Email Us: clewistonchamber@earthlink.net

Seminole Indians

  Clewiston and Hendry County are proud of their diversified population from many countries and are very pleased with the friendly relationship they have enjoyed with the Seminole Indian Tribe of Florida from early 1800's, long before Clewiston was populated, and made their home in the Everglades at Big Cypress Reservation. It has undergone many changes through the years.
  The Seminole Indian Tribe of Florida's history has been in a struggle with the state and federal governments just to survive, but not only have they survived, they have progressed. The Tribe has never signed a peace treaty and it proudly calls itself The Unconquered. Spread out over 90,000 acres at reservations in Immokalee, Big Cypress, Brighton, Tampa and Hollywood, the Seminoles lived in chickees well into the 1980's, with most of the population living in Big Cypress.
  The draining of the Everglades forced many of them out of the swamps and a $10 million land claim filed against the federal government in 1947 was finally honored in 1992. They have expanded their economic base to include cattle raising, citrus groves, sugar cane, aqua farming, gaming palaces and tourism. New houses have been built and their schools enlarged and improved. In 1997 they celebrated their official recognition of their 40th year as the independent Seminole Tribe of Florida by opening a museum, a long awaited dream, at Big Cypress.
  The museum, Ah-Tha-Thi-Ki, "A Place to Learn, A Place to Remember", is designed to help keep the Seminole traditions alive for the Seminole children and to enlighten people from the outside world about Seminole culture.
  Tourism at the reservation has opened up new vistas for people to visit the reservation and to see how the Indians live. Six miles west of the museum is the Billie Swamp Safari, a compound of exhibits with a large number of Florida panthers, snakes and alligators on display. A modern restaurant, the Swampwater Cafe, built from native woods, offers a complete menu, including alligator tail.
  On a trip into the countryside on a swamp buggy, one can see many native and exotic animals and photo opportunities. Modernized chickees offer housing for those who'd like to stay a while.
    Big Cypress is located about 35 miles south of Clewiston and a trip to the reservation is a learning experience for young and old. There is a landing strip for those who fly and a large campground for those who camp. The natives are friendly and will make you welcome.