Crowds come out for 22nd annual American Indian Arts Celebration Arts & Entertainment Community News Top News Top Story by Beverly Bidney - December 4, 2019December 4, 2019 BIG CYPRESS — Nearly 2,000 visitors enjoyed the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum’s American Indian Arts Celebration in Big Cypress Nov. 1 and 2, the second highest attendance in its 22-year history. More than 600 students from about 13 schools in central, southwest and south Florida filled the museum grounds during the celebration’s first
Seminole Veteran Profile – Paul Bowers Sr. Community News Top News Top Story by Beverly Bidney - December 4, 2019December 5, 2019 Paul Bowers Sr. served as a corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps, but his fellow soldiers in the fields and jungles of Vietnam just called him Chief. “Since I was a Seminole they thought I knew everything because I was from the swamp,” Bowers said. “They had me walk [up
Talon Youngman promoted to sergeant in Glades County Sheriff’s Office Community News by Beverly Bidney - December 3, 2019December 3, 2019 Talon Youngman has always wanted to help people and found the way to his passion in the Glades County Sheriff’s Office. Youngman is the first Seminole and Native American in the department; he joined in 2017 and was promoted to sergeant last month. “I can’t believe no one else put
Patriotic day in Brighton Community News Top News Top Story by Beverly Bidney - December 2, 2019December 2, 2019 BRIGHTON — Veterans Day was commemorated in Brighton Nov. 7 at the 32nd Seminole Veterans Celebration and Recognition where Tribal and non-Tribal veterans were honored for their service and sacrifices. The patriotic day began with the Seminole color guard, which presented the Seminole Tribe of Florida, American, MIA/POW and Florida flags. Students
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa debuts $700M expansion Community News Top News Top Story by Beverly Bidney - November 12, 2019November 12, 2019 TAMPA — It wasn’t just any grand opening; the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa went all out for the property’s Grand Celebration. The $700 million expansion was celebrated Oct. 3 with a guitar smash, fireworks, celebrities and a thrilling high-wire act by Nik and Delilah Wallenda. The grand celebration continued
Seminoles experience a day of college life at FGCU Community Education News Top News Top Story by Beverly Bidney - November 5, 2019November 5, 2019 FORT MYERS — More than 40 Seminole Tribe middle and high school students with a vision for their futures that include college made that dream a reality for a day at Florida Gulf Coast University. FGCU invited the students to get a taste of the post-secondary academic world, attend a few
New THPO building opens in honor of Billy L. Cypress Community News Top News Top Story by Beverly Bidney - November 4, 2019November 5, 2019 BIG CYPRESS — The Tribal Historic Preservation Office finally has a home befitting its service to the Tribe. The Major Billy L. Cypress Building opened to great fanfare Oct. 23. With about 10,000 square-feet of interior space, the building houses 20 THPO and 11 Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum employees. There is also plenty
Early 2019 Indian Day scenes Arts & Entertainment Community News by Beverly Bidney - October 7, 2019October 9, 2019 Cecilia Garcia tends to a meal being prepared in the cooking chickee at the Immokalee Indian Day culture day Sept. 23, one of this year’s early Indian Day events in the Tribe. Seminole favorites including spam and tomatoes, chili, spaghetti and plenty of fry bread were just a few items
Natomah Robbins embarks on not-so-horrifying career in special make-up effects Arts & Entertainment Education News Top News Top Story by Beverly Bidney - October 4, 2019October 4, 2019 The foundation to Natomah Robbins’ love of art started to take shape in the fourth grade when she began drawing and painting. Since then, that love hasn’t waned and now she’s determined to make a career of it. Robbins, 21, graduated in January from the Tom Savini’s Special Make-Up Effects Program
Soggy weather can’t dampen PECS swim Olympics Community Education News Top News Top Story by Beverly Bidney - October 4, 2019October 4, 2019 BRIGHTON — Late summer showers didn’t stop the action at the Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School swim Olympics Sept. 20. Students came to the Brighton pool prepared to get wet and compete, so water falling from above was no problem for these young athletes. The PECS K-5 swim program aims to get students