Farewell Sandi Moir Pompano Saltwater Back To School Showdown Fun BBQ Page 3 Page 12 Page 14 Presort Standard U.S. Postage Paid S. Florida, FL Permit No. 1624 “Voice of the Unconquered” 50¢ www.seminoletribe.com Volume XXIV • Number 12 September 5, 2003 Tribe Donates $5,000 to Don Shula Foundation Marlin J. Billie Mary Frances Cypress looks on as Betty Osceola presents Alexandra Frank David Cypress with a gift. (L-R): Miss Seminole Cherelee Kristen Hall, Trail Liason William Osceola, Don Shula, President Moses Osceola, and Birthday Bash for Elrod Bowers. By Alexandra Frank MIAMI LAKES — On Aug. 28, President Moses Osceola, Miss Seminole Cherelee Hall, Trail Liaison William David Cypress Osceola, and Elrod Bowers, representing Chairman Mitchell Cypress, presented a $5,000 check to the Don Shula By Marlin J. Billie Foundation, which is dedicated to breast cancer research. On Tuesday Aug. 5, choruses of happy birthday filled On August 26, the tribe was invited to attend a the Herman Osceola Gym in honor of Big Cypress Councilman "Football Season Preview" at the Don Shula Hotel. After hear- David Cypress. Tribal members, employees, and friends celebrat- ing that a corporation made a donation to the Don Shula ed David's birthday with great food, music, and special guests. Foundation, William Osceola asked those present why the Paul Buster and the Cowbone Band opened things up tribe couldn't do the same. It was decided that the Seminole with their brand of music and Indian humor. As the crowd gath- Tribe of Florida would make a donation toward the founda- ered, Cleave Baker's Renegade Bar-B-Q catering group worked tion. tirelessly to get the luncheon ready. Don Shula, the winningest head coach in NFL histo- The decorating group continued on with the placement ry, unfortunately knows about the disease because his first of small birthday wishes. As David arrived, the pace of the party wife Barbara Shula died of breast cancer. picked up. It is predicted by the American Cancer Society that Well-wishers from the Seminole Tribe included: there will be 184,200 new cases of invasive breast cancer this Chairman Mitchell Cypress, President Moses Osceola, Big year among American women and about 41,200 deaths from Cypress Board Representative Paul Bowers, Sr., Brighton the disease. Councilman Roger Smith, Fort Pierce Representative Sally Men are also susceptible to the disease; about 1,000 Tommie, and Naples Representative O.B. Osceola. men will be diagnosed this year. The exact causes of breast There were even two highly respected professionals that cancer are not yet known, but several factors have been linked the Seminole Tribe is sponsoring: Heavyweight boxer Ray Colleen Henry to the disease, such as gender, age, genetics, heredity, and pre- Mercer and billiards player Vivian Villarreal. Students pose at the foot of Devil’s Tower, Wyoming. vious radiation treatment. Well David, another year has passed. The present is In a statement read to Don Shula from Elrod Bowers, good and the future looks great. Keep that in mind and continue representing Chairman Mitchell Cypress, he said, "We appre- helping the Seminole Tribe in all you do! ciate the work that is being done to raise funds and realize Happy Birthday David Cypress, friend to all. Seminole Students and Seniors Visit South Dakota See SHULA, page 3 By Randi M. Simmons A special trip was made to see On August 17, the Recreation Devils Tower in Wyoming. Photographer and Education Department from the Colleen Henry said, "It is a sacred Native Tampa field office teamed up this year American mountain. When you walk the for an enlightening trip to South Dakota. trails that surround it, there are cloths of This year, students and seniors combined different colors hanging from all the their annual trips into one memorable trees. The cloths are put there and journey. Everything went extremely well, prayers are said; that one may receive even for first time travelers. blessings." Said Jamie Deanne She added, "There are signs Walkingstick, age 7, "I really liked the hanging to protect the cloths. There was airplane, especially when I was looking one that read "Please have respect, Do out of the window. All the houses looked Not Touch!" like they were all in rows. The people The devils tower is just one of and the cars looked so small; they looked the many national monuments that were like little ants down there to me." She visited. There is a great Indian legend of added, "I looked out and saw all white a giant bear that had chased maidens up clouds. I knew we were way, way, up to the top of Devil' Tower. The markings high!" on the stone were said to be from his They all arrived safely and were claws. ready to begin their week-long travels. This