What is now the seminole tribe of florida can be traced back 1012,000 years. The seminole indians, one of the socalled five civilized tribes, were forcibly removed to the indian territory present oklahoma. List of native american tribes in oklahoma wikipedia. Aug 01, 2012 its indepth exploration of seminole history begins with prehistoric times and continues to the present. During the course of the day on june 8, 1974, oklahoma city was struck by five different tornadoes. A culture history of the seminole indians in northern. I developed a fondness for the american indian as a child in st. The seminole wars ultimately pushed much of the tribe into oklahoma, and the nature of some of the fighting remains one of the best known aspects of seminole history among americans. Here is a brief biographical history of the leaders for the seminole nation starting prior to the removal. Seminole indians everglades florida 1940s educational movie 70614 duration. The five tribes include cherokee, chickasaw, choctaw, muscogee creek, and seminole tribes.
In the last half of the 18th century, migrants from the creek towns of southern georgia moved into northern florida, the former territory of the apalachee and timucua. History, kinship, and group identity among the seminole freedmen of oklahoma. After world war ii, i worked at muskogee high school, muskogee, oklahoma. Thus today, the oklahoma seminole are a nation with virtual boundaries but no land, a people. The government of the seminole nation of oklahoma is led by an elected chief and an assistant chief. Updates and helpful resources from seminole tribe of florida during covid19. Of those, roughly two thousand were african americans. Forces of federal law in indian territory, 18311898 road to statehood. Seminole nation of oklahoma genealogy familysearch wiki.
Seminole roll, indians by blood 1899 names with tribes and numbers. The tribe has a current population of over 17,000 citizens governed as a representative tribal republic. Citizenship, and by 1935, they reestablished their tribal government. The tribe owns 372 acres of federal trust land and approximately 53 acres of fee simple land. Frederick webb hodge, in his handbook of american indians north of mexico, gave a more complete history of the seminole tribe, with estimations of the population of the tribe at various time periods. List of books and articles about seminole indians online. He currently teaches indian law at the university of lethbridge, alberta. Seminole, native north americans whose language belongs to the muskogean branch of the hokansiouan linguistic stock see native american languages. History of seminole nation revealed through song, story. Other than seminole nation tribal memberindian preference, selection for this position will be made without regard to race, sex, color, age, marital status, national origin, or any other nonmerit factor.
The seminole nation of oklahoma is headquartered in wewoka within seminole county, oklahoma. A few seminole remained isolated in the everglades. Early newspapers were the wewoka herald, wewoka democrat, and the seminole county capital. Howards objective in writing this book has been to record the richness of seminole culture in the west, presenting that culture as it is seen and. During the course of the day on june 8, 1974, oklahoma city. A legal history volume 4 american indian law and policy. There were eight seminole clans namely deer, bear, panther, snake, otter, bird, big town, and wind. There are many stories about famous black seminole lawmen, such as heck bruner and the famous advisor and lawyer to the seminole nation, james coody johnson. Seminole tribe the encyclopedia of oklahoma history. Called both sam jones and the devil by the american soldiers. Maccauley, clay the seminole indians of florida, washington, government.
The seminole tribe of florida is a federally recognized seminole tribe based in the u. By the time the wars ended, he had helped guide the seminole through nearly five decades of war. Brown was the brother of seminole governor john brown and the two owned and operated the wewoka trading company. Over,500 live within the state of oklahoma and slightly more than 5,000 live within seminole county. Typescripts of correspondence 18401939 and newspaper articles 19061933 regarding john jumper and seminole land disputes, along with resolutions and ordinances 19691979 of the seminole general council.
It is the largest of the three politically unrelated federally recognized seminole governments, which also include the seminole tribe of florida and the miccosukee tribe of indians of florida. Blacks and the seminole found themselves again living sidebyside in oklahoma. History the seminole tribe was formed out of people from several other tribes in the. The seminole are classified among the muskogean peoples, a group of remnant tribes having joined in forming this division in florida during the border wars between the spanish and the english colonists on the floridacarolina frontier in the 18th century. In 1957, a law was passed declaring the tribes in florida were officially the seminole tribe of florida.
The city developed around the house that andrew jackson brown and his wife mannie lou built at 11th avenue and muskogee. Now kevin mulroy examines the long history of these people to show. They separated their name means separatist from the creek in the early 18th cent. The seminole tribe and the origins of indian gaming. The seminole nation of oklahoma when it adopted a new constitution in 1969, the seminole nation was the first of the five tribes in oklahoma to formally reorganize its government. The majority of records of individuals were those created by the agencies.
