Seminole Indians Summary

The combined tribe known as the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma that is currently located near the four-state area, consists of members who survived throughout the rough journeys, such as the Trail of Tears, which the majority of Indians went through. These Indians were once a part of the Iroquois Confederacy, which originated from New York State. Later, these tribes united in Oklahoma, also known as “Indian Territory”, after the nineteenth century war, between the States.

Cherokee Indians have been around for many years, but when the topic of Native Americans is discussed it is only about the struggles and hardships they went through but never their actual culture of how and where they originated or how they came to be. There are many interesting things to learn about Cherokee Indians such as their heritage, religion, language, and their traditional songs, dances, and food.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are indigenous of parts of the Southeastern United States. They have members all the way south as Georgia and are spread out across the Appalachian mountain trail in both North and South Carolina and stretching across into Tennessee. The land in which each tribe is from has a particular way is shaping how they live and defines the important aspects of that culture. In the Eighteenth Century the Cherokee Indians were one of the most heavily populated Indian societies in the Southeastern United States. These Indians have many unique political and spiritual ideas and world views.

To begin with, the Cherokee tribe was one of the three primary Native American tribes in South Carolina that called themselves “the real people.” Upward in the mountains, they lived in these villages called “longhouses.” For the girls, their daily lives consisted of doing work in the field, planting and hoeing corn, then harvesting it. On the other hand, the boy’s daily lives consisted of being taught to fish and hunt. Their food was examples of fruits, nuts, corn, pole beans, squash, pumpkins, bottle gourds, and tobacco. Next, the Catawba tribe was another one of the three primary Native American tribes in South Carolina that called themselves the “river people. They used Carolina clay to make their pottery which they were known for. The Catawba dwellers lived in villages that had an open rounding on the top. The Catawbas were primarily farmers because every day they planted crops by the river, fished and hunted. Therefore, the Yemassee tribe was the third primary tribe in South Carolina that was from Spanish Florida. Throughout the summer, they lived on a beach, staying in Wigwams concealed in palmetto leaves. However, during the fall, winter, and spring they stayed in wattle and daub homes with a roof of leaves like the Cherokee. Every day they would eat clams which were part of their diet and equip the land for crops. Women were obligated for child rearing, making clothes, and served food and the men congregated the rest of the food in fishing and hunting.

“Tell me a fact and I’ll learn. Tell me the truth and I’ll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever.-Native American proverb” This is a Native American proverb that shows how important storytelling and stories are to the Native Americans and their culture. Storytelling was a big way of teaching their lifestyle to their younger generation. Storytelling is very important to the Native American culture because it helps explain their way of life, faith, and helps teach life lessons to the younger generation.

The Cherokee tribe is known as one of the earliest and largest Indian tribe in North America. They are federally recognized even today among several states(museum). While they slowly became Americanized by the Europeans who came over to America, some still practice their typical Indian rituals publicly today. Most converted to Christianity and their government in Oklahoma is based off the American government with three branches. One would believe that the Trail of Tears could have completely vanquished these Indians but many made it through the horrendous trial and kept the Indian bloodline going even present day (Conley).

In the story, “Man’s Dependence on Animals,” it is clear that the Native American culture understood the importance of the relationship that existed between man and animals. In keeping with the tradition of storytelling, the storyteller carefully uses his words to describe man as a helpless being, needing his animal friends to survive. “At birth man was helpless. Again it was the animals who assisted the spirit woman in nourishing the newborn infants by bring fruits, vegetables, berries, and drink, while the birds and butterflies brought joy” (Animal 62). This interdependence of man with his environment is clearly illustrated in this story. To further illustrate this interdependence, the storyteller talks about how the animals sacrificed their flesh to feed man. It is clear from the many passages in the story that the Native American understood the close relationship that exists between himself and his fellow animals. The message expressed by the storyteller in the story is clear, conservation of the resources provided by Mother Earth is key to the survival of man. This concept is now referred to as “Going Green” and it involves conserving our limited natural resources. The storyteller goes on to talk about the consequences of not being grateful for the gifts provided by Mother Earth. “At last, weary of service, the

