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First Americans
Seminoles
An illustrated chronicle of the history of the Seminoles, Creek Indians who settled in the Florida Everglades, explores their mythology, their way of life, their three wars with the U.S. government, and the state of the tribe today.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1994
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28 people want to read
About the author
Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve
50 books15 followersVirginia Driving Hawk Sneve was born and raised on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. She was the daughter of an Episcopal priest and a Lakota Sioux mother. Sneve received her B.S. and M.Ed. in 1954 and 1969, respectively, from South Dakota State University. She has taught English in public school of South Dakota, and at the Flandreau Indian School in Flandreau. Her career also includes editor at the Brevet Press in Sioux Fall, S.D. Sneve is a member of the board of directors, Native American consortium, Corporation for Public Broadcasting ; member of the Rosebud Sioux tribe; member of board of directors of United Sioux Tribes Cultural Arts; and Historiographer of the Episcopal Church of South Dakota.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 24, 2021
Oklahoma: Seminole Territory
Middle of FL: Tampa Orient Rd Reservation
Lake Okeechobee: Brighton Reservation
Everglades: Immokalee Farms, Big Cypress Reservation, State Reservation, Dania-Hollywwood Reservation, Miccosukee Reservation
"in the seminoles' creation story, the earth was formed on the back of the turtle."
Seminoles means runaways, separatists, lovers of freedom, or lovers of the wilds
"The seminoles did not want to live among white people, or with other Indians who accepted tthe white men's way of life."
They dugout canoes to explore the Gulf of Mexico as far as Cuba and Bahamas.
In 1800 was the 1st Seminole War. Seminoles had black slaves, but unlike white men they treated their slaves with respect. They allowed the blacks to keep part of the crops they harvests and many Seminoles married blacks. Bc the blacks were treated so well y the Seminoles, runaway slaves from GA and AL fled to FL. General Andrew Jackson attacked Creek villages in GA to get more land. Many of the Creeks fled to their Seminole relatives in Florida. Among the creeks who fled were a woman and her son, Oseola, who would grow up to become a great Seminole leader. The whites wanted their slaves back so the government of GA sent troops to hunt them down. General Andrew Jackson raided Creek and Seminole villages to keep the Indians from fighting on the side of England (Revolutionary War: 1775-1883). The Seminoles raided the white settlers who moved into Florida when it was Spanish territory. General Jackson ordered his troops to burn Indian villages. This was called the 1st Seminole War that ended in 1819.
In 1819, Spain sold FL to the US. Slave catchers from GA and other southern states came to reclaim their runaway slaves. They not only caught former slaves, but blacks who had been born free in FL, and even captured mixed-blood and full-blood Seminoles. The Indians fled into swamps. In 1823, the Seminoles signed a treaty giving up most of their land. They had to leave the good farming country of North FL and move into a reservation in the central part of the state. Despite the government's promise that the Seminoles would be safe from attacks if they obeyed US laws, they were not safe. Settlers moving into FL wanted Seminole land. They attacked the Indians and destroyed their crops. In 1828, Andrew Jackson, now president of the US, signed the Indian removal Act (remove them to Oklahoma). They didn't want to leave the black slaves who had married into the tribe, nor their mixed-blood children. This was the 2nd Seminole War. It was led by Osceola and Coacoochee.
Osceola refused to sign the US April 1835 agreement. He hid his people in the swamps where they were safe. Coacoochee was a FL Seminole who led Seminole and black warriors in fights witht he US Army. In 1836, Osceola, Wildcat and their followers met with officers under a white flag, but instead of talking about peace, the soldiers arrested the Indians and blacks and imprisoned them at Fort Marion in FL. Wildcat and his men refused to eat. After 6 days, they were thin enough to squeeze through the prison bars and escape. Osceola was ill at Fort marion and later died. Now the Seminole triibe was divideed. Some surrendered and moved to Oklahoma. Hundreds of this group died on the journey from illness, poor food, bad weather, and exhaustion. Those who survived were seettled at Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. Wildcat became the leeader of the Seminole bands that stayed in FL. They hid deep in the Everglades where they could do swift attacks on US soldiers and vanish. After Wildcat's daughter was taken captive by the US Army, Wildcat surrender. But when the US government made plans to enslave the blacks in Wildcat's band, he escaped and went to Mexico. The Mexican government gave him and his followers land in exchange for their guarding the border against the Americans. The Seminoles who stayed in FL isolated themselves in the Everglades.
