November 30 2020 Seminole Tribune
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Seminole Hard Rock Life in college during Senior night for award winners pandemic Moore Haven v COMMUNITY v 6A EDUCATION 1B SPORTS v 5B www.seminoletribune.org Free Volume XLIV • Number 11 November 30, 2020 Bristol Tribe’s Lakeland development ready voters give green light to welcome first residents BY KEVIN JOHNSON to new Hard Senior Editor A new community for Tampa-area Rock casino Seminoles is about to open its doors. “They always say good things come to BY DAMON SCOTT those who wait. Well, today, you waited long Staff Reporter enough,” said Brighton Councilman Larry Howard. His comments are from a brief video Voters in Bristol, Virginia, sent a clear prepared for tribal members to showcase message on Election Day: They’re ready for the Seminole Tribe’s new Lakeland a Hard Rock casino. development, which is scheduled to The choice on the Nov. 3 ballot was to welcome its first residents soon, perhaps as either allow casino gambling — as approved early as January. by the Virginia Lottery Board — or not, with More than a decade ago, the tribe a “yes” or “no” vote. purchased nearly 900 undeveloped acres Approval of the referendum was key in unincorporated Polk County with an eye for a proposed Hard Rock casino project to toward providing a new reservation for tribal move forward. members who had lived on the land that’s The final margin was 71.14% (5,490 now home to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel votes) in favor and 28.86% (2,227 votes) & Casino Tampa. against. “It was promised by leaders before Hard Rock and its partners United me that we would buy land and bring the Co. and Par Ventures are ready to launch a people back to our reservation,” Councilman $400 million expansion and renovation of Howard said. the former Bristol Mall site, which closed The new development will feature about in 2017. It would include a casino, 300- 150 single-family homes on one-acre lots. plus room luxury hotel, indoor and outdoor The video says the land “boasts a country SMP entertainment space, restaurants, bars, a spa feel with abundant water features, trees and Brighton Councilman Larry Howard discusses the Seminole Tribe’s new community in Lakeland. and a convention and meeting center. other vegetation.” The casino would also feature an Councilman Howard described the land e-sports simulator – a form of multiplayer as “…one of most beautiful properties ever be the first ones to step inside,” Tampa Councilman Howard said it’s important video game sports competition. to be acquired by the Seminole Tribe.” Reservation Administrator Richard Henry that the residents will be able to “look across The site is located at 500 Gate City Some homes have been completed from said in the video. “We’re hoping they’re the street to a neighbor who is a Native F See LAKELAND on page 4A Highway. It would be the first such project phase one of the project. excited like we are. For some of these people American.” in the state. “These are brand new homes, so they’ll it’s their first purchase, too, so it’s very F See HARD ROCK on page 6A exciting for first-time homeowners.” Native Record number of Natives American elected to Congress connection BY BEVERLY BIDNEY New Mexico Democratic Rep. Deb Staff Reporter Haaland (Pueblo of Laguna) was voted back to Everglades for a second term thanks to a 58% to 42% The 2020 election was a historic one win over her challenger. In 2018, Haaland featured for Native American and Native Hawaiian was one of the first two Native American representation in Congress. The U.S. House women ever elected to Congress, along with of Representatives will have its largest Rep. Sharice Davids of Kansas. Haaland, online number of Natives after the Nov. 3 elections who represents New Mexico’s 1st District, is the co-chair of the Native American BY DAMON SCOTT saw four Natives re-elected and two new Staff Reporter Native representatives win first terms. caucus, vice-chair of the Natural Resources Veteran Republican Rep. Tom Cole, of Committee, chair of the subcommittee on Oklahoma, was re-elected to the seat he’s National Parks, Forests and Public Lands and held in the House since 2003, making him serves on the subcommittee for Indigenous The Seminole Tribe has always the longest serving Native in Congress. He Peoples. understood the importance of the Everglades won with 67.8 % of the vote, well ahead of After the election results came in on to life past and present. Now that two recent his challenger who had 28.7%. A member Nov. 3, Haaland tweeted: “Tonight the lists have noted that bond, perhaps others will of the Chickasaw Nation, Cole represents people of New Mexico have chosen hope understand it a little better as well. Oklahoma’s 4th District, is the co-chair of over fear, love over hate, community over The U.S. Department of the Interior the