Malcolm Rivera
The Seminole are a Native American people who developed in Florida in the 18th century. The Seminole people emerged from various Native American groups who settled in Spanish Florida in the early 1700s, most notably the northern Muscogee Creeks from what are now Georgia and Alabama. The word Seminole may be derived from the Creek word simanó-li, which has been translated as frontiersman, outcast, runaway, and separatist. During the Seminole Wars in the 19th century, the US forced most Seminoles to relocate west of the Mississippi River to Indian Territory, now Oklahoma. Today, the Seminole people comprise three federally recognized tribes: the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, as well as independent groups.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin of the name "Seminole" | Derived from the Creek word "simanó-li", meaning "frontiersman", "outcast", "runaway", "separatist" or similar |
| Alternative origin of the name | Derived from the Spanish word "cimarron", meaning "runaway" or "wild one" |
| Who they constituted | Native American groups, primarily Muscogee from what is now northern Florida, Georgia and Alabama |
| Date of emergence | 18th century |
| Other groups | Survivors of Florida's original Native American communities (Tequesta, Calusa, Ais, Apalachee, etc.) |
| Other groups (cont.) | Black Seminoles, escaped slaves from Southern plantations |
| Population in 2010 | 17,233 |
| Population in 2004 | 13,675 enrolled members of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, of which roughly 2,000 were African Americans |
| Number of federally recognized tribes | 3 |
| Names of federally recognized tribes | Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, Seminole Tribe of Florida, Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida |
| Number of reservations | 6 |
| Locations of reservations | Hollywood, Big Cypress, Brighton, Immokalee, Ft. Pierce, Tampa |
| Number of matrilineal bands | 14 |
| Number of "Freedmen bands" | 2 |
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What You'll Learn
Muscogee Creeks from Georgia and Alabama
The Seminole people emerged in the 18th century through a process of ethnogenesis from various Native American groups who settled in Spanish Florida. The Seminoles were primarily made up of Muscogee Creeks from what are now northern Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. The Muscogee, also known as the Muscogee Creek Confederacy, are a group of related Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands in the United States. Their historical homelands include southern Tennessee, much of Alabama, western Georgia, and parts of northern Florida.
The Muscogee Creeks were also known as the Mvskoke, Muscogee Creek, or simply Creek. They spoke Muskogean languages, including Muscogee and various dialects like Hitchiti and Alabama. The Muscogee lived in autonomous villages in river valleys, particularly along the Chattahoochee and Alabama rivers. Their traditional economy was based on the cultivation of corn, beans, and squash, with women responsible for farming and men for hunting and defense.
In the 18th century, the Muscogee Creeks from Georgia and Alabama began to migrate to Florida due to increasing European encroachment and conflicts with British settlers. They joined with other Native American groups, such as the survivors of the Tequesta and possibly the Calusa, to establish independent chiefdoms and villages across the Florida panhandle. This migration and coalescence of different groups led to the formation of the Seminole people and culture.
The Seminoles, also known as "free people," developed a thriving trade network during the British and second Spanish periods (c. 1767-1821). They were on relatively good terms with the Spanish and British during this time. The Seminoles were also known for their integration of escaped slaves, known as Black Seminoles, who settled near their towns and maintained aspects of their Gullah culture. The Seminoles' resistance to subjugation and their adaptation of different cultural influences shaped their distinct identity and way of life in the region.
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Escaped slaves from Southern plantations
The Seminoles are a Native American people who emerged in Florida in the 18th century. They developed from various Native American groups, most notably the Muscogee Creeks from modern-day Georgia and Alabama. The Seminoles were also joined by survivors of Florida's original Native American communities, such as the Tequesta. The name "Seminole" may be derived from the Creek word "simanó-li", which has been translated as "frontiersman", "outcast", "runaway", or "separatist".
One of the groups of people who constituted the Seminole chiefdoms were escaped slaves from Southern plantations, known as the Black Seminoles. They were formed from enslaved and free Africans in the Sea Islands of South Carolina and Georgia, who escaped British plantations on the Underground Railroad as early as 1686. They found refuge and formed alliances with Florida's Indigenous populations, including the Seminoles. The Black Seminoles developed their own distinct cultural practices and African leadership structure, with their own settlements based on rice and corn agriculture.
Beginning in the 1730s, Spain established a policy of providing refuge to runaway slaves in an attempt to weaken the British Southern Colonies. This led to an increase in the number of escaped slaves settling in Florida, with most settling near St. Augustine at Fort Mose. The Black Seminoles were also known as “Seminole Maroons”, receiving liberty in exchange for defending Spanish settlers against the British.
During the American Revolutionary War, American slaves escaped to Florida, where the local British authorities promised them freedom in exchange for military service. This led to tensions with the Seminoles, as the United States considered them enemies. After the war, in 1783, Florida was returned to Spain, and the Black Seminoles continued to face the threat of slave raiders due to the Fugitive Slave Law of 1793.
The Black Seminoles played a key role in the Seminole Wars against the United States in the 19th century, particularly in recruiting plantation slaves to rebel. As a result of these conflicts, most Seminoles and Black Seminoles were forced to relocate west of the Mississippi River to Indian Territory. However, a small group of Seminoles, including Black Seminoles, refused to leave Florida and moved deep into the Everglades, fostering a culture of staunch independence.
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Hitchiti speakers
The Seminole people emerged in a process of ethnogenesis from various Native American groups who settled in Spanish Florida beginning in the early 1700s. The Seminole people comprised different groups, including Hitchiti speakers.