The Everglades protected the Seminoles and provided shelter. They erected chickees, open houses thatched with palmetto leaves, that stood 3 ft off the ground. The slanting roof gave protection from the sun and rain. They planted gardens in the fertile hammock soil (sweet potatoes, pumpkins, melons, and corn). From the corn they made hominy by soaking the kerneels in water and ashes. then ground the hominy into flour to make sofkee, a porridge that was a favorite dish. They used palm leaves or shells to hold their food. They wove baskets from the cane and palmetto stalks. Prior to moving to the Eveglades, they had learned to use metal from the Spanish (knives, iron pots and kettles), but they also used shells for knives and garden hoes. Each family cooked over a big open fire in the center of the village that burned day and night.
Seminoles were skilled hunters. They had guns from the Spanish, but ammunition was difficult to find, so they snared turkey, ducks and quail, rabbits and squirrels. If necessary, they use a blowgun made from a stalk of cane and darts made from shells or wood. When they hunt deer or bear without a gun, they used a long bow made from hickory. They fashioned arrowheads from iron, brass, shell, or fish bone. They always retrieved the arrowhead after a kill bc the metal was hard to get. They traded with the whites for ammunition, beads, metal and cloth.
The Seminoled dressed differently from other southern Indians (Creeks and Choctaws). The style was influenced by Spanish cotton garments that were more comfortable than buckskin int he warm FL climate. They made loose-fitting clothes, long skirts, capelike blouses, men's shirts reached their knees, leather moccasins, leggings to protect against sharp grass. After they acquired sewing machines from the whites, they made bright patchwork designs for clothing. Women wore necklaces made of several strands of beads. Women combed their long hair into a wide, flat roll on their heads (it looked like a hat) and men wore turbans and bandannas.
Girls spent their time with older females learning how to weave baskets, cook and sew. Sometimes cared for toddlers who often wore nothing. The children had the responsibility of watching over the village field. They drove away the crows by day and raccons and deer at night. The children belonged to their mother's clan. A boy was trained by his mother's brother to be a hunter and warrior. Men could have more than one wife. The wives were often from different clans.
They asked for forgiveness from nature before killing it (trees for canoes and animals for food)
At the Green Corn Dance, the elders of clans settle disputes and discuss tribal concerns. They believed the ripping green corn was a symbol of life. They drank "black drink", a tea from the leaves of holly plant. It caused vomiting, which emptied the stomach. It lasted 4-8 days. At nights they danced around the fires. Women tie turtle-shell rattles to their legs.
In 1856, the Oklahoma Seminole Nation was established. They took the Green Corn Dance ceremony with them. They couldn't live off the land in Oklahoma as they had in the Everglades so they had to sell parts of their land for income to buy food and clothing. Later oil was discover, but only those Seminoles who had remained landowners benefited. Today some of the Seminoles are farmers or hold jobs in towns.
In 1855, Bolek, chief of the clans who stayed in FL, led the Seminoles in a 3rd war against the whites. They found for 3 yrs until the US offered to pay the Seminoles to leave. But only Billy Bowlegs and 123 others left for Oklahoma. The remaining Seminoles earned the name of "the people who never surrendered".
The Fl Seminoles never signed a formal peace treaty witht he US. They divided into two groups: the Miccosukees and Cow Creek Seminoles or Muskogees. The Miccosukee live in the Big Cypress Reservation. The Muskogees' reservation is called Brighton. Seminoles can no longer survive living off the bounty of the Everglades. They still hunt and fish as sportsmen and serve as guides to white hunters and fishermen in airboats. They still farm and raise cattle, but they all need other employment in order to support their families (selling crafts, loggin, grass planting, wrestling alligators, bingo halls, casinos). Children attend reservation or public schools. More and more seminoles are going to college to become doctors, nursees, teachers, lawyers and engineers. They still celebrate the Green Corn dance. Its a sacred ritual and is not open tot he public.
