
About this time of year in 1790, the Myaamiaki (Miamis) and Mihši-maalhsaki (Americans) were at war. The violence in the middle of October is recalled as the Battle of Kiihkayonki. In this blog post, George Ironstrack narrates the actions of the Miamis and their allies, as well as the American forces. This prolonged battle initiated…
meehkweelintamankwi aanchsahaaciki ‘Remembering Our Forced Removal’
Co-authored by Diane Hunter and Kristina Fox Each October we take a moment to reflect on our community’s forced removal from our homelands. The effects of Removal, which began on October 6, 1846, are still felt throughout our community today. While discussing this event is painful, it is important for us as a community to…
Minohsaya ‘Painted Hide’ Workshop Recap
As blog readers may recall, a group of artists, educators, and scholars have been discussing Myaamia and Peewaalia ‘Miami and Peoria’ painted hides held in a museum in Paris, France, and thinking about revitalizing the meaning and practice of this artistic form. In early August of 2022, a group got together in Miami, Oklahoma. The…
The Peace of Montreal, 1701
Chichicatallo* stood, an old and venerated Myaamia akima ‘chief,’ in front of hundreds of onlookers. Interpreters listened, and then a babble of languages filled the air as they translated his words into Wyandot and Seneca, Ojibwe and Mohawk. It was August 4, 1701. That was 321 years ago.[1] Days later, Chichicatallo signed the Great Treaty,…
Lacrosse in Historical Sources
As winter turns to spring, Myaamiaki ‘Miami people’ and their friends put down the threads of winter stories. With the other hand, they pick up lacrosse sticks. Peekitahaminki–lacrosse–is an ancient game in Indian Country, including among Myaamiaki ‘Miami folks.’ There are old records from the colonial period in which Europeans recorded their observations of Miami…
Was a comet responsible for the decline of the Hopewell?
Written by Andrew Sawyer, Education Outreach Specialist On February 1, 2022 Scientific Reports published a report titled The Hopewell airburst event, 1699–1567 years ago (252–383 CE)[1]. In this report, the authors claim to have found evidence of a cosmic airburst event that took place in the Ohio River Valley between about 1,639 and 1,770 years…
Aacimotaatiiyankwi 