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chickee talk

Sharing a Moment in Time
Sharing a Moment in Time

by Tina Osceola don’t know about all of you, but I love ever sat across the table from me in consultation, you know ferocity
I and the refusal to compromise is an understatement. Maybe the
reading stories of people reuniting with
long lost family after having their DNA
combination of Seminole and Viking blood is to blame?
analyzed. Those stories seem to have offered When my father tells stories about his grandparents, I soak
a shortcut to the magic of genealogy and it up like a dry mop. I find myself googling my ancestors’ names
what seemed like an endless treasure hunt for and looking for them in collections I come across at work. I also
relatives. I believe there seems to be, for most, find that when things get tough at work and we are facing tough
a longing to know where we belong… where we come from. For times or adversaries, I turn to old newspaper articles about two
those of us who know the names of our ancestors, it is even more of my great grandfathers, Futch Cypress and Robert Osceola,
exciting to learn about how they lived their lives. The feeling of both born during wartime, for strength and guidance. Early
standing on common ground, wondering what they saw, how they newspapers captured glimpses into their lives. I stare at the images
felt during a moment in time, what they experienced… and try desperately to see myself or my relatives in their faces. I
Personally, my DNA must look like minestrone soup! look at their expressions and wonder what was on their minds? I
My father is Seminole and because our Tribe subscribes to blood realize their lives during wartime had them face to face with the
quantum, he is enrolled as full-blooded. My mother, however, is United States Army. During their lifetimes they saw railroads
full-blooded European, with half of her blood quantum coming being built, people moving into Florida and Miami grow into
from Norway and the other half being a mix of Italian, French, a tourist destination. Did they ever consider themselves not at
and Irish. war? Honestly, I don’t think I do. The newspapers went from
My brother and I were raised identifying, proudly, as half covering the Seminole war accounts to writing about Seminoles as
Seminole and half “Heinz 57.” As kids we didn’t understand why a Florida oddity. What should become of the Indians now? The
our mom identified as steak sauce but as we got older we came to United States military failed to move the Indians out of the way by
understand the humor. As proud as I am of my mother’s heritage, removing them to Indian Territory in Oklahoma, so now what?
I was raised a Seminole and she wanted it that way. Our mom is As I look into their faces captured on newsprint and read their
a rockstar, just so you know, and although I don’t write about her words, I feel like I am able to share a sliver of time with them. I
side of the family, I know that I should because they are a huge would love to ask, in their lifetimes would they ever imagine they
part of my life and I wouldn’t be who I am without their love would have a granddaughter with European blood? What would
and support. they even think if they were to witness what we have become
As you can probably tell, I spend a lot of time thinking and today, as federally recognized tribes, just to survive as a people?
researching where I come from. Working full time as the Director Would they even consider us Seminole?
of the Tribal Historic Preservation Office for my Tribe (Seminole These are tough questions that I struggle with as a half
Tribe of Florida), I frequently rely upon the knowledge of my Seminole, half Heinz 57 woman today. But, that struggle isn’t
ancestors in an effort to protect our people today. We don’t an obstacle, it’s motivation. I only hope that the words I write
believe that once our ancestors pass away that their spirits, souls, today and the work I do will serve as a legacy to generations
and power of life ceases to exist. The lives of our ancestors affect of grandchildren I will never meet. I want them to know that
our people today and the way we live will affect grandchildren or regardless of the destructive practice of blood quantum, they have a
generations we will never meet. I often think about what life was grandmother fiercely proud of her ancestors and equally proud that
like for my ancestors. What was it about their lives that led to my they carry my minestrone soup in their genetic makeup.
ferocious need to protect the ancestors? Believe me, if you have

16 Life in Naples | January 2023