Hollywood Rez Rally Haskell Visits Hollywood Hahn and Osceola Wed Page 12 Page 21 Page 27 50¢ www.seminoletribe.com Volume XXVII • Number 2 February 3, 2006 Icon of the Seminole Donates Seminole Tribe to Locks of Love Story by Judy Weeks By Judy Weeks IMMOKALEE — A seven-year-old member of the BIG CYPRESS — On Dec. 24, 2005, another Immokalee com- chapter in the history of the Seminole Tribe came to a munity has close. Tommie Jumper, thought to be the oldest living learned about member of the Tribe, passed away at the age of circa 105 compassion for years. others at an early Born into the Panther clan in 1900 in the woods age. Chelsey east of Copeland, Fla., in what is today Collier County, Ford, daughter of Tommie Roberts later married Harley Jumper. This union Michelle Ford, produced 12 children, with seven still alive today. She heard from a had more than 125 direct descendants spanning five gen- friend that a erations. group collects On Mother’s Day 2005, the Immokalee commu- human hair to be nity recognized Jumper with an appreciation luncheon. made into wigs The gym was packed with family members and friends for medical hair who wished to honor this wonderful woman. loss patients. Growing up in a time when South Florida was Locks of still an untamed wilderness, she had the opportunity of Love is a non- experiencing the lifestyle of our ancestors first hand. She profit organiza- knew the hardships of survival on the frontier, bearing tion that supplies your children in the woods and living off the land which hair pieces to her creator had provided for his children. financially disad- Like the majority of our ancestors, life was not vantaged children easy for her but a most rewarding experience. As time 18 years and passed and the landscape of their existence changed, younger who Tommie and her husband moved around from one area to have lost hair Judy Weeks another, living in Copeland, on the Trail, in Hollywood, due to a medical Chelsey Ford models her new coiffure. Brighton, Big Cypress, Rock Island and Immokalee. She condition(s). made a home for her family wherever they set up camp. Chelsey Friends in the next generation fondly remember said she saw children on television who had become bald their parents taking them to Tommie’s camp. No matter because of chemotherapy for cancer and was extremely moved how hard the times, there was always food and good by their plight. Chelsey realized how lucky she was and want- companionship. ed to help. After the passing of her husband, Tommie made Her mother her permanent home at Big Cypress, only leaving there searched the inter- to live with her daughter, Delores, in Immokalee when net and located a her health became fragile. After a succession of illnesses Locks of Love in this past year, she asked to return to her Big Cypress Lake Worth, Fla. home for Christmas. File Photo Through her See ICON, page 3 Tommie Jumper, photo taken at her camp circa 1975. research she learned that the organiza- tion’s founder Madonna Coffman and her four year old daughter both Seminole Writer Wins College Writing Contest suffered from a dis- Editorial by Janice Billie senator falsely accused of murder and hunted ize him in his own way. ease known as Tribal citizen Elgin Jumper is the son of down and killed by federal marshals in the late During the time Jumper was thinking of Alopecia, which Eva and Alan Jumper. He is a member of the 1800s. He said the story and picture of Ned writing this poem, Ned Christie’s story was fea- causes permanent Otter clan who grew up on the Hollywood Christie haunted him and he wanted to memorial- tured on the History Channel. He took it as sign hair loss. Seminole reservation. that he chose the right subject. Looking Recently a friend of his In the short story “Blow, for some kind of called The Seminole Tribune Winds—” Jumper says he wanted to assistance for her office informing us of his first write about conflict and unsettlement child, in December place wins in two writing con- since he had been thinking a lot about Judy Weeks 1997, Coffman tests. He is taking writing classes the war in Iraq. He wrote this short story Chelsey Ford donated this long, beau- formed this non- at Broward Community College while shut in during Hurricane Wilma. tiful mane of hair to the less fortunate. profit entity. Locks and I spoke with his instructor We talked long enough for me of Love now enjoys Elisa Albo. to appreciate Jumper as a guy with a national attention. “He is an excellent story to tell. By providing natural hair pieces for afflicted children, writer,” Albo said. “He chooses He