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1. Neepwaantiinki 'Learning from each other'

   Explore the relationship between the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and Miami University

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   1. Welcome to Miami University: We Acknowledge History

      Founded in 1809, Miami University, has a unique and strong relationship with the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. We acknowledge the Tribal Nations who previously occupied the land as a sign of respect for their Indigenous sovereignty. We acknowledge the Miami and Shawnee Tribes who were stewards of this land before the University's founding and continue to be connected to this place. More information about the University's land acknowledgement can be found on the University Land Acknowledgement website, which states:

      Miami University is located within the traditional homelands of the Myaamia and Shawnee people, who along with other indigenous groups ceded these lands to the United States in the first Treaty of Greenville in 1795. The Miami people, whose name our university carries, were forcibly removed from these homelands in 1846.

      Miami University and the Miami Tribe have an enduring relationship in which both parties learn with each other for the betterment of all. The result of this action is what has allowed the University and the Tribe to continue to have a positive relationship.

   2. A Tribe Named Miami, A Surveyor’s Stake, A Town Named Oxford

      A Tribe Named Miami, A Surveyor's Stake, A Town Named Oxford, was created by contemporary Myaamia artist Eugene Brown. Born in Quapaw, Oklahoma, Eugene was a citizen of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. Eugene Brown passed away in 2017, however, his legacy lives on. Before his passing, Eugene Brown stated “I want to preserve American Indian culture. If just one generation keeps it and doesn't pass it on, then it is lost.” The sculpture was unveiled in 2008 at the closing ceremony of an exhibition at the Miami University Art Museum and sculpture park. The original wooden sculpture, which was used as a model for the bronze sculpture can be found inside the art museum.

      The sculpture represents the relationship between the Miami Tribe and Miami University. It features a sandhill crane, turtle, and a white stake that strikes through the center of the sculpture. The sandhill crane is an important symbol for the Tribe and serves as a symbol of the Myaamia people. Brown used the turtle to symbolize the world or land because the turtle’s curved shell mimics the curvature of the horizon. He also included the seal of Miami University on the turtle’s back, symbolizing the shared land between the University and the Tribe. Finally, the white surveyor’s stake represents the land the Miami Tribe inhabited being transformed into a new territory from which the Tribe was removed.

   3. Kitahkinaani

      Kitahkinaani, our garden, is next to Boyd Hall on the land of the former Western College for Women. The design of the garden incorporates the Myaamia heritage logo, turtle, and ribbonwork to represent the unique relationship between The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and Miami University.

      Environmental Science students in IES474, a Sustainability in Practice course, designed the garden, to represent the Tribe and University fostering a relationship. This garden will increase Myaamia representation on campus.

      Plants of cultural significance to the Tribe will be planted in the garden. Agriculture and harvesting, like many other cultural practices, are being revitalized within the Myaamia community today.

      The garden is an opportunity for students to learn about Myaamia ethnobotany, sustainable gardening, and community collaboration. The Myaamia Center’s ethnobotanical database contains information about plants significant to the Tribe.

   4. Myaamia Heritage Collection

      Miami University and the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma present the Myaamia Heritage Collection showcasing the Myaamia Heritage Logo on clothing and other merchandise. The Myaamia Heritage Logo was inspired by the Myaamia art form of ribbonwork. The collection is available at Brick and Ivy and the online store.

      The heritage collection celebrates the 50th anniversary of the multi-layered collaboration that rose from a common name and place and grew into today’s deeply rooted educational partnership. The collection highlights neepwaantiinki, a Myaamia term which translates to "learning from each other".

      The royalties from The Myaamia Heritage Collection merchandise provide support to Myaamia students who attend Miami University through the Miami Heritage Award Program.

      View the Collection

      Learn more about Miami Tribe Relations

   5. Flags of our Nations

      The foyer in MacMillan Hall includes flags of every country from which Miami University students originate, including students who are citizens of The Miami Tribe. Citizens of Tribes are also citizens of the United States. The MacMilllan Hall Flag website states:

      Global Initiatives is pleased to display over 100 flags from around the world in MacMillan Hall. Each flag represents a country of origin for our past and present international students.

