Spotlight on the Big Cypress Seminole Reservation
Welcome back to our Reservation Spotlight series! In the last two weeks, we have looked at the unique communities and accomplishments of the Seminole Reservations of Immokalee and Brighton. This week, we are taking a sharp turn off Alligator Alley to follow Snake Road straight to the Big Cypress Reservation. In the heart of the Everglades, Big Cypress offers an incredibly long history of Seminole occupation. Although recently known for being the home of the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum and Big Cypress RV Resort, the Big Cypress Reservation has a rich history and vital community beyond the museum campus.
Interested in learning more about the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum? We encourage you to also check out some of our previous posts about the Museum you can find below.
27 Memorable Moments with the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum – Part 1
27 Memorable Moments with the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum – Part 2
Tribal Tourism Reimagined in the 1990s
Exploring the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum’s Online Collections
In our featured image, you can see a car parked in front of a chickee on the Big Cypress Reservation circa 1960. You can also see a wash station. (2005.27.595, ATTK Museum)
Before the Big Cypress Reservation
Seminoles have lived around the Big Cypress area since time immemorial. During and prior to the Seminole War period, it was also home to many Seminole camps. Abiaka (Sam Jones) established a camp in the area as early as 1828 (West 240). Abiaka, in addition to other determined leaders, saved the Seminole people through intelligent strategy and fierce opposition to removal. Other camps were similarly placed throughout the area, including Billy Bowlegs (and his infamous banana plants), and Tigertail.
At the end of the 19th century, a number of missionaries purchased land to set aside with the intention of creating reservation land for the Seminoles. For example, in 1891 the Women’s National Indian Association (WNIA) purchased 400 acres to establish a Seminole mission. Also around the same time, the Bureau of Indian Affairs began purchasing tracts of land in what is now the Big Cypress Seminole Reservation. In 1889, then again in 1896, the BIA purchased these large chunks of land, which eventually would become the heart of the reservation.
In 1911, President Taft formally allotted 17,000 acres to the reservation via executive order. The allotment would join others purchased by the missionaries and become the Big Cypress Reservation of today. Presently, the Big Cypress Reservation is over 50,000 acres and home to not only over 600 Seminoles, but also a delicate and unique ecosystem that houses several endangered species. These include the Florida Panther, Audubon’s Crested Caracara, the Gopher Tortoise, Eastern Indigo Snake, Gopher Frog, Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, large wading birds, Snail Kite, Sherman’s Fox Squirrel, Florida White Tail Deer, and also the Florida Black Bear.
In a proposal from 2014 requesting federal funds to document negative impacts on this ecosystem, the Tribe noted that “[the Tribe’s] historical, cultural, religious, recreational and economic welfare is tied to the land. Tribal members have voiced concerns to State and Federal agencies and have said, ‘when the land dies, we die.’ The connection to the natural ecosystem is integral to the Tribal culture.”
Cattle and Morgan Smith
Much like Brighton, the early days of the Big Cypress Reservation were also tied to agriculture and cattle. In 1941, cattle numbering 150 head were allotted to Big Cypress. Through trial, error, sacrifice, and hard work the cattle industry would eventually flourish for the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Morgan Smith, one of the six original trustees of the cattle program, was a Big Cypress cattle owner and manager. He, along with the other trustees, would help create the modern Seminole Tribe of Florida we know today.
Their blueprints for the tribal government would help them fight for federal recognition, and subsequently win. Smith made his home near the no longer standing Big Cypress Red Barn, not too far from present-day Sadie’s. He would establish another camp near the Kissimmee Billie Slough, to watch over his herd. A forward thinker, Smith also made an unprecedented move with this second camp. He “bought a pre-made home from a catalogue and had it shipped to the reservation and moved out to the slough, the first non-traditional home in Big Cypress.” (Cowkeeper’s Legacy 13)
In a 2017 Seminole Tribune article about the 21st annual Junior Cypress Cattle Drive, which honored Smith, then-Big Cypress Board Rep. Joe Frank shared his memories of Smith. Frank is also a cattle owner and knew Smith as a child. “I knew him when I was really young, before the Tribe was organized,” Frank said. “Our first modern government was the cattle program. I remember him and Josie Billie talking about how Tribal government would be. Thanks to those trustees, we could organize into the form of government we have now. They laid a good groundwork, and the Tribe is in good shape today because of it.”
