There is no abstract available for this thesis.

The eastern Miami Indians have been involved in an intense, dynamic process of cultural definition during the past fifteen years. Adding to the nucleus of retained culture, the Miami are selecting particular aspects from both their traditional ideological and material pasts while they are simultaneously incorporating new ideas and practices in order to define Miami identity. The eastern Miami process of cultural revitalization, currently characteristic of many Indian tribes, has manifested itself in various ways. There are many variables involved in determining the cultural revitalization process specific to the Miami. Of particular interest are the manifestations of cultural revitalization and its relationship to political processes. / Department of Anthropology

The purpose of this research endeavor was to determine the extent of genetic relatedness between an ancient and modern Miami Indian population. The modern Miami Indian nation in Indiana is currently in the process of regaining the federal recognition which was lost in the mid 1800's when part of the tribe was forced to relocate. A close genetic relationship between a modern and known ancient population could considerably strengthen the case to regain federal recognition. The human skeletal remains used for this experiment were excavated after partial exposure by flooding between 1989-1993 along the banks of the Mississinewa River in Wabash County. Through ethnohistoric dating techniques, the remains have been shown to represent a Miami Indian population living between 1790-1820. In order to yield amplifiable DNA several methods of isolation were attempted and compared. CTAB and phenol/chloroform/isoamyl alcohol (24:24:1) and a silica based purification method provided the best results yielding approximately 50-100 ng of amplifiable DNA from 3 of the 4 individuals. Purification of the DNA was found to be necessary following both isolation (Elu-Quik) prior to PCR amplification and after PCR but prior to sub-cloning(Gene-Clean). Regions of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genome of isolated DNA were amplified using primers which are specific for the HIizcIl and AIui regions of the mtDNA genome. Although the mtDNA proved to be somewhat amplifiable, it was still too fragmented to be cloned, which prevented genetic analysis and comparison of the two populations. As a result, a discussion of alternative methods for looking at relatedness between populations has been included. / Department of Biology

Museums have been intimately connected to the discipline of anthropology since the colonial era when curiosity cabinets were created to house "exotic" items from afar that were used to represent "exotic" people and their cultures. However, with the postmodern debates in anthropology, both the discipline and museums have begun to realize that most displays reveal more about those who create them than about those who are on display. This realization combined with the rise in Native American concern for the control of material culture that was taken from them and their involvement in civil rights activism has brought Native objects and their display to the forefront of these debates. This has resulted in a push for true collaboration in the discipline as well as museums, which is forcing museums to work with Native Nations in developing displays that fulfill the museums' needs and that relinquish power to Native Nations in the exhibit development process. This project involved the collaboration between the Miami Indians of Indiana and the researcher to create an exhibit that will be displayed in the Miami community. This thesis follows that intimate connection between museums and anthropology and looks at the exhibit to examine what it reveals about Miami community identity. / Department of Anthropology

Thesis (M.A.)--Miami University, Dept. of History, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 57-62).

One of the most profitable fields of exploration for the history student today is in the realm of Indian history. Many books have been written concerning the social, cultural, and military aspects of the Indiana, but few have been written to expost the abuse and fraud the savage suffered at the hands of the traders, agents, and government officials. It was for this purpose that this study of the Miami Indians has been prepared.

Prior investigations in the early contact era have not extensively analyzed the Miami Indian tribe. This time period offers a classic interaction between a pre-industrial economy and a more advanced industrial economy. The vehicle linking the Miami economic system with the European system was the far reaching fur trade. This investigation was undertaken to examine the impact of the European fur trade upon the Miami Indian economic system and subsequently the Miami Indian culture. The economic system was the most influential component in the Miami culture during that time period. Changes to other cultural components were directed through the changing Miami economic system. The changes to the Miami culture during the latter half of the seventeenth century helped establish a foundation for later Miami Indian cultural changes, which occurred in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

The Meshingomesia Reserve was in existence for a little over thirty years, from 1840-1873. During that time it served as a buffer between the Miami in Indiana and the encroaching white settlers. The survey of the reserve was undertaken to establish what remained in the archaeological evidence of this historic area. From the results of the survey and the background research into the history and archaeological site surveys and excavations previously conducted within the reserve’s boundaries, an assessment of the archaeological resources and a management plan were developed. / Department of Anthropology

Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 86-90-Xx).

This study is an assessment of the archaeological resources found at the Richardville/LaFountaine house in Huntington County, Indiana. This thesis documents the historic artifact assemblage found at the Richardville/LaFountaine house through background research and chronological dating of the artifacts. It also compares these materials to those found on the Troyer site, and it examines patterns present at the house site.Analysis of the artifacts established a chronology for them and established patterns of refuse disposal. Analysis also established similarities and differences between artifacts found at the Troyer site. / Department of Anthropology