ST. PETERSBURG — Brighton resident Jill John was born almost 32 years ago with spina bifida, a birth defect that involves the incomplete development of the spinal cord. She has spent most of her life in a wheelchair and has endured more than a dozen major surgeries. Her father, Seminole Tribal

BRIGHTON — Brighton resident Emma Urbina now lives in her dream home, thanks to the Tribe’s Construction and Development Department. The department, which bids for jobs alongside outside construction companies, built Urbina’s house in about six months. Brighton Board Rep. Larry Howard presented her with the keys to her new

By Andrea Holata HOLLYWOOD — About a dozen Tribal youth caught an inside view of the media industry and how it operates during the sixth year of the Seminole Media Productions Workshop (SMPW) held at the Native Learning Center from July 23-27. With the help of SMP staff, youth had the opportunity

LAS VEGAS — Native Americans from across the country met in Las Vegas from Aug. 1-4 to partake in the UNITY 2012 Convention, a national gathering of minority journalists that promotes diversity in newsrooms. Members of the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA), the Asian American Journalists Association, the National Association of

BIG CYPRESS — Portions of the Mekong River Delta in Southeast Asia compare to the Everglades because the resources they offer need protection while supporting a large population nearby. The traditional Seminole way of respecting the environment while inhabiting it is an asset to be shared with other people around

By Kathryn Stolarz HOLLYWOOD — Seminole Gaming employees watch patrons win big every day, but once a year staff get a chance at a prize that involves more than luck. Singers, a rap artist and even a magician took the stage on July 30 to vie for the Seminole Superstar title during

HOLLYWOOD — Cooking a meal outside over wood harvested from a nearby forest is an activity as old as humankind itself. Although the convenience of cooking in an air-conditioned kitchen using modern appliances is a far more popular way to make a meal, the tradition of an open campfire still

By Andrea Holata BRIGHTON — For decades, the Seminole Tribe has used storytelling for entertaining and teaching purposes. Community outreach specialist Willie Johns spoke to Tribal employees about the history and significance of storytelling within the Tribe during a Seminole Moments presentation on Aug. 9 at the Brighton Cattle & Range Dining

By Cooper Rivers HOLLYWOOD — Twenty-seven years ago, Regina Thinn was just like many other people, struggling to pay bills and to feed her children. She had a 9-to-5 desk job but didn’t enjoy it and wanted something different. She started with beading but realized she had a passion for sewing. Regina’s