iCross-Cultural Citizen Project- The Everglades: Miccosukee Style: Miccosukee Education

Monday, July 22, 2013

Miccosukee Education

Most of us are used to public schools with at least two hundred kids within a graduating class, however for the Miccosukee tribe the education system is much different. One school consisting of one hundred and thirty three kids, grades kindergarten to twelve serves for the entire Indian community. What seems like just a small school actually harvests a large amount of growth in students and in overall education. But, size is not the only interesting and unique aspect of their education, it also the content they learn there and the struggles they overcame to build their education system into what it is today.

What once began with a mere eighty students has grown into an education facility of one hundred and thirty and continues to grow, but more thrilling than their growth in attendance is their curriculum. The Miccosukee Indians have established an institution providing younger generations with the benefit of two worlds. While children must take classes consisting of everyday American courses in core subjects, they are also given different opportunities to explore their own heritage through their education system. With hallways decked in paintings of Miccosukee elders and the colors of the Miccosukee flag, kids are reminded daily of their Indian heritage. Also, activities offered such as sewing and making pottery keep them involved in cultural activities. But most of all, their culture day keeps them from forgetting who they are and what they are in school to learn. They wear their traditional tribal clothes and eat their traditional tribal food to make sure they keep their customs strong so they will “never leave and never forget.”

Overall, the Miccosukee Indians promote the education of their own ideals and values. Although they must learn some “non-Indian” ideals and basic lessons, their primary focus is on their own tribe. By studying this way, it allows the children to grow up with skills helping them within the tribe, and skills they may need if they ever choose to venture beyond the Indian Village.

CITATION:

"Miccosukee School Helps Preserve Culture, Heritage for Culture," last modified November 2, 2003, http://www.racematters.org/miccosukeeschool.htm

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Mission

Miccosukee Tribe of Indians is a federally recognized Indian Tribe residing in the historic Florida Everglades-an area referred to as a "River of Grass" by legendary environmental and social activist Marjory Stoneman Douglas. In their own Miccosukee language, the Tribe uses the word "Kahayatle" to refer to the shimmering waters of this natural treasure. In fact, Ms, Douglas traces the etymology of the word "Everglades" revealing that it originates from the same description of the quality of light glimmering on the grassy waters.

Vision

Values

The Miccosukee Tribe is looking towards the future with great expectations. However, Tribal leadership recognizes much remains to be done to ensure that the Miccosukee people can continue to be themselves in a constantly changing world. A key to this cultural survival is in the values and underlying philosophy of the traditional way of life. Values and traditions will not flourish unless they are constantly renewed and entered into wholeheartedly by the younger generations. For this reason, the Tribe has developed Miccosukee cultural studies at a higher level through a secondary curriculum and expansive studies.

Background

The Tribe has a proud history, which predates Columbus. The Miccosukee Indians were originally part of the Creek Nation, and then migrated to Florida before it became part of the United States.

During the Indian Wars of the 1800s, most of Miccosukees were removed to the West, but about 100, mostly Mikasuki-speaking Creeks, never surrendered and hid out in the Everglades. Present Tribal members now number over 600 and are direct descendants of those who eluded capture.

To survive in this new environment, the Miccosukees had to adapt to living in small groups in temporary "hammock style" camps spread throughout the Everglades' vast river of grass. The Miccosukees stayed to themselves in the Everglades for about 100 years, resisting efforts to become assimilated. Then, after the Tamiami Trail highway was built in 1928, the Tribe began to accept the New World's concepts. To ensure that the federal government would formally recognize the Miccosukee Tribe, Buffalo Tiger led a group to Cuba in 1959, where they asked Fidel Castro for, and were granted international recognition as a sovereign country within the United States. On January 11, 1962, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior approved the Miccosukee Constitution and the Tribe was officially recognized as the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida. This legally established the Miccosukees' tribal existence and their sovereign, domestic dependent nation status with the United States Government.

On March 6, 1971, the Miccosukee Corporation was formed to receive and administer funds from private foundations as well as county, state and federal agencies for a variety of educational, employment, housing and social programs for members of the Miccoksukee community. The officers of the Corporation consist of a President, Secretary and a Treasurer. The Chairman of the General Council is also the President and the principal executive of the Corporation.