says he loves to write and they are able to restore self-esteem and confidence, enabling the right words to evoke all kinds first started writing at eight years of age. them to face the world. Locks of Love has provided wigs for of feeling. It’s a pleasure to have Jumper says, “I not only love to See LOCKS, page 3 him in class.” write, I need to write because it is like He stopped by the breathing to me.” Tribune office at my request to While doing time in prison he drop off his poem and short story. spent the majority of his time “reading, Tribal Council Meeting He told me a little of the inspira- reading and reading.” He said he loves tion for each of these two pieces. Shakespeare and has read most of the The “Picture of Ned classics. He talked openly about his Christie” was written for a class troubled past and welcomed the oppor- assignment. Jumper had to find a tunity to share it with others. picture and write a poem based I suggested he write a short bio on it. to go along with his two writings He did He said in his drinking it with the thoroughness of someone days he rescued this particular who finds writing a joy. picture from a bar he frequented. Janice Billie Ned Christie was a Cherokee Elgin Jumper with a picture of Ned Christie. See page 7 for more about Elgin O’Neill “Supernova” Bell Knocks Out Opponent, Takes Tour of Rez’s the rounds progressed, it was the speed, After Victory in NYC resiliency, and underrated bodywork of Bell that started to set the Atlanta-based ‘Supernova’ Kicks Off Janice Billie Jamaican apart from his regarded foe. Seminole Police Department Chief of Police honored at Undisputed Rez Tour In round seven, Bell had Mormeck in serious trouble after landing Tribal Council meeting. Submitted by Redline Media Group his thudding right hand. In the tenth round, It was the type of New Year’s Supernova finished the job with another By Janice Billie kickoff that the sport of boxing needed. barrage of clean punches that put the HOLLYWOOD — The regular session of the Tribal When it was all over, O’Neil ‘Supernova’ courageous Frenchman down for the Council was held at the Seminole Tribe Hollywood Bell had not only delivered a dramatic count. Headquarters on the morning of Jan. 13. 10th round knockout of Jean-Marc “I can’t take anything away from Two Tribal employees received special recognition Mormeck to fans at Madison Square him,” said Bell (26-1-1, 24 KOs), of his from the council prior to the meeting. The Billy Cypress Garden on Jan. 7. opponent. “He has a lot of power and was Service Award was presented to Cheryl Russell, a flight atten- There he became the first undis- a great champion. A lesser fighter would dant from the Aviation department. The council then recog- puted cruiserweight champion since have been stopped by his blows, but I was nized Seminole Police Department Chief Mike Floyd for Evander Holyfield accomplished the feat able to sustain his best shots, which broke receiving the 2005 Police Chief of the Year Award from the in 1988. his spirit. I knew then I had won.” National Native American Law Enforcement Association. “This was boxing at its best, two The victory was the latest in a While leaving the Big Cypress airport on Dec. 4, great champions laying it all on the line series of exciting battles for which Bell Russell spotted smoke coming from off of Snake Road. She and giving the sport one true champion,” has become known throughout the fight then saw that a car was burning and notified the Seminole said Leon Margules, Executive Director of game. Now, as the World Boxing Police dispatcher and Emergency Services. Warriors Boxing Promotions, “And when Association, World Boxing Council, When she approached the vehicle, she became aware O’Neil Bell emerged with the victory, he International Boxing Federation, and The of a person lying on the ground, partially in the vehicle. showed the heart, skill, and power that all Ring magazine champion, the 31-year-old Despite the flames and the danger of the car exploding, she great champions possess. He is the game’s is ready for the next step in his career. pulled the person away from the burning car. next superstar, and he proved it on “I’ll fight anyone,” said Bell. When Emergency Services arrived, the patient was Saturday night.” “I’m just glad that the entire boxing world stabilized and transferred to the B. C. airport. He was helicop- In a fight that set a standard that got to see what I’m truly about and the ter evacuated by the Broward Sheriffs Office to the burn unit at will be difficult to meet over the next 12 skills I bring into the ring.