Princess Ulele Tribe a big hit with Ozzy Osceola leaves returns in Tampa students in Rome OHS with good memories COMMUNITY v 5A EDUCATION v 1B SPORTS v 5B www.seminoletribune.org Free Volume XLIV • Number 5 May 29, 2020 Casinos Chief DiPetrillo remembered for nearly begin to 50 years of service to Broward, Tribe BY KEVIN JOHNSON reopen Senior Editor Donald DiPetrillo, who served the Seminole Tribe of Florida as its fire BY KEVIN JOHNSON chief since 2008 and had worked for fire Senior Editor departments in Broward County for nearly 50 years, died April 30 at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood. He was 70. Emerson, Lake & Palmer wasn’t there to William Latchford, executive director greet customers, but their lyrics would have of public safety for the Seminole Tribe, been appropriate for the reopening of the fondly remembered Chief DiPetrillo for his Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa. “Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends. We’re so glad you could attend; come inside, come inside.” The Tampa venue, like all in the Hard Rock/Seminole Gaming family, closed March 20 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tampa’s doors remained closed until the evening of May 21 when the casino and hotel reopened with a bevy of new precautions aimed at keeping customers and staff safe. “Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming have made a tremendous commitment to sanitary protocols and a safety-first mentality for both guests and team members,” Jim Allen, CEO WPLG of Seminole Gaming and Chairman of Hard A Seminole Tribe ambulance carrying the casket of Seminole Fire Chief Donald DiPetrillo is saluted by the department during the chief’s funeral procession Rock International, said in a statement prior at Lauderdale Memorial Park in Fort Lauderdale. Chief DiPetrillo died April 30. He had served STOF as chief since 2008. to the reopening. “We are making sure our resorts are safe and sound so our guests and dedication and demeanor. a new level of professionalism to the Fire for over 50 years of service, helped shape team members have peace of mind when “Don played a major role in bringing Department operations of Seminole Fire the future of the fire service, not only within they return.” Rescue,” Latchford said in a statement from the Seminole Tribe, but also in the State of Tribune file photo the Tribe. “Chief DiPetrillo understood that Florida.” Seminole Fire Chief Donald DiPetrillo. success in life was about just being nice. If F See CASINOS on page 4A you care for people, the rest takes care of F See CHIEF on page 7A itself. His care, commitment, and leadership From home, Battiest brothers provide inspiration to Indian Country BY KEVIN JOHNSON said. Senior Editor On May 12, their performance of “The Storm” – with the brothers providing vocals at their separate homes in Hollywood, HOLLYWOOD — Nine years ago Kazumi Shimokawa (piano) in Culver City, endurance and perseverance – both firmly California, Joshua Daubin (percussion) in imbedded in the fiber of the unconquered Seal Beach, California, and Matt Beach Seminole Tribe – were core traits that (guitar) in Canton, Ohio – debuted on the Spencer Battiest and “Doc Native” Battiest Native American Music Awards YouTube incorporated in their award-winning channel. The five-minute video attracted song “The Storm.” The brothers from the more than 1,000 views within 48 hours. Hollywood Reservation have performed it “Both Doc and I have been inspired the several times since its debut, but their virtual past few weeks by all artists who have not rendition in May amid the COVID-19 let this virus stop their creativity or keep pandemic served as a timely and well-needed them down,” Spencer said. “We wanted to reminder of survival during difficult times. perform for our community and show that “We can overcome. We can get through even in quarantine we are all in this together. this together. I dedicate this to all my Native I pray this song and message of our Tribe’s people. Stay strong and we will weather the history inspires hope and reminds us that storm,” Doc states at the start of “The Storm: although we are going through a difficult Live From Home” video. time right now, we will all be together again Inspired by other Native American soon. Our hearts are with those who have artists who have been sharing their talents in lost loved ones and with the first responders online performances during the quarantine, who are fighting to keep us all safe.” Spencer and Doc decided they also wanted “‘The Storm’ is an incredibly passionate to be a source of inspiration and assurance in and powerful vocal and visual delivery that Indian Country; what better way to spread a inspires and empowers,” said Ellen Bello, positive message than through “The Storm,” president of the Native American Music which honors the Seminole Tribe’s