The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma is the only federally recognized Native American tribe of Miami Indians in the United States.
Official Tribal Name: Miami Tribe of Oklahoma
Address:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Official Website:
Recognition Status:Federally Recognized
Traditional Name / Traditional Meaning:
Myaamia (plural Myaamiaki), meaning “downstream people.”
Mihtohseeniaki, meaning “the people.”
Some scholars contended the Miami called themselves the Twightwee (also spelled Twatwa), supposedly a reference to their sacred bird, the sandhill crane.
Common Name / Meaning of Common Name:
Miami, modern form of Myaamia.
Alternate names / Alternate spellings / Mispellings:
Name in other languages:
Recent studies have shown that Twightwee derives from the Delaware name for the Miamis, tuwéhtuwe, a name of unknown meaning, but probably refers to people of a particular geographical area.
Region: Eastern Woodlands
State(s) Today: Oklahoma
Traditional Territory:
The people are descended from Miami who were removed in the 19th century from their traditional territory in present-day Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.
Confederacy:
Treaties:
Reservations:
Land Area:
Tribal Headquarters: Miami, Oklahoma
Time Zone:
Population at Contact:
Registered Population Today: Approximately 3,908 enrolled tribal members.
Tribal Enrollment Requirements:
Enrollment in the tribe is based on documented lineal descent. They do not have a blood quantum requirement.
Genealogy Resources:
Government:
Charter:
Name of Governing Body:
Number of Council members:
Dates of Constitutional amendments:
Number of Executive Officers:
Elections:
Language Classification: Algic => Algonquian => Central Algonquian =>Miami-Illinois (Myaamia) => Miami
Language Dialects: Miami
Number of fluent Speakers: This language went extince in the mid 20th century but there are still some second language speakers and a revitalization program. Since the 1990s the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma has worked to revive it in a joint project with Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
Dictionary: The Miami-Illinois Language
Origins:
Bands, Gens, and Clans
Related Tribes:
Traditional Allies:
Traditional Enemies:
Ceremonies / Dances:
Modern Day Events & Tourism:
The tribe holds an annual powwow late in June and a stomp dance every winter in late January.
Legends / Oral Stories:
Art & Crafts:
Animals:
Clothing:
Housing:
The Miami constructed villages of long houses, occupied by related families.
Social Organization:
Miami society was divided into clans, led by hereditary chiefs. They had a patrilineal system of kinship, with descent and inheritance passing through the paternal lines. Children were considered born into their father’s clans but clan mothers were highly influential, and had approval over the hereditary chiefs.
Games:
The Miami played double ball, the moccasin game, and darts.
Subsistance:
The Miami were farmers and were known for developing a unique type of white corn.
Economy Today:
Miami Nation Enterprises oversees the tribally owned companies. These include Miami Business Services, which provides personnel, information technologies, and business supplies; Miami Designs, which provides graphic art and promotional materials; Miami Cineplex, a movie theater and arcade; ServiceWorld Computer, which provides computer networking and support, as well as video surveillance; a smokeshop; Prairie Sun Casino and Prairie Moon Casino.
Religion Today:
Traditional Religion & Spiritual Beliefs:
Burial Customs:
Wedding Customs:
Radio:
Newspapers: Atotankiki Myaamiaki is the Miami Nation quarterly newspaper.
Famous Miami Chiefs & Leaders:
Catastrophic Events:
Tribe History:
In the News:
Further Reading: