Ahfachkee students study historical Black poetry Education by Beverly Bidney - March 16, 2021March 17, 2021 Throughout Black History Month in February, Ahfachkee fifth graders studied a multitude of Black history topics including poetry. The students studied poems by Amanda Gorman and Maya Angelou that the poets recited at presidential inaugurations; Gorman spoke at Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s in January; Angelou at William J. Clinton’s in 1993. Teacher
Native artists Jessica Osceola, Velma Kee Craig share spotlight in St. Pete MFA talk Arts & Entertainment Community Top News by Beverly Bidney - March 10, 2021March 10, 2021 Velma Kee Craig’s textile “Bar Code/QR Code” as viewed during the virtual artists conversation Feb. 25, 2021, with artist Jessica Osceola, event host Stephanie Chill, development coordinator, Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg and artist Velma Kee Craig. (Courtesy image) Artists Jessica Osceola (Seminole) and Velma Kee Craig (Diné) held a
Trail cameras taken from Big Cypress National Preserve News Top News by Beverly Bidney - March 8, 2021March 8, 2021 Trail camera photo of Florida panthers. (NPS photo) Seven trail cameras used to study the elusive Florida panther in the Ochopee area of Big Cypress National Preserve were apparently stolen between Jan. 21 and Feb. 2. Law enforcement rangers are asking for assistance with the investigation of the cameras, valued at
Voter registration deadline nears for regular tribal election Community Top News by Beverly Bidney - February 26, 2021February 26, 2021 The next regular Tribal election for Council and Board representatives will be held May 10. Residents of Big Cypress, Brighton, Immokalee, Hollywood, Fort Pierce and Tampa are eligible to vote if they are registered. Anyone who moved from one reservation to another, or moved to a reservation from off of a
Jessica Osceola, Velma Kee Craig to appear Feb. 25 in virtual event for Museum of Fine Arts St. Pete Community Top News by Beverly Bidney - February 24, 2021February 24, 2021 Seminole artist Jessica Osceola will appear with Diné artist Velma Kee Craig in a virtual event Feb. 25 sponsored by the Museum of Fine Arts St. Pete. “Common Thread: A Conversation Between Artists Velma Kee Craig and Jessica Osceola” will be live from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Osceola, a ceramist, sculptor
THPO mapping project centers on community participation Community News Top News Top Story by Beverly Bidney - February 11, 2021February 11, 2021 A typical map is a one dimensional portrayal of a place comprised of lines, names and numbers. A participatory map is a lot more personal and driven by the culture and experiences of those who live there. Participatory mapping, also known as community mapping, is based on the knowledge of local
PECS immersion students mark 100th day of school Education by Beverly Bidney - February 11, 2021February 11, 2021 Arrow “Herake” Johns holds her writing assignment and a photo of what she may look like at 100 years old. (Courtesy photo) KyLynn “Vpeyet” Lawrence dons a shirt filled with hearts along with a crown and construction paper glasses in celebration of reaching the 100th day mark with school. (Courtesy photo) BRIGHTON
PECS sixth grade virtual walk raises money for South Sudan Education by Beverly Bidney - February 4, 2021February 4, 2021 Oreste Perez walked 9.1 miles and Timothy Urbina walked 9.144 miles during the fundraiser for Water for South Sudan and helped the class raise $684 to assist the Sudanese people with access to clean water. (Courtesy photo) BRIGHTON — Sixth graders at Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School put themselves into the shoes
New Native American studies program begins at University of Miami Education Top News by Beverly Bidney - February 4, 2021February 4, 2021 This drawing by Seminole descendant Chelsey Ford is being used as the cover of the course syllabus. (Courtesy image) The University of Miami introduced its new Native American and Global Indigenous Studies (NAGIS) program with the spring semester Jan. 25. The first course, “Introduction to Native and Indigenous Peoples and Perspectives,”
Tribe gains control of BC wetlands, saving millions Community News Top News Top Story by Beverly Bidney - February 3, 2021February 3, 2021 BIG CYPRESS — Starting in the 1990s, the U.S. government aimed to restore the water system on the Big Cypress Reservation with a project that was supposed to rehydrate wetlands, improve water quality and enhance water storage capacity. Instead, the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation Water Conservation Project never worked