Middle of FL: Tampa Orient Rd Reservation
Lake Okeechobee: Brighton Reservation
Everglades: Immokalee Farms, Big Cypress Reservation, State Reservation, Dania-Hollywwood Reservation, Miccosukee Reservation
"in the seminoles' creation story, the earth was formed on the back of the turtle."
Seminoles means runaways, separatists, lovers of freedom, or lovers of the wilds
"The seminoles did not want to live among white people, or with other Indians who accepted tthe white men's way of life."
They dugout canoes to explore the Gulf of Mexico as far as Cuba and Bahamas.
In 1800 was the 1st Seminole War. Seminoles had black slaves, but unlike white men they treated their slaves with respect. They allowed the blacks to keep part of the crops they harvests and many Seminoles married blacks. Bc the blacks were treated so well y the Seminoles, runaway slaves from GA and AL fled to FL. General Andrew Jackson attacked Creek villages in GA to get more land. Many of the Creeks fled to their Seminole relatives in Florida. Among the creeks who fled were a woman and her son, Oseola, who would grow up to become a great Seminole leader. The whites wanted their slaves back so the government of GA sent troops to hunt them down. General Andrew Jackson raided Creek and Seminole villages to keep the Indians from fighting on the side of England (Revolutionary War: 1775-1883). The Seminoles raided the white settlers who moved into Florida when it was Spanish territory. General Jackson ordered his troops to burn Indian villages. This was called the 1st Seminole War that ended in 1819.
In 1819, Spain sold FL to the US. Slave catchers from GA and other southern states came to reclaim their runaway slaves. They not only caught former slaves, but blacks who had been born free in FL, and even captured mixed-blood and full-blood Seminoles. The Indians fled into swamps. In 1823, the Seminoles signed a treaty giving up most of their land. They had to leave the good farming country of North FL and move into a reservation in the central part of the state. Despite the government's promise that the Seminoles would be safe from attacks if they obeyed US laws, they were not safe. Settlers moving into FL wanted Seminole land. They attacked the Indians and destroyed their crops. In 1828, Andrew Jackson, now president of the US, signed the Indian removal Act (remove them to Oklahoma). They didn't want to leave the black slaves who had married into the tribe, nor their mixed-blood children. This was the 2nd Seminole War. It was led by Osceola and Coacoochee.
Osceola refused to sign the US April 1835 agreement. He hid his people in the swamps where they were safe. Coacoochee was a FL Seminole who led Seminole and black warriors in fights witht he US Army. In 1836, Osceola, Wildcat and their followers met with officers under a white flag, but instead of talking about peace, the soldiers arrested the Indians and blacks and imprisoned them at Fort Marion in FL. Wildcat and his men refused to eat. After 6 days, they were thin enough to squeeze through the prison bars and escape. Osceola was ill at Fort marion and later died. Now the Seminole triibe was divideed. Some surrendered and moved to Oklahoma. Hundreds of this group died on the journey from illness, poor food, bad weather, and exhaustion. Those who survived were seettled at Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. Wildcat became the leeader of the Seminole bands that stayed in FL. They hid deep in the Everglades where they could do swift attacks on US soldiers and vanish. After Wildcat's daughter was taken captive by the US Army, Wildcat surrender. But when the US government made plans to enslave the blacks in Wildcat's band, he escaped and went to Mexico. The Mexican government gave him and his followers land in exchange for their guarding the border against the Americans. The Seminoles who stayed in FL isolated themselves in the Everglades.
The Everglades protected the Seminoles and provided shelter. They erected chickees, open houses thatched with palmetto leaves, that stood 3 ft off the ground. The slanting roof gave protection from the sun and rain. They planted gardens in the fertile hammock soil (sweet potatoes, pumpkins, melons, and corn). From the corn they made hominy by soaking the kerneels in water and ashes. then ground the hominy into flour to make sofkee, a porridge that was a favorite dish. They used palm leaves or shells to hold their food. They wove baskets from the cane and palmetto stalks. Prior to moving to the Eveglades, they had learned to use metal from the Spanish (knives, iron pots and kettles), but they also used shells for knives and garden hoes. Each family cooked over a big open fire in the center of the village that burned day and night.
