Miami Tribe of Oklahoma

[3] The people are descended from Miami who were removed in the 19th century from their traditional territory in present-day Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.

The Myaamia language is particularly well-documented in early sources (including a complete Illinois-French dictionary).

[7] In the interest of providing economic development for the community, the tribe created Miami Nation Enterprises, which oversees tribally owned companies.

These include Miami Business Services, which provides personnel, information technologies, and business supplies; Miami Designs, which provides graphic art and promotional materials; Miami Cineplex, a movie theater and arcade; and TSI Global Companies, a systems integrator with expertise in audiovisual systems, low voltage cabling, security and access control, as well as electrical contracting.

The Myaamia Center continues research directed by the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma to revitalize language and culture.

Some scholars contended the Miami called themselves the Twightwee (also spelled Twatwa), supposedly an onomatopoeic reference to their sacred bird, the sandhill crane.

However, recent studies have shown that Twightwee derives from the Delaware language exonym name for the Miamis, tuwéhtuwe, a name of unknown etymology.

Similarly, the Curtis Act of 1898 ended tribal government and the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs became an intermediary administration.

The Miami persevered and in the 1930s, they re-organized their own tribal government under the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act, independent of the Peoria people.

The Miami ratified their constitution on August 16, 1939, which established a representative government with elected council and chief.