Ecology of South Florida (EVR 3013) LECTURE 6
WETLAND COMMUNITIES II
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF FLORIDA
WE ARE AS ONE
I am not bordered except by the vast open sky;
the veins of rivers and streams run through me as they do you.
I harbor in my mind the idea of love and respect for the precious gift of life.
My nostrils swell to their capacity, filling my lungs with air you breathe.
Me and my brothers the Bear, Wildcat and Deer, are as one.
I am part of you and you are part of me.
And with this Mother Earth, we are as one.
Moses Jumper, Jr. (1990)[in Jones and O'Sullivan 1995]
The Seminole Removal
They are taking us beyond Miami,
They are taking us beyond the Caloosa River,
They are taking us to the end of our tribe,
They are taking us to Palm Beach, coming back beside Okeechobee Lake,
They are taking us to an old town in the west.
Susie Tiger (1956) [in Jones and O'Sullivan 1995]
HANDOUTS: Fig. 6-1. Indigenous people in Florida.
I. PRE-CONTACT PERIOD
A. Cultural Periods
| Period | Dates | Population | Description |
|---|
| Paleoindian | 10,000-7000 B.C. | 5,000 | distinct lithic artifacts, animal remains, gathered plants, hunted large and small game |
| Archaic | 7000-1500 B.C. | | projectile points, generalists, specialized in nothing but were versatile. Unknown if the Archaic Indians replaced or descended from Paleoindians. |
| Transitional | 1500-500 B.C. | | fiber tempered pottery. Maize cultivation may have begun. By end of transitional period archaic cultures and given rise to a series of regional cultures |
| Glades | 500 B.C. - A.D. 1566 | | sand tempered pottery, rim tooling. Okeechobee/Caloosahatchee |
| Early contact | A.D. 1566-1763 | 350,000 | European objects |
B. Occupation of south Florida probably dates to 13,000 BP
Indians migrated into the peninsula more than 12,000 years ago when it was larger and drier (Fernald et al. 1992). Settlement followed the Oasis Pattern.
C. By 1500's
Indians occupied the entire peninsula and had reached a population of 350,000.
D. At least 5 distinct groups
of indigenous people lived in Florida at time of contact
1. Timucuans
150,000, including 1,300 Tocobega at Tampa
2. Calusa
(15,000 - 25,000), including 550 Mayaimi near Lake Okeechobee
3. Ais
(including the Jaega) - perhaps 2,000
4. Apalachee
50,000, including 500 Chatot, 800 Apalachicola and 300 Pensacola
5. Tequesta
(800 - 2,000+)
The Seminoles did not enter Florida until the early 18th century
E. Southern Florida
1. Ais
The Ais lived along the Indian River from Cape Canaveral to St. Lucie River; inland 20-30 miles to Lake Okeechobee. Combined population of 2,000. No evidence of horticulture. The Ais ate fish and gathered cocoplums, palm fruits and sea grapes
2. Tequesta
The Tequesta lived from Pompano Beach to Cape Sable where they merged with the Calusa. They lived near water and their diet included palmetto berries, cocoplums, sea grapes, palm nuts, pigeon plums, prickly pears, perhaps wild figs and coontie. They had no agriculture, but were great fisherman and ate sea cows (manatee), venison and turtles.
3. Calusa
The Calusa occupied the region from Tampa Bay to Cape Sable, and lived principally on shellfish. They had a highly structured social organization for a non-agricultural society. Their population at time of contact is estimated to be 10,000 - 15,000 along SW Florida coast and 5,000 to 10,000 in the Lake Okeechobee Basin.
4. Pedro de Menendez
Pedro de Menendez established contact with the Calusa in 1565. The first official European visit was in 1513 by Ponce de Leon, but the real first was probably earlier. Hernando de Soto landed in Tampa Bay in 1539, and found Juan Ortiz, a survivor of the Narváez expedition. Ortiz survived through the intercession of the wife and daughter of a Calusa chief - the real Pocahantos story.
5. Carlos
held sway over at least 50 towns ranging from Tampa Bay to the Keys and inland to Lake Okeechobee. Probably had no direct control over east coast groups. p. 25
6. By 1800 the Calusa, Tequesta and Ais were dead
They were mostly killed by disease or war. When Great Britain took possession of Florida in 1763 the last Calusa left.
