Thomas Richardville and the Founding of the City of Miami by Meghan Dorey, Manager, Myaamia Heritage Museum & Archive As the City of Miami, Oklahoma, 1891
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An Official Publication of the Sovereign Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Volume 13, No. 3.4, Section A Published by Myaamia Publications - Miami, Oklahoma teekwaaki neehi pipoonwi 2015/16 125 Years Ago: Thomas Richardville and the Founding of the City of Miami By Meghan Dorey, Manager, Myaamia Heritage Museum & Archive As the city of Miami, Oklahoma, 1891. celebrates its 125th anniversary, Chief Richardville’s leader- we offer the following article to ship was integral to the decision provide our unique perspective to to remain a separate entity upon the history surrounding the birth of relocation, rather than consolidat- our namesake city. ing membership with the Peoria Tribe as allowed under the 1867 Waapimaankwa (also known as Treaty. His election to the position Thomas F. Richardville) was the of Chief came in the same year the great-grandson of pinšiwa (Chief town of Miami( Indian Territory) Jean B. Richardville), the son was established 125 years ago. Tribal News of a man known as pimicinwa or Wayland C. Lykins came Chief’s Report... 2A Crescent Richardville. from a well-respected family in Open House Event 3A Thomas was orphaned at a Miami County, Kansas. His father, Winter Gathering 4A young age and grew up in Indiana. David Lykins, had been a mission- Business Award 6A In 1873, he told of his childhood ary at the Baptist Mission in Paola near Kokomo, living with his for many years, and the entire Events 7A grandmother until her death. He Lykins family was adopted by the Vehicle Plates 8A also spent several years of his youth Peoria Tribe. New Business 8A living with mihšiinkweemiša, the About 10 years after the Peoria MHMA Article 1B band leader in Indiana. Though he and Miami Tribes were relocated History 2B was exempted from removal and into Indian Territory, W.C. Lykins, AARP Honor 6B did not make the trip to Kansas along with his brother, Edward W. Firefighter Honored 6B Territory in 1846, he rejoined his W. Lykins, again took up residence Elder Honored 6B myaamia community there in the near his previous community mem- Births, Deaths, Honors 7B 1860’s. bers. Within another 10 years, the Educated at Notre Dame, he landscape of Ottawa County would Education 8B became a valuable intermediary change drastically with the found- Eewansaapita C between the Miami Nation and ing of Miami, along with the influ- the United States government. As ence of the mining industry start- recognition for his assistance, the ing to boom. Nation formally adopted him as a Manford Pooler, chief of the Ot- member in 1886. Though he was tawa Tribe, was the son of a chief, influential in leadership for many and the son-in-law of another. He years prior, he first became Chief married Mary Louise Richardville Photo of Miami Chief Thomas F. after the relocation to Indian Ter- in 1883, and his children were car- Richardville, courtesy of Oklaho- ritory and subsequent allotment, in ma History Center. Continued on page 5B Record Crowd Gathers for 20th Annual Staff Article Miami Nation Winter Gathering Events The 2016 Myaamia Winter Gather- tee started the first day of the gath- Cultural education presentations ing was held January 29-30 in Miami, ering by welcoming more than 60 were held Friday afternoon in the OK. The gathering, now in its 20th people from Miami University, who Council House. Guests listened to year, began as a winter social dance had traveled the 11 hour interstate information presented on Myaamia gathering and has grown to become trek by bus and car to enjoy the week- storytelling, led by George Ironstrack a two day event that includes cul- end’s events. Following introductions and stomp dance and social dances, tural presentations, workshops and from tribal officials, faculty, staff and led by Shawnee Tribe Second Chief Myaamia storytelling, as well as the students, the guests were given a bus Ben Barnes. dance. tour of tribal properties including the Dinner was served that evening James Battese honored...pg 6B This year the Business Commit- new headquarters facility. Continued on page 4A Winter Stories...pg 5A Banner Image Credit: Photo from the 2015 fall camp out Mild weather, and a well known and respected head staff, contributed to record attendance at the Veteran’s - Labadie Allotment, Miami, OK. and social dances held during the 20th Annual Miami Nation Winter Gathering in late January. Photo by Photo by Julie Olds. Jonathan Fox. 2A aatotankiki myaamiaki, teekwaaki neehi pipoonwi 2015 aacimwita akima: The Chief Reports By Chief Douglas Lankford, eecipoonkwia Aya, aya! Greetings to all of my Myaamia fam- has concluded all ily from your new Tribal Headquarters. We matters related