  For $\mu, \kappa$ infinite, say $\mathcal{A}\subseteq [\kappa]^\kappa$ is a
$(\mu,\kappa)$-maximal independent family if whenever $\mathcal{A}_0$ and
$\mathcal{A}_1$ are pairwise disjoint non-empty in $[\mathcal{A}]^{<\mu}$ then
$\bigcap\mathcal{A}_0\backslash\bigcup\mathcal{A}_1 \not= \emptyset$,
$\mathcal{A}$ is maximal under inclusion among families with this property, and
moreover all such Booelan combinations have size $\kappa$. We denote by
$\mathfrak{sp}_{\mathfrak i}(\mu,\kappa)$ the set of all cardinalities of such
families, and if non-empty, we let $\mathfrak{i}_\mu(\kappa)$ be its minimal
element. Thus, $\mathfrak{i}_\mu(\kappa)$ (if defined) is a natural higher
analogue of the independence number on $\omega$ for the higher Baire spaces. In
this paper, we study $\mathfrak{sp}_{\mathfrak i}(\mu,\kappa)$ for $\mu,\kappa$
uncountable. Among others, we show that:
  (1) The property $\mathfrak{sp}_{\mathfrak i}(\mu,\kappa)\neq\emptyset$
cannot be decided on the basis of ZFC plus large cardinals.
  (2) Relative to a measurable, it is consistent that: (a) $(\exists
\kappa{>}\omega) \, \mathfrak{i}_{\kappa}(\kappa)<2^\kappa$; (b) $(\exists
\kappa{>}\omega)\,\kappa^+<\mathfrak{i}_{\omega_1}(\kappa)<2^\kappa$. To the
best knowledge of the authors, this is the first example of a
$(\mu,\kappa)$-maximal independent family of size strictly between $\kappa^+$
and $2^\kappa$, for uncountable $\kappa$.
  (3) $\mathfrak{sp}_{\mathfrak i}(\mu,\kappa)$ cannot be quite arbitrary.
