Seminole - Hunters, Farmers & Warriors of the Southeast

NATIVE AMERICAN LEGENDS

Seminole - Hunters, Farmers & Warriors of the Southeast

Part of the Creek Confederation of tribes, the Seminole were originally made up of emigrants from the Lower Creek towns on the Chattahoochee River, who moved down into Florida following the destruction of the Apalachee and other Native American tribes. They were at first classed with the Lower Creek tribe, but began to be known under their present name about 1775. They consisted chiefly of descendants of the Creek and Hitchiti tribes, with a considerable number of refugees from the Upper Creek after the Creek War, together with remnants of Yamasee and other conquered tribes, Yuchi, and a large African-American element of runaway slaves. In 1799, they had about seven villages, which increased over time.

While still under Spanish rule, the Seminole became involved in hostility with the United States, particularly in the War of 1812, and again in 1817-18, during what became known as the First Seminole War. This war was quelled by General Andrew Jackson, who invaded Florida with a force of more than 3,000 men, which ultimately resulted in Spain ceding the territory to the United States in 1819.

Seminole Chief Coeehajo, George Catlin, 1837

By the Treaty of Fort Moultrie in 1823, the Seminole ceded most of their lands, excepting a central reservation; but on account of pressure from the border population for their complete removal, another treaty was negotiated at Paynes Landing in 1832, by which they were bound to remove beyond the Mississippi River within three years.

The treaty was repudiated by a large proportion of the tribe, who, under the leadership of Chief Osceola, at once prepared for resistance. Thus began the Second Seminole War in 1835, with the killing of Emathla, the principal signer of the removal treaty, and of General A. R. Thompson, who had been instrumental in applying pressure to those who opposed the arrangement. The war lasted nearly eight years, ending in August, 1842, with the practical expatriation of the tribe from Florida for the west, but at the cost of the lives of nearly 1,500 American troops and the expenditure of $20,000,000.

One incident was the massacre of Major F. L. Dade's command of 100 men, only one man escaping alive. The Seminole African-Americans took an active part throughout the war.

As a result of the Second Seminole War about 3,800 Seminoles were forcibly removed to Indian Territory and organized into the "Seminole Nation" and became one of so-called "Five Civilized Tribes." During the Civil War, the Oklahoma Seminole primarily fought for the Union, even though a few of them held slaves. However, the vast majority of the African-Americans who lived with them were free, and became known as "Black Indians."

Today, the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma has about 6,000 enrolled members, with its capitol at Wewoka, Oklahoma. They are divided into 14 bands, two of which are called "Freedmen Bands" or "Black Seminoles," because they descended in part from escaped slaves who were freed after the Civil War. Band membership is matrilineal and the entire group is ruled by an elected council, with two members from each band.

A few hundred Seminole remained in Florida, hiding and surviving in the Everglades. After the Third Seminole War (1855-58), the Seminoles in Florida divided into two groups, ; with part of them moving to a reservation and becoming the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Those who chose the traditional way broke off into the Miccosukee Tribe of Florida. Both tribes are federally recognized today.

The Seminole Tribe of Florida worked to adapt, but, were highly affected by the rapidly changing American environment as well as several natural disasters. In the 1930s, the Seminole slowly began to move onto federally designated reservation lands within the region. In 1957 the nation reorganized and established formal relations with the US government. The Seminole Tribe of Florida is headquartered in Hollywood, Florida, but, also lands in Big Cypress, the Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation, the Dania, Florida State Reservation, and a Tampa Reservation.

In 1957 the state of Florida recognized the Everglades Miccosukee Tribe of Seminole Indians, and they received federal recognition in 1958. A further division among the latter group led to the formation of The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, which was formed in 1961-1962. This tribe was composed mostly of Mikasuki-speaking descendants of the Chiaha, or Upper Chehaw, who had originally lived in the Tennessee Valley of Georgia. In contrast, the majority of Seminoles spoke Creek. The Miccosukee Tribe set up a 333-acre reservation on the northern border of Everglades National Park, about 45 miles west of Miami; however, they have not been federally recognized..[16] They have no international recognition.

Contact Information:

Seminole Nation of Oklahoma

P.O. Box 1498
Wewoka, Oklahoma 74884
405-257-7200

Seminole Tribe of Florida

6300 Stirling Road
Hollywood, Florida 33024
800-683-7800

Seminole indians in Miami, Keystone View Co., 1926.

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