HEADLINES
	Tribe Sells Off Micco Assets
	6th Annual Time Travel Tour: Charleston Reunion
	2003 Little Mr. & Miss Seminole Contest
	Fifth Annual Kissimmee Slough Shootout & Rendezvous
	Tribe Celebrates Construction Milestone
	Ehricka Osceola Crowned Brighton Princess
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6th Annual Time Travel Tour: Charleston Reunion

By Alexandra Frank
CHARLESTON, SC — From Jan. 28-Feb. 1, the department of Anthropology & Genealogy, under the direction of Dr. Patricia Wickman and staff, hosted the 6th Annual Time Travel Tour: "Charleston Reunion."
A chartered air-conditioned bus made its first stop at the Hollywood Reservation to pick up travelers. The bus continued on to the Hot Meals buildings on the Big Cypress and Brighton Reservations.
Finally loaded, the bus and two other vehicles made their way to Orlando, where the TT Tour participants had lunch at the Cracker Barrel restaurant.
The Orlando stop was not the final destination on the first day of the Tour. The TT Tour participants also visited St. Augustine, where they ate dinner, spent the night, and enjoyed a Train Tour/Shop visit the next day.
St. Augustine is important to Seminole history, it was here that Osceola was kept at Fort Marion after Major General Thomas Jesup tricked him into capture.
Another episode in Seminole history that happened at St. Augustine was the "Great Escape" by Coacoochee (Wildcat). Coacoochee was captured by trickery at Fort Marion an Old Spanish fortress, Castillo de San Marcos.
Coacoochee was placed in a southwest corner cell. This cell was considered escape proof, the only opening was located 15 feet above the ground.
This opening was five feet long and only eight inches wide. Also, there were two iron bars across the opening. However, all of these precautions could not contain Coacoochee. He, along with 19 other captives, escaped on the night of November 29, 1837.
Although the train tour focused mostly on the history of St. Augustine, one gets a sense of how rich the history of the Seminole, in relation to St. Augustine, is to the tribal citizens.
It was time to move on, and the TT Tour participants loaded up and headed out to Charleston, SC. Many may wonder what is so important in Charleston that Seminoles have to take a chartered bus to this historic southern city and fort.
It was here Osceola, 76 warriors and six women were transferred to after their capture at Fort Marion. Fort Moultrie served as the holding site for Osceola; it was here that Osceola took ill from malaria and acute tonsillitis. Osceola succumbed to the illnesses that ravaged his body on January 30, 1838.
Before his death, Osceola asked that his body be taken to Florida and buried there so that he may rest in peace eternally. However, Osceola was buried on the grounds of Fort Moultrie.
A headstone marks his gravesite, which is located on the grounds just outside of the fort. The name is misspelled, but the remarks written about a man, warrior, father, and most importantly, a Seminole leader, ring true.
On Thursday, Jan. 30, a Program/Ceremony was held to honor, not only the 165th year of Osceola's death, but the fact that Osceola and other Seminole warriors did not fight in vain in an attempt to keep their people free.
The Mayor of Sullivan's Island, Marshall Stith, gave an opening ceremony statement, he gave a brief highlight of the Seminole Tribe’s visit to Charleston 5 years ago.
Mayor Stith spoke of how the Seminoles brought with them their rich cultural heritage and how the tribal leaders presented their people as free and self-governing.
The visit, five years ago, marked the 160th anniversary of Osceola's death, Mayor Stith remarked that is an honor to again meet with the Seminoles on this day of honoring and remembering Osceola.
The Mayor of the City of the Isle of Palms, Michael Satillie, presented a key to the city to Priscilla Sayen, Tribal Secretary/Treasurer. A picture of Osceola was given to Mayor Stith, who assured everyone it would be placed at Town Hall.
Mayor Stith asked Dr. Wickman to introduce Bobby Henry, Medicine Man, who would give the invocation. As Dr. Wickman introduced Bobby Henry, she gave brief insight into how a medicine man may have many names from many cultures but he is an important factor to Seminole culture.
Henry explained to the crowd that had gathered together on the overcast day that he would speak his native Miccosukee language. Henry spoke of the facts about what brought the Seminoles to Fort Moultrie.
Henry also shared that, because there were survivors of those warriors from the Seminole Wars, it is imperative to keep the Seminole culture alive. It is important to tell the stories of those individuals who fought to keep the Seminole free.
Mayor Stith called on Josephine North, who was in attendance to represent David Dehass, Hollywood Board Representative. The Board, Josephine pointed out, is the economic side of the Seminole Tribe.
The Board supports business ventures such as citrus groves, tobacco sales, and cattle. North said there are five reservations in Florida and that some of the Seminoles in attendance were from those reservations. She thanked the city leaders and citizens for the warm welcome they extended to the visiting Seminoles.
Mayor Stith called up Priscilla Sayen to share a few words with the program crowd. She said that it meant a lot to the Seminoles to be able to visit the resting place of Osceola.
The visit also made her a little sad because of the tragedy of what happened to Osceola. She spoke of how other Seminoles leaders were buried in unmarked graves. Priscilla mentioned that good always comes out of tragedy and the marking of Osceola's gravesite to commemorate the past leader was an example.
This, she pointed out, was good because the Seminoles could come back to the burial site and honor such a great leader.
Priscilla finished with a thank you to the people of Charleston for inviting the Seminoles to help commemorate the 165th Anniversary of Osceola's death.
Dr. Wickman also shared a few words about the anniversary. Wickman said Priscilla comments about coming to the site, and it bringing out a sad emotion, was true.
In an emotional testimony, Wickman said that the Seminole leaders of years gone by had not fought in vain. They had, through the battles they fought and died in, kept their descendents free.
Bobby Henry finished the program by singing a few songs called the "Welcome Dance" and the "Open Dance." He explained that the songs were done during the "Green Corn Dance," and that the songs are almost always about animals.
Mayor Stith thanked everyone present at the 165th Anniversary program marking the death of Osceola. He extended a welcome from the second home of the Seminoles and encouraged everyone to spend time mingling with one another.
The end of the anniversary program was not the end of the day for the TT Tour participants, arrangements had been made for everyone to tour Charleston by horse-drawn carriage.
The Tour ended in Savannah, GA, where they shopped and ate dinner at Fort Jackson. The first of February was travel day.
All in all, this Time Travel Tour was educational, fun, and emotional.
Plans for future Time Travel Tours have not been discussed yet. But don't worry, another will, without a doubt, be put into motion by Dr. Wickman, Lisa Mullenix, Lavonne Kippenburger, and Geneva Shore. See you then.