Mayaimi

Mayaimi (also spelled Mayami) refers primarily to the historical indigenous people who inhabited the area around Lake Mayaimi (now Lake Okeechobee) in South Florida. The term also refers to the lake itself and is sometimes used in connection with geographical features in the region.

People: The Mayaimi people were a Native American tribe who thrived in the region for centuries before European contact. They built villages and were skilled at fishing, hunting, and gathering resources from the lake and surrounding wetlands. Their culture and language are poorly documented due to the impact of European colonization and disease, which decimated their population. Much of what is known about them comes from archaeological findings and early Spanish accounts.

Lake Mayaimi/Okeechobee: The lake, originally called Mayaimi by the Mayaimi people, is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the United States. Its name was later changed to Lake Okeechobee. The lake was central to the Mayaimi's way of life, providing them with sustenance and transportation.

Legacy: While the Mayaimi people no longer exist as a distinct tribe, their name lives on in the lake's history and is sometimes used in relation to the South Florida region. The Seminole and Miccosukee tribes, who migrated to Florida later, are often considered cultural descendants of the earlier inhabitants of the area, including the Mayaimi.