Native American Tribe - Seminole

The Federally recognised Seminole Tribe is based in Florida, and is thought to have been established up to 12,000 years ago according to Historians. I have used the Seminole Tribe's
official website http://www.semtribe.com/ to explore areas such as their history, culture and beliefs. The segregated nature of the Tribe is immediately identifiable when you visit the site. You
are welcomed by links to the likes of a media production company, a library system and a police service entirely devoted to the Seminole Tribe. These examples show the Tribe's detachment from the rest of America in areas such as entertainment, education and the law. I quickly realised that this sense of independence didn't stop at the homepage, because, in the 'History' section, the true spirit of the Tribe's independence is applauded. It is explained that, in the 1840s, as a result of 'military actions against the Seminoles, over $20 million had been spent, 1500 American soldiers had died and still no formal peace treaty had been signed.' This information is placed under the sub-heading of "No Surrender" showing how the Seminole's were truly proud of their resilience and their independence from America.

As well as talking about the history of the Seminole Tribe, the site also makes frequent references to the way in which they stand today on topics such as Culture, the Economy and Politics. Through this we see how the Tribe has grown since their early years in these areas. The site explains that although in recent years 'The Seminole Tribe of Florida has matured both politically and financially', they are facing the 'challenge of maintaining the unique Seminole culture while operating in the mainstream economy'. This is very interesting as it reveals, on one hand, how the Tribe struggles to retain their traditional ideas and beliefs whilst operating in mainstream America, but on the other their ability to satisfy and identify their values whilst modernising and almost Americanising areas within their own community. This evidence, in relation to the previous point about the importance of independence to the Seminoles, entirely supports and justifies their desire for it. The way in which this information was available under 'The Future' headline shows the forward thinking and aspirational nature of the Seminole Indians. They believe they can crack the issues the mainstream economy poses.

The idea of the Seminoles struggling economically is not something particularly surprising. Although some stereotypes incorrectly suggest that all Native Americans are unemployed and lazy, unemployment is an area that affects Native Americans more than any other racial or ethnic group in the USA. This element of struggle is unsurprisingly not highlighted particularly explicitly, as a result of the Seminoles wanting to make themselves look to the reader as content as possible, but a small section named 'employment' within the 'Government' section is available. The written information within this section is not what caught my attention however; it was instead what the weak and limited advertisements represented. 5 adverts, 4 of which are for jobs in casinos, are used to represent the end of unemployment, as well as the apparently endless opportunities available for Seminole Indians. Even more depressingly, these adverts are accompanied by a warning note stating "Due to the volume of applications received we will only contact candidates selected for interviews." This note epitomises the poor economic situation facing the Tribe, exposing how there really aren't enough job opportunities for them.

The website has a very informative tone. It aims to inform those who aren't part of the Tribe about its Culture, History and Politics, as well as offering help and opportunities to those who are part of the Tribe. There is no real evidence of the Seminole Indians trying to find new people to join the Tribe or even take part in events that they hold. Although they aren't secret about where the reservations are located and what happens in each one, they are far from welcoming. This in many ways relates to their independence from America, but you would imagine like, with many other tribes, the willingness the bring people with Seminole blood into the Tribe and out of mainstream America would be apparent. However, there is little or no indication of this on the site.

Overall I think despite some downfalls the site is quite a good representation of the Seminole Indians. It is extremely informative about the history of the Tribe as well as the way it functions today. It displays their values and ideas succinctly and clearly, and makes you want to learn more about the Seminole Tribe.