Page 16 - LIN_December 2022

TINA OSCEOLA Chickee Talk

COME OUT and VISIT US!

s we approach winter in Florida, we are fortunate that we aren’t
having to ready our pipes for freezing temperatures or buy-
Aing salt to spread over our driveways. Winter is an amazingly
exciting time in Florida. People are leaving the security of their air
conditioned bunkers to begin enjoying whatever the outside has to
offer. This is the time of year that I love inviting people out to the
Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation. Visiting the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki
Museum gives visitors the opportunity to enjoy more than a mile of
boardwalk that twists and turns through a cypress dome hammock, as
well as curated exhibits that teach you about the culture and lives of
my people, the Seminoles.
I am so proud to walk through the museum exhibits because I
actually feel like they tell the story of who we really are. The exhibit
hall features five different galleries that range from a look into life as
it was in the 1890’s, to more contemporary exhibits that feature the
art made by students at the Ahfachkee School. A fun exhibit, Alligator
Wrestling: Danger–Entertainment–Tradition, explains the deep connec-
tion between alligators and the Seminole culture.

Alligator wrestling exhibit at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum

The drive out to Big Cypress itself is worth it. Keep in mind I do
this same drive most mornings! I just jump onto I-75 and continue
south to Exit 49 (Snake Rd). It is called Snake Rd for a reason too! The
road curves back and forth in an S-Shape, just like a snake when it
slithers across sand and leaves a trail. You will see many native birds,
and many alligators. Once you enter the Big Cypress Reservation you
can’t help but take in the incredible views of the cypress tree-lined cat-
tle pastures. The Seminole Tribe of Florida is one of the largest cattle
producing entities in the Southeastern United States.
The Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum gives visitors the opportunity to
enjoy more than a mile of boardwalk that twists and turns In today’s virtual world, you don’t even have to drive to Big Cypress.
through a cypress dome hammock, as well as curated You can visit the museum online at www.ahtahthiki.com/online-exhibits
exhibits that teach you about the culture and lives of my and view an assortment of exhibits that you can spend hours admiring.
people, the Seminoles. Whatever you choose to do, you can’t dismiss the important and
significant fact that the Seminole people survived against all odds.
The uniqueness of being told a story about a culture by the actual peo- We survived the vicious attacks by the United States military and
ple themselves is absolutely the gold standard of what tribal museums destructive federal Indian policy whose only intent was to remove
have to offer. Years ago when tribal leaders were first developing the us from the reality of the United States. In addition to surviving,
idea of a museum, I would have never dreamed that once it was built, Seminoles learned how to thrive in the face of adversity.
the museum would grow into what it has now become. The Ah-Tah- I hope that while you make your plans to include doing some-
Thi-Ki Museum is considered a leader among not just tribal muse- thing outside and want to break the cycle of routine, come on out and
ums, but also its museum peers across other industry sectors. visit us!

16 Life in Naples December 2022