By the 17th century the Muscoggee members migrated from west of the Mississippi to inhabit the areas of Georgia and Alabama were English traders first encountered the Muscoggee. The English called them Creeks; it appears that they lived in by the creeks and streams of Alabama in addition to Georgia. Creek Nation was the most powerful Indian political unit in North America with the exception of the Iroquois Confederacy of upper New York. In the early 18th century the Muscoggee nation consisted an estimated ten thousand people including more than three thousand warriors. This ancient culture also had a complex political structure that was neither overawed nor envious of the European power and culture. I will

American Indian tribes have flourished in America before the Europeans made the initial discovery of this free land. The Cherokees were one of the first Indian tribes recognized in the new world. They began their foundations around 8000 B.C. in North Carolina. Consisting of nearly 300,000 tribe members, this tribe is still flourishing all around the world today.

Native Americans have had a long important part of American history. Many of them started out from different descendants and eventually joined up for protection. One of these tribes became massive and ended up getting the name seminoles. The seminoles started out in Florida and had small groups form in Georgia and Alabama. But some were forced to move to Oklahoma in the 1800s. The seminoles lived by the river valleys, mountains, and the swamp mostly for food, water, and shelter (Seminole Tribe). They had many natural resources including fruit, seeds, nuts, and pumpkins (Seminole Tribe). Overall the seminoles had a great location and plentiful resources.

One Native American tribe in the southeastern region is the Cherokee tribe. The Cherokee tribe was the largest tribe in the southeastern region. They lived in log cabins instead of tee pees the cabins were circular they were made from various materials including cane, plaster, and sticks.. They were mostly farmers. they ate corn, squash, and beans the men however, hunted deer, bear, and turkeys The men of the tribe wore leggings and breechcloth. A breechcloth is a long rectangular piece of clothing. The women wore wraparound skirts made from fiber and deerskin. Men covered themselves with tribal tattoo art and painted themselves bright when they were in a war, but the women did not paint themselves. The Cherokee believed that certain beings created the Earth, moon, and stars, when the fruits of the Earth were

Vires, a Latin term, on base represents strength; force; and power. However, through the realm of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Vires epitomizes standing tall and remaining “Unconquered”. During the Seminole Wars many Seminoles were forced out of their homes and pushed into smaller groups around the state, notably around the Mississippi River. Though few Seminoles had still remained in Florida leading to the rich culture we have the privilege of seeing represented around the Florida State community. These Seminole Indians pushed on looking to the days ahead, knowing that they may very well not see the people who they began this journey with. Fostering a culture of staunch independence, creating a platform of self-government and understanding

In the 1700's many Natives Americans from Georgia and Florida came to gather looking for protection. At the beginning they were differentiated for their cultures, but little by little they cultures blend until forming the Seminole. Over the next century other Native Americans and even African Americans escaping from slavery cross the border to join the seminole looking for protection.

General after general, campaign after campaign, war was waged with the Seminole nation with nothing to show and no progress made by the United States. General Gaines from Louisiana and over 1,000 men were held at the Withlacoochee River for ten days before quitting the field from 300 Seminoles. General Scott arrived with 5,000 men in March but spent months searching in the swamps getting raided by the tribes and loosing men and resources. Governor Richard had several thousand men, chased the Seminole Indians into their strongholds to the west of the Withlacoochee only to be stopped by the Battle of the Wahoo Swamp. With all the battles and the skirmishes that the US military and militia fought against the Seminole Indians, the more losses that

Who is a Seminole and who decides? Today, Abraham may not qualify to be a citizen of his own nation, one he fought so hard to create. The modern practice is for Indian nations to have Constitutions to address citizenship. The Seminole Nation may have had its nationhood status helped from the promises in Jesup’s Capitulation, and despite Creek and federal pressures that considered Seminoles part of the greater Creek nation. Abraham fought and negotiated valiantly to see recognition of such autonomy. But African American membership within the nation remained vague for generations, with the many past and present attempts to clarify membership and descendancy throughout the years by way of treaties, the Dawes Rolls, blood quantum, and especially