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| Volume XXV, Number 4 | March 19, 2004 |
Dear Editor,
I’m a person of African and Indian (Cherokee and Blackfoot) ancestry. My mother taught me the sad history of the native people of America, especially the terrible things that Andrew Jackson did to the Cherokee Nation. She said that Cherokees refused to carry a $20 bill because it contained the likeness of Andrew Jackson.
When you consider the legacy of slavery that was also present in my heritage, you can understand how I felt. That is why the story of the Seminole Nation is so important to people like me. I first heard about the Seminoles from a member of the tribe that I met while in college. This man, who repaired cars, related the history of the Seminoles. He was proud of the fact that they never surrendered. Those words stand out in my mind.
I must admit that I questioned the historical accounts that he related to me because I never read of the “Seminole Wars” in my history books and my mother never talked about the Seminoles. Being from North Carolina, maybe she didn’t know about the Seminole Nation. I guess the part about escaped slaves fighting side by side with Native Americans really impressed me. I’ve heard many stories about the “Buffalo Soldiers,” who were black men used by whites to fight Indians. I’ve never celebrated the memory of these soldiers.
Last year I got married to a Brazilian. My wife and I discussed the status of native people here in the U.S. and Brazil. She admitted that native Brazilians suffered from the Portuguese and Spanish conquest of South America. I told about what I’d heard about the history of the Seminole Nation.
One night we researched my computer-based encyclopedia for the history of the Seminole Tribe. I was surprised at how little information was available. After looking at various subjects under the search word Seminole, I gave up. However, I refused to accept the information we read because of what my Seminole friend told me years ago.
I also remember a story I heard while I was visiting Florida years ago. It goes something like this: A little Native American boy was watching television and noticed that in the westerns, the “Indians” were always losing the battles. He asked his father why the Indians always lose. His father said, “Until we start writing our history books and making movies, we will always lose.”
In February, I attended a concert by the U.S. Air Force Band. One of the featured artists was Tihda Vongkoth, from Seminole, Fla. I told my wife I believed that Tihda is a member of the Seminole Tribe. She has the good looks of a Native American. By the way, she gave an outstanding performance.
I was so happy to see a Native American that was such an accomplished percussionist that I decided to go on the internet and find out where Seminole, Florida was located. That is how I found your website. Once I found your site, I printed all the articles and was able to read the first accurate account of the history of the Seminole Nation.
I want to thank you for making this information generally available for people like myself. My wife and I would like to visit your new hotel and reservation sometime this year. If you could send us any information, we would be most appreciative. Our address is: 12657 Castile Court, Woodbridge VA, 22192.
Best regards,
Stan Orr
Dear Editor,
I am coming down to Hollywood, Fla. March 6–11. Will the Seminole Hard
Rock Hotel & Casino be open by then?
Lynni
No, we will open Hard Rock by the end of April.
— Edward Jenkins, Director of Compliance and Regulations
Dear Editor,
How old do you have to be to get into the casino?
Anyone between the ages of 12 and 17 may be on the gaming floor during the
hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. The minor must be accompanied by an adult at all
times. No one younger than 18 is allowed on the gaming floor. You must be 18-years-old
or older to gamble.
— Edward Jenkins, Director of Compliance and Regulations
Dear Editor,
The year is coming to an end and getting the Tribune keeps me in touch with
home as I know it. Happy Holidays to the staff in Hollywood. I suppose we
all get tense around the holidays. Just remember this is a time for miracles.
I remember my brother at times like these more then ever.
I’d like to thank everyone that helped out during our loss of Jake and
Jeff Storm.
I cannot name each and everyone, you know who you are. A special thank you
from my mother Mary is I believe in order.
I would like to add a Happy Birthday to my wife Linda Lee (Sept. 5), Taryn
(Sept. 2), Trystyn (Dec. 4), Chelsea (Nov. 4), Trishanna (Dec. 17), and Thomas
Jr. (Dec. 16). Also, my grandchildren Tyler (Sept. 16), Trevor (Jan. 10), and
Jeff Dean (Sept. 2). Whoa, that’s a handful.
I’ve sent some of my thoughts as they came to me. Hope you or someone
identifies with them.
I shall sign off with a holiday greeting to our council and board representatives,
and I look forward to coming home. This is a gator guy signing off. Send correspondences
to: 03050300, Thomas M. Storm, 3001 N.W. 63 Ave., Hollywood, FL. 33024, or
03050300, Thomas M. Storm, 520 Falkenburg Rd., Tampa, FL. 33619.
Sho na bish sha,
Thomas Storm
To whom this may concern,
My name is Lauren Sherman and I'm doing a journalism paper for school about
the Coconut Creek Casino. I wasn't quite sure who to talk to or even e-mail
for that matter for an interview required for the paper. I'd appreciate a
quick response telling me who to talk to about this as well as a number or
e-mail address I can reach them at as I do have a due date.
Thanks for your time,
Lauren Sherman
Contact Stephen Bonner at SBonner@semtribe.com. He is the General Manager
of the Coconut Creek Casino.
— Edward Jenkins, Director of Compliance and Regulations
Dear Editor,
I enjoyed your Brighton Field Days Festival very much and I would like to thank
you all for this wonderful day. Attached you will find some of my pictures
from Saturdays Pow Wow.
With the best regards
Ingrid Tanz-Sym
Arcadia, FL
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Page Updated: Thursday, March 25, 2004 1:01 PM