mahkoonsa kiilhswa ‘Young Black Bear Moon’
February 7, 2019
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 marks weehki-kihkatwi – the Myaamia New Year! During some years, the maple sugaring season begins during Mahkoonsa Kiilhswa; in general trees and animals begin the slow process of waking up as pipoonwi ends.
mihšiiwia kiilhswa ‘Elk Moon’
August 15, 2018
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 could be found in the state of Indiana and the subspecies was declared extinct in North America in 1880. Eastern elk were larger than Roosevelt elk, which are found out west in the United States. Adult Eastern American elk males could weigh as much as 1000 pounds and often grew to five feet tall at the shoulder.
To the best of our knowledge, this month is associated with the fact that the Eastern elk used to mate around this time of this year (August & September). During mating season, the woodlands around the Wabash River would fill with the sounds of male elk bugling, which is used to call out to females and warn off competing males (click here to listen to an elk bugle). The Eastern elk’s close cousin, the Roosevelt elk, has been introduced to the woodlands east of the Mississippi, and so it is possible that in a few generations we may once again hear the bugling of Elk along the Wabash.
cecaahkwa kiilhswa ‘Sandhill Crane Moon’
April 18, 2018
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.’
cecaahkwa (Sandhill Crane) performing a mating dance
Around this time of year, Sandhill Cranes return from their winter nesting grounds in what is today the state of Florida. Historically, some cranes nested in our traditional homelands along the Wabash River Valley and some traveled to other nesting grounds throughout the midwest. This moon marks an important moment of return, rebirth, and renewal for an animal, cecaahkwa, that is closely associated with Myaamia people. Delaware and various Iroquois speaking peoples, who originally lived to our east and south, referred to the Myaamia as the “Twigh Twee” after the call of the Sandhill Crane.
Signature of Myaamia leader on Great Peace of 1701
In the past, Myaamia people would mark the edges of our lands by blazing the head of cecaahkwa into trees along major trails. In 1701, a Myaamia leader signed a treaty with this very symbol. Cecaahkwa remains a powerful symbol of Myaamia people and can still be found on the tribal seal of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.
Mihšiiwia Kiilhswa (Elk Moon)
July 31, 2017
Mihšiiwia Kiilhswa (Elk Moon) is named for the Eastern American Elk (Cervus canadensis canadensis). The Eastern Elk subspecies was hunted out in the state of Indiana by the 1840s and declared extinct in North America in 1880.
To the best of our knowledge, this month is associated with the fact that the Eastern Elk used to mate around this time of this year (August & September). During mating season, the woodlands around the Wabash River would fill with the sounds of male Elk bugling, which attracts females of the species (click here to listen to a Western Elk bugle). The Eastern Elk’s close cousin, the Roosevelt or Western Elk, has been introduced to the woodlands east of the Mississippi, and so it is possible that in a few generations we may once again hear the bugling of Elk along the Wabash.
wiihkoowia kiilhswa ‘Whip-poor-will Moon’
May 1, 2017
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 pipoonwi ‘winter’ into niipinwi ‘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 nesting grounds around the Gulf of Mexico. Historically, Whip-poor-wills nested throughout our traditional homelands along the Wabash River Valley. Because these night birds nest on the ground, drastic changes in forest habitat have decreased populations of wiihkoowia in central Indiana. The call of wiihkooowia is distinctive and was used to mark the beginning of planting time for Myaamia miincipi ‘Miami corn.’ Corn that is planted during wiihkoowia kiilhswa is usually in the green corn stage by Kiišiinkwia Kiilhswa ‘Green Corn Moon.’
*image from wikimedia commons here
