‘Code Talkers’ tells uniquely Native story to young readers

by Damon Scott - February 3, 2020September 19, 2024

When people think of code talkers they likely think of the Navajo in World War II. And that’s for good reason. The U.S. Marine Corps recruited more than 400 Navajo to be code talkers in 1941 and 1942 during the war – the original group numbered about 30. Their skill would also

Florida Southern College’s Wyatt Youngman named ag fraternity pres

by Beverly Bidney - February 3, 2020September 19, 2024

LAKE PLACID — Wyatt Youngman admits he isn’t much of a people person. He likes working by himself in his family’s sprawling orange grove in Lake Placid. So how did this accomplished young man, a junior at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, become the president of the school’s chapter of

CSSS director brings expansive experience to Tribe

by Damon Scott - February 3, 2020September 19, 2024

HOLLYWOOD — Michael Giacchino recognized an artistic side early in life and spent many years developing it.He said he was following his passion. Now an education administrator for the Tribe, it might seem like a bit of a departure from artistic pursuits. But at second glance it makes more sense than

Alligator wrestling comes to Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum

by The Seminole Tribune - January 31, 2020September 19, 2024

BIG CYPRESS — The opening reception for the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum’s latest exhibit “Alligator Wrestling: Danger. Entertainment. Tradition.” on Jan. 11 drew an impressive crowd. The lawn behind the museum was packed to capacity with about 150 people eager to learn about the history of alligator wrestling and see it in person.

Halapata Chobee: big alligator!

by Justin Giles - January 31, 2020January 31, 2020

Happy New Year! As I practice the annual beneficial cliché of reflecting on the year past, it has come to my attention that 2020 marks two years I’ve been working for the Seminole Tribe of Florida as the oral history coordinator at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum. These past two years have flown

Diabetes program funded for short term (again)

by Damon Scott - January 31, 2020September 19, 2024

Advocates for the funding of two diabetes-related programs that benefit Native Americans have once again come up short in the federal budget process. The Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) and the Special Diabetes Program (SDP) were given five-month extensions in Congress’ recently passed 2020 budget. However, the National Indian Health Board

Tribes to gain better farm agency access through new agreement

by The Seminole Tribune - January 31, 2020January 31, 2020

Barry Hamilton, national tribal relations officer at the USDA’s NRCS. It’s a more than 10-page document that can look intimidating. But the underlying goal is to improve assistance to Native Americans farmers and advance conservation efforts across Indian Country. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by leaders of several agencies under

For Tribe’s wildland firefighters, Australia blazes hit close to home

by The Seminole Tribune - January 31, 2020September 19, 2024

Nearly 28,000 square miles of Australia have been consumed by wildfires since September. That land, more than 18 million acres, is larger than the states of New Jersey, Massachusetts and Maryland combined. As of Jan. 13, 28 people have perished in the fires, nearly 3,000 homes have been destroyed or

Native American voting reforms in 2020 spotlight

by Damon Scott - January 31, 2020September 19, 2024

Election officials across the country continue to prep for the coming elections of 2020, and voting rights advocates are keeping an eye on issues related to registration, identification and access. Lawmakers are also involved in bills that seek to expand strengthen voting rights. The Democrat-controlled U.S. House of Representatives passed the Voting

Wynwood murals depict Seminole teen, Miccosukee elders

by Damon Scott - January 31, 2020September 19, 2024

MIAMI — Two very different murals are on display in the Wynwood district of Miami, but both have an association to Florida’s two Tribes. An eight-story high mural of teenage Seminole Kyle James Grant is on the northeast side of the Wynwood 25 apartment building in the heart of the trendy