Historical Background of the Mayaimi People
The Mayaimi, also recorded as Maymi or Maimi, were a Native American people who lived around Lake Mayaimi—now known as Lake Okeechobee—in southern Florida from the beginning of the Common Era until the 17th or 18th century. Archaeological evidence suggests their ancestors may have inhabited the region as early as 1000 BC, with continuous cultural development leading to the emergence of what scholars call the Glades Culture.
Their settlements were typically small towns or hamlets, often consisting of thirty to forty inhabitants, though some areas had only a few residents. The Mayaimi constructed ceremonial and village earthwork mounds, canals, and raised causeways, which served both practical and ceremonial purposes. These engineering works connected communities and facilitated canoe travel through the wetlands.
Geographic and Cultural Connections to Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee was central to Mayaimi life. The name “Mayaimi” itself meant “big water” in the languages of the Mayaimi, Calusa, and Tequesta tribes. The lake provided abundant fish, including black bass and eels, and supported hunting of animals such as alligator, opossum, and terrapin. The Mayaimi also processed coontie root into flour, supplementing their diet with plant-based foods.
The lake’s seasonal flooding shaped their settlement patterns. During high-water periods, they lived on elevated mounds and relied heavily on fishing. In drier seasons, they could access more land for hunting and gathering.
Interactions with Neighboring Tribes and Europeans
The Mayaimi were part of a network of Indigenous groups in southern Florida, including the Calusa, Tequesta, and Mayaca. While their language and culture were distinct, they engaged in trade and possibly shared certain ceremonial practices.
European contact brought significant disruption. Spanish explorers documented the Mayaimi in the 16th century, and Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda, a shipwreck survivor who lived among Florida tribes for 17 years, provided one of the most detailed early accounts. By the early 18th century, the Mayaimi faced repeated raids from forces allied with the Province of Carolina, leading to the capture and enslavement of many tribe members.
In 1710, a group of 280 refugees, including the Cacique (chief) of Maimi, fled to Cuba. By 1743, only about 100 individuals—comprising Mayaimi, Santaluzos, and Mayaca—were reported living north of the Miami River. Most survivors were likely evacuated to Cuba when Spain ceded Florida to Britain in 1763.
Language and Etymology of “Mayaimi”
The term “Mayaimi” is widely accepted to mean “big water,” a reference to Lake Okeechobee. Linguists have not fully determined the origins of the Mayaimi language, as only a handful of words were recorded before it became extinct.
Spanish and French explorers adopted the name in their maps and records. Over time, “Mayaimi” was applied to the Miami River, which flows from the Everglades into Biscayne Bay, and eventually to the city of Miami itself. The modern spelling reflects English adaptation of the original term.
Distinction from the Miami of the Great Lakes
It is important to note that the Mayaimi of Florida had no linguistic or cultural connection to the Miami (Myaamia) people of the Great Lakes region. The similarity in names is coincidental, arising from separate Indigenous languages and geographic references.
Archaeological Sites and Material Culture
Several archaeological sites are associated with the Mayaimi, including Fort Center, Belle Glade, Big Mound City, the Boynton Mounds complex, Ortona Prehistoric Village, and Tony’s Mound. These sites reveal complex earthworks, ceremonial mounds, and canal systems.
Their canoes were distinctive—platform-style with shovel-shaped ends—more similar to those used in Central America and the West Indies than to the pointed dugouts of other southeastern U.S. tribes. This design suggests possible cultural connections or shared maritime technology across the Caribbean.
Decline and Disappearance
The decline of the Mayaimi was driven by multiple factors:
- Warfare and slave raids: Attacks by Carolina-allied forces in the early 1700s decimated their population.
- Disease: Like many Indigenous peoples, the Mayaimi suffered from epidemics introduced by Europeans.
- Displacement: Survivors were absorbed into other groups, including the emerging Seminole community, or relocated to Cuba.
By the mid-18th century, the Mayaimi ceased to exist as a distinct cultural and political entity.
Legacy and Recognition
Although the Mayaimi are considered extinct as a tribe, their legacy endures in place names and historical scholarship. The city of Miami, the Miami River, and the historical name of Lake Okeechobee all preserve the memory of the Mayaimi people.
Museums, archaeological research, and historical publications continue to document their history. Sites such as Fort Center provide material evidence of their engineering skill and adaptation to the wetland environment.
The story of the Mayaimi also serves as a reminder of the broader patterns of cultural loss experienced by Indigenous peoples in Florida due to colonization, warfare, and forced migration.
