Bear ’s Den Apothecary opening June 4

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Nicole Williams had a 10-year plan to live on Pine Island while supporting herself with her shop and her handmade items Because of the COVID pandemic, she said, it happened 3 years early

“Because COVID took my job as the Seminole tribal art director and shut the tribe down for three years,” Williams said

Williams originally opened her shop and moved to Pine Island in 2021, she said, and after Hurricane Ian she lost her store front

“Apparently, I’m the only Calusa descendant out here I still make our cultural ancient art our Florida indigenous arts and crafts I bring other things into the store too our patchwork skirts, our beadwork, our carvings,” Williams said

She cleverly uses the word “Exotics” in the store’s name to denote the work of other tribes as well Native Exotics, she said, was originated to fund Florida’s environmental coalition, which she founded While still in high school, she said, she helped get Florida’s clean water laws implemented for the first time

“Native Exotics was founded and started to educate people on our environment and our human rights,” Williams said

According to Williams, there are seven indigenous tribes which make up the Miccosukee

“You can leave your tribe and join the federally recognized tribe, which is called the Miccosukee, or you can join the federally recognized tribe called the Seminole. The Seminole houses the seven indigenous tribes and the seven tribes that were forced down on the Trail of Tears from outside of Florida You still have original aboriginal independents, to this day, because

Florida is the only unconquered state in the United States,” Williams said

Williams said she is a part of the indigenous independents and is a tri-tribal medicine woman, a position that found its way to her when she was chosen after the former tri-tribal medicine man passed away in 2018 Being a tribal medicine person, she said, covers mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

David Delli Paleo has wanted to open the Bear’s Den Apothecary, or something like it, since he was 13 A friend, he said, who’s been trying to get him to seize the opportunity of opening a local shop selling cannabis and infused products for years After surveying several locations for his shop, another friend, Nicole Williams, owner of Native Exotics Art Village, stepped in to help Delli Paleo find just the right place

Having had several ties to the island already, he felt right at home in Bokeelia

“Pine Island always held a special place in my heart,” Delli Paleo said

Deciding Williams would share the space with him seemed a mutually beneficial arrangement for the friends So far, Delli Paleo said it’s been a fun new venture, as owning a brick and mortar retail shop is something he hasn’t done, although he has had other businesses.

The idea of using cannabis has taken off and is completely legal, offering people another option for managing pain and even to relax

“We have amazing pain creams and topical solutions This stuff is absolutely fantastic,” Delli Paleo said

There was a time marijuana was not legal, and he admits it’s the only thing for which he’s ever been in trouble He said it’s come full circle and he finds it ironic that now, 30 years later, he’s allowed to sell it legally and pay taxes on it The opening of the Bear’s Den is being planned much like an event, complete with live music

See BEAR’S DEN APOTHECARY, page 17