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Miami
Nation
History
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First recorded meeting of Europeans and Miami is in
1668 in Wisconsin.
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Competition between the French and British caused the
Miami to move around and to change alliances.
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Had an important village at the current Piqua, Ohio,
which was burned by the French in 1752.
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In 1757 smallpox epidemic took a heavy toll on the Miami
people.
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Even after the Revolutionary War, hostilities continued
between settlers and Native people of Ohio.
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After the Revolutionary War, the Western Alliance was
formed. A major goal was for Natives to keep their land.
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The Treaty of Fort Harmer was made, but it was worthless
as soon as it was signed. The treaty defined the western
border for settlement as the Muskingum River.
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The Miami people stayed out of the War of 1812.
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In 1846, the Miami were moved to the Indian territories
(from Indiana).
Family Life
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Descent came through the father.
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Chiefs had a religious function within the nation.
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Early Miami were farmers noted for a unique variety
of white corn. Also had many other crops.
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Houses were a long house with an arched roof made of
saplings and covered with rush or cattail mats.
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Also had a central large house for councils and ceremonies.
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Early Miami had a reputation for liking fancy clothing.
Tattooing was common for both sexes.
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The men wore cloth shirts, leggings and breechcloths
with much ornamentation. Earrings, nose rings and face
painting were common.
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Women wore shirts and decorated capes
that were attached to the shirt. They wore two styles
of skirts — a wrap
and a cylindrical one, both decorated with ribbon or
bead work and silver.
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Miami moccasins were distinctive and easy to identify.
The flaps came together from the middle to the point
of the toe.
Famous Chief — Little Turtle
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Became War Chief of the Western Alliance, an alliance
ready to defend Native American rights in Ohio.
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His tactical skills were impressive and the early efforts
to take Ohio were disastrous.
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An early morning assault by Little Turtle against General
Arthur St. Clair was considered to be the worst defeat
inflicted on the U.S. Army at the hands of Native Americans.
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"Mad" Anthony
Wayne moved to Ohio and established himself at Fort
Greenville.
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Little Turtle was replaced by Blue Jacket as the War
Chief of the Alliance. A week later the alliance met
Wayne at the Battle of Fallen Timbers and was defeated.
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This defeat led to the Greenville Treaty.
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Little Turtle and the Miami were the last signators
on the treaty and symbolically the last to cede their
rights.
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Little Turtle settled in Indiana and became the Miami
Peace Chief. He brought the first smallpox vaccinations
to his people.
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After the death of Little Turtle, most of the Miami
joined Tecumseh.
Removal
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By 1813 the death of Tecumseh killed any hope of the
Miami people remaining in the Ohio country.
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Many moved to Indiana, but in 1846, the Miami boarded
canal boats to begin their journey to eastern Kansas.
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One group of Miami remained in Indiana, but in 1897,
for no apparent reason, the U.S. government terminated
the Indiana Miami as a tribal nation.
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Eventually the Kansas Miami moved to Oklahoma Indian
Territory.
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By the 1930s both the Oklahoma and Indiana Miami had
lost all of their land.
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Since then the Oklahoma Miami have acquired 160 acres.
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The Indian Miami continue to fight to be recognized
as a Native people.
Resources
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Northeastern Educational Television of Ohio, Inc. All
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