118th Anniversary Celebration
In January 2014, the Big Cypress Reservation celebrated its 118th anniversary, in honor of the date the BIA began purchasing and allotting land. The Seminole Tribe of Florida held a three-day celebration to commemorate the anniversary, which included music, craft and food vendors, patchwork demonstrations, and also Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum pop-up exhibits. In a Seminole Tribune article about the event, JoJo Osceola expressed pride in sharing the Seminole culture, saying “It’s an honor for us to show others how we live. I hope that they take home knowledge of who we are and that we still follow our traditions.” Narrating the clothing contests, Wovoka Tommie added even more, saying “Imagine the Florida heat as it is today and our women cooking over open fires, the whole time staying [hidden] from soldiers who could come around the corner and attack at any second…That’s what we went through to be unconquered today.”
Community, Tradition, and Looking Forward
Ten years after this momentous anniversary, the Big Cypress Reservation is still looking forward to the future, and still sharing its culture and staying true to these traditions. The To-Pee-Kee-Ke Yak-Ne Community Center opened in 2019, in a Bureau of Indian Affairs building from the 1950s. After being federally recognized, the fledgling Seminole Tribe of Florida held Council meetings in the building.
At the center opening, Joe Frank remembers “We used to come here to sit and listen, but we just wanted to play. We ran around and played games outside, but you’d hear the adults debating issues in there. The conversation was heated but controlled. It’s good to see this building being put back to use to benefit our community and Tribe.”
Since its inception, the building also housed 4-H meetings, the Head Start program of the 70s, a culture department, cattle owner’s meetings, a senior center, recreational activities, a hurricane shelter, and a pool hall. “This is a place to learn, a place to remember and preserve our community,” said Quenton Cypress, former THPO community engagement manager, shared.
Former Councilman Mondo Tiger, who also helped craft the plans for the new center, shared: “We’ve had a lot of tourists come through here and I thought this could be a good information center. We have kids growing up who don’t really know about their history, and this will be a good place to learn about it. We are very proud to tell our story; how we came from poverty to where we are today.” He went on to share his own memories of the building, recalling playing around it as a child: “We lived in chickees with no electricity or water,” Tiger said. “This building had lights; coming here was like going to the big city.”
Rez Jamz
This blend of history, tradition, and repurposing something old to be new again is apt for Big Cypress. With its long history, Big Cypress has shifted and changed many times over the centuries. But, at its heart, they remain Seminole, and hold those histories and traditions close even while looking forward. To-Pee-Kee-Ke Yak-Ne, which means gathering place in Elaponke, is the perfect example of this repurposing something old, thus pushing the community forward.
In addition to being a community center, it became the heart of Rez Jamz during the Covid-19 pandemic. A music series intended to highlight Tribal talent, Rez Jamz was produced at the community center. “Rez Jamz is for artists who aren’t super well known,” said Quenton Cypress. “Some do it as a hobby and may have Instagram and Facebook pages where they sometimes post. It’s modeled after MTV Unplugged and is mostly acoustic music.”
To be part of Rez Jamz, “artists come to To-Pee-Kee-Ke Yak-Ne and perform their acoustic music for a Seminole Media Productions video and sound crew.” Then, these videos were uploaded to the To-Pee-Kee-Ke Yak-Ne YouTube Channel. Now, more and more artists are finding their way to Tribal events, such as the Indigenous Arts and Music Festival. Interested in attending? Next year’s festival is February 6-8th at the Junior Cypress Rodeo Complex on the Big Cypress Reservation.