Hitchiti is a Native American language that was historically spoken by the Hitchiti people, a branch of the Muscogee Creek tribe. Hitchiti is closely related to the Mikasuki language, also known as Miccosukee, which is spoken by the Florida Seminole and Miccosukee tribes today. The Mikasuki language has also been referred to as a descendant or dialect of Hitchiti.
During the British and Spanish colonial periods in Florida, some Hitchiti-speaking groups settled in the region and played a role in the formation of the Seminole identity. One notable group of Hitchiti speakers, led by Cowkeeper, settled in what is now Alachua County, an area with a significant Spanish presence in the 17th century. The region became known as the "Alachua Prairie" due to the presence of a well-known Spanish cattle ranch called "la Chua."
The Spanish in Saint Augustine referred to the Hitchiti-speaking groups in this area as "Cimarrones," which meant "wild ones" or "runaways." This term likely influenced the origin of the name "Seminole", which was eventually applied to the various Native American groups in Florida, including the Hitchiti speakers.
Today, the Seminole people are recognized as three federally recognized tribes: the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida. The Seminole Tribe of Florida received federal recognition in 1957, and they have six Indian reservations within the state. The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida gained federal recognition in 1962 and has reservation land held in trust for them by the federal government.
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Choctaw and Yuchi
The Choctaw and Yuchi were among the groups of people who constituted the Seminole chiefdoms. The Seminole emerged in the 18th century through a process of ethnogenesis from various Native American groups who settled in Florida. These groups included the Choctaw and Yuchi, as well as the Muscogee Creeks, Hitchiti speakers, and escaped slaves from Southern plantations who became known as Black Seminoles.
The Choctaw people have a rich cultural history that dates back centuries and continues to thrive within communities in Oklahoma, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Choctaw culture is expressed through traditions such as song, dance, dress, beading, pottery, basketry, and stickball. The Choctaw language, also known as Chahta in the native tongue, is closely related to the Chickasaw language, and both are considered dialects of a singular original language by some linguists. The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is governed by a constitution and led by a chief and a Tribal Council.
The Yuchi, also known as the Tsoyaha, were once a large and powerful tribe, according to reports from the DeSoto expedition. However, they were ravaged by diseases and epidemics after contact with Spanish explorers in the East Tennessee area. The Yuchi had widely scattered villages ranging from Florida to Illinois and were known for their cultural characteristics. Unfortunately, the Tsoyaha are not well represented in historical records, which has contributed to a lack of awareness about their rich heritage.
Both the Choctaw and the Yuchi played a role in the formation and development of the Seminole chiefdoms in Florida. The Seminoles, through their thriving trade network and alliances with other groups, established their own identity and became increasingly independent of other Creek groups. They valued their freedom and resisted efforts to convert them to Roman Catholicism, referring to themselves as "yat'siminoli" or "free people."
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Mikasukis
The Mikasukis, also known as Mikasuki, are a Native American people who originally inhabited northwestern Florida. They were formerly part of the Creek Confederacy and are now a part of the Seminole people of southern Florida. The Mikasukis are one of the two branches of the Muskogean family represented among the Seminoles.
The Mikasukis were among the groups that constituted the nucleus of the Seminoles, who emerged in the 18th century from various Native American groups who settled in Spanish Florida. The Seminoles were formed from the ethnogenesis of these groups, primarily the Muscogee from what is now northern Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. The Seminoles developed a thriving trade network during the British and second Spanish periods (c. 1767–1821), which led to their expansion and prosperity.
The Mikasukis, as part of the Seminoles, have a long history of conflict with the United States, particularly during the Seminole Wars of the 19th century. The Seminoles were forced by the US to relocate west of the Mississippi River to Indian Territory, with a smaller group refusing to leave Florida and moving deep into the Everglades. The Mikasukis, along with the Seminoles, defended their Florida homeland against encroaching white settlers during the 1820s. Despite their alliance, the Mikasukis maintained their separate identity within the tribes of Florida.
The Mikasuki language, also spelled Miccosukee, is spoken by the Mikasukis and the Florida Seminole. It is considered a descendant of Hitchiti, a dialect of Hitchiti, and has been referred to as another term for Hitchiti. By the late 18th century, the British recorded the name "Miccosukee" or "Mikasuki" as designating a Hitchiti-speaking group centered on the town of Miccosukee, affiliated with the Creek Confederacy. The Mikasukis and other Seminole groups occupied towns on the United States side of the border with Spanish Florida, even as American squatters moved into Spanish-controlled territory.
The Trail peoples, who were Mikasuki-language speakers, formed their own government and received federal recognition as the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida in 1962. The Miccosukee, together with the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, are one of three federally recognized Seminole entities.
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Frequently asked questions
The Seminoles are a Native American people who developed in Florida in the 18th century. They emerged from various Native American groups, primarily the Muscogee Creeks from Georgia and Alabama, and established their own identity through ethnogenesis.
The Seminoles were originally part of the Creek Confederacy, a loose group of ethnic tribes in southern Georgia, northern Florida, and Alabama. In the 1700s, they came together with other native peoples, such as the Hitchiti and Mikasukis, to form independent chiefdoms and villages across Florida. They also included Yuchis, Yamasses, and other aboriginal tribes.
The word "Seminole" may be derived from the Creek word "simanó-li", which has been translated as "frontiersman", "outcast", or "runaway". It may also come from the Spanish word "cimarrón", used by the Spanish to refer to certain Native American groups in Florida as "wild ones".
