Seminole Horse Whisperer Tells His Story in Book

By Susan Etxebarria

On May 15 a reverent book came off the presses, which gives readers a glimpse into the depth of Seminole culture. It is a touching story, more like a parable, of an unlikely friendship between a Seminole elder and a white woman.

The book, titled Ah-Ho-Ne-Ce – The Seminole Horse Whisperer, is about Jimmy Scott Osceola and written by C.J. McAdams. She is a resident of Buckhead Ridge, Fla., and owner of The Dust Collector, an antique shop in Okeechobee.

McAdams writes humbly and simply about the lessons she has learned from Osceola. The 68-year-old Seminole man took her imagination places and showed her things that few people ever experience, she said.

In her eloquent stories, the author shares how she encountered a kindred spirit in Osceola one windy day in November 2005, when he walked into The Dust Collector for the first time. From that day forward, this soft-hearted grandmother not only welcomed the artist from Brighton, but created a special place in her antique store to display his artwork. For Osceola, it became a healing place.

McAdams is a gifted storyteller, having participated in folk festivals over the years. Perhaps this was her fascination with Osceola. He, too, is a storyteller. But she will say it is much more than that.

Over the past 19 months, Osceola taught her much about the Native American ways; a belief system that had a profound affect on her life. Thirsty for this knowledge and the wisdom of Indian ways, she invited Osceola to make the store a home away from home where he could sit in his own designated rocking chair. He was invited to visit as often as he liked. And he came often.

Up until that life-changing day McAdams had little knowledge about the Seminoles. She knew there was some Indian blood in her fourth-generation Floridian ancestry. As a child growing up in Bartow, Fla. her Indian heritage wasn’t mentioned much, and her own spiritual yearnings hadn’t taken her yet on that journey of exploration.

McAdams said she believes Osceola came into her life for a higher purpose.

“My mother once told me that I would meet someone I would never forget,” she said. “Jimmie Scott Osceola will be that person for me. I will always remember Jimmie Scott sitting in his rocking chair. When I am old and gray I will sit in my chair and tell my children about the day the door opened to our store and the ‘Seminole Wind’ blew in.”

In the book, McAdams pays tribute to Osceola, who shared the beauty of the Seminole world with her. He trusted her and she listened. Many others, some merely curious, came by the store to listen to Osceola’s stories, but McAdams said she was protective of her friend.

The book was originally begun as McAdams’ personal journal. She was making a memory scrapbook — documenting how she met Osceola and the meaningful things she learned from him — for him and his family. It included photos of important events, including photos from the City of Okeechobee’s declaration of May 20, 2006 as Jimmie Scott Osceola Day. McAdams and her friend, Lydia Jean Williams, Okeechobee City councilwoman, orchestrated the day in his honor.

When Osceola’s sister, Lawanna Osceola Niles, read through the scrapbook in November 2006, she took it to her brother, Joe Dan Osceola of Hollywood. McAdams was very pleased when the two came back and told her the Tribe would like to publish her memoirs of Jimmie Scott Osceola.

Then the real work began over the next six months. The book’s construction was a three-legged stool.

First, without Jimmie Scott Osceola there would be no stories to tell. Second, McAdams put them to paper in her lovely prose. The third participant was photographer Rafael Pacheco, who lovingly produced the masterful layout of the book and the sensitive photos.

The unveiling of the published book was held May 26 at a luncheon at Renegade Barbeque in Seminole Paradise. Among the many guests were Tribal officials, Jimmie Scott, his son Duane and two grandchildren, Pacheco, McAdams, and her husband Martin Rodriguez, the book’s production assistant.

Also attending was Okeechobee City Council Woman and Book Coordinator, Lydia Jean Williams. Okeechobee City Councilman Dowling Watford was unable to attend. Williams and Watford wrote introductions for the book.

Only 20 copies of this book are in existence.

Chairman Mitchell Cypress and President Richard Bowers were each presented with one of the rare books. One book was donated to the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum. One book is headed to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC. Also, everyone who participated in the book’s creation and production, including Osceola’s sister, brother and son, received a copy.

As people see the book, the requests to buy it are increasing. There is talk about doing a second printing of 500 more books.

Jimmie Scott wrote two chapters of the 80 page book — one is a loving tribute to his wife, Gloria, and another for his children and grandchildren.

The photographer, Pacheco, 35, started shooting in November 2006, and said the 25-30 photo shoots resulted in more than 500 photos. Pacheco said for the book, he “used the photos that matched the moment.”

Pacheco said that he and McAdams spent more than 1,000 hours on the book; however, it is not what he would call a “commercialized product.”

“For me this is raw, not overproduced like so many coffee table books,” he said. “It has artistic vision.”

Pacheco’s work can be viewed at www.creationsinfotografia.com, where there are many photos from the book.

McAdams’ store is located at 118 Park Street in Okeechobee. She invites anyone who would like to see and read the book to come and do so in her Seminole Room. The store is open Monday-Saturday, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.