Programs

Annual Events

Siana Fox dancing at All Nations Gathering

  • January/February: Winter Storytelling

  • April: General Member Meeting

  • May/June: All Nations Gathering

  • July: MNI Youth Camp

  • August: Miami Indian Reunion

  • August: Days at the Pillars

  • October: Memorial March

  • October: General Member Meeting

For specific dates, sign up for our email newsletter.

Drumming

Shane Fox leads the drummers in a song

The Miami Nation has several drums located throughout the community in addition to several family drums. Many drums have regular practices for the men who drum. The drum represents the heartbeat of the Miami Nation. The Twigh Twee is the tribal drum. Twigh Twee is brought out during closed tribal functions that are explicitly spiritual and/or tribally sensitive to our culture. 

Several men travel with the drum to events across the Lower Great Lakes. Only Miami men and those invited may drum. When you see drumming in public, it is respectful to keep a distance from the drums and drummers. For more information, please refer to this guide to the Miami Nation Smudge and Drumming Ceremony, prepared for the Indianapolis Indians. 

Our drum participation in local festivities, while a community priority, is often expensive and labor-intensive. The drums require consistent upkeep. If you would like to support the upkeep of the drums and the costs of the drum to travel, you can contribute to the Miami Nation Honor Fund.

Community Language Project

In 2023, the MNI Language Committee developed a program to increase the use of the Myaamia language at community spaces and events. The Community Language Project is designed so that we can all learn, speak, and understand the same core set of useful, everyday language so that we can  speak and be understood in community spaces. The core language list features a small set of words, phrases, and verbs that are useful in different kinds of everyday situations. So far, materials include a pamphlet, a poster, a card game deck, and audio files for practicing pronunciation. The pamphlet features the community language, a link to audio for all the words and phrases included, advice on how to start using Myaamia at home, and three games that help reinforce Miami language use and knowledge. These materials are available for MNI members and can be picked up at the tribal office or at community events.

saakiciweeyankwi: A Language and Culture Camp for Miami Youth

Formed in 2008 by Ashley Glassburn, Erin Dunnagan Oliver, Scott Shoemaker, and Sarah Siders, saakiciweeyankwi centers the values of reclamation: building robust networks of community across MNI families and clans, connecting youth to Myaamia language, history, and culture, and spending time learning together and caring for one another. This camp is only available to members of Miami Nation of Indiana families and runs entirely on volunteer labor.  Information about how to register for camp will be included in the tribal email updates.

Glimpses of Miami Youth at saakiciweeyankwi

Myaamia Language Workshops for Adults

In 2015, Dr. Ashley Glassburn (šipikanaki, MNI) and Sara Acton (settler linguist and speech pathologist) developed a four-part series of Myaamia language and grammar workshops.  These workshops are taught in person and are available to members of the Miami Nation of Indiana and caretakers of children who are MNI members. These workshops teach Miami people how to use Myaamia language resources, how to engage in community as a Myaamia learner, and expects advanced learners to share their knowledge as teachers of the introductory courses.  When these workshops are offered, registration information will be sent to MNI members via email. To keep up to date, make sure the tribal office has your most recent email, phone number, and mailing address.

Learning Myaamia verbs can be silly and playful!