Myaamia Center

10/06/2026

Today we recognize and remember the forced removal of the Miami Tribe from their historic homelands in the Wabash River Valley, a journey that began on this day 180 years ago. It took Myaamiaki ‘Myaamia people’ nearly a month to travel from present-day Indiana to Kansas, during which they would pass through Hamilton, OH, just 13 miles from Miami University, where classes were taking place. However, this is only a small portion of the story. Learn more about the forced removal of the Miami Tribe on Aacimohtaatiiyankwi, the Myaamia community blog.

meehkweelintamaanki ‘we remember.’ Each October, we take a moment to remember and reflect on our nation’s forced removal from our homelands in the Wabash River Valley. Even in the face of such hardship, our ancestors carried our language and culture with them. Because of their resilience, we are still speaking, gathering, and living as Myaamia people today. We honor their courage, we grieve their loss, and we continue their work of strengthening our community for future generations. To learn more about the forced removal of the Miami Tribe, visit Aacimohtaatiiyankwi:
aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2026/10/06/continuing-to-understand-myaamia-forced-removal

10/05/2026

Several Myaamia Center staff members recently attended the annual Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums Conference. George Ironstrack, assistant director, presented alongside “Reclaiming Stories” project team members on the collaborative exhibition created with Tribal representatives and French institutions that tells the story of the 1725 diplomatic mission of Indigenous leaders to France. The group discussed how Tribal–museum partnerships and international research can reshape historical interpretation and exhibition practice.
Our staff also spent time with Myaamia Heritage Museum and Archive staff during the conference, who presented on the preparation required to intake voluntary returns of cultural items from institutions and private collectors.

10/02/2026

How did Myaamia homelands legally become a part of the United States? The third episode of the Neepwaantiinki docuseries describes one of the darkest chapters of Myaamia history: the treaty and removal period. This episode traces how the Miami Tribe ceded land through treaties under great cultural, economic, and political pressure, leading to successive forced removals. Discover how these events fractured the community and how the Miami Nation fought to preserve its identity during times of uncontrollable change: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T81sZdTjQA&t=100s

10/01/2026

Wiiciwiiyaakiteeheemaataawi ‘Let’s Congratulate’ Elizabeth (Liz) Ellis on being awarded a 2026 MacArthur Fellowship!
Liz is a citizen of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma and a historian investigating Indigenous politics and diplomacy in early North America.
Myaamia Center staff have had the pleasure of working closely with Liz on the “Reclaiming Stories” project, dedicated to researching early Miami and Peoria culture, specifically through the study of 18th-century painted hide robes. reclaimstories.web.illinois.edu

09/30/2026

Many across the United States and Canada recognize today, Sept. 30, as a National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools. The Federal Indian Boarding School system is one of the many assimilationist policies that directly contributed to the dormancy of Myaamia language and cultural practices. It’s important to remember and reflect on these historical moments to understand the 30+ years of cultural revitalization efforts within the Miami Tribe. Learn more about the impact of boarding schools within the Miami Tribe on Aacimohtaatiiyankwi, the Myaamia community blog. aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2021/07/09/boarding-schools

09/29/2026

There are hundreds and hundreds of different Native American languages – where does Myaamiaataweenki 'the Myaamia language,' fit into that picture? What’s shared with its closest relatives? And what makes it unique? In the latest blog post on Aacimohtaatiiyankwi, Hunter Thompson Lockwood, a linguist at the Myaamia Center, shares his perspective on those questions. Visit Aacimohtaatiiyankwi, the Myaamia community blog, using the link in our bio.

09/25/2026

Celebrating Miami: Tribe and University Week is October 30 -November 4!
The Myaamia Center, in partnership with the Miami University athletics department, is celebrating the relationship between the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and Miami University.

We will honor both the overall relationship and the Myaamia Center's 25th anniversary with in-game events, special shout-outs, and festivities throughout the week. See additional details and the full schedule of events: https://miamioh.edu/miami-tribe-relations/miami-community/events/2026-celebration/

09/24/2026

In episode 2 of the Neepwaantiinki docuseries, Doug Peconge from the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma describes the historical importance of Kiihkaayonki, known today as Fort Wayne, Indiana, to the Myaamia people. Watch the full episode: youtube.com/watch?v=obA9gIfcJsI

09/18/2026

Armadillos in Oxford, Ohio? Researchers recently documented the first official armadillo sighting in Ohio, right here near Miami University! However, this isn't the first time these creatures have wandered into Myaamionki 'Myaamia lands'. Back in 2022, the Myaamia Center created the word "koohkoošhkinaahkwa" ('armadillo') because armadillos were already migrating into Myaamia lands in northeast Oklahoma years ago due to milder winters.
Learn more about the word “koohkoošhkinaahkwa”: aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2022/09/13/new-word-armadillo/
Read more about the armadillo sighting in Oxford: https://www.wlwt.com/article/miami-university-ohio-first-naturally-occurring-armadillo