The Seminole

The Florida Seminole are widely known as the only unconquered tribe in the United States. They began as an offshoot of Creek and other Indians who survived the diseases and warfare that took many lives in the sixteenth century. In later years, they fought three wars with the United States and then faced a series of other crises. They saw their homelands taken from them and were forced to migrate hundreds of miles south to the Everglades. After decades of struggling to survive and efforts at assimilation taking a toll on the path to success, the Seminole have recently undergone a dramatic transformation. The tribe now runs a billion dollar business and leads the national fight for tribal sovereignty and gaming rights. The rise of the politically and economically savvy Seminole has coincided with a renaissance in Seminole culture. The Seminole explores this unique transformation.

Andrew K. Frank is associate professor of history at Florida State University. He received his B.A. from Brandeis University and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Florida. He is the author of Creeks and Southerners: Biculturalism on the Early American Frontier and The Routledge Historical Atlas of the American South. Paul C. Rosier is assistant professor of history at Villanova University, where he also serves as faculty advisor to the Native American Student Association. He is the author of Rebirth of the Blackfeet Nation, 1912-1954 and Native American Issues.

The Florida Seminole are widely known as the only unconquered tribe in the United States. They began as an offshoot of Creek and other Indians who survived the diseases and warfare that took so many lives in the 16th century. In later years, they fought three wars with the United States and then faced a series of other crises. They saw their homelands taken from them and were forced to migrate hundreds of miles south to the Everglades. After decades of struggling to survive and efforts at assimilation taking a toll the path to success, the Seminole have recently undergone a dramatic transformation. The tribe now runs a billion dollar business and leads the national fight for tribal sovereignty and gaming rights. The rise of the politically and economically savvy Seminole has coincided with a renaissance in Seminole culture. The Seminole explores this unique transformation.