The history and culture of the seminole comprehensively covers the native american tribe from its origins to today. So on july 21, 1957, tribal members voted in favor of a seminole constitution which established the federally recognized seminole tribe of florida. Seminole indians are descended from lower creeks who severed their political ties in the late 18th century and relocated from the chattahoochee river to northern florida, which had been largely stripped of its native population by european colonization. The seminole, like their five civilized tribes brethren, were victims of a calculated purge of native americans throughout the united states in the 19th century. They gradually grew in strength, absorbing many runaway black slaves and some members of the apalachee tribe. Much of the information concerning the history of the seminoles and their ancestors, as written by euroamerican researchers, is controversial. Understand tribes have their own accounts of their tribal history often not written in books. Parts iii and iv discuss the tribes involvement in major indian. Keywordsseminole american indian oklahoma indian tribe creek confederacy florida wild cat john horse jumper civil war smoke shop freedmen bands emhaka mekasukey wewoka mission seminole. This is a list of federally recognized native american tribes in the u. Fourteen different groups of seminole make up the seminole tribe of oklahoma. In 1990 there were about 15,500 seminole in the united states, mostly in florida and oklahoma.
Areas of oklahoma east of its panhandle were acquired in the louisiana purchase of 1803, while the panhandle was not acquired until the u. The seminole nation museum documents and interprets the history and culture of the seminole nation of oklahoma and the people and events that make its capital, wewoka, one of the most historically significant and culturally diverse communities in oklahoma. Literature the seminole nation of oklahoma is a federally recognized native american tribe based in the u. In the face of an american legal system that sought either to destroy its nationhood or to impede its selfgovernment, the seminole nation tenaciously retained its internal autonomy, cultural vitality, and economic. Seminole tribe of florida official homepage is dedicated to the rich history, culture, and services of the florida seminole indians. The seminole tribe of florida has an established relationship with florida state university, which includes its permission to use the name, seminole, as well as various seminole symbols and images, such as chief osceola, for educational purposes and the seminole tribe of florida wishes to go on record that it has not opposed, and, in fact. Studies of the oklahoma segment of the tribe have been few, and james h. It has been said the seminole tribe settled there as far back as 10,000 bc. List of books and articles about seminole indians online research. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us.
With a rich history of overcoming adversity, the seminoles of florida are known as the unconquered people because they were never defeated by europeans. From beginnings in the 1930s during the great depression, the seminole tribe of florida today owns one of the largest cattle operations in florida, and the 12th largest in the nation. In 1855, the florida seminoles established their capital in wewoka seminole for barking water because of the noise made by nearby falls. For hundreds of years, the seminole indians basically controlled almost all of florida. Sewell, the ardmore tragedy by abraham hoffman, a history of the oklahoma gas and electric company to 1904 by george steinmeyer, oklahoma seminole indians by. Oklahoma history from a native american perspective. Welcome to the official site of the five civilized tribes museum. Located at 1101 honor heights drive muskogee, oklahoma. A brief history of wewoka, oklahoma seminole nation museum. Seminole tribe the encyclopedia of oklahoma history and. On october 30, 1627, charles i of england granted to sir robert heath, his attorneygeneral, all of the territory of north america from virginia to florida and from the atlantic to the pacific. We are dedicated to preserving the art, history and culture of the cherokee, chickasaw, choctaw, muscogee creek and seminole tribes.
Rebels and radicals who changes us history, osceola became an international symbol of the seminole nation s refusal to. In 2004 there were approximately,675 enrolled members of the seminole nation of oklahoma. Discover librarianselected research resources on seminole indians from the. Use the dawes rolls to trace your ancestry to one of the five tribes. The book itself starts with a brief history of the seminole nation, from their origins in florida to the seminole wars, the trail of tears, life in oklahoma and. Much of the information concerning the history of the seminoles and their ancestors. Mar 08, 2014 on december 7, 2006, the seminole tribe of florida purchased the hard rock cafe chain of restaurants. From that period on, the seminole tribe organized new towns and prospered in both oklahoma and florida.
The tribe began to revive its government in 1936 under the indian reorganization act. Statehood and beyond in preparation for the joining of oklahoma territory and indian territory into a new state, the curtis act of 1898 and the dawes commission dissolved the seminole government and divided its territory among approximately three thousand enrolled tribe members. The name seminole, first applied to the tribe about 1778, is from the creek word semino. History native americans for kids the people of the seminole tribe were native americans who originally lived in northern florida.
They gradually grew in strength, absorbing many runaway black slaves and some members of the. Of 18,800 enrolled tribal members,533 live within the state of oklahoma. List of cities and towns throughout seminole county, along with a brief history of when they were established and how they were named. These tales include the history of the first, second and third seminole war and the creation of the seminole indian negro scouts.
Seminole nation museum home about cart history seminole nation prehistory air for removal the seminole wars into the west statehood and. Captures the distinct identity and history of the seminole maroons popularly known as black seminoles, descendants of the seminole freedmen of indian territory are a unique american cultural group. Only about twentyseven hundred oklahoma seminole then lived outside of the state. Oklahoma has the third largest numbers of tribes, behind alaska and california. The seminole nation of oklahoma is headquartered in wewoka, oklahoma and has a tribal jurisdiction that encompasses seminole county.
