Miami Tribe – Legends of America
The Miami Tribe, a nation of Native American people, boasts a rich and complex history rooted in the lands of what is now the Midwestern United States. Their ancestral domain encompassed a vast territory, including northern Indiana and the adjacent areas of Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio. Originally speakers of one of the Algonquian languages, the Miami were known for their deliberate manner of speech, their polite demeanor, and their penchant for elaborate attire, particularly among their chiefs. In their own language, the tribe referred to themselves as Myaamia, a name that translates to "the Downstream People," a testament to their connection to the region’s waterways.
Origins and Culture
The early Miami people were deeply connected to the land, engaging in both agriculture and hunting to sustain their communities. They cultivated crops and harvested the bounty of the forests, demonstrating their resourcefulness and adaptability. Tattooing was a common practice among both men and women, serving as a form of personal expression, social identification, and spiritual significance.
Encounters with Europeans
The Miami’s first encounters with Europeans occurred in the mid-17th century when French missionaries ventured into the Great Lakes region. At that time, the tribe resided around the shores of Lake Michigan, their lives largely untouched by the outside world. However, as the 18th century dawned, the Miami’s territory shifted, with the majority of the tribe settling in present-day Indiana and Ohio.
The balance of power in North America was forever altered with the British victory in the French and Indian War. As a result, an increasing number of white settlers began to encroach upon Miami lands, leading to the consolidation of various Miami bands. These larger tribal confederacies formed alliances to participate in the European wars and to resist the relentless advance of white settlement. By the end of the century, the Miami had divided into three distinct divisions: the Miami proper, the Piankeshaw, and the Wea. The Piankeshaw and Wea, closely aligned with some of the Illini tribes, were later administratively "merged" with them.
Treaties and Land Cessions
The Miami’s relationship with the newly formed United States government was defined by a series of treaties, the first of which was concluded at Greenville, Ohio, on August 3, 1795. This treaty, a testament to the era’s complex negotiations, sought to establish peace and define the boundary between the United States and various Northern and Central tribes. Major General Anthony Wayne, commanding the army of the United States, served as the sole Commissioner at Greenville, the army’s headquarters.
Representing the Miami was their principal chief, Little Turtle, a figure of great stature and influence. When asked to define the limits of his people’s country, Little Turtle eloquently stated:
"My forefather kindled the first fire at Detroit; from thence, he extended his line to the headwaters of the Scioto; from thence to its mouth; from thence to the mouth of the Wabash, and from thence to Chicago, on Lake Michigan. These are the boundaries within which the prints of my ancestors’ houses are everywhere to be seen."
Little Turtle’s words painted a vivid picture of the Miami’s deep connection to the land, their ancestral presence etched into the very landscape.
However, the Treaty of Mississine, signed in 1826, marked a turning point in the Miami’s history. This treaty resulted in the cession of most of their lands to the United States government. While the treaty allowed for some Miami lands to be held as private property by individuals, it set the stage for the tribe’s eventual removal.
On November 28, 1840, a tract of land in present-day Kansas was designated as a future home for the Miami. This tract, described as "bounded on the east by the State of Missouri; on the north by the country of the Wea and Piankeshaw; on the west by the Potawatomie of Indiana; and on the south by the land assigned to the New York Indians," was estimated to contain 500,000 acres.
Removal and Adaptation
In 1846, the official removal of the Miami commenced. Those who held private property were permitted to remain in Indiana, while the rest of the tribe was forced to relocate to the Kansas reservation. This division created a lasting rift within the Miami community, separating those who clung to their ancestral lands from those who were compelled to forge a new life in unfamiliar territory.
The Miami who settled in the southeastern part of present-day Miami County, Kansas, faced immense challenges. Of the approximately 1,100 people who arrived on Sugar Creek during 1846-47, nearly half returned to Indiana the following year, unable to adapt to the harsh conditions and the emotional toll of displacement. Sickness further decimated the ranks of those who remained, leaving only about 300 when the band moved to the banks of the Marais des Cygnes River.
Their principal village was established on the river’s east bank, accompanied by a small settlement comprised of mission buildings, an Indian Agency, and a few log houses occupied by white pioneer settlers. The presence of these institutions reflected the ongoing efforts to assimilate the Miami into the dominant culture, a process that often clashed with their traditional ways of life.
Despite the hardships they faced, the Miami persevered. Dr. David Lykens, the first white settler in Miami County, established a Baptist Mission among the Wea on Wea Creek. The mission proved successful, operating a well-regarded school for many years. The Catholics also established a branch of the Osage Mission among the Miami in 1850, with missionaries visiting the tribe once a month.
Further Land Cessions and Division
On June 5, 1854, the Miami ceded to the United States all the land acquired by the treaty of 1840, except for 70,000 acres designated for their future homes and a section of 640 acres set aside for school purposes. This further reduction of their land base underscored the relentless pressure they faced from the expanding United States.
Another treaty in February 1867 offered Miami members the option of becoming citizens of Kansas. Those who chose this path would be assimilated into the larger society, while those who elected to maintain their tribal affiliations would be removed to Indian Territory in northeastern Oklahoma. This treaty further divided the Miami people, forcing them to make difficult choices about their identity and their future.
Legacy
Today, descendants of the Miami who remained in northern Indiana continue to reside in their original homeland, carrying on the traditions and culture of their ancestors. The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma is a federally recognized tribe with its headquarters in Miami, Oklahoma. These two distinct groups of Miami people continue to preserve their heritage and strive for self-determination in the 21st century.
The story of the Miami Tribe is a testament to resilience, adaptation, and the enduring power of cultural identity in the face of adversity. Their journey, marked by encounters with Europeans, treaties, land cessions, removal, and division, serves as a reminder of the complex and often tragic history of Native American tribes in the United States.