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| Volume XXVI, Number 9 | July 1, 2005 |
E-Mail to the EditorA letter of gratitude to my people, I would like to start by saying that I’m very elated that my uncle Andy Bowers won the election in Brighton for Council representative. To me, my uncle stands for everything that our people dearly believe in, which is Integrity, moral values, most important a voice. With that being said, I feel I have a greater responsibility in my recovery, so I also can be accountable. I would also like to thank Gloria Wilson for winning her election. Gloria is the new Board representative on the Hollywood reservation. I’m very happy for my cousin Gloria; she is very deserving of this position. She’s honest, trust worthy, business minded, and most importantly I feel Gloria is one of the most down to earth person that I know. But my Uncle, man! That means a lot to me. This man has been able to live both sides of life–life in mainstream society, a lawyer by trade, as a father to his son, and a husband to his wife. To the other side he is able to live his traditional life proudly. As Indians we are all very spiritual people. To being a Seminole Indian–like my uncle, my cousin and myself–it is very important that we carry our tradition and spirituality forward to those who come after us. In closing, some people might say that change is a brave thing to do; but I say it’s the right thing to do. Especially when you were brought up to believe or act a certain way. One thing that’s for sure about change, it starts with you. Who you want to be. What matters to you. What are you going to stand for? Yours Truly, Norman A. Bowers Snake Clan Dear Editor, I am looking for Heather Burney, a stated Seminole re-enactor. There is an event in Winter Park, Fla., where a quality re-enactor is desired. Forest Gray Michael, President Central Park Foundation, Inc. Dear Mr. Michael, I am unfamiliar with Heather but there are several re-enactors across the state who provide various forms of programs. The Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum has an exquisite community outreach program and they visit festivals and special events and set up their displays to educate the public about history and Seminole culture. Tina Osceola, Executive Director Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum Dear Editor, My wife and I would like to visit, and look around the reservation. We need to know who may be able to show us around if or when we visit. I have an interest in the different Florida plants and their healing properties. I know that the plant life on the reservation is more in its natural states, so that is where I would like to start looking. John and Gloria Wall Mr. and Mrs. Wall, Thank you for your interest in the Seminole Tribe of Florida and our natural environment that we are so dependent upon. Currently, the Seminole Tribe of Florida does not have a formal program that provides the information and/or services that you are looking for. The Seminole Tribe of Florida, however, does have a Tribal Museum, the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum, that is located in Hendry County, Florida on the Big Cypress Indian Reservation. In addition to an extensive amount of artifacts and information-sharing, the museum hosts a mile and a half of boardwalk through a pristine cypress dome. Along that walk, there are various plants that are marked with explanations on their traditional uses and historical significance. For more information on how to get to the museum, you may visit the Tribe’s website, www.seminoletribe.com. Tina Osceola, Executive Director Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum Dear Editor, What is the naming ceremony for the Indian girls? Thank you, cghuddle@burke.k12.ga.us Dear cghuddle@burke.k12.ga.us, The details of Seminole ceremonies are not for public dissemination. What we can say is that the “ceremony” for Seminole Girls is conducted by a traditional medicine man and their name is not shared with the non-Seminole public. Tina Osceola, Executive Director Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum Dear Editor, I have children that are Tribal members that stay on the Big Cypress reservation and I would like to submit a couple of things for them in your newspaper. Their names are Precious Louise Jimmie and Barbra John Jimmie. Precious Jimmie’s Birthday is coming up May 22 and I would like for you all to put something in from me, and I also wrote a poem for both of them. I would like to thank you in advance. Donald Boyce Dear Editor, I recently took a ride through your beautiful reservation. I was amazed at how pretty your land was. I stopped to get gas, and found The Seminole Tribune. How wonderful and colorful this paper was, and such a joy to read. I am full Sioux Native American, born and raised on the rez. I recently moved to the Naples, Fla. area, and would love another paper, could you, would you, be so kind to send me one? I have purchased the April 8 one. Running Water Medicine Woman Dear Editor, Hello, my name is Ronna and I am looking to learn from a Seminole their ways. I am not a quarter Seminole, nor do I have proof of it in my bloodline; my great-grandfather–so I am told–was a Seminole. I read your FAQ’s about how to “claim” being a Seminole and the criteria. But I do not want to be on council or negotiate or make decisions. I just want to learn from an actual “human” because I can read all I want, but it is not the same. I want to learn because of personal reasons. Do you know how I can learn from someone? Maybe the government office for the tribe would have info? I live out in California, and have had a hard time finding someone. It is important because this has been weighing on my heart for a very long time, to the point where I have to research harder. If you have any ideas or advice, please email me back and let me know. Also, is it possible to have a mentor? Like through the e-mail? That might be easier, yes? Ronna Alexander Dear Ms. Alexander, Thank you for your interest in our Tribe and our culture. What you seem to be looking for is a mentor to take you under their wing and teach you the ways of our Tribe. Unfortunately, this is not something that we can offer. It is important to understand that searching for a mentor, especially from Native Tribes, is not an easy task. These are usually opportunities that are afforded to folks who happen to cross paths with someone willing to