history Awards. of triumph over tragedy. With the band members isolated in “There is healing in music so we wanted three different parts of the country, putting to give our people some good medicine together a video virtually was a challenge through our music and show our support that the band was happy to tackle. with this performance. We are stronger “One of the challenges getting this together and we will get through this,” Doc project together was just getting it done in a Courtesy photo Clockwise from left, “Doc Native” Battiest (vocals), Spencer Battiest (vocals), both in Hollywood; Joshua Daubin (percussion) in Seal Beach, California; Matt Beach (guitar) in Canton, Ohio; and Kazumi Shimokawa (piano) in Culver City, California, perform “The Storm.” The virtual performance debuted May 12 on the Native American Music Awards’ YouTube channel. timely fashion because we all have different from Native artists. Certainly, the quarantine spring in the musical “Distant Thunder” at schedules and different time zones,” Doc has separated artists physically, but it’s also Lyric Theatre in Oklahoma City, but the said. “ Even in quarantine we’re all working brought them closer together online and pandemic has pushed it back to March 31 to musicians, so to film, record, mix and provided additional exposure to the vast April 18, 2021. Meanwhile, Doc has enjoyed video edit within the time frame we needed amount of talent in Indian Country. success with his new single “Instagram,” presented some pretty daunting hours trying “I’ve noticed that there has been an which reached No. 1 for two weeks in a row to get this completed in the best quality that uptick in artists reaching out to one another on the Indigenous Angels Radio Deadly 10 we could produce. Thankfully our team was and supporting each other’s new projects,” countdown. up to the task.” Doc said. “This situation has put us all in a “[It] has quickly become one of my The Native American Music Awards, bind and kind of tied us down to working most streamed songs as a solo artist to date,” Canada’s National Arts Centre, Facebook, in the studio because we can’t go out and Doc said. YouTube and other outlets have served as perform like we want to, so the next best Spencer and Doc aren’t just performers; avenues to highlight virtual performances thing is reaching out to collaborate with our they’re also big fans of the talent they’ve Kevin Johnson peers and it’s brought forth some beautiful seen during the quarantine, including beyond At left, “Doc Native” Battiest and Spencer music and some interesting collaborations the borders of music. Battiest perform at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & that might have never happened if we were Casino Hollywood’s new Hard Rock Live on Oct. all still touring.” 16, 2019. Spencer was supposed to perform this F See MUSIC on page 7A Visit the Tribune’s website for news throughout INSIDE: Editorial......................2A Health.............................9A Sports............... ............5B Community..................3A Education....................1B the month at seminoletribune.org 2A • The Seminole Tribune • May 29, 2020 Editorial An Irish filmmaker’s firsthand experience with the goodness of the Navajo people of the Grand Canyon. in majestic bright letters over the door of a are chilly enough. We didn’t take much lobby to transfer money to his bank account • Kevin McCann Before our trip, my partner Mání and I hotel. As Irish people. we thought we were convincing. As the interview went on, I and he met me at the hotel to give me cash. met with a Navajo filmmaker in Los Angeles home and dry with that name. However, glanced at the key and was struck by this act After our comfortable night in the hotel, we named Pamela Peters. She kindly suggested in the Navajo language, ‘hogan’ means of kindness. This man didn’t know us. He had enough money to enjoy our trip and get Editor’s note: Kevin McCann, who runs people we could interview and spoke of ‘house’. But all was not lost. The Western was just helping strangers in trouble. home. We were saved. the Irish film production company Maccana Native America’s struggle for recognition. Navajo Fair hadn’t started yet and they had Otto told us that he lost his mother when Over the next few days, we enjoyed Teoranta, reached out to IrishCentral this Pamela warned us about the apprehension a couple of tent spaces to rent – and we had he was 7 years old. A month before she died, the Western Navajo Fair - rodeos and month after news of Irish donations to towards ‘white people’ making films about enough to pay for a night. she sat her only child down and instructed rollercoasters mixed with pre-dawn ritual Native American communities amidst the them because of misrepresentations and The lobby computer at ‘Hogan’s Hotel’ the young Otto to follow a meaningful dances and tribal gatherings.