      The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma flag is included with other national flags, representing the Tribe’s national sovereignty.

      The flag’s colors represent aspects of Myaamia life, correlated with cycles of life. For more details on the symbology of the flag, see Miami Nation News. The Myaamia Community Blog aacimotaatiiyankwi includes information on why the Sandhill Crane and the Turtle are significant symbols to the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

      The Miami Tribe flag emphasizes tribal sovereignty and pays respect to citizens of the Miami Tribe and Myaamia students attending Miami University. Sovereignty can be understood as the right of a group of people to government themselves, including controlling their own land. Click here for more information on The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

   6. The Myaamia classroom

      They call it miloniteeheekaani, which means “the Myaamia classroom.”  

      The university gifted the learning space on the second floor of MacMillan Hall to the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma in 2022 as part of the 50th anniversary commemorating the unique relationship between the sovereign tribal nation and the public university.

      A turtle — culturally significant to both the Tribe and university and made from maple, walnut, and cherry — was created by tribal artist Jody Gamble. It graces the wall outside the classroom at the top of the stairs.

      The transformed space includes several Myaamia words or phrases and their English translations on the walls, including kiiloona myaamiaki, which means “We are Miami.”

      Mood lighting in the raised ceiling can feature multiple colors, including shades of red to resemble light illuminating from a burning fire, which is symbolic of the relationship.

   7. Tended Over Time: Partners in Learning

      The Shade Family Room in Armstrong Student Center was supported by the Shade Family Foundation in 2014 and is decorated to reflect the heritage and history of Miami University through a series of photo collections. One series is dedicated to the relationship between Miami University and the Miami Tribe.

      In 1972, The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and Miami University began to build a relationship. It has grown and deepened over the last 50 years. This relationship is displayed in one of the eight columns of photo collections in the Shade Room. It holds a prominent place at the main entrance. The photos feature numerous interactions between past Miami University Presidents and various Miami Tribal Chiefs, the Myaamia Center logo, the Partners in Learning agreement, and other significant events, such as the first Miami Tribe members to enroll at Miami University.

      From an early visit between Chief Olds and President Shriver in 1972 to the creation of the Myaamia Center in 2001, the relationship between the Tribe and the university has fostered appreciation and understanding, which is illustrated in the photo collection.

   8. Wiikiaami Room Graphics

      The murals outside the Wiikiaami Room in the Armstrong Student Center are great for sharing information that helps us understand the history, traditions, and culture of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. From left to right:

      Time is Like a Pond: saakiiweesiipiiwi ‘the coming out river’ serves as the beginning of the story for the Myaamia people in their homelands. Today there are over 6,000 citizens of the Miami Tribe living across 49 states. The lunar calendar is important to Myaamia people, and it serves as a reminder of their connection to the environment. Additionally, Myaamiataweenki, ‘the language of Myaamia people’ is one way Myaamia people continue to connect to one another.

      The Space we Share: You cannot tell the story of the Myaamia people without discussing the land they have called home. This mural explores the moves the Myaamia people have made and the places they have called home.

      Learning From Each Other: The relationship between the Miami Tribe and Miami University has grown tremendously over the last 50 years. The land where Miami University resides is within the homelands of Myaamia people. Now the two groups work together to learn from each other and to help advance the work of the Miami Tribe. Through the work of the Myaamia Center, Miami University supports the work of the Miami Tribe to revitalize the Myaamia language while also helping Myaamia students learn about their history.