Seminoles were skilled hunters. They had guns from the Spanish, but ammunition was difficult to find, so they snared turkey, ducks and quail, rabbits and squirrels. If necessary, they use a blowgun made from a stalk of cane and darts made from shells or wood. When they hunt deer or bear without a gun, they used a long bow made from hickory. They fashioned arrowheads from iron, brass, shell, or fish bone. They always retrieved the arrowhead after a kill bc the metal was hard to get. They traded with the whites for ammunition, beads, metal and cloth.
The Seminoled dressed differently from other southern Indians (Creeks and Choctaws). The style was influenced by Spanish cotton garments that were more comfortable than buckskin int he warm FL climate. They made loose-fitting clothes, long skirts, capelike blouses, men's shirts reached their knees, leather moccasins, leggings to protect against sharp grass. After they acquired sewing machines from the whites, they made bright patchwork designs for clothing. Women wore necklaces made of several strands of beads. Women combed their long hair into a wide, flat roll on their heads (it looked like a hat) and men wore turbans and bandannas.
Girls spent their time with older females learning how to weave baskets, cook and sew. Sometimes cared for toddlers who often wore nothing. The children had the responsibility of watching over the village field. They drove away the crows by day and raccons and deer at night. The children belonged to their mother's clan. A boy was trained by his mother's brother to be a hunter and warrior. Men could have more than one wife. The wives were often from different clans.
They asked for forgiveness from nature before killing it (trees for canoes and animals for food)
At the Green Corn Dance, the elders of clans settle disputes and discuss tribal concerns. They believed the ripping green corn was a symbol of life. They drank "black drink", a tea from the leaves of holly plant. It caused vomiting, which emptied the stomach. It lasted 4-8 days. At nights they danced around the fires. Women tie turtle-shell rattles to their legs.
In 1856, the Oklahoma Seminole Nation was established. They took the Green Corn Dance ceremony with them. They couldn't live off the land in Oklahoma as they had in the Everglades so they had to sell parts of their land for income to buy food and clothing. Later oil was discover, but only those Seminoles who had remained landowners benefited. Today some of the Seminoles are farmers or hold jobs in towns.
In 1855, Bolek, chief of the clans who stayed in FL, led the Seminoles in a 3rd war against the whites. They found for 3 yrs until the US offered to pay the Seminoles to leave. But only Billy Bowlegs and 123 others left for Oklahoma. The remaining Seminoles earned the name of "the people who never surrendered".
The Fl Seminoles never signed a formal peace treaty witht he US. They divided into two groups: the Miccosukees and Cow Creek Seminoles or Muskogees. The Miccosukee live in the Big Cypress Reservation. The Muskogees' reservation is called Brighton. Seminoles can no longer survive living off the bounty of the Everglades. They still hunt and fish as sportsmen and serve as guides to white hunters and fishermen in airboats. They still farm and raise cattle, but they all need other employment in order to support their families (selling crafts, loggin, grass planting, wrestling alligators, bingo halls, casinos). Children attend reservation or public schools. More and more seminoles are going to college to become doctors, nursees, teachers, lawyers and engineers. They still celebrate the Green Corn dance. Its a sacred ritual and is not open tot he public.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2023
The Seminoles lived in the Florida Everglades, a place barely above sea level, a place where water flows over most of the land, the home of alligators and crocodiles. They were much more than this.
Before the white men came, this tribe farmed. Time after time the white settlers moved in and the tribe moved further and further until they became the people of the Everglades.
Once the U.S. again took over Florida, the government decided to move the Seminoles to Oklahoma, not because anyone wanted to move onto their swamps, but because they hid runaway slaves. Some of the tribe was removed to Oklahoma, but some stayed. The result has been a scattering of reservations mostly in Florida, but one section in Oklahoma.
