Mercedes Osceola’s unique path leads to tribal events

by Damon Scott - January 27, 2023January 27, 2023

Mercedes Osceola stands outside of tribal headquarters on the Hollywood Reservation in January. (Photo Damon Scott) HOLLYWOOD – Mercedes Osceola says her family life and career at the Seminole Tribe have served as preparation for her new venture. Osceola is the Hollywood Council Office’s special events coordinator for Councilman Chris Osceola.

Finance head wants to bring ‘mind-change’ to office

by Damon Scott - January 27, 2023January 27, 2023

John Woodruff sits in his office at tribal headquarters in Hollywood in January. (Photo Damon Scott) HOLLYWOOD – Accounting, budgeting and the like might not be exciting to some, but John Woodruff will at least convince you that it’s an important subject and one he’s passionate about. Woodruff is the Seminole Tribe’s

Lakeland community building, residential plans advance

by Damon Scott - January 27, 2023January 27, 2023

This rendering of the Lakeland community building shows design elements such as canopies and mural walls. (TCD) Tribal Community Development (TCD) officials continue to move forward on construction plans for a community building on the Seminole Tribe’s Lakeland Reservation. In addition, phase two of homebuilding is underway at the site. TCD’s director

Education roundup: Workshops, spring SWEP, new library supervisor

by Damon Scott - January 25, 2023January 25, 2023

In this 2016 photo, Dante Thomas carries cabbage palm fronds during a Brighton Culture Department project that taught SWEP youth how to rethatch a chickee. The Education Department is taking spring SWEP applications through Feb. 10. (File photo) HOLLYWOOD – The Seminole Tribe’s K-12 students are about halfway through the

Hard Rock builds on human trafficking prevention efforts

by Damon Scott - January 25, 2023January 25, 2023

A group with the Broward Human Trafficking Coalition staffed a table at a Jan. 21 town hall event at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale. (Via Facebook) Hard Rock International has expanded its efforts to combat and prevent human trafficking by entering into partnerships intended

‘Murder in Big Horn’ looks at Montana’s MMIW

by Damon Scott - January 25, 2023January 25, 2023

MMIW cases in Big Horn County have gotten increased attention recently. (Jeff Hutchens for Showtime) Big Horn County in Montana is known as a U.S. hotbed for missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW) – the subject of a new, three-episode documentary series “Murder in Big Horn” premiering Feb. 3 on

Hard Rock’s Fernandez now SVP of cafe division

by Damon Scott - January 20, 2023January 20, 2023

Anibal Fernandez (Hard Rock) Hard Rock International has named Anibal Fernandez as senior vice president of its cafe division. Officials made the announcement in a news release Jan. 18. Fernandez oversees close to 200 company-owned and franchised Hard Rock Cafes, across the globe. He was most recently the vice president of franchise

Q&A: Native filmmaker Emerson talks debut novel ‘Shutter’

by Damon Scott - January 19, 2023January 19, 2023

‘Shutter’ was published last summer. (Courtesy Ramona Emerson) Diné writer and filmmaker Ramona Emerson published her first novel – “Shutter” – in the summer of 2022 to quick critical acclaim. The book has been longlisted for a National Book Award in fiction. Originally from Tohatchi, New Mexico, Emerson spent 16 years as

Tribe’s energy conference on tap for February

by Damon Scott - January 13, 2023January 13, 2023

Jeff Benavides, in maroon shirt, a conference presenter, and tribal member Joe Frank, in gray shirt, chat with attendees during a break at the 2019 event. (File photo) HOLLYWOOD – Officials at the Native Learning Center (NLC) in Hollywood have been putting the final touches on its annual energy conference scheduled to

Brothers nab first NAMA together for ‘The Storm’

by Damon Scott - December 20, 2022December 20, 2022

Spencer Battiest, left, and Doc Native won their first NAMA as a duo for a live at home performance of “The Storm.” (Courtesy Spencer Battiest) Seminole Tribe brothers Spencer Battiest and Doc Native have been recognized with nominations and awards for their music over the years, but they achieved a first