to have had a very busy fall and winter, and now Miami Nation Enter- it is anteekwa kiilhswa (crow moon) and we are prises’ (MNE) AMG grateful to see signs of spring here in noošonke Services, Inc., and siipionki myaamionki (the Miami country by MNE Services, Inc., the Neosho River). corporate entities In the fall and winter we enjoyed com- established under munity gatherings in our Kansas homeland re- MNE. As you will gion, and in Ft. Wayne. These gatherings are recall from the letter well attended and we appreciate the interest and sent to you back in support as we provide updates, as provided at February, the Tribe the Annual General Council Meeting, to com- reached a settlement munity members. Lanugage workshops are pro- agreement with the vided during these events as well, and of course federal government we always enjoy a nice meal with our relatives. concerning these As our busy season approaches our staff business entities. is already working hard preparing for the An- We are pleased to nual General Council Meeting set for June conclude this chap- 25th, 2016. Between now and then I hope to ter in the Tribe’s see many of you this spring at one of the many business history community events we have scheduled both here and continue mov- in Oklahoma and in Fort Wayne. ing forward with With the passing of winter also comes the stable and sound Chief Douglas Lankford and young lacrosse player, Jensen Dorey, son the close of our storytelling season. The spring government we have of Matt & Meghan Dorey. Photo taken at the Drake House, summer of peepers and thunder beings sounded early here worked hard to es- 2014, by Karen Baldwin. in your southern myaamionki ushering in the tablish over the past new lacrosse season. Our Myaamia culture is decade. Mihši-neewe to all of you who have language, our cultural events, and the future of embedded in everything we do and affects how contacted this Business Committee with your this Tribe - our children. I hope for those of you we, as Tribal leaders, serve our community in support and encouragement. It means a great who have not yet seen this beautiful new office our responsibilities in government and busi- deal to all of us. space you will have the opportunity to tour the ness. While we are still organizing, and deco- Miami Nation headquarters building, where so In business concerns, the Tribe continues rating areas within the new Headquarters facil- much of the important work for this Tribe takes to move forward with important work in many ity, located on P Street NW in Miami, we did place. areas, such as the goal to increase our jurisdic- host a small open house event on Friday, Janu- Although spring brings with it strong tional area through transfer of fee land into trust ary 29th, during this year’s Winter Gathering. weather patterns moving across the country it is status with the Department of Interior. This pri- Tribal citizens and guests from local Tribes and a beautiful season of new beginnings. We look ority to expand our jurisdiction will continue as area businesses were welcomed by Tribal Lead- forward to warmer days and new growth both in a positive exercise of our governmental author- ers and were given a tour of the building. As agriculture and our community. On behalf of ity. you walk the halls of this building you will see the Business Committee I wish you a prosper- I am also, so very pleased, as are all wall murals and large photographs depicting ous spring and I hope to see each of you at the members of our Leadership, to report the Tribe what is important to this Tribe, our history, our Annual Meeting in June. The Miami Tribe Business Committee hosted community gatherings in Louisburg, Kansas (photo at right) on September 12, and Fort Wayne, IN, on September 19th, 2015. Lunch is provided at these events followed by a representation of the information provided at the annual general council meeting. These gatherings are for information sharing, language learning and playing Myaamia games only and no formal business is conducted. Staff photos. New Leadership for Tribal Law Enforcement By Emilee Truelove Ronnie Gilmore was named Chief of the Miami cluding hiring the most qualified candidates to Offender and Registration Notification Act Nation Tribal Police Department on January 4. protect the Nation, instituting a Code of Eth- (SORNA) grant. Gilmore brings nearly a decade of law en- ics and a Code of Conduct for all officers and Barnes brings more than 10 years of law forcement experience to the tribe, including a department personnel policy that will include enforcement experience. He began his career as previous leadership positions at another tribal the Human Resources policies required of all a jailer at the Ottawa County Jail then moved nation. He has been an officer at the tribe since Miami Nation employees. up through the ranks to Deputy Sheriff.