The Miami Indians were forced to migrate from their homes due to the US government’s Indian Removal Act of 1830 and treaties signed in 1840 and 1867. They settled in Oklahoma and Indiana, and are officially called the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. They have their own government and speak the Miami-Illinois language. There is no connection between the Miami Indians and Miami, Florida.
The Miami Indians are a Native American tribe who originally settled in the US states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. They were forced to migrate from their homes due to the US government’s Indian Removal Act of 1830 and treaties signed in 1840 and 1867. They eventually ended up in Oklahoma, even though there were fewer than 100 Miami Indians left by then to build houses and start a new life there. Today, these Native Americans have communities not only in Oklahoma, but in Indiana as well.
Although they use the name Miami, this Native American tribe calls its people Myaamia, which means the downstream people. They are officially called the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma by the US government. Miami is a derivative of the tribe’s real name.
Some people may wonder if there is any connection between Miami, Florida and the Miami Indians; the answer is no. The city of Miami gets its name from the word Maymi, which is a Tequesta Indian word that historians believe means large lake. Since the native language of the Miami is not the same as that of the Tequesta Indians, there is no connection between this tribe and Miami, Florida. However, there are a couple of places named after the people of Miami. Maumee, Ohio is named after them, as is Miami, Oklahoma.
In the past, the Miami Indians had two chiefs in charge of leading them. The chiefs of Miami would choose a village chief and the warriors of the clan would choose a war chief. Today, the people of Miami are led by a chief, a second chief, two councilors, and a treasurer. They are elected by the people of the Indian Nation of Miami.
Interestingly, the Miami Indians of Oklahoma have their own government, which includes a constitution, laws, and government services; they are like a small nation resting in the United States. However, they must also obey the laws of the United States. The Miami Indians of Indiana, on the other hand, are not recognized by the United States. Because of this, they have no separate government or reserve. They do have tribal leadership, however, and may hold meetings and events.
Miami Indians have a native language which is referred to as the Miami-Illinois language. It is so called because the Indians of Illinois and Miami spoke the same language. However, the Miamis spoke it with a different accent than the Illinis. Today, most members of this tribe speak English, although some may take the effort to learn the native language of their ancestors.
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