Indian Pride Lets Native Americans Tell Their Own History

By Wanda F. Bowers

WASHINGTON, DC — Miss Florida Seminole Brittney Yescas, along with other delegates representing the Seminole Tribe, had the honor of attending the world premiere of Indian Pride in Washington, DC. Indian Pride is a broadcast magazine program for public television that showcases the history and culture of 562 American Indian nations.

The premiere was held at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian.

Indian Pride Executive Producers Bob Dambach and JuniKae Randall hosted the program. The two welcomed all the visitors, special guest and members of the Indian Pride advisory board.

Danny Jumper, director of WSBC Seminole Broadcasting, and Max B. Osceola Jr., Hollywood Tribal Council representative, are both advisory board members. The Seminole Tribe of Florida as a whole was acknowledged because of the involvement bringing this production to fruition.

Along with Jumper and Osceola, Damback and Randall also recognized Yescas. They mentioned she brought color to the event with her beautiful Seminole outfit donned with traditional patchwork and her long cape.

Yescas received a traditional hand drum from Dambach and Randall. The drum featured the Indian Pride logo on the face and will be presented to Chairman Mitchell Cypress during the March 13 Tribal Council meeting in Big Cypress.

Indian Pride showcased a few Seminole Tribal citizens including Joel Frank, a Tribal historian and director of the Grant Formulation and Government Relations department. Storyteller Herbert Jim, who is well versed in Seminole traditions, is also featured in the series.

The Seminole Tribal guests at the premiere were proud to be some of the first to watch this unprecedented production. This is the first of nine Indian Pride productions already completed, with more to come.