Long occupied by successive cultures of indigenous peoples, Kekionga was a large village of the Miami people at the time of European encounter. It became an important trading post for Europeans because it was on the six-mile portage between the Maumee and the Little rivers, which connected Lake Erie to the Wabash River and Mississippi River.
What is the significance of Kekionga?
Long occupied by successive cultures of indigenous peoples, Kekionga was a large village of the Miami people at the time of European encounter. It became an important trading post for Europeans because it was on the six-mile portage between the Maumee and the Little rivers, which connected Lake Erie to the Wabash River and Mississippi River.
What happened to General Kekionga?
In 1794, the American General Anthony Wayne led his well-trained Legion of the United States toward Kekionga, but turned and marched toward the British-held Fort Miami near modern-day Toledo, Ohio. Following General Wayne's victory at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, Kekionga's prominence began to diminish among the Miami.
How did the Kekionga evacuate Miami?
The collected villages of Kekionga had advance knowledge of the army, and most of the people evacuated the area, carrying as many of their food stores as possible. The traders took their trade goods to Fort Detroit, after giving out all their arms and ammunition to the Miami defenders.
Was the Kingdom of Kekionga hostile to the United States?
The Miami of Kekionga remained allies of the British, but were not openly hostile to the United States (US) (except when attacked by Augustin de La Balme in 1780).
What is the Miami tribe known for?
The present Miami Tribe of Oklahoma was incorporated in 1940. The early Miami were known for growing a unique variety of white corn. They celebrated harvests and green corn time with feasts. Games played included the moccasin game, the double ball game, and darts.
Where is Kekionga located?
Kekionga (meaning "blackberry bush"), also known as Kiskakon or Pacan's Village, was the capital of the Miami tribe. It was located at the confluence of the Saint Joseph and Saint Marys rivers to form the Maumee River on the western edge of the Great Black Swamp in present-day Indiana.
Who did the Miami Tribe trade with?
Besides hunting and trapping buffalo, the Miami's also farmed a great amount of white corn, in which they would trade with other tribes during the 18th century. They would also trade with the French and English between the borders of Ohio and Illinois.
What is the Miami tribe culture?
The Miami is a Native American nation originally from northern Indiana and the adjacent areas of Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio. Originally speaking one of the Algonquian languages, the Miami had the reputation of being slow-spoken and polite with an inclination towards elaborate dress, especially among their chiefs.
Is Miami named after a tribe?
Miami is named after the Mayaimi, a Native American tribe that lived around Lake Okeechobee until the 17th or 18th century.
What do Miami people call themselves?
In the Miami language, the Miami Tribe's name for itself is Myaamia, which means "the Downstream People." The story of the Myaamia begins at a place we call Saakiiweeyonki, near where the St. Joseph's River empties into Lake Michigan.
What language did the Miami tribe speak?
Myaamia LanguageThe Myaamia (Miami) language was spoken by the Illinois and Kaskaskia peoples in Illinois, the Miami, Wea, and Piankashaw peoples in Indiana, and the Peoria people in Eastern Oklahoma. Myaamia is a member of the Central Algonquian branch of the Algic language family.
Is the Miami tribe still alive?
Today the Oklahoma-based Miami tribe has about 5,600 enrolled members. However many other Indiana-based Miami still consider themselves a separate group that has been unfairly denied separate federal recognition.
How do you pronounce Miami Tribe?
The 'My-AM-uh' tribe of Indians (Native American) have a reservation located in 'My-AM-uh,' Oklahoma. "I've been told the native Floridians pronounced 'Miami' as 'My-AM-uh. ' As Florida attracted more and more tourists, 'Snowbirds' and immigrants, the pronunciation of 'Miami' became 'My-AM-ee.
What did the Miami Tribe believe in?
Religious Beliefs. Miami religion centered around Individual and group attempts to gain power from spirits known as manitous. The Miami believed that manitous roamed the world and could take the form of humans, animals, and Perhaps even plants or nuts.
Why did the Miami begin to trade with the British?
Around the beginning of the 18th Century, with support from French traders coming down from what is now Canada, and who supplied them with firearms and wanted to trade with them for furs, the Miami pushed back into their historical territory and resettled it.
What tools did the Miami tribe use?
Miami hunters and warriors used bows and arrows, tomahawks, and spears. Miami men also used shields of buffalo hide to deflect enemy arrows.
Where is the Miami tribe located now?
The sovereign Miami Tribe of Oklahoma is based in Miami, Oklahoma in the northeastern corner of the state. The population of the Nation is approximately 4,400, and citizens can be found living in all 50 states as well as outside the boundaries of the United States.
Where does Miami come from?
Miami took its name from the Miami River. The river was named for a Tequesta Indian word believed to mean “big water.” The Tequesta had Miami to themselves until the Spanish claimed it in the 1500s. Pedro Menendez de Aviles and his men visited the Tequesta settlement in 1566.
Why did the Miami people come to Kekionga?
In the spring, the scattered families of the several clans came to Kekionga from their winter hunting grounds to conduct their business, prepare for war, and cultivate the fields.
