USET meeting aims for change Community by Eileen Soler - February 27, 2015April 6, 2015 ARLINGTON, Va. — Just minutes from Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., representatives from 26 sovereign Native Tribes gathered Feb. 9-12 in Arlington, Virginia to become one voice at the United South and Eastern Tribes (USET) Impact Week Meeting 2015. Under the motto "Strength in Unity," USET convened the 52-member Board of
Pow Wow power strong at Seminole country return Community by Eileen Soler - February 27, 2015July 8, 2015 HOLLYWOOD — After nearly a decade of hibernation, the spirited all-Tribe dance competitions of the Seminole Tribal Fair and Pow Wow roared back to life with a bigger and better turnout than bygone years. With 205 competitive dancers, seven drum groups, flag bearers from four Tribes and Tribal leaders from regions
BC’s Josie Billie Highway revamped for safer travel Community by Eileen Soler - February 27, 2015April 6, 2015 BIG CYPRESS — The first portion completed in the multimillion dollar Snake Road improvement project in Big Cypress was celebrated with a ribbon cutting and speeches Jan. 30 at Junior Cypress Rodeo Arena. "Today we mark an important milestone," said Big Cypress Board Rep. Joe Frank. Actually, the occasion heralded 2.25 miles
Play raises awareness for resting grounds, repatriation Community by Eileen Soler - February 27, 2015April 6, 2015 PHILADELPHIA — A play staged at Penn Museum at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia Feb. 12 hit at the heart of an ongoing struggle throughout Indian Country to repatriate ancestral remains. "Everyone but us had a right to be buried with family. Everyone but us," said John Echohawk, executive director
Native friends of Bonnet House connect ocean to Everglades Community by Eileen Soler - February 27, 2015April 6, 2015 FORT LAUDERDALE — A Bonnet House meeting Jan. 19 at a restaurant on the bank of the Intracoastal Waterway in Fort Lauderdale became a lesson in history, current events and ecologic responsibility when a Seminole set the scene and a Miccosukee spoke the truth. Larry Mike Osceola II, a Bonnet House
Canoe project paddles closer toward Himmarshee Canal Community by Eileen Soler - February 27, 2015April 6, 2015 FORT LAUDERDALE — The unveiling Jan. 30 of an 18-inch-thick, 10-foot-long Cypress log at an art studio in downtown Fort Lauderdale launched an art project that will span from the drawing board to reality. In months to come, in view of passersby of the Upper Room Art Gallery near the New
Close Up students engage democracy Education by Eileen Soler - February 27, 2015April 6, 2015 WASHINGTON — Bundled under layers of sweaters, hats and gloves, teenagers from Tribes throughout the eastern and southern United States braved teeth-chattering temperatures in Washington, D.C. for intense study in the cradle of American democracy. "I really enjoy learning about history, government and how it affects us as Native Americans. We
Literacy Week serves chapters of reading inspiration Education by Eileen Soler - February 27, 2015April 6, 2015 BRIGHTON — Huddled in twos and threes on bean bag chairs and tucked under desks in teacher Jenny Ward’s reading classroom, Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School third-graders were immersed in the pages of books that ranged from "Stink and the Midnight Zombie Walk" to "Let’s Explore Sharks." "They are reading for the
Top Ahfachkee School students lauded Education by Eileen Soler - February 27, 2015April 6, 2015 BIG CYPRESS — Ahfachkee School teachers and administrators took the entire morning Feb. 5 to herald the first semester’s "above and beyond" achievements of students from all grades. Certificates were presented in 10 categories that included Good Friend Award, Rising Star Award, Physical Education Sportsmanship Award, Physical Education Top Student Award,
Hard Rock corporate conference rocks Mexico Community by Eileen Soler - January 29, 2015April 6, 2015 QUINTANA ROO, Mexico — The Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya, a resort in the Puerto Aventuras district of Mexico south of Cancun, pulsated under the hard rock beats that accompanied a fashion show of the latest T-shirts from the Seminole Tribe’s Hard Rock brand empire. Models from age 4 to 40ish