By Joshua Sutterfield and Meghan Dorey aya eeweemilaankiki ‘Hello our relatives,’ 174 years ago this week, the United States government began the forced removal of Myaamia people from our historic homelands in the Wabash River Valley. On October 6, 1846, Myaamia people boarded canal boats near Iihkipihsinonki ‘the Straight Place’ (Peru, Indiana). All told, in…
Category: Myaamionki (Miami Places)
One of the ways we think about and talk about our history is based on where an event occurred. These categories organize our community histories based on the important places in our landscape.
mihšiiwia kiilhswa ‘Elk Moon’
Mihšiiwia Kiilhswa ‘Elk Moon’ is named for the Eastern American elk (Cervus canadensis canadensis). In the 1400s, it is estimated that the Eastern elk had the greatest range of any hoofed species in North America. But this dispersed and large population diminished quickly in the years following European settlement. By the 1840s, no Eastern elk subspecies…
wiihkoowia kiilhswa ‘Whip-poor-will Moon’
Wiihkoowia Kiilhswa is the fourth lunar month of the Myaamia lunar calendar. Like the other months named for birds, Wiihkoowia Kiilhswa is associated with the process of transition from peepoonki ‘winter’ into neepinwiki ‘summer.’ The month is named for wiihkoowia (Eastern Whip-poor-will – Antrostomus vociferus). Around this time of year, Whip-poor-wills return from their winter…
cecaahkwa kiilhswa ‘Sandhill Crane Moon’
Cecaahkwa Kiilhswa is the third lunar month of the Myaamia lunar calendar. Like the other months named for birds, Cecaahkwa Kiilhswa is associated with the process of transition from pipoonwi (winter) into niipinwi (summer). The month is named for cecaahkwa ‘Sandhill Crane – grus canadensis.’ Around this time of year, Sandhill Cranes return from their winter nesting…
mahkoonsa kiilhswa ‘Young Black Bear Moon’
Mahkoonsa Kiilhswa ‘Young Black Bear Moon’ is one of two lunar months named for the American black bear (Ursus americanus). To the best of our knowledge, this month is associated with the fact that it is around this month that American black bear cubs begin to emerge from their dens. The start of this lunar month…
