the seminole tribe

Introduction to the Seminole Tribe

The Seminole tribe are a Native American Indian people, from Florida. They were members of the Creek tribe who came in to Florida in the early 18th century, and were conquered by the united states in the 19th century. In the early 18th century, members of the Creek tribe began migrating into Florida with the few remaining people, by the late 18th century, they had renamed themselves Seminole, a term meaning runaway. The Seminole also contained a large number of runaway slaves from Georgia.

Seminole's Homes

"Chickee" is the word Seminoles used for "house." The first Seminoles to live in North Florida are known to have built log cabin-type homes, some two stories tall. Though people in other parts of North and South America have built similar houses it is agreed that the Seminole Indian technique is the best. Chickees are good homes for people living in hot,swampy climates. The chickee house should last about ten years .

The chickee was constructed with logs and leaves put together by vines or thin ropes. It had no walls only a roof that covered the area around it. After time the Seminoles added another level to their chickee making them two stories high. Chickees today are now put together in a matter of hours instead of days because of the better of equipment used to construct the home. Nobody really looks to chickees anymore for actual housing anymore.

The Seminole and the Land

The Seminole are dependent on a healthy Everglades ecosystem. The Seminole are so closely linked to the land that Tribal members believe that if the land dies, so will the Tribe. The Seminoles lived off the land. families grow their own food like corn,beans, and squash. They also hunted for deer and bear.

The Seminoles Today

Their are more than 16,000 Seminole people living in the United States today. The Seminole today live in Oklahoma and the state of Florida. The Seminole tribe does not have a court system, crimes that occur and cannot be taken care of at the local level are sent to the State and Federal authorities. The Seminole spend over 1 million dollars on education.

They support themselves with several different types of businesses. The first smoke shop opened in 1977 giving them a stable business. The opening of the first bingo hall in Hollywood,Florida. Casinos,Hotels,Restaurants are also a form of income for the Seminole people. Today most members live in affordable housing and have health care.