share their time and their stories. That is usually why seeking this information is called a journey. Tina Osceola, Executive Director Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum Dear Editor, Do you have progressive Mega Bucks slot machines in your casinos? DRNolletti@hotmail.com Dear DRNolletti@hotmail.com, We do not have slot machines. We have gaming machines that are based on bingo, and we do have progressive pots. We do not have Mega Bucks. Edward Jenkins, Director Compliance and Regulations, Gaming Department Dear Editor, I am wondering if Buffalo Jim is alive. I am working on a film on prophecy and I would love to make contact with him. Bruce Dear Bruce, Thank you for your inquiry and inclusion of one of our Tribal members as a source in what sounds like an incredibly interesting project. Unfortunately, Buffalo Jim, a resident of the Big Cypress reservation, passed away. If you need more information please contact us. Tina Osceola, Executive Director Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum Dear Editor, I have recently learned that the Florida black bear is considered an endangered species. Please tell me what the Seminole word is for this animal. Thanks, Carl Cording Cataloger, Neil Hellman Library College of Saint Rose Albany, N.Y. Dear Mr. Cording, The Seminole Creek word for the black bear is No-ko-se lvs-te; that’s spelling it with our alphabet. Phonically, would be no-ko-see las-tee. Lorene Gopher Dear Editor, I am a public information coordinator in the Collier County government’s communication and customer relations department. I have been tasked to come up with a couple of potential names for the new North Naples water park. I thought it would be nice to name it using a Muskogee word. Do you have anyone who can help me translate the following words: bubbling stream, great falls, splash, grand rapids, hurricane harbor, powerful lagoon and pushing rapids? Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter. Sincerely, Sandra Arnold Dear Ms. Arnold, Bubbling stream: Hvt-cu-ce mul-lv, great falls: We-pa-lvt-kv rak-ko, splash: We-a-fes-ke-tv, grand rapids: Hvtce fi-nv rak-ko, hurricane harbor: Ho-tv-le rak-ko- we-wv, powerful lagoon: Hvk-ha-se rak-ko; and rushing rapids: Pvf-ne fi-nv. Lorene Gopher Dear Editor, Have I missed the Green Corn Dance ceremony this year? When will it be and at which reservation? Must I be full-blooded Indian to participate? Thanks, Robert Rutherford Oakland Park, Fla. Dear Mr. Rutherford, Thank you for your interest in our culture and religious ceremonies. The Seminole and Miccosukee people of Florida do not believe in advertising the dates that are chosen for the Green Corn ceremonies in so much as the non-Indian public is not permitted to attend or participate. To learn more about the Seminole culture please visit the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum on the Big Cypress Indian reservation. For directions please call (863) 902-1113, Tuesday–Sunday. Tina M. Osceola Executive Director Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum Dear Editor, Will there be too many mosquitoes and deer flies to visit your facility in the summer? When is the best time of the year to visit–when it is not too hot, and not as many bugs? Thank you for your time. Looking forward to hearing from you, deescp@hotmail.com Dear deescp@hotmail.com, Thanks for your interest in visiting the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum located on the Big Cypress Indian reservation. I may be biased, but there is no “bad” time to visit the museum. Each season brings its own picture of beauty to the Everglades. The mosquitoes are not bad during the day and a bit of insect repellant will take care of those that are around. I would advise you to plan on being inside by dusk to best avoid mosquitoes. The deer flies are not an issue on the Big Cypress reservation. A great itinerary would include a stop at the Billie Swamp Safari for lunch and an airboat or swamp buggy tour. The Safari is located three miles from the museum. I hope your plans to visit are fulfilled and have a wonderful time. Tina M. Osceola Executive Director Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum Dear Editor, I am a graduate of Florida State University (FSU), and recently read an article in which the NCAA is contemplating instituting legislation that would either prohibit the use of American Indian Mascots or would penalize in some fashion those schools that did use such depictions. At first I was furious. But after taking some time to think about the issue I came to the conclusion that since I am not an American Indian perhaps I did not have the required perspective on the issue. I have read much of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee, or MOIC, recommendations and conclusions. In order for me to better understand the specific issues involved in the controversies of American Indian mascots in collegiate athletics, and to form an educated opinion, I believe that I should at least attempt to understand the perspective of those directly effected by the controversy. Towards that end, I am interested in how the Seminole Tribe views FSU’s use of Seminoles as the team nickname? And how the Seminole Tribe views the use of Chief Osceola and Renegade as Team Mascots? Is the nickname offensive? Is the use of Seminole imagery as a mascot offensive? I have read articles regarding other universities use of American Indian imagery and how those Tribal leaders viewed the imagery. There seems to be a wide range of feelings within the American Indian community regarding these issues, from outrage, to honor, to indifference. As a proud FSU grad, I am trying to understand if I should also be a proud Seminole grad. For that reason I am trying to find out if the Seminole Tribe has an official stand on this issue, and if this stand has been communicated to FSU, and the NCAA? I thank you in advance for any help you may provide me in this matter, Very sincerely, John L. Burns Dear Editor, Thank you! I am so proud of my southern Seminole Indians for not allowing the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) or other outside associations attempt to remove the Seminole name from the Florida State University. I see it as such an honor and show of respect to the great Seminole Indians to be able to carry their namesake as its mascot. Sincerely, Shawn Kilpatrick Yucca Valley, Calif. |
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