2-26-2026 11:19pm

Myaamia New Year and Lunar Calendar

Mahkoonsa Kiilhswa 'Young Bear Moon'

In 2026, the Myaamia Lunar New Year, or weehki-kihkatwe, was observed Friday, February 20, 2026, beginning a 13-moon cycle rooted in ancestral knowledge and close observation of the natural world. Unlike the widely used Gregorian calendar, which follows the sun, the Myaamia calendar follows the phases of the moon. Each month begins with a new moon, creating a year that normally includes 12 lunar months.

Mahkoonsa Kiilhswa - Young Bear Moon 2026 includes:

February 20, 2026 (New Year's Day) to March 20, 2026

That makes a full lunar cycle from new moon to new moon!

However, twelve lunar cycles total about 354 days — roughly 11 days shorter than the solar year. Without adjustment, the seasons would gradually drift out of alignment with the calendar. Over time, winter moons would fall in autumn, and planting or harvesting moons would no longer match the natural cycles they describe. To prevent this seasonal drift, the Myaamia insert a 13th month, called Waawiita Kiilhswa - "Lost Moon" makes its appearance approximately every three years.

In 2026, that Lost Moon returns, expanding the year to 13 months and restoring balance between lunar time and the turning seasons. This adjustment reflects a sophisticated understanding of astronomy and ecology, ensuring that ceremonial life, food gathering, agriculture, and cultural traditions remain synchronized with the environment.

Long before Ohio became a state, the ancestors of today’s The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma lived throughout the Ohio Country. The Myaamia were part of the larger Miami-Illinois cultural group, with towns and hunting territories across present-day western Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, closely tied to rivers such as the Great Miami and Maumee.

Today, the Tribe is headquartered in northeastern Oklahoma, where it continues as a sovereign nation. It also maintains a unique partnership with Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. That collaboration is centered at the Myaamia Center at Miami University, located on the university’s campus, where language revitalization, research, and cultural programs are guided by the Tribe to ensure Myaamia history and identity remain strong for future generations.

Calendar download here -

https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026-web.pdf

Find out more about The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma at: https://miamination.com/

The Myaamia Center, a Miami Tribe of Oklahoma initiative located within an academic setting, serves the needs of the Myaamia people, Miami University, and partner communities through research, education, and outreach that promote Myaamia language, culture, knowledge, and values.

https://miamioh.edu/centers-institutes/myaamia-center/

Aacimotaatiiyankwi is the official community blog of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, created in collaboration with the Myaamia Center at Miami University: https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/