II. SEMINOLES
A. Early History
1. The Oconee
In the early 1700's the Oconee, left their home near Milledgeville, Georgia and migrated southward. Some reached Florida south of Gainesville around 1750. They had been part of the Creek Confederacy. The Muskogee, a leading branch of the Creek Confederacy, may have called these people sim-in-oli, which means wild. More liekly, the name was derived from the Spanish word cimarron.
2. Hitchiti
The Oconee were joined by other groups who had been living near the Chattahoochee River in western Georgia. All tribes spoke a single language called Hitchiti.
3. Muskogee
About 1767, the Eufaula from Alabama joined the Seminole. They spoke Muskogee. Other Muskogee-speaking groups joined the Seminole in 1788.
4. Creek War of 1813-1814
After the Creek War of 1813-1814, the number of Seminoles tripled, mostly from Muskogee-speaking refugees from Alabama and Georgia. Many run-away slaves also joined the Muskogee.
5. Mikasuki
Muskogee speakers dominated numerically but the Hitchiti speakers supplied most of the leaders. Hitchiti became the Mikasuki (2/3 of present day Seminoles) and the rest are Cow-Creek or Muskogee speakers.
6. Slave raiders
The importation of slaves was banned in 1808. Thus the runaways became more valuable and slave raiders made expeditions into Seminole territory.
B. The First Seminole War 1817-1818
1. Began in southwestern Georgia
2. Andrew Jackson
US forces were led by Andrew Jackson with 3,000 men, half of whom were Creek Indians. The U.S. wanted to obtain Florida from Spain.
3. By 1818 hostilities ceased
4. 1819
In 1819 ownership of Florida was transferred from Spain to US.
5. Indian Removal Act of 1830
C. Second Seminole War (1835-1842)
1. Andrew Jackson
The first governor of Florida was Jackson.
2. Relocation
Jackson decided to relocate all Indians into a single tract in Central Florida, primarily to keep them away from the coast where they might obtain arms
3. 1832
In 1832 Seminole leaders met the whites near Silver Springs. Agreed to send a few Indians to Oklahoma territories
4. Osceola
Seminoles were given until 1836 to prepare for relocation. Osceola was outspoken against the move, and was thrown into prison for 6 days.
5. Charley Emathala
Charley Emathala, a Seminole chief, had sold his possessions. He went to Ft. King to collect his pay and on his return was killed by Osceola, who scattered his loot.
6. Cost
The Seminole War cost (including property damage) $40,000,000. The US had, at one time, as many as 8,866 men in the field. The Seminole never had more than 1,500 warriors.
D. Third Seminole Uprising
1. Banned!
In 1853 U.S. General Assembly decreed: "It shall be unlawful for any Indian or Indians to remain with the limits of the State of Florida.
2. Relocation
By early 1854, the removal specialist had sent westward 12 Indian men and 24 women and children, at a cost to the government of $48,025 plus $5,000 for transportation. Seven of the Indians died on the trip.
3. Skirmishes
From 1855 there were numerous skirmishes.
4. Billy Bowlegs
In late 1858 Billy Bowlegs was finally induced to leave with 123 of his followers.
5. Arpeika
About 300 remained, including Sam Jones (Arpeika).
III. EFFECTS OF EARLY HUMAN INHABITANTS ON SOUTHERN FLORIDA
A. Altered landscapes
Like shell middens or shell mounds. At least one reason for many of the earthworks in the Lake Okeechobee Basin was to lift agriculture fields above the reach of groundwater. (McGoun)
"Whether by accident or by design, these Indians were great builders of dry land." Tebeau p. 24
B. Introduced Species
Perhaps the royal palm Roystonia elata
"Interestingly, Craighead suggests that the Calusa were responsible for the introduction of many plants to hammock islands, including unidentified species of fish poison from one tree and two vines."
C. Increased Fire
"The big game hunters of 10,000 years ago may have set fires in order to clear off old growth and allow the new green shoots that game animals like to eat." McGoun
D. Clearing for Agriculture
E. Hunting and Fishing
F. Drainage
IV. FLOIRDA BIOTA V: ANIMALS (birds)
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