Okeechobee Honors Seminole Artist

By Susan Etxebarria

OKEECHOBEE CITY, FL — A tribute to Seminole artist, Jimmie Scott Osceola, and the Seminole Tribe of Florida was the focus of a city park celebration held in Okeechobee City on May 19. Two significant actions took place that day showing that the city applauds the achievements of the Tribe and its Brighton neighbors.

A proclamation on the part of Okeechobee City Council declaring Saturday as Jimmie Scott Osceola Day was announced at the regular meeting on May 16. After the city meeting Jimmie’s brother, Joe Dan Osceola, remarked it was the first time in all these years that the Seminole Tribe was invited to a city meeting.

In addition to honoring Jimmie Scott Osceola at the celebration the organizers pulled off another surprise. City Council Member Dowling Watford gave the symbolic keys to the city to Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Chairman Mitchell Cypress, who accepted them on behalf of the Tribe.

Giving anyone the keys to a city is considered a big honor reserved for special individuals on special occasions. Council Members Lowry Markham and Shirley Brennan, Lydia Williams and Mayor James Kirk were also present.

Council Member Watford was instrumental in getting state funds allocated for the new state park at the site of the Battle of Okeechobee.

“When I was a kid growing up in Okeechobee I didn’t know anything about the Seminole culture,” he said. “They were my friends but when you’re a kid you don’t think much about that. Over the years I learned more. Now I have a family connection with four grandchildren in the Tribe. I have learned to really appreciate the Seminole culture.”

This first-ever Okeechobee City event honoring the culture of the Tribe and one of its Tribal citizens may be the start of an annual celebration. That’s what C. J. Rodriguez, owner of Dust Collector Antiques, Collectables & Fine Arts, said he hopes for. She was originally planning just an art showing of Osceola’s fantastic work, especially his fine drawings in India ink, and she enlisted the help of Council Member Lydia Jean Williams, who is also the executive director for Okeechobee Main Street, Inc.

Between the two women their efforts evolved into a week of celebrations. Besides the proclamation and the Saturday celebration, there was the monthly Okeechobee Main Street Mixer at the antique store on May 18, where Jimmie Osceola and his family members were introduced. There was a good crowd of appreciative people in attendance.

Both women are fans of Jimmie Osceola’s work. One day he walked into the antique store looking for frames for some of his drawings. He came back again and again just to visit.

C.J. said Jimmie is “her Seminole wind.” She said the day he walked in the door a wind blew in the door and it touched her life. Osceola answered her questions about the Seminole culture and she appreciated his ability to tell witty and wise stories and legends.

Pretty soon northerners and locals would come to listen to Osceola talk. He would talk about his years as an alligator wrestler, cowboy and professional rodeo rider, and his life as a cattleman, growing up at Brighton and attending schools in Okeechobee where he played football.

“He has the sweetest demure in the world. I heard Creek for the first time in my life. He has such a loving spirit and before you know it an hour would go by,” said Rodriguez.

Now Osceola has two cowhide rocking chairs set up just for him and his brother at the antique store. The two men sit in the chairs and amuse, entertain and regale the people who want to learn about Seminoles. Jimmie has become a celebrity.

“This celebration is a love story for Jimmie Osceola from Okeechobee,” said Rodriguez. “My mother told me someone will come into your life someday that you will never forget. That’s Jimmie. I listened to his stories like a child.”

What does Osceola say about all this sudden fame?

“Its something I have never faced before,” he said. “To me I haven’t done much to be given so much attention.”

During the celebration it became apparent that Osceola has been and continues to be a goodwill ambassador for the Tribe. He has touched people’s hearts as he shared his stories and it has had a ripple effect.

Osceola has never really promoted himself as an artist. He started drawing as a young boy. Most of his work he gave away to friends; some he sold and some he kept. Osceola no longer draws in India ink after a stroke. His work is superior but it took him this long to really get the recognition as an artist that he deserves.

At the celebration it was interesting to find out that Osceola was the young artist who painted the original Brahma bull on the wall of the old Okeechobee Gymnasium. Fellow classmates of the Class of 1959 showed up on Saturday including Tribal citizens, Edna McDuffie and Geneva Shore. There were Seminole vendors including Joyce Jumper Piz and her husband, Orlando, as well as booths by Shula Jones and JoeDan Osceola.

On the stage were Brighton Council Representative Andy Bowers, Chairman Mitchell Cypress, Board President Moses Osceola as well as the Okeechobee City officials.

Williams said that the mission of Okeechobee Main Street, Inc. is to recognize and support the values, heritage and tradition of the city.

“Jimmie is someone who is willing to share Seminole culture with everyone,” she said. “This is a special day for Jimmie Osceola whom we have come to love”

President Moses Osceola spoke to the audience.

“This is an honor not just for Jimmy but also the entire Seminole family,” he said.

He talked about Jimmie’s successes as an athlete and commented about all the other past and present Okeechobee High School athletes that came from Brighton.

Representative Bowers said now that Osceola’s talent has been discovered it would be a good time to buy his work while there is a chance to do so.

“I could see he had a lot of talent that could go unmatched but he’s a humble person,” Bowers said.

Chairman Cypress said: “You think Jimmie is just and ordinary man but he has quite a talent. There’s a lot of talent in the Tribe but it is hidden.”

JoeDan Osceola thanked all those who worked so hard to organize the event, including Williams who he presented with a medallion inscribed with the logo of the Seminole Tribe.

“The Okeechobee City limits are 25 miles away from the reservation,” he said. “We have always been pleased with Okeechobee and we got to go to school here. We skipped a couple of counties to do that.”

Rodriguez said on stage: “We call him the big oak tree. People come and sit around him like they are under a spell.”

Jimmie Osceola said: “I want to thank you for this honor. It the best honor I have ever had.”

Among those who contributed time or support to the Jimmie Scott Osceola Day were Absolute Art Gallery, the Dust Collector, Waste Management, Dwight Hatfield Manufacturing, Shelby Dunson, Okeechobee City Council, Okeechobee County Commission, Bandit Trucking, graphic artist Nick Badger, Okeechobee Main Street’s vice-president, Paul Mitchell and members.

Since the celebration Lydia Williams has reported that lots of people have been asking her to create more opportunities for the Okeechobee residents and general public to learn about the Seminole Tribe and honor the Seminole culture. She said plans are already in the works for more such festivities and celebrations.