28th Anniversary Pow Wow The History and Culture of The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma The history of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma began when Spain first occupied the peninsula known as Florida. When Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded St. Augustine in 1565, the first permanent settlement in Florida after at least 60 years of sporadic Spanish visitation, he discovered complex cultures sustained by hunting, fishing, farming and raising stock. Tribes from three different basic language groups, the Timuquan, Calusan and Muskhogean occupied Florida and lived in small and wellorganized villages. Seminole County Although today the term Seminole is used, this name originated due to a European misnomer, which categorized a diverse group of autonomous tribes together under the name Seminole. The Spanish first recognized the indomitable self-preservation of the speakers of the “core language” Mvskoke, and called them cimarrones, or “free people” (Seminole). Translated through several languages to English, this term came to apply to all of Florida’s initial inhabitants, and their neighbors who later fled to join them when deprived of their own homelands. The Seminoles absorbed remnants of other Florida tribes into their own. The Oconee were the original “Seminole,” and later included the Hecete, Eufaula, Mikasuki, Horrewahle, Talahassee, Chiaha, and Appalachicola. Additionally, through intermarriage, traditional cultural adoption practices and treaty obligations, runaway and “freed” slaves were absorbed also. The term “cimarrones” spoken by the Spanish was initially transliterated by the Creek as “semvlonÐ.” “ SemvlonД eventually morphed into “Semvnole” (pronounced sem-uh-no-lee by native speakers even today) and thus we have the term that would describe the various Indian tribes in the State of Florida. Although a relatively large contingency of Seminole were able to hold out in the Florida Everglades during the Indian Removal Era and Seminole Wars, the majority were relocated to Indian Territory along
with the other “Five Tribes” of the southeast. Today the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma is located in Seminole County, Oklahoma. The entire county of Seminole is a portion of the original Seminole Nation jurisdiction, and covers approximately 633 square miles. The county is a checkerboard of tribal trust property, Indian allotments, restricted Indian lands, and dependent Indian communities. Native Americans make up 22% of the population of Seminole County. According to the Seminole Nation Tribal Enrollment Office, the total enrollment of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma is approximately 19,000 members. The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma is a federally recognized tribal nation with a government anchored by a band system –comprised of 12 traditional bands (Ceyvha, Eufaula, Fushutchee, Hecete, Hvteyievkle, Mekusukey, Nurcup Harjo, Ocese, Rewalks, Tallahassee, Tom Palmer and Tusekia Harjo) and two freedman bands (Bruner and Dosar Barkus). Clan Law In ancient times the people aligned themselves with certain animal and other supernatural spirits to assist them in enduring a hardship they were experiencing. Upon doing so, a vow was made promising a commitment by the individuals associated with their particular being to remain in association from that point forward. For the majority of Seminole people, this clan association had been maintained into modern times.Clan Law and kinship are highly revered and held in great respect within the spiritual and ceremonial world among the Seminole people. Clan law traditionally governs every aspect of tribal life, from the spiritual to the social. Clans are matrilineal as they are inherited through ones mother. If a person’s mother is of the Wotkvlke or raccoon clan, and the father is of the Hulpvivlke or alligator clan, then said person would be of the raccoon clan. However, this person would also be related to the alligator clan, as this is what the person’s father was. In turn, all other raccoon clan people and alligator clan people would
Friday, July 3rd & Saturday, July 4th Fireworks Show July 4th at 10 p.m. FREE ADMISSION
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be said to be that person’s relations, and would be referred to as aunts and uncles, if the age of a fellow clansman was relative to that of the mother and father, or brothers and sister if the age of the clansman was relative to that of the child him/herself. Historically, the Seminole based the ability to take a spouse on clan relationships. There is never to be intermarriage of clans. Historically, many marriages were arranged according to clan strength, or need for renewing life into a dormant clan. Although there are various creation stories that relate the hierarchy of the various clans, each clan holds essential qualities that pertained to a specific job or position held in the ceremonial ground, was well as at home. Each clan had a special talent, was well as a balance of weaknesses for various aspects of the spiritual world. Ceremonialism For Seminole people who continue to observe pre-Christian ceremonial practices, life revolves around activities at the “ceremonial or stomp grounds. “In modern times these are religious centers where ceremonial dances, dinners and ball games take place mainly during weekends throughout the spring, summer and early fall months. Originally the individual tribes or etvlwv, as they are termed in the language, that would come to comprise the confederacy known as the Seminole Nation would physically organize themselves around the ceremonial ring. Seminole ceremonialism guided every aspect of
2014-2015 Quapaw Tribal Princess
Alayah Cyan Jennings Johnson Quapaw, Sac & Fox, Miami and Choctaw
Seminole life. Although not as complete, ceremonial teachings still continue to guide those who actively participate in modern times. Today the “ceremonial cycle” consists of four or five dances throughout the “dance season” of which Green Corn or Posketv-rakko (Big fast) is the most important. Depending on the ceremonial ground, Green Corn can last from four days (Thursday – Sunday) to seven days (Sunday –Sunday). During Green Corn, was well as other ceremonies, the participating members must commit themselves to dancing, fasting, medicine taking, work and other activities that are to be performed. The purifying herbal medicine is accompanied by “scratching” of the participants’ bodies. Generally administered to the arms and legs, but not limited to these areas, of the participants, “Scratching” is performed to alleviate spiritual and medical ailments by strengthening the individual. Green Corn can be likened to the combined equivalent of the holidays of Thanksgiving, Easter and New Years. During Green Corn strained relationships are to be reconciled and the wrongs that occurred during the year are to be forgiven. The nighttime songs include such things as recognition of tribal ancestors, spiritual entities, historical events, thanksgiving and well wishing or prayers for the coming year. Daybreak on Sunday marks the completion of the Green Corn ceremony and the beginning of the new year for the ground members.
EVENTS 30th Annual Iowa Tribal Pow Wow June 19th & 21st Perkins, OK
Indian Taco Sale June 26th & June 27th 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sac & Fox Multi-Purpose 215 N. Harrison
52nd Annual Sac & Fox Nation Pow Wow July 9th-July 12th Stroud, OK
A Bank For Everyone!
Lobby Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
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2023 S. Gordon Cooper Drive
273-0202
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Elders Program Coordinator Surveillance Observer Environmental Technician Physical Therapist II Certified Pool Operator Manager Reentry Program Manager Cashier Certified Lifeguards Education Director Resident Advisor Applicants claiming Indian Preference must provide a copy of their CDIB. Submit applications to Sac and Fox Nation, 920883 S. Hwy 99 Bldg A, Stroud, Oklahoma 74079 or email application/resume to Dustin.Rolette@sacandfoxnation-nsn.gov For more information visit www.sacandfoxnation.gov or call 918-968-3526 ext. 1014
Shawnee Care Center
BUILDING QUALITY CUSTOM HOMES SINCE 1982
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The Housing Authority of the Sac & Fox Nation currently has these job vacancies available:
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Force Account Crew Member(s) Maintenance Technician HVAC Technician Plumber Contractor(s) to do labor for Elderly Rehabs
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Housing Authority of the Sac and Fox Nation 201 N. Harrison • Shawnee Phone: (405) 275-8200 Fax: (405) 275-8203
1202 W. Gilmore • 273-8043