Seminole Voices: Reflections on Their Changing Society, 1970-2000

5. Dilemmas of Language and Culture

5. Dilemmas of Language and Culture Like many other American Indian tribes, the Seminoles continue to struggle to define what it means to be Indian in a world dominated by non-Indians. Although there is disagreement over how effectively the Seminoles have defined their worldview, at its core, culture retention requires an effort to preserve one’s language, material culture, and essential values as handed down by elders who are rapidly passing from the scene. Their traditions, ceremonies, and languages, guarded so carefully during the years of self-imposed isolation, are disappearing as the Seminoles emerge increasingly into an overwhelmingly white world. Many of the individuals interviewed reported that the skills and values they learned as children were slipping away. William Boehmer noted in 1971 that the young people “are sort of torn between two cultures. There is the old culture that’s fading away and it’s not important anymore. They’re trying to adjust to this new one. . . . They could pick up the worst that the new culture [white culture] has to offer sometimes .” The Seminole children, continued Boehmer, were simply not as careful and honest about preserving the past as were their grandparents.1 Several tribal members have struggled with the dichotomy of cultures. As one young man put it, “There are good white things and good Indian things. We want the best of both.” A young woman had a similar view: “We don’t want to be white people; we want to be Seminoles. We want the modern things and we want to live nicely, but we want to do it among friends.”2 Therefore, there is general consensus that tribal leaders did the right thing in trying to sustain Native culture by opening the multimillion-dollar Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum on a sixty- dilemmas of l anguage and culture 167 acre site at the Big Cypress Reservation, by building a museum at the Okalee Indian Village in Hollywood, and by supporting cultural classes in the tribal school. These decisions were part of a move to revitalize the Seminole heritage and constituted a commitment to increase tourism. Tribal Chairman James Billie proclaimed in 1997 that the tribe wanted everyone “to come see what we are about.” He explained that “if we don’t preserve our culture then as a people we will die.” The first comprehensive museum dedicated to the culture and heritage of Florida’s Seminole Indians opened in August 1997. Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki, which means “a place to learn, a place to remember,” not only preserves Seminole history but also offers visitors a chance to learn about Indian society. Tourists can enjoy Seminole culture through a variety of experiences. The new facility features a one-mile boardwalk through a natural bald cypress dome and a replica of an authentic Seminole village. The five-thousand-square-foot exhibit gallery includes rare artifacts and dioramas on Indian life. The museum’s five-screen theater offers orientation films, while a resource library and computers enable interested parties to research in-depth information about the Seminoles. The gift shop sells Seminoles arts and crafts. Outside the museum, tribal members show how Seminoles lived more than a hundred years ago, and local artists demonstrate the making of beadwork, small canoes, and Seminole clothing. The Okalee Indian Village that opened in 1960 was one of the first enterprises established by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The Seminoles, proud of their heritage and progress, wanted a facility to attract tourists and also to demonstrate to nonIndians that not all Indians lived in teepees and hunted buffalo. It featured a traditional village, an alligator and snake show, a theater, living history demonstrations, and crafts produced by local artisans. However, gaming became paramount and the attraction had been closed for ten years when the tribe decided to restore it in 1988. The new Okalee Indian Village and Museum 168 dilemmas of l anguage and culture was designed so that Seminole children could learn the tribe’s history. When the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino opened at the Hollywood Reservation in 2004, Okalee Indian Village was incorporated into the complex, and its revamped museum was renamed Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum at Okalee Village.3 A well-respected Seminole elder and craftsman, Jimmy O’Toole Osceola, gave a ringing affirmation of the importance of preserving the culture. He acknowledged, “it is very difficult because some young generations like to learn...