TALLAHASSEE — Seminole Tribe members and historians gathered at the Florida capital Dec. 12-13 to defend the aboriginal ancestry of today’s Seminole Indians during the annual Winter Solstice Celebration. Hosted by the Florida Department of State, the celebration was held at the Mission San Luis de Apalachee, a restored 1633 Spanish

Hoping to bring Christmas cheer to a community in need, members of the Native Relief Foundation (NRF) ignored unrelenting rain Dec. 5 to load a 26-foot rental truck with boxes of donated clothing, blankets and food earmarked for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Designated driver and NRF member Bobbie "BJ" Billie

HOLLYWOOD — Surrounded by about 70 friends, family members and colleagues, Edward Aguilar celebrated his graduation from Seminole Gaming’s Tribal Career Development (TCD) program in style Dec. 17 during the annual Christmas party at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. Sharply dressed in a suit and tie, Aguilar proudly

BIG CYPRESS — Immersion into a world of wildlife beckons visitors at Billie Swamp Safari. From the minute guests arrive at the tourist destination they are greeted by a cacophony of squawks, grunts, tweets and tribbles that welcome them to pop over and peek into animal pens that surround the parking

OCHOPEE, Fla. — More than 500 people gathered at the Big Cypress National Preserve Dec. 5 to celebrate the history and culture of the Everglades during the Swamp Heritage Festival in Ochopee, about 35 miles east of Naples. The fifth annual event featured nearly two dozen organizations dedicated to safeguarding the

BIG CYPRESS — A public reception for what is deemed a landmark exhibit at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum in Big Cypress is planned for mid-January. High-ranking officials in fields of anthropology, history, government and education are expected to attend. "It is probably our most ambitious installation to date," said Museum Director and

BIG CYPRESS — Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum’s public reception, set for 2 p.m. Jan. 16 to celebrate the Museum’s newest exhibit "Struggle for Survival, 1817-1850," will also herald two additional exhibits that opened in November. "Conversations" by award-winning Seminole Tribune photographers, showing through February 2016 in the Museum’s Mosaic Gallery, consists of 14

FORT LAUDERDALE — Longtime Tribe employee Reinaldo Becerra won an Emmy at the 39th annual Suncoast Emmy Awards Dec. 5 for a show he hosted and produced for WLRN-TV about Florida panthers in the Everglades. "Big Cypress National Preserve: Panthers," one of his six shows about the preserve, features Becerra with

HOLLYWOOD — Jack Smith Jr., who has served on the Seminole Water Commission for 26 years, was recognized Dec. 16 for his service during the group’s monthly meeting at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. "We are recognizing his important contribution to the Tribe," said Amos Tiger, commission chairman. "He