Q&A with Tribal members Strong leadership Edward Aguilar graduate from FSU from Ahnie Jumper v COMMUNITY v 7A EDUCATION 2B SPORTS v 6B www.seminoletribune.org Free Volume XLV • Number 4 April 30, 2021 Chairman Osceola, Gov. DeSantis HHS: sign gambling agreement Demand for vaccine Tribe set to play major slows BY DAMON SCOTT role in sports Staff Reporter betting HOLLYWOOD — As the Seminole Tribe’s Covid-19 vaccination program enters BY BEVERLY BIDNEY its fifth month officials say there aren’t as Staff Reporter many people asking for the shots. Part of the reason is due to the success The Seminole Tribe and Gov. Ron of the vaccine strategy’s rollout and the DeSantis reached a long-awaited agreement hundreds who have already received the April 23 for a new gaming compact which shot. The tribe’s Health and Human Services would bring sports betting to the state. (HHS) department and Public Safety staff The governor and Chairman Marcellus have carried out the vaccine program through W. Osceola, Jr. signed the compact in a phased eligibility process. The outreach and Tallahassee. education to tribal members and the tribal In addition to offering craps and roulette community has been ongoing. at its casinos, the tribe will be able to conduct But Dr. Vandhana Kiswani-Barley, the sports betting and license it to horse tracks, executive director of HHS, said many have jai alai and dog tracks throughout the state. still not been vaccinated. The tribe will receive a percentage of every “The number of vaccines being requested sports bet placed. has significantly declined,” she said. “The If approved by Tribal Council, the community needs to remember that the Florida Legislature and the U.S. Department vaccine is in place to reduce mortality and of the Interior, the state could receive at least Gov. DeSantis/Facebook hospitalization.” $2.5 billion from the tribe over the first five Gov. Ron DeSantis, left, and Chairman Marcellus W. Osceola Jr. hold up the new gambling compact that they signed April 23. As of late April, about 813 tribal members years, or $500 million per year, and about and those who live in tribal communities had $6 billion by 2030. The Interior Department received both doses of the vaccine. About and the U.S. Department of the Interior,” agreement that cements our partnership with tribe, which will offer it to pari-mutuels. 956 had received one dose. Among tribal oversees Indian gaming through the Indian Chairman Marcellus W. Osceola Jr. said in the state for decades to come.” Sports betting includes any professional, Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). employees, about 626 had received both a statement. “The Tribe wants to express The 30-year compact will be considered Olympic or collegiate sport, motor sports doses and 755 had received one dose. “The Seminole Tribe of Florida is our sincere thanks to Governor DeSantis, by the Legislature at a special session starting event or individual performance statistics. committed to a mutually-beneficial gaming The tribe has three vaccines available – Senate President (Wilton) Simpson, House May 17. Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson. compact with the State of Florida and Speaker (Chris) Sprowls and many others The extensive 75-page compact allows looks forward to its approval by the Florida who have worked hard to negotiate a historic sports betting in Florida to go through the Legislature, the Seminole Tribal Council F See AGREEMENT on page 4A F See VACCINE on page 9A Gathering of Nations bids farewell to Billie Swamp Safari Miss Indian World Cheyenne Kippenberger strives to keep animals’ BY BEVERY BIDNEY Staff Reporter lives normal in pandemic After a historic two-year reign as Miss BY BEVERY BIDNEY panthers.” Indian World, Cheyenne Kippenberger Staff Reporter Panthers live in the area, but their impact stepped down during the virtual Gathering on the animals is minimal. Sometimes an of Nations Powwow on April 24. BIG CYPRESS — For the animals of animal will disappear and a panther is the For the second year, Gathering of Billie Swamp Safari, life in the Covid-19 likely suspect. A young donkey was rescued Nations was held online because of the pandemic goes on without visitors. from the buggy trail a couple years ago after pandemic. The event usually attracts about Throughout the yearlong pandemic an encounter with what was probably a 3,000 dancers and 50,000 spectators to New while the park has been closed to visitors, panther. It was nursed back to health and put Mexico, but this year everything, including BSS staff has been making sure the animals’ into the petting zoo. the audience, was online. lives are as normal as possible. They are Caretakers in the park have detected