Brighton debuts public safety and administration buildings Community by Beverly Bidney - July 1, 2015 BRIGHTON — Employees in the Brighton administration and public safety buildings have been hard at work in their new offices since May, but tours were given June 5 to familiarize community members with the 111,000-square-foot facility. The new home of 23 tribal departments, including Seminole Police and Fire Rescue, took slightly
Guy LaBree honored at Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum Community by Peter B. Gallagher - July 1, 2015 BIG CYPRESS — The life and art of a longtime friend of the Seminole Tribe were celebrated June 20 at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum. Attendees agreed that Guy LaBree would have appreciated the camaraderie at the opening reception to an exhibit highlighting the work of the late artist. LaBree died suddenly on
Town honors warriors, soldiers killed in Second Seminole War Community by Peter B. Gallagher - July 1, 2015 MICANOPY — A crowd of more than 500 filled the field next to the Micanopy Historical Museum for a special ceremony May 25 that honored both the U.S. soldiers and Seminoles who perished in several of the most violent battles of the Second Seminole War, which occurred more than 180
4-H end-of-year banquets honor dogged commitment Community by Beverly Bidney - July 1, 2015 The 4-H clubs from each reservation held annual banquets June 22-24 to recognize top youth for attaining champion, reserve champion and showmanship status at the Seminole Indian 4-H Show and Sale held March 27. The banquets, which commemorate the end of another year raising steer, swine and small animals, also honored
Inauguration ceremony ushers elected leaders into new terms Community by Eileen Soler - June 2, 2015July 1, 2015 HOLLYWOOD — Witnessed by a crowd of nearly 500 spectators, the Tribe’s newly elected leadership was sworn in June 1 during a reverent and proud inauguration ceremony at the Hollywood Reservation. "I pray for the leaders that stand before us that they will lead with knowledge and wisdom," said the Rev.
Big Cypress plays teaching role for United Nations’ water institute Community by Eileen Soler - June 2, 2015 BIG CYPRESS — Big Cypress Board Rep. Joe Frank promised 26 master’s degree and doctoral candidates from nations around the globe one thing during a tour May 22 of the reservation’s wetlands: "You will be amazed when you look at Florida how the environment struggles to survive." All hydrology system modeling
Tribe helps keep Haskell football program alive Community by Eileen Soler - June 2, 2015July 1, 2015 LAWRENCE, Kan. — Football at Haskell Indian Nations University, under severe financial stress, has received an assist from Tribes throughout Indian Country, including a major Hail Mary from the Seminole Tribe of Florida. On May 7, Tribal members and Haskell alumni Moses Jumper Jr. (1970) and Pete Hahn (2005) presented Haskell
NICWA honors head of Tribe’s Family Services Department Community by Eileen Soler - June 2, 2015 PORTLAND, Ore. — Helene Buster’s life is filled with the problems of others. Some days she finds resolutions. Some nights the director of the Tribe’s Family Services Department goes to bed with the weight of concerns too heavy for rest. Drug- and alcohol-addicted Tribal members and the children caught in the
Tribe wildland firefighters tackle blaze at Big Cypress National Preserve Community by Beverly Bidney - June 2, 2015July 1, 2015 BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE — Three days after lightning ignited a wildfire May 8 at Big Cypress National Preserve, nine wildland firefighters of the Seminole Tribe Forestry and Wildland Fire Department joined the effort to control the blaze. About 349 personnel from eight firefighting units cooperated to extinguish the fire, which
Dedicated patchwork artist emerges from Immokalee Community by Eileen Soler - June 2, 2015July 1, 2015 IMMOKALEE — For Immokalee’s Culture Department site coordinator Moleana Hall, patience and patchwork go hand in hand, but she didn’t always practice what she preaches. "Sewing just wasn’t my thing. I didn’t have the patience for it ... when I started working here I had to learn," Hall said while surrounded