Two Opportunities for Earth Day the Native Way
Welcome to Earth Month with the Seminole Tribe of Florida and Florida Seminole Tourism! Earth Month is a great opportunity for everyone to get outside and get involved in preserving and protecting the world we live in. We encourage you to seek out places where you can make a difference in your local environment! Need a place to start? Check out one of our previous blog posts about 7 Dynamic Ways You Can Take Action for the Everglades.
Today, join us for a special inside look into two fantastic Earth Day the Native Way events, hosted by the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum and Okalee Seminole Indian Village & Venue. Join us to explore the event’s many incredible partners, special guests, and get ready for some fun activities, workshops, and demonstrations! Festivities start tomorrow, April 14th at the Okalee Seminole Indian Village and Venue in Hollywood, FL. Then, come by the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum on the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation April 16th for another opportunity to celebrate the beauty of our natural world and community! Check out the event details below and learn more about what you will find at this year’s Earth Day events.
There are two chances to celebrate Earth Day the Native Way with the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum!
🗓️ April 14th, 2026 from 9:00am – 5:00pm
📍 Seminole Okalee Indian Village & Venue, Hollywood Seminole Indian Reservation.
🗓️ April 16th, 2026 10:00am – 4:00pm
📍 The Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum on the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation
Billy Walker’s Swamp Cabbage Demonstration, 2025
Special Guests & Partners
During this year’s Earth Day festivities there are several fantastic partners and special guests that make these events memorable. Check some of them out below and be sure to stop by and talk to them during the events to learn more about each one!
Ameyal Mexican Cultural Academy
Based in Miami, the Ameyal Mexican Cultural Organization will present an interactive music workshop and vibrant dance performances during the Earth Day the Native Way celebrations. Founded by Alfredo Martinez from Veracruz, Mexico, they bring traditional Mexican culture and heritage to life through immersive dance presentations. They primarily focus on dances that would have been featured at communal parties (fandango), ritual dances (concheros), and folk dances.
In a 2017 interview with HistoryMiami Martinez explained the inspiration for the group, saying it was born “By necessity. By loneliness. When I told a friend about the project, she answered me with discouragement: “Alfredo, you are alone.” She was right, we were alone, and if we wanted to continue with our practices, we needed to found an organization that specifically cultivated these traditions. None of the dancers’ grandparents traveled to Miami. No group brought the fandango tradition to Miami. This made us think that we could greatly enrich the cultural atmosphere of this city with our organization.”
Through traditional Aztec ceremonial dance, they share the rich Indigenous knowledge of Mexico. As both artists and activists, they promote a philosophy of living in balance with nature and the cosmos. Back again for another exciting year, you can follow the Ameyal Mexican Cultural Academy Aztec Dancers on Facebook and Instagram!
Polynesian Proud Dancers
Polynesian Proud Productions, based in South Florida, brings the vibrant heritage of the South Pacific to life. Through captivating performances inspired by the islands of Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, and Samoa they share the beauty of Polynesian culture. They invite guests to experience the rhythm and spirit of the islands. In addition to their graceful dance performances, they will also be hosting a lei making workshop for attendees. You can follow Polynesian Proud Productions on Facebook and Instagram.
Tony Duncan and Tony Duncan Productions
Five-time Hoop Dance World Champion Tony Duncan has spent his life learning, passing on, and honoring the traditions that came before him. Duncan (San Carlos Apache and Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation) and his wife, Violet (Plains Cree and Taino from Kehewin Cree Nation) even starred in Nelly Furtado’s 2012 music video “Big Hoops (The Bigger the Better).”
At this year’s Earth Day Events, Tony Duncan will be sharing his flute music through a number of flute performances.
On his website, Duncan shares that “The Native American flute has been a source of beautiful energy and peacefulness in my life. I’ve often walked into nature as the first light from the sun touched mother earth. I’d sit against the palo verde and play many songs to the plant and bird people as the sun rose. I’ve always felt there was a special connection between the breathe of the flute and all living beings upon mother earth. It’s the energy from that connection that purifies the mind and spirit. Feel the beauty and re-store balance through the peaceful gift of the flute.”
