Two members of the Miami tribe of Oklahoma will present information and perspective of the Miami peoples past, present and future from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept. 9 at Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation’s Ruddell Pavilion. Photo provided by Chautauqua-Wawasee.

News Release

SYRACUSE — More than just lake names and artifacts, Native Americans are vibrant contemporary people whose history has shaped many of our lives here in Indiana.

In addition to the three-day series on northeastern Indiana history to be presented over Labor Day weekend, Chautauqua arranged for two members of the Miami tribe of Oklahoma to share information and perspective of the native Miami peoples past, present and future from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 9, at the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation Ruddell Pavilion. The program is free to attend.

Diane Hunter will talk about the history of Miami people since time immemorial, telling the stories of their emergence as unique and different people, their first encounters with Europeans and later with Americans, land loss and forced removals and about the revitalization of the Miami tribe today.

Hunter is the Myaamia heritage preservation specialist for the Miami tribe of Oklahoma and a citizen of the tribe. She is a descendant of the Miami family of Seekaahkweeta and Palaanswa (Francois Godfroy). Her work involves preserving and protecting historic sites and resources, providing education about the presence and history of the Miami tribe and serving nearly 1,000 tribal citizens in Indiana and surrounding areas. Hunter has worked for the Miami tribe since 2015 when the tribe purchased property in Fort Wayne and opened a Cultural Resources Extension Office.

The second presenter is Dani Tippmann, a tradition bearer and a citizen of the Miami tribe of Oklahoma. Her talk will discuss the use of plants as food, medicine, technology and cultural historical conduits and share how plants teach us, feed us, heal us and bring us a better understanding of Myaamia culture. Tippmann will have plants to touch, smell and maybe taste for attendees to sample.

The program, sponsored by Chautauqua-Wawasee, will be performed at the Ruddell Pavilion on the campus of WACF, located just south of Syracuse at 11586 SR 13. Families are welcome to attend this free program.

For more information, contact Mark Knecht, president, at [email protected] or (703) 489-7124.