Native American caucus and serves division, and I am so honored that New published a list of “10 public lands with on the House Appropriations and Rules Mexican’s have chosen me to serve in our powerful Native American connections” on Committees. nation’s 117th Congress.” Nov. 8. Rep. Markwayne Mullin (Cherokee) New Mexico gained another Native The agency is tasked with overseeing voice in the House with the election of public lands and upholding federal trust cruised to his fifth term in office for Courtesy photo Oklahoma’s 2nd District, garnering 75% of Republican Yvette Herrell (Cherokee) in the responsibilities to Indian tribes and Native the vote. A Republican, Mullin serves on the state’s 2nd District. Herrell won with 56% of Sharice Davids, D-KS, won her second term to the U.S. House on Nov. 3. Alaskans. House Energy and Commerce Committees, the vote over her challenger, who had 46%. “All public land was once tribal land. the subcommittees on Oversight and Herrell previously served four terms in the From the Seminole people of the Everglades Investigations, Health and the Environment New Mexico House of Representatives. to the Athabascans who gave Denali its name, and Climate Change. After the victory, Herrell tweeted: “It’s Native Americans have a connection to every the honor of my life to be elected to serve national park, wildlife refuge and wilderness #NM02. My commitment to each citizen of across the country,” an introduction to the list our district is that I will serve each of them said. with integrity as we work together to rebuild The section on Everglades National our economy and protect the values that Park expanded on its connection with the make America great!” Seminole Tribe and the Miccosukee Tribe. Davids (Ho-Chunk) won her second “ … ‘Yat’siminoli,’ means ‘free people’ term representing Kansas’s 3rd District. Out in the Seminole language. Their namesake of six federal races in Kansas, Davids was the pays homage to their history of resistance lone Democrat to grasp a victory. She won against both Spanish and American forces,” 53% to 44% against her challenger. Davids, it said. “The late 1700s and 1800s were an Army veteran and lawyer, serves on the marked by many conflicts and unofficial Transportation and Infrastructure and Small wars. Eventually, more than 3,000 Seminoles Business Committees and is a member of 16 were forcibly removed their lands on their caucuses including the Native American and own prolonged Trail of Tears. However, a LGBT Equality caucuses. few hundred Seminoles hid in the Everglades Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and never signed a peace treaty.” tweeted a congratulatory note to Davids Joining Everglades National Park on the after the election: “Congratulations @ list of 10 are: ShariceDavids on winning a great reelection • Devils Tower National Monument victory to continue your historic and (Wyoming) impassioned representation of #KS03 Courtesy photo • Effigy Mounds National Monument and your hard work on behalf of working Native Hawaiian Kaiali’I Kahele, D-HI, was elected to the U.S. House on Nov. 3. (Iowa) families across your district.” • Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Native Hawaiian Kaiali’I “Kai” Wildlife Refuge (Washington) Kahele won the race to fill former Rep. served in the Hawaiian Senate since 2016. donated! Our challenging work begins now, After his win, Kahele tweeted: “Mahalo and I’ll do everything I can to bring our state • Fort Union Trading Post National Courtesy photo Tulsi Gabbard’s seat in Congress. Kahele Historic Site (Montana and North Dakota) represents Hawaii’s 2nd District and is the Hawai‘i! Words cannot express my deep the resources we need to recover and build a Yvette Herrell, R-NM, won her first term to the appreciation to everyone who has believed resilient Hawai‘i.” U.S. House. second Native Hawaiian elected to Congress since statehood in 1959. A Democrat, Kahele in our campaign, supported us, voted, & F See EVERGLADES on page 8A INSIDE: Editorial......................2A Sports.............................5B Visit the Tribune’s website for news throughout Community..................3A Education....................1B the month at seminoletribune.org 2A • The Seminole Tribune • November 30, 2020 Editorial Acknowledging USF “resides on the traditional Homelands and territories of the Seminole” Editor’s note: On Nov. 24, the University The USF Department of Anthropology and other groups including the Calusa in the face of colonial and state sponsored institutions to work with Native American of South Florida Department of Anthropology formally recognizes the historical and and Tocobaga. Today, Florida is home to violence, and fully support Indigenous tribes and nations on the repatriation and in Tampa issued the following press release continuing impacts of colonization on the Seminole, Miccosukee, Muscogee, Sovereignty.