The Seminole Indians


Book Description

Provides an overview of the past and present lives of the Seminoles, covering their daily life, customs, relations with the government and others, and more.




Unconquered People


Book Description

Examines the history and culture of Florida's Seminole and Miccosukee Indians, and discusses how the tribes have managed to withstand historical challenges and survive in the modern world.




Night Bird


Book Description

In 1840 Night Bird, whose clan of Seminole Indians is fighting to preserve its traditional way of life in Florida, must decide whether to seek land and an unknown future in distant Oklahoma.




Like Beads on a String


Book Description

Anthropologists have long been fascinated with the Seminoles and have often remarked upon their ability to adapt to new circumstances while preserving the core features of their traditional culture. This study traces the emergence of these qualities in the late prehistoric and early historic period in the Southeast and demonstrates their influence on the course of Seminole culture history.




She Sang Promise


Book Description

Traces the life and achievements of one of modern America's first female elected tribal leaders, describing her half-Seminole heritage, her determination to acquire an education and her contributions as a community activist.




Art of the Florida Seminole and Miccosukee Indians


Book Description

"A superbly readable piece of cultural history. . . . Downs proves that graphics and narrative can be intertwined in an entertaining and informative historical presentation. . . . Delightful and intellectually enriching."--Southern Historian "Excellent. . . . Well-documented with both historical and anthropological sources, this is the best work to appear on a significant cultural characteristic of the Seminoles in quite some time. An excellent addition to the growing literature on the Seminole and Miccosukee tribes."--Tampa Tribune "Unfolds the meaning of Seminole-Miccosukee arts as metaphor for the people of the Everglades."--Joyce Herold, Denver Museum of Natural History The artistic tradition that in the past sustained Florida Indians helps identify them today as possessing a resilient, modern culture. In this richly illustrated account of the arts and crafts of the Florida Seminole and Miccosukee Indians, Dorothy Downs shows how artistic expression reflects and inspires history. Emphasizing the influence of drastic cultural changes on their artistic traditions, Downs traces Seminole and Miccosukee art from the eighteenth century to the present and demonstrates both the persistence of some prehistoric southeastern Indian designs and the impact of contact with Europeans. In addition to clothing and finger-woven or bead-embroidered accessories, their arts and crafts--most often practiced by women--include pottery, basketry, and doll making. Their most powerful artistic expression is found in the colorful and intricate patchwork patterns that have become their twentieth-century signature. Incorporating color and black-and-white photographs of these remarkable art pieces, Downs also details the "men's work" of silver and wood crafts and chickee building in a volume sure to interest scholars and the general public alike.




Seminole Indians


Book Description

Presents an introduction to the history, social life and customs, and present life of the Seminole Indians.




The Unconquered Seminole Indians


Book Description

Contains a history of the Seminole Indians, with pictures, living in Florida.




The Seminole


Book Description

Ideal for today's young investigative reader, each A True Book includes lively sidebars, a glossary and index, plus a comprehensive "To Find Out More" section listing books, organizations, and Internet sites. A staple of library collections since the 1950s, the new A True Book series is the definitive nonfiction series for elementary school readers.




Seminole and Miccosukee Tribes of Southern Florida


Book Description

Postcards of the Florida Seminole and Miccosukee tribes originated in towns where the Everglades and Big Cypress dwelling Indians came to trade. The natives' dress and accessories presented a novelty to southern Florida's early visitors. With Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railroad and hotels, tourism became a rising industry. During World War I, a failing hide market forced Indians to find a new livelihood, and the "Seminole Indian Village Attractions" began in Miami. Indians sold crafts and wrestled alligators, embracing tourism while keeping their culture intact. Tourist-attraction Indians (later organized as the Miccosukee Tribe) moved their Everglades camps to the Tamiami Trail. By the mid-1930s, many families had opened their own tourist attractions, becoming the first native entrepreneurs. Economic reinvention, especially through tourism, has sustained these tribal groups, most recently with bingo and gaming.