40th Anniversary

A 40th Anniversary Celebration

In the early 1800s, six thousand Seminoles lived in Florida. The United States fought three wars against the Seminoles, and by 1858 less than 200 remained. After the conclusion of the Third Seminole War, the Seminoles lived in relative isolation in the Big Cypress Swamp, around Lake Okeechobee, and near Miami. Seminoles began bringing hides and pelts to south Florida trading posts. Reservation lands began to be set aside, and Seminoles were encouraged to move to lands in Hollywood, Big Cypress, and later Brighton.

In 1953, the Eighty-third Congress adopted a resolution that would have terminated assistance to the Florida Seminoles. To avoid termination, the Seminoles began efforts to obtain federal recognition and govern themselves. A constitutional committee was formed consisting of Bill Osceola, chair, Hollywood; Jackie Willie, Hollwyood; Mike Osceola, Miami; John Henry Gopher, Brighton; Billy Osceola, Brighton; Jimmy Osceola, Big Cypress; and Frank Billie, Big Cypress. A constitution and charter were approved by the Department of the Interior on July 11, 1957, and ratified by the Seminoles on August 21, 1957.

Today, there are more than 2,500 members of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The Tribe has come a long way since a few determined Seminoles survived in the swamps and Everglades 150 years ago. The spirit of independence and survival lives on today. The celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the formal organization provides a chance to look back on the rise of Seminole self-sufficiency and the continuance of historic culture and traditional life. As they continue into the 21st century, the Florida Seminoles will still be known as "The Unconquered."

"Here our navel strings were cut, and the blood from them sunk into the earth and made the country dear to us." Tuckose Emathla, Seminole Chief, May 1826

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