Busy times for EIRA: youth series concludes, INFRers punch tickets to Vegas Sports by Beverly Bidney - September 7, 2018 BIG CYPRESS — Young cowboys and cowgirls spent the summer competing in the Eastern Indian Rodeo Association’s summer kids rodeo series at the Junior Cypress Rodeo Arena. The final rodeo on Aug 18 wrapped up the summer competition and by the end of the day, the competitors were adorned with buckles,
Oral histories provide important part of museum archives Arts & Entertainment by Beverly Bidney - September 7, 2018 BIG CYPRESS — Storytelling has been a common way to pass along traditions and memories since ancient times. Also known as oral history, the practice predates the written word and is the oldest method of recording history. But it is also a very modern way of documenting history. In the 1940s
Big Cypress Reservation celebrates opening of SemFuel station Community News Top News by Beverly Bidney - September 7, 2018September 7, 2018 BIG CYPRESS — The gas is flowing at the newly opened SemFuel gas station on Josie Billie Highway in Big Cypress, making the reservation a gasoline desert no more. Customers waited for officials to speak and the ceremonial ribbon to be cut Aug. 20 before they drove up and filled their
Calf shipping plays big role in family bonding for Jumpers Community by Beverly Bidney - August 15, 2018 BIG CYPRESS — The cow pen in Big Cypress and the marsh pen in Brighton bustled with activity from July 9 to 20 as 3,672 calves were prepared for shipping to feedlots around the country. The harmonious sounds of the cattle filled the area as they were weighed, logged, sorted
Naples SWEP students learn about Tribal departments Education by Beverly Bidney - August 9, 2018 The Naples community is a small one with few of the departments common on other reservations. To allow Naples youth to participate in the Summer Work Experience Program, community outreach coordinator Sandra Osceola worked with Kerlande Patterson to develop a plan to introduce students to opportunities within the Tribe. Students chose
Students experience environmental conservation at ERMD internship program Education by Beverly Bidney - August 9, 2018 The Environmental Resource Management Department spent the summer teaching a group of 31 interns about the environment and conservation management through 10 weeks of hands-on experience. The Restore Student Internship program is funded by a grant from the Restore Council, created in 2012 after the 2010 explosion the BP Deepwater Horizon
Summer Work Experience Program features most participants ever Education by Beverly Bidney - August 1, 2018 More than 100 teens from every reservation participated in the Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP), where they gained valuable experience from working every day and earning a paycheck every week. The program, sponsored by the Center for Student Success and Services, placed students in a variety of tribal departments including Culture,
FGCU volleyball clinic a big hit for Seminole girls Sports by Beverly Bidney - July 2, 2018July 3, 2018 FORT MYERS — About 50 girls from Seminole reservations took over the Alico Arena at Florida Gulf Coast University on June 9 for a high level volleyball clinic led by FGCU’s coach. The girls made the “Nest” – the arena’s nickname – their own for the day as they polished and
Ahfachkee graduates take the stage Education by Beverly Bidney - July 2, 2018 BIG CYPRESS — The Ahfachkee School graduation May 24 was an intimate affair; just one high school graduate, Eyanna Billie, and one general education diploma (GED) graduate, Elisah Billie, proudly walked down the aisle to claim their diplomas. The Herman Osceola Gym showed no sign of the boisterous youth and adults
Immokalee summer camp cooks up culture Community by Beverly Bidney - June 29, 2018 Summer camp is more than games, sports and water fun. In Immokalee the campers also learned to cook a traditional Seminole meal in the cooking chickee June 13. The day was plenty hot without the large fire raging under the grate in the chickee, but the kids endured the heat and