Book Review:The Seminole: The First People of Florida

 The Seminole: The First People of Florida: American Indian Nations by Mary Englar, Bridgestone Books, Mankato, Minnesota, 2003.

The Seminole are originally Muskogee Indians from the Georgia and Alabama area who kept moving south to avoid the encroachment of white populations.  They lived in wallless homes with a thatched roof of palms called a chickee.  They were joined by Freedmen, African Americans who traveled into the region to escape slavery.  In addition to English, they speak two native languages, Muskogee and Miccosukee.  

Historically the Seminole conducted three wars against the Americans.  Each war would end in truce and then thy would lose more land, but by retreating into the swamp they would buy some peace, until that land was wanted.  Osceola played a big part in the second war.  He was captured and in-prisoned at Fort Moultrie.  In 1838 he died there of malaria.  In the third war, Billy Bowlegs was the primary chief of the Seminole.  He and his people were forced to Indian Territory in Oklahoma.  There were a few who went even deeper into the swamp and stayed in Florida.  

So today there are two nations of Seminole, in Florida and in Oklahoma.  They share a same language and culture, but some traditions are different between the groups.  The corn festival is still held in ech group, which coincides with the first harvesting of corn.  In Florida patchwork clothing is very popular.  The Seminole make this to sell to tourists.  The federal government has recognized the tribe in Florida in 1957.  There are museums in both Florida and Oklahoma.