The Seminole Tribe

    In the 1700's, many Indians from Georgia and Florida tribes (Creeks, Miccosukees, Hitchitis, and Oconees) joined together for protection. These tribes originally had unique cultural identities, but soon turned into a unique Seminole nation. Over the next century, Native Americans from other tribes and African-Americans who escaped from slavery crossed Florida's border to join the Seminoles too. 

Seminole leader, Micanopy

    They lived in northern Florida, but when the Americans attacked them, the Seminole tribe retreated further south, into the Everglades. Some Seminoles were forced to move to Oklahoma in the 1800's along with other eastern tribes.



    Other Seminoles still live in southern Florida nowadays.

A postcard depicting a Seminole Tourist Camp, courtesy of the 

Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum, 2003.14.275

    There are two Seminole tribes today. The Florida Seminoles live on a reservation, which is a land that belongs to the tribe and is under their control. Whereas the Oklahoma Seminoles live on trust land. Each Seminole tribe has its own government, laws, police, and services, just like a small country. However, the Seminoles are also US citizens and must obey American law.

    Most Seminole Indians speak English today. Some Seminoles also speak one of the two native Seminole languages: Miccosukee and Creek. These two languages are related but different, like English and German are. For example, "istonko" means "hello" in Seminole Creek, and "chehuntamo" means "hello" in Miccosukee.

               <> Emeline Dasylva & Danaé Duffossé <>