A legal history is wellstructured, easy to read, and paints an incredible narrative of the seminole nation as a people of courage, hope, and perseverance. They have made and continue to make significant contributions to the lives of their families and their people. The florida seminole and oklahoma seminole tribes exist today with their own law and government. Kevin mulroy popularly known as black seminoles, descendants of the seminole freedmen of indian territory are a unique american cultural group. When the seminole wars began, abiaka was already a respected medicine man of the mikasuki tribe. Seminole tribe the encyclopedia of oklahoma history and culture. They had previously licensed it for several of their casinos. On november 16, 1907, indian and oklahoma territories were combined to form the state of oklahoma. The wewoka trading company was one of the pioneer business concerns of the indian territory. They retreated to southern florida when american settlers moved into their territory. In general, the dawes rolls list individuals who lived with their tribe in indian territory, who chose to apply, and were approved by the dawes commission. Now kevin mulroy examines the long history of these people to show that this label denies them their rightful distinctiveness. Birchfield is a member of the choctaw nation of oklahoma and a graduate of the university of oklahoma college of law. The seminole nation emerged in a process of ethnogenesis from various native.
The seminole people originate from the southeastern united states and speak muscogee, a muskhogean language. Stories of the seminole freedmen oklahoma story teller. The seminole are a native american people originally from florida. Today the tribe is still in existence and is a proud part of the state of floridas rich heritage. A muskhogean tribe of florida, originally made up of immigrants from the lower creek towns on chattahoochee river, who moved down into florida following the destruction of the apalachee and other native tribes. Because he did storm it, but he got surrounded by the enemy, and the africanamerican soldiers, the buffalo soldiers, were sent up to rescue him.
The way the history books have depicted teddy roosevelt and the storming of the san juan hill, theres a part that they missed. The people regrouped in the 1960s, adopted a constitution, and became the federally recognized seminole nation of oklahoma. Oklahoma seminoles the civilization of the american indian series. History of seminole county the land which is now seminole county was formerly roamed by indians. The city of wewoka in seminole county began as a settlement in 1849 by john horse, a seminole freedman nicknamed gopher john. To correct misconceptions of the historical relationship between. History edit edit source brief timeline edit edit source reservations edit edit source records edit edit source. Neither the seminole tribe of florida nor the former dept. The seminole arose from tribes of the southeastern matrilineal complex and maintained matriclans during their flight into florida. Seminole tribe american revolution history revwartalk. The seminole nation is an equal employment opportunity employer.
Additional details are given in john swantons the indian tribes of north america. The seminole indians, one of the socalled five civilized tribes, were forcibly removed to the indian territory present oklahoma in the first half of the nineteenth century. They were the first native american tribe to open a casino on indian land. But another seminole population, much larger in numbers, lives in the prairie and scrub oak hill country of oklahoma. It is the largest of the three federally recognized seminole governments, which include the seminole tribe of florida and the miccosukee tribe of indians of florida. Nov 25, 2018 americas indigenous people seminole tribe of florida seminole nation of oklahoma. Today, they principally live in oklahoma with a minority in florida, and comprise three federally recognized tribes. The seminole nation of oklahoma is one of thirtynine federally recognized native american tribes in oklahoma. Seminole tribe facts, worksheets, culture, tradition and. Seminole, north american indian tribe of creek origin who speak a muskogean language. Jesup made those comments in 1837, and they proved true throughout the seminolewhite confrontations of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. He has taught indian studies at cornell university and the university of new mexico. The clans were rigidly exogamous until after world war ii, and even now, all know their clan membership.
Together with the seminole nation of oklahoma and the miccosukee tribe of indians of florida, it is one of three federally recognized seminole entities. The seminole indians are a native american tribe from the southeast united states. Taylor, the real anabasis of captain robson by ernestine p. The history of oklahoma refers to the history of the state of oklahoma and the land that the state now occupies. An additional 35,443 allotted acres supplement the tribal land base which is checkerboarded throughout. When it adopted a new constitution in 1969, the seminole nation was the first of the five tribes in oklahoma to formally reorganize its government.
Portions of the seminoles storyparticularly their warshave been told, but until this book no extensive history of the tribe had been written. Through this department your library will borrow the book for you from another library, at no charge to you. Louis, missouri, reading again and again the accounts of tecumseh, pontiac, and geronimo in famous american indians and later relating those stories to young campers in the ymca summer camps where i was employed. The seminole indians are indigenous to the state of florida, meaning they were originally from there and did not migrate from other areas. After the war, the seminole were allowed to regroup on land of their own and live in their own way until 1907, when oklahoma became a state and all tribal lands were divided into small individual allotments, many of which were soon sold to non indians. The seminole nation is located in southcentral oklahoma, approximately 45 miles east of oklahoma city, and it includes most of seminole county. See more ideas about seminole, seminole tribe, seminole indians. Census records list of census for seminole county, oklahoma churches list of churches, with addresses and phone numbers, throughout seminole county. Effects of an indian culture program and familial correlates of selfconcept among miccosukee and seminole.
12 816 1184 767 518 916 1100 212 904 1492 688 1405 1174 1155 101 269 638 632 1057 670 144 1246 149 771 709 903 1014 802 200