Cypress Honored at American Indian Arts Celebration

By Nery Mejicano

BIG CYPRESS — On Saturday Nov. 13, during the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum American Indian Arts Festival, the late Billy Cypress was honored and recognized for his contribution to the cultural heritage of the Seminole Tribe of Florida and as a father, husband and warrior.

Cypress was executive director of the museum from 1989 until his death on April 12, 2004. Under his watch, the museum became a reality and is now one of the best American Indian Museums in the nation with a large repository of Seminole history, culture and tradition.

His contributions were many, having served in the military in North Korea and achieving the rank of major; serving as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, as Educational Officer and Specialist for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Tribal Coordinator for the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act as well as serving in multiple capacities throughout the state in efforts at preserving native history and culture.

Moses Jumper Jr. introduced Don Renner, an artist and long time friend of Cypress. Renner honored Cypress’s memory by presenting a wonderful portrait of Cypress to his family. The portrait will be a permanent exhibit at the museum in honor of his contributions to the preservation of the Seminole Tribe of Florida history and culture through his work at the museum.

Present during the ceremony were Cypress’s daughters, Sonya Cypress; Carla Cypress, and their children, his sister, Louise Osceola, Board President Moses Osceola and Museum Executive Director Tina Osceola.