   9. The Wiikiaami Room

      The Wiikiaami Room serves as a space to educate visitors about the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and share its history and the current activities of the Myaamia Center. It is sponsored by the Smucker family and opened in 2014 after designs were developed in an architecture design studio class from 2007-2009. This room is enriched with several symbols, such as ribbonwork, the Heritage logo, and colors significant to the Tribe. The room is circular in shape, and its entrances face east to symbolize a wiikiaami, the Myaamia word for home. The wood inlay on the bench that extends from the floor to the top of the bench represents the poles that would make up the wiikiaami. This decorative inlay was created by Myaamia artist Jody Gamble.

      Four display cases can be found in the Wiikiaami Room which contain text and images reflecting the history of the Tribe, its relationship to the university, the revitalization of Myaamia culture and language, and the sovereignty of the Tribe. The display cases are rotated to include the most significant and recent photos and information about the Tribe. While this space can only be reserved by students, all are encouraged to visit the Wiikiaami Room!

   10. A Sense of Place: The Myaamia

       A Sense of Place: The Myaamia, is a Hefner Museum exhibit found outside the entrance to the museum in Upham Hall. It consists of three distinct sections: myaamia miincipi ‘white corn,’ myaamia kiilhswaakani ‘Myaamia Lunar Calendar', and the eemhkookani 'tobacco box gourd'.

       The first display shows three ears of myaamia miincipi 'white corn' and explains the historical and cultural significance of the corn. There is a photo of Miami Tribe of Oklahoma citizen Dani Tippman holding a barrel of corn and a quotation about its importance to the Tribe.

       The central focus of the exhibit is the myaamia kiilhswaakani 'Myaamia Lunar Calendar' display, which is divided into three different sections. The first section discusses Myaamia culture both in the past and present. The middle section provides a detailed explanation of the lunar calendar that includes what each month and phase mean to Myaamia people. The third section includes information about customs and traditions that are prominent in Myaamia culture, specifically in farming.

       The final section includes an eemhkookani 'tobacco box gourd'. The piece is black on the bottom with the top opening being formed by a tan-colored set of hands. The label explains that the piece was made by Patria Smith, an artist from Indiana who creates art from dried gourds and other natural materials.

        

   11. Two Miamis: Athletics and Miami Tribe Relations

       The Myaamia Heritage logo is a symbol of the close relationship held between Miami University and the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and is used by Miami athletics to educate about the relationship. The Myaamia Heritage Logo has been incorporated into Miami athletics facilities and uniforms. In Fall 2019, the Heritage logo was incorporated into Goggin Ice Rink in the form of a large wooden plaque in the arena, decals on the outer edges of the stadium seats, and the hockey pucks.

       The logo can also be seen in multiple facilities including Millet Hall, Hayden Park, and Yager Stadium. Several sports teams also have alternate jerseys featuring the Heritage logo, and a 50th-anniversary patch.

       Each fall, there is a week-long event "Celebrating Miami: Tribe and University" where Myaamia students and Tribal members participate in various educational activities during athletic games.

       Part of this relationship is founded on educating the Miami University community about the Tribe. This includes an education program for the athletes to learn about the meaning of the symbol and the rich relationship. Additionally, the land acknowledgement is read before each athletic event.

        

   12. The Myaamia Center

       Bonham House is home to the Myaamia Center on Miami University's Oxford campus. In 2001, the “Myaamia Project” began in King Library with only a single employee. The Myaamia Project transitioned to the Myaamia Center in 2013, and today the Myaamia Center is housed in Bonham House.  The center houses office spaces, a conference room, and a gathering place for Myaamia students.

       The Myaamia Center’s overarching goal is to revitalize Myaamia language and culture. There are 7 departments with 18 staff members who work in areas such as education, Tribe relations, outreach, and language. They work on projects such as The National Breath of Life, Indigenous Perspectives, and other programs. One specific project the Center heads is the Miami Heritage Award Program. This program allows students from the Tribe to receive financial aid to attend Miami University. The full (four-year) undergraduate college experience allows students to take the Myaamia Heritage Course, which is centered around Myaamia knowledge. The Myaamia Center strives to create projects that will enrich Myaamia students and the Tribe.