HEADLINES
	The 22nd Annual Gathering of Nations
	David DeHass Meets With Hawaii's Senator Inouye
	Tribal Council Holds Special Meeting
	Brighton Veterans Chapter Plan for New Facility
	Seminole Tribe of Florida, Inc. Meets in Hollywood
Letters
Letter Archives
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Dear Paul,
For information about chickees go to www.seminoletribe.com/culture/chickee.shtml there is a brief story about chickees and at the bottom of the page click on “see more photos” or go to www.semtribe.com/culture/chickeegallery.shtml for an inside view.

Dear Editor,
Hello. There was an article in the recent edition of the Men’s Journal that listed your internet address www.seminoletribe.com for learning how to alligator wrestle, that you actually have alligator wrestling training, like an intro-type day instruction course. Do you know how to find out about it? I was unable to find information on the website. You may be getting more emails like this one since you were listed in the current issue of the magazine. Could you please give me information? I look forward to hearing back from you. Thanks so much.
George and Anna Thorpe
elphabala@hotmail.com

Dear Anna and George Thorpe,
Although alligator wrestling is a popular tourist attraction here in South Florida, for the safety of both you and the alligator, we would not post instructions about how to alligator wrestle. According to Lucy Evanicki of Billie Swamp Safari, and Buster Baxley of Seminole Okalee Village and Museum, they have never offered any crash courses for amateurs. If you are interested about the history of Seminole and alligator wrestling “The Enduring Seminoles From Alligator Wrestling to Ecotourism” can be purchased on the Seminole Tribe website.

Dear Editor,
I am interested in purchasing an audio cassette tape of music, singing and one or two different Hard Rock cafe lapel pins do you have them for sale by mail order or at your museum, or online marketplace?
Charles R. Foxx Jr.
fxtwn2hilo@mindspring.com

Dear Charles,
Audio tapes and CDs can be purchased at our website however at this time you will have to stop by one our Hard Rock Hotels & Casino’s to purchase a lapel or two.

Dear Editor-In-Chief,
I just wanted to say thanks for the paper, and you guys are doing a great job; so keep up the good work. And, also the paper is getting well known up now. Well anyway, it's good to know what’s going on out there. That’s all I wanted to say. Here is a poem for all Native brothers/sisters.
Thank you,
John Harjo

Native American 10 Commandments
The Earth is our mother, take care of her
Honor all your relations
Open your heart and soul to the Great Spirit
Life is sacred: Treat all beings with respect
Take from the Earth what is needed and nothing more
Do what needs to be done, what is needed, and nothing more
Give constant thanks to the Great Spirit for each new day
Speak the truth, but only of the good in others
Follow the rhythm of nature, rise and retire with the sun
Enjoy life’s journey, but leave no tracks

Dear Editor,
Do you know of the Metis tribe?
Brenda
krookedacres@centurytel.net

Dear Brenda,
Go to our web ring www.indiancircle.com that lists all of the federally recognized tribes in the United States or the BIA’s (Bureau of Indian Affairs) website http://www.doi.gov/bureau-indian-affairs.html they may be able to help you.

Dear Editor,
Hello there! I am a 4th grade teacher at Palm Beach Public in West Palm Beach, Florida. I am interested in finding out if there is a Seminole Indian that would come to my class to speak about Florida history and the Seminole Indian tribe.
Do you have speakers that will go to classrooms? Thank you for your help in answering this question.
Bonnie Strohl
Palm Beach Public

Dear Ms. Strohl,
The Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum does have personnel who can make classroom presentations. However, there is a cost for this service. Please contact Peggy Osceola at the museum’s development office on the Hollywood Seminole Reservation for particulars. The phone number is (954) 965-2424.
Sincerely,
David M. Blackard
Museum Director

Dear Editor,
My name is Terry Pattishall and I am the Band Director at Lake Mary High School in Lake Mary, Fla. We are currently working on a piece titled “Council Oak” by David Gillingham, based on several lines from the poem of the same name by Moses Jumper Jr. I am very interested in locating a complete version of this poem. Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Terry Pattishall
Terry_Pattishall@scps.k12.fl.us

Dear Terry,
Here is a copy of the poem.

The Council Oak
One day I walked beneath the council oak or council tree
I thought to myself, if he could talk, what would he say to me?
Would he tell me how he shaded and provided for the inhabitants of this land
And how through history, all things were changed by man
I know he would speak of the Seminoles’ early day
When, beneath his branches, the children would play
Then came a time when decisions had to be met
And, within his shade, the meeting tables were set
Some of the faces, the oak said, were never honest and true
They only thought of themselves as the chosen few
Yet many were there who were true in what they said
And these were the ones that ultimately led
The oak went on as if to say that in those times the people were happy in their way
The oak remembered distinctly those men and women of the past
Because of them, this nation is where it is at last
The heated arguments, the finances at an all time low
But together the oak and Seminole would eventually grow
And within the Seminole homes there may have been no door
But the oak proudly said you could never tell these people they were poor
And as the old oak went on to tell, I want to tell you something this day
There is a comparison here I want you to see
Of how the Seminoles are like this mighty oak tree
You see, together as a seed we both once grew
But not all went on, just a dismal few
Some nations and trees have fallen in their attempt to grow
Perhaps defeated, trodden and weakened to slow
But in years, we have faced the storm and rain
Stood above the flood, as in stature we’d gain
Our weak branches would soon falter and fall to the ground
But the roots of our faith would soon abound
And the leaves of life would fade from the blister of death, from the winter sting
Only to be replaced with another life in the spring
And above all, we knew, from the tip of our heads to the roots below the sod
That we were together, created through the grace of a living God
And with this, the old oak gave a joyous sigh
For I knew he represented a way of life that would never die

—Moses Jumper Jr.
From the book “Echoes in the Wind,” a collection of poems by Moses Jumper Jr.

Dear Editor,
Requesting info on your Texas Hold’em games at the casino. What limits to you provide to your customers? I’ll play any limits between 3–6 and 15–30. Also; if I book a room in Ft. Lauderdale, how far am I from Hollywood? I can be reached at DammGamblers@vzavenue.net.
Best Regards,
C.P.

P.S. I never knew there were casinos in Florida!

Hello C.P.,
Regarding your question about Texas Hold’em, the existing Hollywood facility on the southwest corner of Stirling Road and US 441 offers Texas Hold’em–$1 and $2, and Straight $2. We also offer no limit multi-tables and single table tournaments.
Fort Lauderdale is about 10 minutes northeast of Hollywood. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino will be opening on May 11, and we will offer similar games at our new facility.
Thanks and we hope that you will enjoy our new Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. If there is anything else we can help you with, please let us know. You may reach us at (866) 2-CASINO.
Sincerely,
Your operations team at the
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel
& Casino