a About 15 emcees led the gathering and cared for and fed. Routines are important few behavior changes in some animals. Phil cued in participants from throughout Indian so the animals can have a smooth transition Blackwell, shift supervisor, has noticed some Country. First up were the Black Eagle whenever the 2,200-acre safari park on the changes when he goes into the safari park to singers from Montana, then the invocation Big Cypress Reservation reopens to visitors. feed the animals. by Bino Garcia and his young son Wasose, “The animals are doing fine,” said “They are more spooked by the buggies from the Pine Ridge Reservation. Melissa Sherman, operations manager. “A because they don’t see them as much,” he “We had a very difficult year, send a year without people has impacted them, so said. “They aren’t seeing people or traffic.” helping hand grandfather,” Garcia said. we want to maintain our normal routines In the walkable portion of the park, the “Help us get back to our way of life, our with the animals.” macaws began chewing on wood in their ceremonies for celebration, prayer and The animals in the safari area know aviary. They were given enrichment toys to happiness.” where the feeding troughs are. Before the play with instead. Other prayers and memorials followed. shutdown, the park started a program for Visitors used to purchase birdseed on Arlie Neskahi, from the Coast Salish Tribe guests to feed the animals on the buggy trail. popsicle sticks and hand feed the budgies. in Washington state, sang a song with his They could purchase a bucket of feed and When the pandemic ends, they will have to hand drum. pour it into the trough from inside the safety be retaught how to be fed by hand. “This song sends a blessing to each and of a swamp buggy. “We can’t hand feed 100 budgies; we every one of you,” Neskahi said. “This is “They could get super close to the rely on visitors for that,” Sherman explained. about walking in beauty, it’s a deep spiritual animals,” Sherman said. “We are keeping way we have that guides us to this day. As that routine with the staff doing it. The we walk on this earth, may be walk in beauty animals are living their best life, roaming F See SAFARI on page 5A every day that we travel.” free and getting food. Their biggest worry is Shortly thereafter, the Miss Indian World farewell began. Kippenberger was the 36th Native woman to wear the crown and the first to serve for two years. During her first year as Miss Indian World, she traveled a lot. During the second year, not at all. “For the first time since 1983, Miss Indian World will remain unfilled,” said Kippenberger, a former Miss Florida Seminole and the first from the tribe to win Robert Kippenberger MIW. “I had to find a new way to be Miss Cheyenne Kippenberger poses with a cake made to commemorate her reign as Miss Indian World Indian World. I was through the roof ecstatic on April 24. The cake was made for her by chefs at Hard Rock and is topped with a replica of the when they put the crown on my head and intricately beaded crown. The cake was vanilla with raspberry filling and buttercream frosting I am proud of being a Seminole woman. It underneath the lavender fondant icing. was especially important to be authentic and real, I am also a regular Native woman.” as she introduced her and asked what she She said Miss Indian World was The farewell was hosted by Canadian learned during her reign. more than a competition; it was a bonding television producer Lisa Meeches, Ojibway “It was easy to channel that resiliency experience for all the contestants and she from Long Plain First Nation. She explained because it’s been in us since time gave some advice to other girls who are that due to the pandemic, the Miss Indian immemorial,” Kippenberger said. “I knew I thinking about competing for the crown next World committee decided to wait until next had a responsibility to my tribe, my family year. year to hold another pageant. and Indian Country. I knew what I had to do. “Cheyenne triumphed through the The solution was to go back to the roots of F See MISS INDIAN WORLD on page 6A Beverly Bidney adversity of the pandemic,” said Meeches, who we are and to our teachings.” Before park attendant Yusdday Martinez can clean the enclosure for the Critter Show animals April 22, Francesca the capybara enjoys a belly rub while Bambi the deer tries to get some attention. 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 • April 30, 2021 Congressman Alcee Hastings’ legacy includes support of Seminole Tribe, environment Editorial BY BEVERLY BIDNEY restaurants, and public spaces in South Staff Reporter Florida — a trailblazing spirit to advocate for what is right that guided him throughout U.S.