What river is Kekionga in?
Kekionga occupied the ground above the flood plain of the Maumee and the St. Joseph rivers and was surrounded by wide expanses of corn fields, as far as the eye can see," according to one observer. Anthony Wayne commented on the broad corn fields that extended all along the Maumee River. Others noted the herds of cattle and the many gardens growing pumpkins, melons, and squash. Dome-shaped houses, called "wiccias,"
What type of houses were found in Kekionga?
log homes, and bark-covered long houses, for business or religious purposes, covered the many acres of Kekionga.
Where did the Native Americans settle in Miami?
Kekionga. . This area of the Three Rivers was a site of settlement of Native Americans for as much as 10,000 years. The collection of villages known as Kekionga, located in the present-day Lakeside neighborhood, was a center of the Miami nation in historic times. At the time of the Miami confederacy in the 1790s, Kekionga also was the gathering place for the Huron, the Ottawa, and the Shawnee., Tradition holds that Kekionga means "the blackberry patch." To the Miami people this also had the meaning of an ancient, sacred place. In the spring, the scattered families of the several clans came to Kekionga from their winter hunting grounds to conduct their business, prepare for war, and cultivate the fields., Kekionga was described in the 1790s as being a very large settlement called "Miami Town" by eastern Americans who feared the place as the center of Indian resistance to the expanding United States frontier., Kekionga occupied the ground above the flood plain of the Maumee and the St. Joseph rivers and was surrounded by wide expanses of corn fields, as far as the eye can see," according to one observer. Anthony Wayne commented on the broad corn fields that extended all along the Maumee River. Others noted the herds of cattle and the many gardens growing pumpkins, melons, and squash. Dome-shaped houses, called "wiccias," log homes, and bark-covered long houses, for business or religious purposes, covered the many acres of Kekionga., Kekionga remained a place of native settlement until the Miami were forcibly removed from Indiana in 1846.
Why was Kekionga a successful village?
This village was a very feasible economic center, because of the successful fur trade along the rivers. Kekionga remained a successful, economically and culturally, Native American dwelling until all Native Americans were forcefully removed from all of Indiana in 1846. Back to list.
Where was Kekionga located?
Kekionga, “the center of Indiana resistance” was surrounded by corn fields and was located on the grounds near the Maumee and St. Joseph rivers. Many had envied the land, which these settlements had occupied. Within the land were rich gardens, cattle, and dome shaped residences called wiccias.
What is the name of the settlement in Miami?
In what is now Lakeside neighborhood, there used to be a settlement of Native Americans, a gathering of an array of villages. This settlement was known as Kekionga, which was a center for the Miami nation.
Where was the Miami area?
The Miami were first discovered in 1654, living in and around the Green Bay, Wisconsin area. They were discovered by the Europeans who were exploring North America at the time. At the time of their discovery, the Miami were far from their native land, which was around the lower Great Lakes.
How many clans were there in Miami?
The Miami had six clans and numerous groups, but did not have a chief or king. However, they did have chiefs of certain villages, especially those that held several bands. At the time of the Miami grouping in 1790, Kekionga was also the gathering place for the Huron, the Ottawa, and the Shawnee.
Who sent the Miami warriors back to Kekionga?
Once at their new destination, Harmar and his men heard that the Miami warriors had returned to Kekionga. General Harmar sent a force back to the Indian town on the morning of October 22 nd. Two different companies of US forces under Colonel John Hardin took position along the St. Joseph River.
When did the US reach Kekionga?
On October 15 , US forces reached Kekionga, but found it had been burned and abandoned by the Miami themselves. Two days later, after hearing reports of Indian forces gathering, Harmar sent 300 men under John Hardin, to the north of Kekionga towards Eel River.
Why did Washington order the Battle of Kekionga?
He ordered this for one main reason, the Miami Settlement of Kekionga were the center of Indian resistance to US migration across the Ohio River. The US campaign started when General Josiah Harmar led his force of 1,453 regular and militia soldiers toward Kekionga.
Where did the Miami Tribe move to?
Those who affiliated with the tribe were moved to first to Kansas, then to Oklahoma, where they were given individual allotments of land rather than a reservation as part of efforts to make them assimilate into American culture of private property and yeoman farming. The US government has recognized the what is now the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma as the official tribal government since 1846.
What war led to the British presence in Miami?
The eventual victory of the British in the French and Indian War ( Seven Years' War) led to an increased British presence in traditional Miami areas.
Where did the name Miami come from?
The name Miami derives from Myaamia (plural Myaamiaki ), the tribe's autonym (name for themselves) in their Algonquian language of Miami-Illinois. This appears to have been derived from an older term meaning "downstream people." Some scholars contended the Miami called themselves the Twightwee (also spelled Twatwa ), supposedly an onomatopoeic reference to their sacred bird, the sandhill crane. Recent studies have shown that Twightwee derives from the Delaware language exonym for the Miamis, tuwéhtuwe, a name of unknown etymology. Some Miami have stated that this was only a name used by other tribes for the Miami, and not their autonym. They also called themselves Mihtohseeniaki (the people). The Miami continue to use this autonym today.