This richly illustrated book really enlarged my knowledge of this Native American tribe. All of the books in this series are filled with interesting information.
Before the white men came, this tribe farmed. Time after time the white settlers moved in and the tribe moved further and further until they became the people of the Everglades.
Once the U.S. again took over Florida, the government decided to move the Seminoles to Oklahoma, not because anyone wanted to move onto their swamps, but because they hid runaway slaves. Some of the tribe was removed to Oklahoma, but some stayed. The result has been a scattering of reservations mostly in Florida, but one section in Oklahoma.
This richly illustrated book really enlarged my knowledge of this Native American tribe. All of the books in this series are filled with interesting information.
September 27, 2024
The Seminole Nation has left its hallmarks on our country. Through the adversity it faced from settlers, and the expansion of the United States, they maintained their tribe, continuing their existence today.
Learning about the Seminole through this book was really interesting. From daily life to culture, foods, and more - this book is a great introduction for those who are looking to learn more about this great people.
The illustrations were well done, and really pull you in to the different clothing that was worn, as well as images of food and leaders.
A great read!
*New edition coming 10 December 2024, and 18 February 2025*
Learning about the Seminole through this book was really interesting. From daily life to culture, foods, and more - this book is a great introduction for those who are looking to learn more about this great people.
The illustrations were well done, and really pull you in to the different clothing that was worn, as well as images of food and leaders.
A great read!
*New edition coming 10 December 2024, and 18 February 2025*
March 4, 2009
I'm very hesitant about finishing this book with my boys. So far it's been pretty 'white man is bad, Indians are without flaw'. I know a lot of really horrible things happened, on both sides. But this is so one -sided and pretty boring to boot. I'll finish reading it myself before I read the rest to them. I have 2 other books on the Seminoles that I'll read too and decide which to use.
Okay, I read it. My first concern stands - this is fairly anti-settler. The second half of the book is less so, but still rather dry. I ended up reading it myself and then we looked through the pictures and I explained what was going on and told them some interesting things 'in my own words.' The explanation of the Green Corn Ceremony was really good as was the description of the responsibilities of the children.
The illustrations were nice but fuzzy. It was hard to see detail which this book really needed. If you're going to describe certain hairstyles or clothing you need to show those clearly.
I wouldn't turn my kids loose with this unless we had a discussion about it afterwards. But I also think they'd fall asleep. If you're going to use it then read it yourself and retell it in a more interesting manner.
Okay, I read it. My first concern stands - this is fairly anti-settler. The second half of the book is less so, but still rather dry. I ended up reading it myself and then we looked through the pictures and I explained what was going on and told them some interesting things 'in my own words.' The explanation of the Green Corn Ceremony was really good as was the description of the responsibilities of the children.
The illustrations were nice but fuzzy. It was hard to see detail which this book really needed. If you're going to describe certain hairstyles or clothing you need to show those clearly.
I wouldn't turn my kids loose with this unless we had a discussion about it afterwards. But I also think they'd fall asleep. If you're going to use it then read it yourself and retell it in a more interesting manner.
December 29, 2024
Updated from the 1994 edition, this picture book provides a solid introduction to the Seminoles. Part of the First Americans series, the book discusses their history, including wars [three of them] waged against the Seminoles by the U.S., as well as daily lives, and important ceremonies. Softly colored artwork accompanies the story of a resilient people who never surrendered and who continue to share a bond with the land on which they live. Having information about the Seminoles today helps youngsters realize that Native Americans are still around, many living in Oklahoma and others in Florida. Books such as this one have an important role in educating those unaware of the different tribes or Native American nations as well as affording indigenous youngsters today a place to see themselves and their peoples represented. The author doesn't shy away from discussing how the U.S. mistreated the Seminoles.
August 21, 2010
This book includes good information about the Seminoles, who are the people of my great-great-grandmother. But the writing is dry.
The Seminole's creation story, information about their leaders, wars, clothing, and housing is included.
The Seminole's creation story, information about their leaders, wars, clothing, and housing is included.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews