among Prairie Indians, an underchief whose duty it was to prepare and pass around the medicine pipe at ceremonial occasions.
c1799  (1889)  The Machinaway du Chien Fou and associate came in. . . .
1801  The Michiniwais, or Assistant, takes up the pipe, lights it, and presents it to the officiating person, who receives it standing and holds it between both his hands.
1806  (1897)  At nine o'clock the ceremony began by three of Le Borgne's principal mishinaways or secretaries, taking their seats in the center of the tent which faced the open space.