Prescott Family Gift Honors Elder and Supports Myaamia Center Renovations

Sharon Elliot Prescott served as the Miami Tribe’s Elder Princess, a cultural ambassador position. Photo courtesy of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

A generous $25,000 contribution from Dr. Nichole Prescott, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma citizen, and her spouse, Sarah Looper Prescott, marks an exciting milestone in the renovation of the historic Bonham House, home to the Myaamia Center. The gift will fund the construction and naming of a Language Research Office, a dedicated workspace for the Myaamia Center’s linguistic team.

The couple has chosen to name the new office in honor of Nichole’s late mother, Sharon Elliott Prescott, a respected Miami Tribe Elder. Our staff extends their deepest gratitude to the Prescott family for their continued support of cultural education and linguistic preservation.

Learn more about the Gift

Summer Hiatus

As we shift our focus to Miami Tribe community programs, the newsletter will go on a summer hiatus while Myaamia Center staff travel to Miami, Oklahoma, and Fort Wayne, Indiana.

We’ll return in August to welcome 22 incoming Myaamia Heritage students, our largest cohort ever, to Miami University!

Aacimotaatiiyankwi: A Myaamia Community Blog

Wiihkoowia 'Whippoorwill' graphic by Miami University Communications and Marketing.

With the sprouting of Wiihkoowia Kiilhswa ‘Whippoorwill Moon’ (on May 19), we are reminded that it is now time to plant miincipi ‘corn.’ As the weather gets gradually warmer, Wiihkoowiaki ‘Eastern whippoorwills’ return from their winter homes in the south. Whippoorwills are ground-nesting birds, and their mating calls usually indicate that the ground will be free of frost until the fall. The eerie and beautiful evening call of Wiihkoowia marks the beginning of planting time for Myaamiaki. If you would like to learn more about miincipi and how this plant has journeyed with Myaamiaki over time, check out the blog post by Cameron Shriver!

Corn in Historical Sources

Education Office Updates

2026 Summer Programs graphic by Madalyn Richardson, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

Our staff is gearing up for summer programs to explore this year’s theme: eeweentiiyankwi ‘family.’ Participants will learn about their close and extended family group and their ancestors as they explore their personal identities. We’re excited to spend the summer with our largest group of participants to date in Noošonke Siipionki (Miami, OK) and Kiihkayonki (Fort Wayne, IN)!

keetwi iišileniciki neepwaaminciki? What are Myaamia Students up to?

2026 Myaamia Heritage Program Spring Graduates

Front row (L to R): Mia Bowles, Caroline Scribner, Sydney Angelo, Madison Angelo, Kenzie Morter, and Dahra Sioris. Back row (L to R): Trey Lewis, Kellen Boyle, Brayden Shoemaker, Pimweeyotamwa Hartleroad. Photo by Karen Baldwin, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.

It’s hard to believe another school year has come to an end for the Myaamia Heritage students at Miami University! On Saturday, May 16th, we gathered with our 10 Myaamia Heritage Program graduates and their families in the miloniteeheekaani ‘Myaamia classroom.’ While it's sad to see our students leave Oxford, we look forward to spending time with many of them at Miami Tribe community events throughout the ummer! Several of our students will serve as counselors at the Miami Tribe’s Summer Youth Programs in Oklahoma and Indiana.

Read about the 2025/25 School Year

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