Everglades City
by Thomas Lockyear, Manager, Museum of the Everglades
Museum of the Everglades recently collaborated with the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians to create an exhibit sharing and celebrating their history.
The exhibit, entitled WE ARE STILL HERE, features a collection of striking rare images and artifacts that bring the powerful stories of the Miccosukee Tribe to life: their painful past, their poignant path to Federal recognition, and their modern-day efforts to preserve and protect the Everglades.
Photo Courtesy of Everglades Museum
Two short, professionally produced videos exploring aspects of the Miccosukee culture have also been added to the selections available in the museum’s theater area for the duration of the exhibit.
The opening reception, held on January 26th, was well attended by both local residents of the greater Everglades area and members of the Miccosukee Tribe and Native American community.
Friends of Museum of the Everglades’ tasty hors d’oeuvres were augmented by traditional Indian Fry Bread courtesy of the Miccosukee Tribal Government and delivered by Sister Robin Haines-Merrill (who drove from Ft. Lauderdale!) of the Love the Everglades Movement.
The exhibit took on even greater dimension during our annual Seafood Festival as Miccosukee environmental activist and educator Betty Osceola demonstrated traditional indigenous cooking methods over an open fire directly in front of the Museum.
With the help of friends and family she offered samples of delicious Fry Bread fresh out of the pan to hundreds of visitors over the course of the event. Several Miccosukee artists also demonstrated crafts and offered authentic Native jewelry and patchwork clothing for sale.
More than 1000 guests came through the museum to explore the exhibit and learn more about Miccosukee history and culture during the festival.
This month’s Third Thursday talk on February 15th was delivered by William “Popeye” Osceola, the Secretary of the Miccosukee Tribal Business Council. A former teacher at the Tribal School on the Reservation, Popeye added a deep, meaningful perspective to Native history for the standing-room-only crowd.
WE ARE STILL HERE – the Continuing Story of the Miccosukee Tribe will remain on exhibit at Museum of the Everglades through May 11th.
