Seminole tribes generally follow Christianity, both Protestantism and Roman Catholicism. They also observe their traditional Native religion, which is expressed through the stomp dance and the Green Corn Ceremony held at their ceremonial grounds. Indigenous peoples have practiced Green Corn rituals for centuries.
What is sacred to the Seminole Tribe?
Most Seminole ceremonies had to do with fire or water, both considered sacred. Of the many Seminole customs and rituals, the Green Corn Dance or ceremony was one of the most important and is still performed by some Natives.
What traditions did the Seminole Tribe have?
At this special spiritual event, Seminoles participate in purification and manhood ceremonies, settle tribal disputes, and engage in hours of stomp dancing—a traditional style of Seminole dancing in which a medicine man leads a single file of chanting male dancers, followed by women dancers quietly shuffling along with
What was the lifestyle and culture of the Seminole?
The Seminoles lived in virtual isolation in and around the Everglades for many years. They lived in open-sided structures called chickees, which were adapted to the swampy environment. They survived by hunting, gathering wild foods, and growing crops like corn, pumpkins, and potatoes.
What did the Seminole fight for?
The First Seminole War (1817–18) began over attempts by U.S. authorities to recapture runaway Black slaves living among Seminole bands. Under General Andrew Jackson, U.S. military forces invaded the area, scattering the villagers, burning their towns, and seizing Spanish-held Pensacola and St. Marks.
What are the Seminoles known for?
Some Creeks were searching for rich, new fields to plant corn, beans and other crops. For a while, Spain even encouraged these migrations to help provide a buffer between Florida and the British colonies. The 1770s is when Florida Indians collectively became known as Seminole, a name meaning “wild people” or “runaway.”
What language did Seminoles speak?
A: There is no such thing as a “Seminole” language. Today, the members of the Seminole tribe speak one or both of two languages: Maskókî and Mikisúkî. These are the only two left from among the dozens of dialects that were spoken by their ancestors here in the Southeast.
How many Seminoles died on the Trail of Tears?
According to estimates based on tribal and military records, approximately 100,000 Indigenous people were forced from their homes during the Trail of Tears, and some 15,000 died during their relocation.
What did the Seminoles eat?
In addition to quail and duck, the Seminole tribe also brought deer, pigs, opossum, rabbits and the occasional bear to the table. The sea offered fish, turtles and oysters, and the industrious tribe skillfully cultivated a variety of grains, vegetables, roots and fruits. The Seminoles ate socially—and informally.
Did the Seminole tribe have any enemies?
TheMicos Jumper, Alligator, Micanopy and Osceola, leading less than 3,000 warriors, were pitted against four U.S. generals and more than 30,000 troops. The Second Seminole War (1835-1842), usually referred to as the Seminole War proper, was the fiercest war waged by the U.S. government against American Indians.
What type of government did the Seminole Tribe have?
GOVERNANCE. The constitution of the Seminole Tribe of Florida establishes a government consisting of a five member council and a five member board. One member is elected from each of the Hollywood, Big Cypress and Brighton reservations to serve as representatives on either Council or Board.
How did the Seminoles dress?
The Seminole man of this period wore a simple full cut shirt. A decorative area usually adorned the front placket. On his head, he wore a turban made from plaid wool shawls. These two garments, with the common addition of a (leather, woven yarn, or beaded) belt, completed the essentials of male attire.
How did the Seminoles resist removal?
When the U.S., enforcing the Removal Act, coerces many Seminoles to march to Indian Territory (which is now known as Oklahoma), some Seminoles and Creeks in Alabama and Florida hide in swamps to avoid forced removal. The descendants of those who escaped have governments and reservations in Florida today.
Did the Seminoles surrender?
They never surrendered, never signed a peace treaty. By retreating into the Everglades, the Seminoles outsmarted and outlasted a nation whose aim was to forcibly relocate them to Oklahoma. Among Florida’s tourist destinations, Big Cypress is unlike any other.
Who won the Seminole Indian war?
Jackson was unable to find or capture the Seminoles thus ending the First Seminole Indian War. In 1819 Florida was sold by the Spanish to the United States. There were about 5,000 Seminole Indians who claimed Florida’s 32 million acres of land as their own.
How do you become a Seminole Indian?
Their enrollment requirements are: 1) You must prove lineal descendancy from someone listed on the 1957 Tribal Roll, 2) A blood quantum with a minimum of one-quarter Florida Seminole blood, and 3) You must be sponsored by a currently enrolled tribal member.
Who was the leader of the Seminole Tribe?
Seminole Tribe leader Marcellus Osceola Jr. is elusive, inspiring — but likely unknown to many Floridians – Florida Phoenix.
How did the Seminole Tribe resist being moved?
Some Indian nations simply refused to leave their land — the Creeks and the Seminoles even waged war to protect their territory. The First Seminole War lasted from 1817 to 1818. The Seminoles were aided by fugitive slaves who had found protection among them and had been living with them for years.
What religion did the black Seminoles practice?
The Black Seminoles, however, practiced a religion that was a blend of African and Christian rituals, to which traditional Seminole Indian dances were added, and their language was an English Creole similar to Gullah and sometimes called Afro-Seminole Creole.
How do you know if you’re a Seminole?
To prove that one of your grandparents is full-blooded Florida Seminole, search for the name in the 1880 to 1940 Indian Census Rolls and the 1957 Tribal Roll, found at the National Archives. If you don’t find the grandparent’s name, you may not be eligible.
What are some Seminole names?
Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
- 1819–1849: Micanopy (ca. 1780–ca.
- 1849–: John Jumper (ca. 1820–1896), chief of Confederate faction of Seminole.
- 1882–1885: John Jumper, chief.
- 1866–1881: John Chupco (ca.
- 1885–1901: John F.
- 1905–1919: John F.
- 1922–1935: Alice Brown Davis (1852–1935), chief.
- 1935–1936: Chili Fish, chief.
