SEMINOLE INDIANS

THIS TRIBE ORIGINALLY LIVED IN FLORIDA. THEY PRIMARILY LIVE IN OKLAHOMA. THE SEMINOLE WERE A GROUP OF TRIBES INCLUDING CREEKS FROM GEORGIA AND ALALABAMA WHO SETTLED IN FLORIDA. THE WORD SEMINOLE IS SPANISH FOR MICCOSUKEE, WHO WERE RECOGNIZED AS A SEPARATE TRIBE IN 1962.



AFTER DISTANCING THEMSELVES FROM THE CREEKS THEY ESTABLISHED A THRIVING TRADE NETWORK DURING THE BRITISH AND SECOND SPANISH PERIODS (1767 - 1821). THE TRIBE EXPANDED CONSIDERABLY AND WAS FURTHER SUPPLEMENTED FROM THE LATE 18TH CENTURY WITH THE FREE BLACK SEMINOLES OR BLACKS WHO HAD ESCAPED FROM SLAVERY WHO SETTLED INTO COMMUNITIES NEAR SEMINOLE TOWNS. THEY LIVED WITH THE INDIANS AND PAID THEM TO BE PROTECTED FROM SLAVERY.



HOWEVER IN 1818 - 1860 THERE WERE A SERIES OF WARS BETWEEN THE SEMINOLES AND THE U.S. FOLKS IN THE NORTH. THEY WERE FORCED TO MOVE WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI. AS THESE FOLKS REMOVED THEM FROM THEIR ORIGINAL LANDS. FEWER THAN 200 SEMINOLES REMAIN IN FLORIDA AND THESE FOLKS FOCUSED ON THEIR TRADITIONAL CUSTOMS AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS. MOST OF THEM SPEAK MIKASUKI AND SOME CREEK AND SOME ENGLISH.



THE GREEN CORN DANCE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT AND IS CELEBRATED AMONG CREEK AS WELL. THEY RITUALLY USE TOBACCO. THEY CONSTRUCTED OPEN AIR THATCHED ROOFED HOUSES OR CHICKIES. IN THE LATE 1800'S THE SEMINOLES ESTABLISHED A 5000 ACRE RESERVE IN FLORIDA. BY 1957 THEY RECEIVED FEDERAL RECOGNITION. MY FAMILY OF ORIGIN HAS VISITED THE RESERVATION AND THEY ATTRACT FOREIGN TOURISTS. THEN MEN HAVE AN INTERESTING AND CHALLENGING EVENT OF DANCING IN A RING WITH RATTLESNAKES! THE WOMEN MAKE BEAUTIFUL MISTAKES.























































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