Allen County, Indiana Genealogy

1. Cultural Resources Extension Office (CREO) Mission Statement at MTOK MiamiNation.com.Cultural Resources Office.
2. Cultural Resources Office Mission Statement at The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.
3. Miami Indians opening extension office in Fort Wayne 19 January 2015 at Native Times

Press Release June 11, 2024 MIAMI TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA ANNOUNCES TRUST LAND STATUS IN INDIANA HOMELAND Miami, OK --- The...

Posted by Aatotankiki Myaamiaki on Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Tuesday, June 11, 2024 post by the Aatotankiki Myaamiaki on Facebook:

Press Release
June 11, 2024
MIAMI TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA ANNOUNCES TRUST LAND STATUS IN INDIANA HOMELAND
Miami, OK --- The federally recognized Miami Tribe of Oklahoma today announced that trust status has been approved for the Tribe's 45 acres of land in Kiihkayonki-Fort Wayne, IN. The parcel of land, known to the Tribe as Peehkahkionki-the beautiful place-was purchased by the Tribe in 2021 to serve as a community gathering and education space and as the new location of the Tribe's Cultural Resources Extension Office in the homeland region.

The Miami Nation, the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, was forcibly removed from its Indiana homeland in October 1846. After 178 years, the Tribe celebrates the return of this parcel of land to trust status and marks the achievement as another significant step in its cultural revitalization work. 

Commissioner Therese Brown was honored to attend a Welcome event held by the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma on tribally owned...

Posted by Allen County INfo on Wednesday, June 12, 2024

Wednesday, June 12, 2024 post by Allen County INfo on Facebook:

Commissioner Therese Brown was honored to attend a Welcome event held by the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma on tribally owned land here in Allen County. Leaders shared about Miami Tribe history, their connection to homelands in Indiana, and their plans for development of the land for more cultural activities. Developing the Miami Tribe Cultural Resources Extension Office (CREO) located on Fritz Road in Fort Wayne has been a goal since 2014. The land is now held in trust by the federal government for the Tribe.

Commissioner Brown stands with Chief Douglas Lankford who traveled for the event. Leaders shared that it has been 178 years since they’ve been able to stand on land like this. Additional plans include creating gardens and opportunities for fishing as well as building a permanent structure on the property as a cultural center.

Myaamia History Presentation posted November 7, 2011, by Myaamia Center on YouTube
George Ironstrack provides a brief look at Myaamia history, focusing on interaction between the federal government and Myaamia people. This presentation was originally given at the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma's Annual Meeting in 2009.

Miami related Quest Club Papers at the Allen County Public Library

1. The Miami Nation in Today's Perspective of Native Americans Clark Jr. William R-29 Oct 1993-0
2. Miami: a Melting Pot or Complete Chaos Scott Levan R-13 Apr 1984-0001 20-page paper
3. The American Indian Heritage in Northeastern Indiana Sheldon Vern E-22 Nov 2002-000146-page paper
4. Little Turtle and William Wells: A Unique Friendship Shuttleworth_Carol_05_Oct_2018_001 28-page paper

The Miami Nation paper presented to the “Fort Wayne Quest Club,” by William R. Clark on October 19, 1993 was reprinted in several segments by the The Waynedale News.com.

1. Miami Nation published August 20, 2008
2. Miami Nation published September 3, 2008
3. Maimi Nation published September 17, 2008
4. Miami Nation published October 1, 2008
5. Miami Nation published October 22, 2008
6. Miami Nation published November 5, 2008
7. Miami Nation published December 3, 2008
8. Miami Nation published December 17, 2008
9. Miami Nation published January 7, 2009
10. Miami Nation published January 21, 2009
11. Miami Nation published February 4, 2009
12. Miami Nation published February 18, 2009

Miami Nation of Indiana

September 30, 2022 post by the Miami Nation of Indians of Indiana on Facebook:

On this date in 1937, [September 30, 1937] The Miami Nation of Indians of Indiana officially became a 501(c)3 so we could operate as a charity since their Federal recognition was removed by the State of Indiana in 1898. Since that date and still to this day we continue to fight to regain our Federal recognition. We have to raise all of our own support with your help, which is tax deductible for you!

September 30, 2020post by Indiana Historical Bureau on Facebook:

On September 30, 1937, Miami descendants filed articles of incorporation for the "Miami Nation of Indians of the State of Indiana" with headquarters in Wabash. In 1846, U.S. officials forcibly removed most of the Miami people from Indiana to Kansas.

Several Miami families, including descendants of Jean Baptiste Richardville and Francis Godfroy, remained in Indiana due to land allotments previously granted to their ancestors by the federal government. An 1854 treaty recognized the 148 “Indiana Miamis remaining scattered along the Upper Wabash Valley of Indiana from Lafayette to Fort Wayne.” However, federal recognition of the Miami of Indiana was terminated in 1897.

With the 1937 filing, these Miami descendants incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Their repeated attempts to reclaim federal recognition have been unsuccessful.

Learn more about the Miami Nation of Indiana here: The Miami Nation Of Indiana

The image below is courtesy of the Miami Nation of Indiana website.

Their June 5, 2022 post included:

On June 5, 1854, the U.S. Senate ratified a treaty that recognized the Miami Nation of Indiana as a tribal group separate from the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. According to an essay published by the University of Illinois Department of Anthropology, U.S. officials forcibly removed most of the Miami people to Kansas in 1846.

1. 28 page Chief Francis Lafontaine and the Miami Emigration from Indiana by Bert Anson, starting on page 241 in Volume 60, Issue 3, September 1964 in Indiana Magazine of History journal in the archives at Indiana University Scholarworks.
2. Eleven page document: CHIEF FRANCIS LAFONTAINE and his family history by Craig Leonard, local historic preservation consultant, at Forks of the Wabash.org now on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.

March 22, 2023 post by Myaamia Center on Facebook:

As we move into the spring season, the Myaamia Center is pleased to announce the launch of "Mahkihkiwa," a Myaamia Ethnobotanical Database. Mahkihkiwa means ‘herb medicine’ in the Myaamia language and was chosen to signify the important role plants play in the culture and lives of Myaamia people.

The database was developed to further the Myaamia Center’s goals of cultural revitalization within the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. Mahkihkiwa serves as a practical field guide for those looking to reestablish a relationship with the plants in their environment. Read more and check out Mahkihkiwa here:

 

Mahkihkiwa: the Myaamia Ethnobotanical Database

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