was just the beginning of “The Texas Tornado” giving pointers. Alana Henry said, "We looked like a big bear facts. The group got up close to convoy! The whole group followed in a bears as they went through the drive-thru Michael Kelly line of 13 rental vehicles of SUV's and Legendary Coach Don Shula with Wanda Bowers. Vivian Villarreal, vans." See SOUTH DAKOTA, page 15 “The Texas Tornado” Canadian Travel Channel Visits Billie Swamp Safari By Libby Blake SEMINOLE COUNTRY — Vivian Villarreal, aka By Ernie Tiger expert Swamp Safari guides Jonathan “Texas Tornado,” is making history as the first player in the BIG CYPRESS — On Aug. 1, Vasquez, Gus Batista and Canada’s own Women’s Professional Billiards Association (WPBA) to be spon- The Canadian Travel Channel visited Valerie Pringle. Through the hardwood sored by Native Americans. The Seminole Tribe of Florida will the Billie Swamp Safari to produce and hammocks and sloughs, viewers will be her primary sponsor for at least the remainder of the 2003- film footage, in association with the venture to an authentic Seminole camp 2004 season. Visit Florida Group, for an episode air- that is said to be hundreds of years old. Villarreal, currently ranked fifth in the world, was in ing on Canada’s only 24-hour travel Measuring 15 feet, viewers will town recently for a photo shoot at Billie Swamp Safari. The pho- channel. get a close-up encounter with Florida’s tos, including Ms. Villarreal in a traditional Seminole patchwork The CTV Channel is a largest captive Alligator, Superman. jacket, are for a cover story about her in an upcoming issue of Canadian based and privately owned They’ll walk through the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Billiard’s Digest Magazine. network and has over 500,000 sub- Museum to observe Seminole artifacts, During her visit to Big Cypress, I had the opportunity to scribers, in addition to the CTV main folklore and spiritual displays. speak with Willie Villarreal about his daughter. The conversation network. It is also Canada’s number one In addition, viewers will join lasted nearly two hours but seemed to be over too soon as Willie national English-language television popular host Valerie Pringle and stroll related numerous anecdotes about Vivian’s youth. network; available in 19.1 million along a 60-acre lush vegetation board- To know and understand Vivian and the drive that has homes across the country. walk. taken her to the top of her field, one must start at the beginning This special episode, which The nature trail will take you and with Willie. will air sometime next year, will take through a re-created ceremonial ground According to Willie, Vivian was and is “Daddy’s girl.” Canadian viewers through one of the village where ceremonies such as the From the time she could crawl, Vivian followed Willie. He most unique cultures to be found in Green Corn Dance, traditional stick ball worked the fields around San Antonio, Texas; Vivian went with Florida. games and other activities take place. him. Willie drove dump trucks and semis; Vivian went with him. “We chose The Seminole They might see elder Seminole artists Wherever Willie went Vivian went. Her mother grudg- Tribe’s Billie Swamp Safari Eco-Tour working on day-to-day activates such ingly “allowed” this only because of Vivian’s crying and, later, because it enables visitors to spend time as: Wood carving, patchwork, or canoe complaining if she didn’t get to go. on an authentic Seminole Indian making. When Vivian was five or six years old, Willie put her on Reservation. Viewers can learn about Renowned outdoor photogra- the back of his Harley and took her to her grandmother’s place, the Seminole’s way of life and culture pher Michael Ellis commented about his Mollie’s Lounge, in San Antonio. It was during this time that first hand. It’s an experience second to experience while filming for the CTV Vivian became fascinated with pool. Vivian says watching the none,” said Marni Shulman, Director of Travel Channel on the Seminole reser- balls disappear into the pockets amazed her. Programming for CTV Travel. vation. He said, “This area is compara- Not big enough to reach the pool table, Willie would Canadian viewers watching the ble to some of the most beautiful areas popular Canadian channel will journey I’ve ever filmed.” prop Vivian up on beer boxes. “And if she still couldn’t reach a Ernie Tiger shot she would shoot with one hand,” says Willie. into the heart of the Big Cypress reser- Visit the Canadian Travel vation. Viewers will take a guided Channel’s website for the program time DON’T LET GO: Travel channel host Valerie Pringle holds CVT See VIVIAN, page 13 swamp buggy and airboat tour with and listing at: http://www.ctvtravel.ca/.