Miami tribe - Definition and Overview

The Miami are a Native American tribe originally found in Indiana and Ohio. The nation's traditional capital was Kekionga, which is located within the borders of the present city of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

As of 2004, people who identify as Miami live in Oklahoma. The tribe was forced to relocate to Oklahoma reservations due to the 1826 Treaty of Mississinwas signed by Chief Jean Baptiste de Richardville under his English name, "Joseph Richardville." The treaty allowed Richardville and his descendants to stay in Fort Wayne while his people were forced out of the state.

A corruption of the tribal name is thought to be the origin of the current name for the Maumee River which stretches from Fort Wayne to Toledo, Ohio. Miami University in Oxford, Ohio is also named after the tribe.

See also: other uses of Miami, Miami River

External link

• Miamis of Indiana web site (http://www.miamiindiansofindiana.org)
• Text of the Treaty of Mississinwas (http://www.miamiindiansofindiana.org/text/hist_treaty_oct_1826.html)