Families Share Culture Days Together

Preparation for Indian Day Festivities

By Lila Osceola

HOLLYWOOD — Fellowship of good times, wood carving, basket weaving, doll making, beading, sewing and drawing was good family fun for Tribal citizens on the Hollywood reservation. Generations of families congregated in the Hollywood Gym for preparation of Indian Day festivities.

The three day workshop started on Sept. 7 and ended on Sept. 9.

Language Instructor Donna Turtle, from the Culture/Education program, coordinated the event, found cooks, got culture teachers together, and had the energy to sew on top of everything.

“It just gets bigger and bigger every year,” Turtle said, as she ran around getting things ready for dinner. Her hard work is much appreciated by everyone.

It’s good to see the younger kids; now older, getting more involved in culture. For instance, the boys are taking interest in sewing, and girls are showing their skills off by carving knives, tools, etc. Everyone in some way got involved and the excitement showed through the elders by teaching and showing the young ones the tricks of the trade.

Even three, four, and five-year-olds were making beaded necklaces on looms and drawing patchwork, and to think a year ago they were running around looking for things to get into. Attention spans still played a very important part in their lives, but they had the freedom to move onto something else whenever they chose to.

The men were mostly in the wood and soap carving area, with their warrior like intensity no one was talking… just working! Proud to be Seminoles they worked hard on their knives, hatchets, and even spoons. Soap carving was also a big hit, as Jimmy Hank Osceola demonstrated, how to make a turtle out of a bar of soap.

This event brought out some new faces out for the first time. With a mind set, I guess you are never too old to learn something new, especially when it involves culture.

Everything came to a pause when it came time to eat Tate Osceola’s delicious ribs, while Chairman Mitchell Cypress had a chance to address the dedicated culture buff’s, his message was short and to the point.

“I’m so proud of you,” Cypress said. “There needs to be more of these.”

Betty Osceola prayed over the food and then commenced with the festivities.

With Indian Day right around the corner, it is something special to be Indian. But for the Florida Seminoles it is extra special to be able to share your culture by doing and making things with your own two hands; what an accomplishment!