Donna Frank makes sure tribe’s sweetgrass culture won’t fade away Arts & Entertainment Community by Beverly Bidney - July 11, 2023September 19, 2024 During a harvesting outing in Immokalee, Donna Frank, center, shows Lauren Posada how tie a bundle of sweetgrass with a strip of fabric. At left, Lorraine Posada gathers her bundle of sweetgrass. (Beverly Bidney photo) Donna Frank is on a mission to save a part of Seminole culture that is dear
Art, garden come together in Big Cypress Arts & Entertainment Community by Beverly Bidney - June 19, 2023June 19, 2023 Artist Wilson Bowers uses a macro lens attachment on his cell phone camera to catch super close up photos of bees at work in the Big Cypress garden May 11, 2023. (Photo Beverly Bidney) BIG CYPRESS — Demonstrating that a bountiful garden can be as beautiful as a work of art,
Eighth graders say goodbye to PECS Education by Beverly Bidney - June 19, 2023June 19, 2023 Lewis Gopher Jr., the grandson of Lorene Gopher, presents the Lorene Gopher award to Ila Trueblood on May 26, 2023. (Photo Beverly Bidney) BRIGHTON — Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School eighth graders bid farewell to the school that nurtured and taught them for most of their lives with one last parade through
Ahfachkee celebrates topping off Community Education by Beverly Bidney - June 19, 2023June 19, 2023 Workers guide the final construction beam during a topping off ceremony May 11, 2023, at the Ahfachkee School on the Big Cypress Reservation. (Photo Beverly BIdney) BIG CYPRESS — Ahfachkee School students, teachers and staff watched as the final steel beam was positioned into place during the topping off ceremony for
PECS welcomes back 2023 graduates Community Education by Beverly Bidney - June 19, 2023June 19, 2023 High school graduates from the class of 2023 return to their former school – Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School – for a grad walk May 19, 2023. From left to right are Bryce Ward, Leviticus Billie, Charlie Armstrong, Wyatt Hines and Winnie Gopher. (Photo Beverly Bidney) Members of the Pemayetv Emahakv Charter
Ahfachkee celebrates class of 2023 Community Education by Beverly Bidney - June 19, 2023June 19, 2023 The Ahfachkee School graduating class of 2023 poses together May 22, 2023. From left to right are Billie Cypress, Maggie May Jimmie, Akira Cabral, Cyiah Avila, Maria Villarreal, Kassim Stockton Jr., Rosalinda Jimmie and Anthony Wells. (Photo Beverly Bidney) BIG CYPRESS — Resplendent in white caps, gowns and patchwork, eight Ahfachkee
Seminole woman sculpture installed near Tampa Arts & Entertainment News by Beverly Bidney - June 19, 2023September 19, 2024 The “Sovereign” statue, which depicts a Seminole woman in traditional patchwork clothing, is part of the landscape at Riverview’s Pebble Park near the Alafia River, southeast of Tampa. (Courtesy Nicole Milligan) A bronze sculpture of a Seminole woman, complete with patchwork designed by tribal member Jessica Osceola, was installed April 28
100 years ago – The birth of Betty Mae Jumper Community by Beverly Bidney - April 13, 2023September 19, 2024 Betty Mae Jumper talks to a group of children in this undated photo. (File photo) The 100th anniversary of the birth of Betty Mae Jumper, one of the Seminole Tribe’s most accomplished leaders, is April 27. The legacy of Jumper’s life is evident throughout the tribe, including in the pages of the
Cattle drive continues generational legacies in Big Cypress Community News by Beverly Bidney - April 13, 2023September 19, 2024 On horseback, Big Cypress cattle foreman Andre Jumper drives the cattle from the spillway to the Junior Cypress Rodeo Arena during the 25th annual Junior Cypress Cattle Drive on the Big Cypress Reservation on March 25, 2023. In the swamp buggy are honorary trail boss and cattle woman Mary Jene
Emma Brown opens real estate company Community News by Beverly Bidney - April 13, 2023September 19, 2024 At center, Okeechobee Mayor Dowling Watford and Emma Brown cut the ribbon at the opening of Brown & Company Realty on March 23, 2023. (Photo Beverly Bidney) OKEECHOBEE — Emma Johns Brown cut the ribbon on her new real estate business, Brown & Company Realty, on March 23 in Okeechobee. The business