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chickee talk

Everglades Restoration;

Is it really?

s I sit here writing this month’s what point in time? Pre-drainage? How do you do that without
article, I am inspired my taking out Tamiami Trail and I-75? Scientists will stand ready
A surroundings. Although the sun is with an answer, so that is a bit rhetorical. What do you do with
warm, the cool breeze that I feel while sitting all of the invasive species? How do we ensure that nutrients from
under the shade of a chickee, is my idea invasive species like Brazilian Pepper aren’t in the water that they
of paradise. I am at a Seminole camp that send… south? That’s the other thing… which direction should
is within the Everglades, the home of my the water flow? No one on either coast wants the water to come
people. The Tamiami Trail cuts through the from Lake Okeechobee because of the blue green algae. That’s
by Tina Osceola Everglades with such precision that it seems understandable… after all, I live in Naples. However, what about
like the sides of the roads should have sharp edges. Many have those who live South of Lake Okeechobee and are in the pathway
written songs and books about the River of Grass, with the endless to the Gulf? The Seminoles and Miccosukees… the battle for
prairies of sawgrass from one coast to the other. Within eyesight, clean water and a restored ecosystem always seems to leave out a
I see blue herons and egrets, and beyond where my eyes can see, I major voice… the indigenous voice.
know there are gators galore. Although it is my job to protect the cultural resources of my
Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that it is my Tribe, it is also my responsibility to make sure the Seminole
day off from work, so this isn’t something I get to do everyday, as voice is not just spoken, but heard. It is also important that
some would think. In fact, when I snap my fingers, I am propelled the federal laws responsible for the protection of our cultural
back into reality. I am forced to acknowledge that although these and environmental resources are adhered to without fail. Most
are our homelands, the Everglades is also a battleground. A importantly, however, I also think it’s important that our story is
battleground between political parties, a fight for federal funding, shared. We all love the Everglades, but the people whose lifeblood
a fight for water, a fight for clean water, a fight for habitat and for is as vital as the water, cannot be left out.
some of us, a fight for indigenous rights. I urge people to visit the Seminole Tribe’s Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki
As the Director of the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Tribal Museum on the Big Cypress Reservation, as well as the numerous
Historic Preservation Office, my team and I spend every waking Seminole and Miccosukee businesses that dot along Tamiami
hour defending tribal sovereignty and the right to call this land our Trail. The Miccosukee Tribe has a cultural center, village and
home. Many reliant on the tourism industry are quick to exploit museum along the Trail that is a must see. Also, please stress to
the Seminole and Miccosukee heritage if it brings visitors through any decision maker or journalist to ask us for our perspective. Our
their gates, but when it comes to supporting our Tribes’ fight for story is so interesting and is a real added dimension to the natural
the preservation of its cultural resources, including the burial sites experience of Florida. The National Park Service and other federal
of our ancestors, we find that we’re standing by ourselves. agencies have ignored us enough. We stand prepared to tell our
Although, in spirit, I support anything that makes the story, show you what we consider important, and most of all
Everglades environment more healthy, Everglades restoration has demonstrate the inextricable relationship between
always been puzzling to me. Restore the entire ecosystem back to
the everglades and our people.

16 Life in Naples | April 2022