Michelle Reed, also from Tony Duncan Productions, will also be sharing traditional stories.
Pharoah’s Wildlife Kingdom
Pharaoh’s Wildlife Kingdom focuses on wildlife conservation through education. Freestyler Alligator Wrestling Competition (FAWC) seasoned alligator wrestler Pharaoh Gayles blends the thrills of wild animal handling with education. He is a five-time, FAWC champion and wildlife educator, conservationist, performer, artist, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission-licensed handler. Pharaoh’s Wildlife Kingdom performs educational wildlife shows both in person and virtually and loves to share their passion with people from all walks of life.
They are “committed to educating the public, from toddlers to our elders, about the beauty and wonder of wildlife and about the importance of animal conservation.” Their YouTube channel offers “on-demand edutainment and expert wildlife care information.” Pharaoh has showcased his talents on national television, with appearances on Animal Planet’s “Gator Boys” and as a featured performer on FOX’s “Game of Talents”. You can find Pharaoh’s Wildlife Kingdom on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
Go Native Now
Owned and operated by Oskwanontona Pia roya (Comanche/First Nations – Federal Mohawk), Go Native Now is a cultural and educational experience based out of Kissimmee, Florida. Focused on educating and sharing living history, songs, and dance, Go Native Now works to share true native culture full time at the Jororo Native Village. They only go on the road for a few large events a year, so make sure to check them out at Earth Day!
Tree Amigos Growers
Tree Amigos Growers is a nursery located in Davie, FL. But, it is much more than your typical plant shop! Part of their mission involves inspiring and supporting people in their goal to create their own food system through organic gardening. With a wide selection of culinary and medicinal herbs, vegetables, and fruit trees, Tree Amigos focuses on supporting local gardeners in building sustainable, eco-friendly gardens. Need help as a beginner gardener? Tree Amigos hosts a number of workshops and has compiled a selection of free gardening guides to help even the most beginner gardener. Check out their gardening workshop at this year’s Earth Day events!
Tree Amigos Growers also wants to inspire a new vision of land access that nurtures growing spaces, heals our food system, and supports the independent production of organic food. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram and stop by their nursery in Davie for all your plant-growing needs.
Alonso’s Apiaries
Offering “variety small-batch honeys, pure beeswax candles, Artisanal soaps, body salves, and nourishing lip balms,” the Alonso Family Apiaries was established in 2019. Florida local, they fold a profound respect for nature and their bees into every product. On their website they share that “from our raw golden honey and fiery hot blends to the natural glow of our beeswax candles and the soothing touch of our body care products, everything we create is rooted in respect for nature and the incredible work of the bees.” They are offering a bee keeping workshop during both Earth Day the Native Way events.
Workshops and Opportunities
Below, you can find a list of workshops and opportunities that attendees can take advantage of during the events! Please visit the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum Facebook for the most up to date schedules.
Lei Making, Polynesian Proud Productions
Dreamcatcher Crafts, Erika Tommie
Music Workshop, Ameyal Mexican Cultural Academy LLC
Bee-Keeping Workshop, Alonso Apiaries
Go Native Music Workshop, Go Native Now
Gardening Workshop, Tree Amigo Growers
Swamp Cabbage Demonstration, Billy Walker
Friendship Dance, Billy Walker
Additional Experiences
In addition to the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum’s incredible partners, special guests, and workshops, visitors can experience a variety of art, crafts, food vendors, and more. On April 16th attendees will also enjoy free admission to the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum. Take the opportunity to experience some of the Museum’s permanent and rotating exhibits, as well as take a stroll on the mile-long boardwalk through the cypress dome. What better way to enjoy Earth Month than listening to the sounds of the cypress dome as you experience the beauty of both nature and the community!
