Images of Florida Seminoles in the Sunshine State

Road sign for the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation (c. 1970s)

In 1938, the federal government, in an effort to assist Seminoles suffering from the Great Depression, created reservations at Big Cypress, Brighton, and Hollywood. In the following years, other reservations such as Tampa, Immokalee, and Fort Pierce would follow. Although not all would move onto the reservations, many did and today these sites continue to promote and preserve Seminole culture.

Chickee on the Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation (1989)

Chickee snack building: Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation (c. 1970s)

Aerial view of Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation (1989)

Adult Education Center: Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation (1989)

Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation elders Billy Bowlegs III (Left) and Naw Haw Tiger (right) (c.1960s)

Seminole Indian Tribe of Florida flag (c. 1966)

In 1934, the U.S. Congress passed the Indian Reorganization Act, which allowed Native American groups to organize politically, elect leaders, and create tribal constitutions. In 1957, several Seminoles created a constitution and established a tribal Council and a Board of Directors. That same year, the U.S. Congress recognized the Seminole Indian Tribe of Florida. But not all Seminole peoples chose to join the tribe, and some formed the Miccosukkee Tribe of Florida in 1962. Still other opted out of either tribe and called themselves “independent” Seminoles.

Seal of the Seminole Tribe of Florida: Hollywood Seminole Indian Reservation, Florida (1988)

Tribal government offices: Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation, Florida (1989)

Title: Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman Billy Osceola presenting Governor Haydon Burns with patchwork jacket at Burn’s gubernatorial inauguration: Tallahassee, Florida (1965)

Billy Osceola was the first elected chairman of the Board of Directors for the Seminole Indian Tribe of Florida.

Betty Mae Jumper, chairwoman of the Seminole Indian tribe of Florida (1967)

Jumper was the first female chairperson of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, first elected in 1967.

She was born in Indiantown in 1923 and attended the Cherokee Indian School in North Carolina. In 1949, she was also the first Seminole to earn a high school diploma. In later years, she became more known for her storytelling and writing.