FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions)
Below are a list of questions that we are quite commonly asked via email or during public presentations. Click on any of the questions to be taken to its response. If you’d like to ask a question, you can do so by using the comment feature at the bottom of page or by sending an email to George Ironstrack at ironstgm@muohio.edu
What does the word Miami mean?
What kinds of clothing did Myaamia people wear prior to contact with Europeans?
How has Myaamia clothing changed over time?
Did the Miami have sub-tribes?
How did the Miami people govern themselves?
How did the Miami punish crime?
Is there a word, in Myaamia, for the the Mound Builders and or the mounds themselves?
What does Twigh Twee mean and why is it sometimes used to refer to the Miami?
A Lengthy Discussion of Typical Questions about Early Myaamia History
Greetings:
I am a reporter for Indian Country Today, trying to gather information about your tribe’s affiliation with sandhill cranes. I believe, like Hindus and cows, there was reverence for the giant birds. I also believe, like the bison, that while being respected and honored, they may still have been hunted as food for survival. My question is: Did tribal members hunt sandhill cranes to eat?
Thank you.
aya Lee,
Thank you for taking a minute to visit our site. I read ICT regularly and I learn a lot from the broad perspectives conveyed through the reporting. Regarding cecaahkwa (Sandhill Crane), yes your assumption is correct. There were very few animals on the Myaamia “do not eat list” and cecaahkwa (Sandhill Crane) wasn’t on it. The only exception that jumps to mind is perhaps that those who came from a cecaahkwa clan or a related sub-clan might not have eaten this bird. However, our clan system ceased to function in the mid-1800s due to population collapse, so this kind of knowledge wasn’t recorded. You’re also correct that cecaahkwa continue to be held in high regard by Myaamia people. If you need further historic or contemporary examples of this I can provide them to you with more depth and references. Just let me know.
kikwehsitoole (respectfully),
George