Seminoles Tour UM on Native American Day Student receives acceptance letter hand-delivered by UM president

By Shelley Marmor

CORAL GABLES, FL — Wednesday Nov. 16 marked the University of Miami’s (UM) Third Annual Native American Day. Native American Day coincides with American Indian and Alaskan Native Heritage Month, which occurred in August from 1990–1995, and then was moved to November in 1996.

About 20 Seminole students from various schools, including Ahfachkee, along with students from the Miccosukee Indian School participated in a campus tour from 10:30 a.m.–11:45 a.m. The buildings highlighted on the tour included: the School of Business Administration, the Department of Theatre & Drama, the School of Law and the library.

Festivities moved to the University Center Breezway for a luncheon. The breezeway is located next to the school’s Olympic-sized swimming pool and coincidentally students from the dive team were practicing, which entertained the crowd. A second surprise came minutes later for tribal citizen Tony Bert.

Bret was approached by UM President Donna Shalala, who had an admission packet in her hands. She hand-delivered Bert’s acceptance letter to him and then asked if he was going to attend UM. Bert said he was and the small crowd around him, comprised of mostly family members, began to applaud.

Shalala congratulated Bret saying, “I know you’ve worked hard.” Bret will now join the ranks of Seminoles Max Osceola Jr., who majored in political science, and Marina Renee Tigertail-Sanders, a nursing major, and carry on the ‘Canes tradition.

Following lunch, Miami’s Trinidad & Tobago Indian Queen Catherine Hummingbird-Ramirez blessed the gathering, telling everyone “the Great Spirit is now here.” Seminole Princess JoJo Osceola followed Hummingbird-Ramirez with a brief address.

“ Ignorance hurts,” Osceola said. “I want to thank everyone for coming here with an open mind.”

Following Osceola’s speech, the Red Feather Dance Company entertained the crowd with traditional dances, songs and flute music. Peter Redbird, an Oklahoma Seminole/Creek, performed the men’s traditional contemporary dance, Navajo Benjamin Sanchez performed the Grass Dance and also played flute music and Matt Atkins, a Chickahominy Indian, performed the man’s Fancy Dance.

Old Florida Cracker Storyteller Butch Harrison then took the stage to tell the audience stories about Florida in the old days. He said the cattle industry started in Florida, though cattle are most commonly associated with states like Texas. Harrison also shared some interesting stories about his experiences living in the Everglades and his experiences with the Everglades’ famed inhabitant–the alligator.

An open mic event titled “Share Your Peace” followed. Speakers included UM students Matthew Ward, Alissa Stone, Julie Armstrong and Nikki Chun. Following “Share Your Peace” the Seminole visitors made their way back to the bus to drive back to the Hollywood reservation.

For more information on the University of Miami, please visit www.miami.edu. To coordinate a trip to tour UM, please contact Native American Day trip facilitator and Higher Education Advisor Dora Bell at (954) 989-6840, Ext. 1311.