History & Population(Darrell)

Seminole history begins predominantly in the 1700s with a group of native Americans known as the creeks( a name given to them by English settlers) who were a large branch of the muskhogean family. these people were settled in much of what is now known as Georgia and Alabama. This group was powerful and dominated the area which included approximately fifty towns and spoke six different languages. pressure from war with numerous tribes and European settlers forced them to split into two groups, the upper creeks and lower creeks.  the lower creeks migrated to Florida and it is at that point that native American groups in Florida became known as Seminoles, a term meaning wild people or run away. the Seminoles include included the creeks, yuchis, yamasses and runaway slaves. prior to the 1800s the Seminoles often sided with the English during times of war this however changed when quarrels over land and slaves came about. the Seminoles were crippled by these wars, the third and final of which began in 1830 after the passage of the Indian removal act. this act would relocated all native Americans to an area west of the Mississippi river. by the end of the third Seminole war roughly 3000 native Americans were relocated and approximately 300 were went into hiding in the swamps of Florida. the 300 or so native Americans still living in Florida remained inactive until the late 1950s when legislation was passed that allowed them to create their own constitutional government and be recognized as their own independent tribe. they were awarded $12,347,500 for the land that was taken from them by the U.S military. today the Seminoles  have expanded from the original 300 left to 2,000 across six reservations in Florida. they work to be economically independent and diverse but also hold fast to their own customs and traditions.

Works Cited

"Creek Indian Tribe." Native American Nations . http://www.nanations.com/creek/index.htm (accessed July 17, 2013).

"Facts for Kids: Seminole Indians (Seminoles)." Orrin's Website. http://www.bigorrin.org/seminole_kids.htm (accessed July 17, 2013).

"The history of the Seminole Indians." The Original ~ Indians.org. http://www.indians.org/articles/seminole-indians.html (accessed July 17, 2013).

Florida Department of revenue vs. Seminole Tribe of Florida

http://www.4dca.org/opinions/June%202011/06-22-11/4D10-456.op.pdf

      In the brief above an opinion is given on a court decision made in a dispute between the federal department of revenue and the Seminole tribe of Florida over the issue of taxation. basically what has occurred is that The Seminole tribe is purchasing fuel off of their reservation for the use of the tribe and the DOR has been taxing them for this. The Seminoles feel that it is unfair they are being taxed because under the Indian commerce clause of the U.S Constitution taxation of any fuel used or consumed by the tribe on its reservation or tribal lands is prohibited. The Department of Revenue counteracts this claim by saying that use is defined by filling the tanks not where the vehicle was driven. they also bring up the point that there is no way for the DOR to track where and how much of the fuel was consumed on and off reservation. the courts originally sided with the tribe but in appeals court  it appears the case will go to the DOR.

 work cited

Florida Department of Revenue V. Seminole tribe of Florida. Florida. 2011

Reflection

       From the research I have done on the Native Americans known as the Seminoles I have seen the devastating impact that cultural imperialism has had on their people. Since colonization of America first began the Seminoles were becoming pressured more and more to leave their land which was their livelihood. War divided their people and dwindled their numbers until they were a shadow of their former selves then battles between their previous European allies forced the three hundred of them left in Florida into hiding for decades. While America in later years did take steps to reconcile with the Seminoles they will never be able to reverse the damage done to their culture.they have since began rebuilding their culture on reservations which are independent.
       the Seminoles are now becoming increasingly assimilated to American culture. in the article that i posted the Seminoles went to court with the American Department of Revenue over what they believed to be unfair taxation.they were however unsuccessful in their fight. from this assignment i learned that ethnocentrism when mixed with cultural imperialism can have devastating effects on the culture of others. i also learned that cultures are dynamic and that through contact with one another cultures change and are formed. in the case of the Seminoles or unconquered people which the native Florida Seminoles refer to themselves as their culture continues to survive even after so much cultural pressure.
       i enjoyed looking at the lives of the Seminoles through an anthropological lens. It is exciting to go beyond one's cultural views to see how others function within their society. It also breeds a more understanding and accepting cultural environment.