PECS spelling bee is F-U-N Education by Beverly Bidney - February 29, 2016 BRIGHTON — First- through eighth-grade students at Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School fought butterflies in their tummies, stood tall and strove to spell words correctly at the school’s eighth annual spelling bee Feb. 10. The students knew there would be only one winner, so strategies such as asking for definitions or usages
Project to restore Devil’s Garden to natural state Community by Beverly Bidney - January 26, 2016 DEVIL’S GARDEN — A $150 million restoration project on land just north of Big Cypress Reservation is helping return 14,437 acres to its original state as a wet prairie with scattered cypress domes, tree-island hammocks, depression marshes and slough-ways. The land, owned by the South Florida Water Management District, is also
Miss Seminole takes expert track toward Miss Indian World Community by Beverly Bidney - January 26, 2016 Since she was crowned Miss Florida Seminole in July, Destiny Nunez has appeared at 11 events in Florida and Oklahoma. Representing the Tribe is part of her responsibilities, as is vying for Miss Indian World during the Gathering of Nations Pow-Wow in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The April competition will feature contestants
Sally Tommie appointed to national Native arts board Community by Beverly Bidney - January 26, 2016 Sally Tommie, daughter and granddaughter of traditional tribal artists Minnie Tommie and Sallie Chupco Tommie, respectively, grew up surrounded by art and experienced how sweetgrass baskets, dolls and patchwork put food on her family’s table. As a recently appointed Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF) board of directors member, Tommie will
Fish, prayer center of Big Cypress tournament Community by Beverly Bidney - January 26, 2016 BIG CYPRESS — Big Cypress Reservation’s canals and ponds were crowded Dec. 29 with competitive fishermen, women and children vying to haul in the biggest catch during the Big Cypress First Baptist Church’s adult and youth fishing tournament. About 30 adults and 30 youth participated in the catch-and-release tournament, and plenty
Pemayetv Emahakv students explore the past during archaeological dig Education by Beverly Bidney - January 26, 2016 BRIGHTON — Fortified with the spirit of adventure, 33 Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School sixth-graders approached an archaeological dig like treasure hunters. But instead of gold, they found evidence of human life from before Brighton became a reservation in 1935. The Dec. 17 field trip marked the second year PECS teacher Mindy
Mentoring program connects Hollywood teens and children Education by Beverly Bidney - January 26, 2016 HOLLYWOOD — Competition was fierce Jan. 7 at the Hollywood Boys & Girls Club as teens battled youth in a Smash Bros. video game tournament. While fun, the contest offered teens a chance to mentor younger club members through a new program. The Hollywood mentoring program began last summer when the
Tough kids ride rough stock at EIRA clinic Sports by Beverly Bidney - January 26, 2016 BIG CYPRESS — Young rodeo riders who needed to polish their steer wrestling, calf roping and barrel racing skills converged at Junior Cypress Rodeo Arena for the 19th annual Eastern Indian Rodeo Association (EIRA) rough stock clinic Jan. 8-9 in Big Cypress. EIRA charter member and special event director Moses Jumper
Seminoles, Santa deliver holiday cheer to hospital Community by Beverly Bidney - December 30, 2015December 30, 2015 HOLLYWOOD — President Mitchell Cypress, with help from Santa Claus, brought much-needed Christmas cheer to young patients Dec. 8 at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. After collecting more than 900 toys during a three-day toy drive, President Cypress distributed gifts to children who might not be home for the holidays. "What most children
Chairman, governor reach compact agreement Community by Beverly Bidney - December 30, 2015December 30, 2015 Chairman James E. Billie and Gov. Rick Scott signed a gaming compact Dec. 7 that will give the Tribe the exclusive right to operate blackjack and add craps and roulette at its seven Florida casinos. In exchange, the Tribe will pay $3 billion to the state over a seven-year period beginning