Miami Nation of Indiana History and Ongoing Projects
A brief history
Myaamionki, the Miami homelands, encompasses the area from present-day northern Indiana up towards Chicago, down south of what is now Indianapolis, and east into Ohio (for details, see our maps on the bottom of our home page). The Miami Nation of Indians of Indiana is made up of the people who descend from the Miami who remained after removal, about half of all Miami people. Today, tribal enrollment surpasses 2,000 individuals.
The Miami Nation of Indians of Indiana is currently fighting to regain tribal sovereignty and recognition by the US government, which was unlawfully removed in 1898. In 1847 the families that remained on Miami land were granted tax-free status in perpetuity by the US government. However, the state and national governments did not honor these promises, later illegally seizing Miami land and demanding retroactive tax payments.
Read more in-depth about the tribe's history at the links below.
Where the Miami are today: Events and Initiatives
The tribal headquarters are located in Peru, Indiana on Miami land. The Tribal Complex holds the gathering place, archives, and offices. The tribe has many exciting plans for the space. They would like to upgrade the building to ensure secure storage of important heritage items and open a public museum to share knowledge and store the archives.
The nation holds many events for members and the public. They would like to expand their ability to support tribal members through language camps, genealogy projects, cultural skills development, and more.
In addition, the tribe would like to sustain public outreach initiatives. Tribal members often perform drumming and dancing for the public, and also hold cultural or historical lectures for schools, churches, and other groups. The tribe also maintains a number of cemeteries and other properties which require regular upkeep.
All of these initiatives are intertwined with the Miami Nation's most pressing goal at the moment, regaining tribal sovereignty and official recognition from the US government.
Public Events
Every year, the tribe holds the MNI All Nations Gathering (Pow Wow) on the first weekend in June. The public are welcome to come share in food, dancing, and celebration of various cultural themes.
The Miami Heritage Days at the Pillars is held at the Seven Pillars every year on the fourth weekend in August. The public are invited to participate in the learning and educational weekend and support our local vendors.