Seminole Scenes in Big Cypress
Here, you can see a picture of an event where cattle were being distributed to families on Big Cypress in 1949, possibly 30 head to each family. Morgan Smith is seated at the table with a pen in his hand. Jimmy Cypress also sits next to him. From right: Charlie Osceola, James Benjamin Thomas, Little Fewell; On left side of table, from right: Katie Smith, Fred Montsdeoca, Junior Cypress, Stanley Cypress (at left); In back, from left: Willie Frank, unknown. (1999.40.15, ATTK Museum)
Gift Shop and Village sign, Big Cypress Reservation, circa 1960. (2005.27.1263, ATTK Museum)
Mrs. Smith examines and prices clothes, Baptist Meeting of Seminoles, Big Cypress Reservation, February 17, 1946. (2005.27.214, ATTK Museum)
Josie Billie, medicine man, standing in front of a plane. (2007.117.55, ATTK Museum)
Black and white photographic print of the new school building on the Big Cypress Reservation. This school was thus the first Ahfachkee School on the reservation, circa 1965. (2009.34.1771, ATTK Museum)
Billy L. Cypress reads from a clipboard while dressed in traditional clothing at the 2001 Shootout event (aka Kissimmee Billie Shootout) on the Big Cypress Reservation. (2015.6.15098, ATTK Museum)
Cody Micco (center), Argyle Parker (right), and Onnie Gopher and Nellie Smith (children L to R) eating lunch during a Field Day event on the Big Cypress Reservation. (2009.34.2066, ATTK Museum)
Upcoming Big Cypress Events
Looking to learn more about Big Cypress and the Seminole Tribe of Florida? As always, we encourage you to stop by the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum, either at one of the upcoming public events or for a Museum day trip!
The Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum will host this year’s Pumpkins of the Devil’s Garden event held October 4th from 5:00-8:00p!
Discover the Seminole Legend of Devil’s Garden while wandering through the sculpture garden amidst jack-o-lanterns that will frighten and delight. Enjoy complimentary Halloween treats at the outdoor screening of Disney’s Frankenweenie! Dress up in your favorite family-friendly Halloween costumes – this year’s theme is Anime. Additionally, receive free admission to the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum during the event, and explore all the amazing exhibits on display. It is going to be a spooktacular night you won’t forget!
Can’t make it in October? Set your calendars for the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum’s biggest event of the year. The Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum host the American Indigenous Arts Celebration (AIAC) this year November 1st-2nd from 10:00a to 5:00pm each day. Explore Tribal culture, Indigenous art, music, food, and more! Additionally, shop tribal vendors, and enjoy live wildlife shows and cultural demonstrations. For the first time ever, every guest will enjoy free admission to both the Museum and the AIAC event. Parking is free.
Back again for another exciting year, the Big Cypress Holiday Market is scheduled from December 13-14th,10:00am – 4:00pm each event day. Complete your holiday shopping list all in one place! Authentic Native art, crafts, jewelry, and clothing will be for sale, as well as food from Tribal vendors. Admission to the event is free, as well as complimentary admission to the Museum.
Kicking off 2025 is the third annual Indigenous Arts and Music Festival (IAMF) happening February 6-8th. This family event will feature Indigenous arts, music, food, and tribal vendors. Located at the Junior Cypress Rodeo Complex on the Big Cypress Reservation, admission is free. Interested in last year’s festival? Learn more in a previous blog post!
We are now half-way through our Reservation Spotlight series. Join us next week as we explore the Tampa Seminole Reservation! Stay tuned.
Additional Resources
RESTORE Act Project Proposal. Seminole Tribe of Florida. Giving the Land a Voice: Documenting Pre-Channelization Hydrologic Conditions on Big Cypress Reservation Using LiDAR, Paleoecology and Dendochronology. 2014. Restorethegulf.gov
Author Bio
Originally from Washington state, Deanna Butler received her BA in Archaeological Sciences from the University of Washington in 2014. Deanna moved to Florida in 2016. Soon, she began working for the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Tribal Historic Preservation Office. Deanna was the THPO’s Archaeological Collections Assistant from 2017-2021. While at the THPO, Deanna worked to preserve, support, and process the Tribe’s archaeological collection. She often wrote the popular Artifact of the Month series and worked on many community and educational outreach programs. She lives in Lakeland, FL with her husband, two sons, and dog.
