| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 3,908[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| United States (Oklahoma) | |
| Languages | |
| Myaamia,English | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, traditional tribal religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Peoria,Kaskaskia,Shawnee people,Wea,Illinois, and otherAlgonquian peoples |
TheMiami Tribe of Oklahoma (Miami-Illinois:myaamionki noošonke siipionki)[2] is the onlyfederally recognized Native American tribe ofMiami Indians in the United States.[3] The people are descended from Miami who wereremoved in the 19th century from their traditional territory in present-day Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio.
The name (Miami-Illinois:myaamionki noošonke siipionki, translates as "Miami homelands along the Neosho River".[2] The name 'Miami' derives fromMyaamia (pluralMyaamiaki), the tribe'sautonym (name for themselves) in theirAlgonquian language; it appears to have been derived from an older term meaning 'downstream people’. Some scholars contended the Miami called themselves theTwightwee (also spelledTwatwa), supposedly anonomatopoeic reference to theirsacred bird, thesandhill crane. However, recent studies have shown thatTwightwee derives from theDelaware languageexonym name for the Miamis,tuwéhtuwe, a name of unknown etymology.[4] Some Miami have stated that this was only a name used by other tribes for the Miami, and not their autonym. They also useMihtohseeniaki, "the people." The Miami continue to employ this autonym today.
Tribal citizens traditionally spoke theMiami-Illinois language, one of theAlgonquian languages, but few do today. The tribe partners withMiami University, and one result of that partnership is the Myaamia Center. The Myaamia Center is working to revitalize the language and culture. The Myaamia language is particularly well-documented in early sources (including a complete Illinois-French dictionary).[5] The tribe and the university work together to conduct research projects to revitalize Miami language and culture, and to offer university students opportunities to visit and work with the tribe on various projects.[6]
The tribe is headquartered inMiami, Oklahoma.[7] Of the over 7,000 enrolled tribal citizens, 775 live in the state of Oklahoma. The Miami Tribe issues its own tribal vehicle tags and operates its own housing authority.[1]
As of 2025[update], the current administration is:[7]
Aatotankiki Myaamiaki is the Miami Nation quarterly newspaper.[8] The tribe is in the process of building the Myaamia Complex, for the benefit of tribal elders, to house the food program and tribal library.[9]
To provide economic development for the community, the tribe created Miami Nation Enterprises, which oversees 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; and TSI Global Companies, a systems integrator with expertise in audiovisual systems, low voltage cabling, security and access control, as well as electrical contracting.[10] Additionally, the tribe owns one smokeshop and two casinos (Prairie Sun and Prairie Moon). Their estimated annual tribal economic impact is $16,700,000.[1]
The tribe holds an annualpowwow late in June and astomp dance every winter in late January. The Myaamia Center continues research directed by the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma to revitalize language and culture.[3]
The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma is anIndigenous people of the Northeastern Woodlands, who traditionally spoke theMiami-Illinois language, a language of the Algonquin family.
Miami society was divided intoclans, led by hereditary chiefs.[3] They had apatrilineal system ofkinship, with descent and inheritance passing through the paternal lines. Children were considered born into their father's clans but clan mothers were highly influential who had approval over hereditary chiefs.
They constructed villages withlong houses, occupied by related families. The Miami were farmers and were known for developing a unique type of white corn. Traditionally, they played double ball, themoccasin game, and darts.[3]
Like all tribes who had reservations in what became Oklahoma, in the late 19th century the Miami endured their communal lands being broken up by theDawes Act, which allotted land to individual households with the thought to encourage assimilation as farmers. In practice, it resulted in the loss of much tribal land, as speculators took advantage of the Miami. Similarly, theCurtis Act of 1898 ended tribal government and the federalBureau of Indian Affairs became an intermediary administration.
The Miami persevered and in the 1930s, they re-organized their own tribal government under theOklahoma Indian Welfare Act, independent of thePeoria people. The Miami ratified their constitution on August 16, 1939, which established a representative government with elected council and chief.[11] In 1996, the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma changed its constitution to permit any descendant of people on certain historical roles to join, and since then hundreds of Indiana-based Miami have become citizens. Today the Oklahoma-based Miami tribe has more than 7,000 enrolled citizens.[12]
On February 5, 2014,Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R, OK-2) introduced the billTo revoke the charter of incorporation of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma at the request of that tribe (H.R. 4002; 113th Congress) into theUnited States House of Representatives.[13] The bill would accept the request of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma to revoke the charter of incorporation issued to that tribe and ratified by its citizens on June 1, 1940.[13][14] The tribe has not been operating under the charter for the last several decades. The bill was scheduled to be voted on by the House on June 23, 2014.[14] The Department of the Interior testified that they had no objection to the charter being revoked saying that the "decision whether to maintain or revoke such a charter ultimately should be the Tribe's."[15]
In January 2015, the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma built a cultural resources office inFort Wayne, Indiana, which will include providing services to tribal citizens who live in Indiana.[16]
The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma has ties withMiami University in Ohio.[17][18]
