South Florida Indians' Pursuit of Sovereignty

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Letter, Dated October 17, 1958, from Commissioner of Indian Affairs Glenn Emmons to Miccosukee Tribal Spokesman Howard Osceola.  In This Response to the Miccosukee “Demand Letter,” Emmons Suggested That the U.S. Still Favored a Unified Model for All of Florida’s Indians.  Courtesy of the George Smathers East Library Special and Area Studies Collections.
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By 1958, the United States had yet to provide the Miccosukee Trail Indians with a reservation or with federal recognition.  That September, the Miccosukee Tribe delivered a formal petition to both the Florida and federal governments that laid out their view of the roles and responsibilities of the two governments with regard to the tribe.  The petition criticized what the Miccosukee perceived to be the United States’ refusal to recognize their separate identity from the reservation Seminoles and the resulting denial of associated rights.  Although they actually only wanted a particular portion of land, the Tribe claimed "moral" ownership to most of Florida.  This threatened U.S. land holdings in the state as well.  In defining the role of “white” government, the Miccosukee meant to limit the impact of American governmental actions on their lands.

The state and federal governments both received the petition negatively.  The U.S. response rejected the Florida Natives’ notion of being a sovereign nation and suggested that the Miccosukee use the same modes of negotiation as the Seminole Tribe.  U.S. officials clearly asserted that, despite their recent expressions of autonomy, Native Americans were ultimately still considered United States citizens.