What is the meaning of "Waayaahtanooki"?
Wea, Wiatonon, Ouiatanon or Ouaouiatanoukak; autonym: Waayaahtanooki or Waayaahtanwa (″People of the place of the whirlpool″ ), because their main village Waayaahtanonki (″Place of the whirlpool ″) was at the riverside where a whirlpool was in the river, under the term " Ouiatanon " was both referred to a group of extinct five Wea settlements or to their historic tribal lands along the Middle Wabash Valley between the Eel River to the north and the Vermilion River to the south, the ″real″ Quiatanon at the mouth of the Wea Creek into the Wabash River was their main village
How many members does the Miami Tribe have?
Today the Oklahoma-based Miami tribe has about 5,600 enrolled members.
Where are the Miami Indians?
Among the peoples known as the Great Lakes tribes, they occupied territory that is now identified as North-central Indiana, southwest Michigan, and western Ohio. The Miami were historically made up of several prominent subgroups, including the Piankeshaw, Wea, Pepikokia, Kilatika, Mengakonkia, and Atchakangouen. In modern times, Miami is used more specifically to refer to the Atchakangouen. By 1846, most of the Miami had been forcefully displaced to Indian Territory (initially to what is now Kansas, and later to what is now part of Oklahoma ). The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma are the federally recognized tribe of Miami Indians in the United States. The Miami Nation of Indiana, a nonprofit organization of descendants of Miamis who were exempted from removal, have unsuccessfully sought separate recognition.
Was Miami a hostile city to the United States?
The Miami of Kekionga remained allies of the British, but were not openly hostile to the United States (US) (except when attacked by Augustin de La Balme in 1780).
Why was Kekionga important to the Miami Nation?
Its location was of strategic importance simply because at the cut short portage, it commanded the shortest route between Quebec City and New Orleans.
Why did the French build Fort Miami?
Mary’s River for the purpose of controlling this vital link between Canada and Colonial Louisiana and diminishing British influence in the region.
Why did the Miami Tribe move to the western shores of Lake Michigan?
The Miami had reportedly moved there because of pressure from the Iroquois further east. Early French explorers noticed many linguistic ...
When did the Eastern Miami tribe get recognized?
Such establishments have helped some tribes raise revenues to devote to economic development, health, and education. On 26 July 1993, a federal judge ruled that the Eastern Miami was recognized by the US in the 1854 treaty and that the federal government had no right to strip them of their status in 1897.
What is the name of the band in Greater Miami?
Atchakangouen, Atchatchakangouen, Atchakangouen, Greater Miami or Crane Band (named after their leading clan, largest Miami band – their main village was Kekionga / Kiihkayonki (“blackberry bush”) at the confluence of the Saint Joseph (Kociihsa Siipiiwi) (″Bean River″), Saint Marys (Nameewa Siipiiwi/Mameewa Siipiiwi) (″River of the Atlantic sturgeon″) and Maumee River (Taawaawa Siipiiwi) (″River of the Odawa″) on the western edge of the Great Black Swamp in present-day Indiana – this place was although called saakiiweeki taawaawa siipiiwi (lit. ″the confluence of the Maumee River″); Kekionga / Kiihkayonki was although the capital of the Miami confederacy)
What is the name of the band of Miamis?
Eel River″, their main village Kineepikwameekwa/Kenapekwamakwah/Kenapocomoco (“Snake-Fish-Town” or “Eel River Village”) moved its location from the headwaters of the Eel River (Kineepikwameekwa Siipiiwi) (“Snake-Fish-River”) (near Logansport, Indiana) down to its mouth into the Wabash River (Waapaahšiki Siipiiwi) (″Shining White River/Bright Shiny River″) (near Columbia City, Indiana) in northern Indiana; the Kilatika Band of the French years had their main village at the confluence of the Kankakee River and Des Plaines Rivers to form the Illinois River about 16 km southwest of today’s Joliet, Illinois)
What is the meaning of "Waayaahtanonki"?
Wea, Wiatonon, Ouiatanon or Ouaouiatanoukak; autonym: Waayaahtanooki or Waayaahtanwa (″People of the place of the whirlpool″ ), because their main village Waayaahtanonki (″Place of the whirlpool″) was at the riverside where a Whirlpool was in the river, under the term „Ouiatanon“ was both referred to a group of extinct five Wea settlements or to their historic tribal lands along the Middle Wabash Valley between the Eel River to the north and the Vermilion River to the south, the ″real″ Quiatanon at the mouth of the Wea Creek into the Wabash River was their main village)
What is the name of the tribe that occupied the Great Lakes?
By 1846, most of the Miami had been removed to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma is the only federally recognized tribe of Miami Indians in the United States.
What is the tribe of Miami?
Miami is a Native American nation originally speaking one of the Algonquian languages. Among the peoples known as the Great Lakes tribes , it occupied territory that is now identified as Indiana, southwest Michigan, and western Ohio. By 1846, most of the Miami had been removed to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma).
