History of Seminole Indians at Everglades Airboat Tours

FAQ: Do people live in the Everglades

Native Americans have inhabited the land that is designated as the Everglades for thousands of years. When the Seminole Indians had conflicts with the government, they would hide in the Everglades and they lived there for many years, calling this area home. These Indians of the Everglades were labeled as Seminoles, which comes from the Spanish word Cimarron meaning ‘wild’, or ‘escaped slave’. In the 1950s, the Federal government tried to cut ties with all Native American swamp tribes and South Florida Indians then responded by forming their own tribe known as the Seminole Indians. The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida was also formed at this time. Today, there are still thousands of Florida Indians living in South and Central Florida. Everglades Holiday Park, an airboat tour and gator park that features the Gator Boys Alligator Rescue team in the gator shows always does whatever they can to help the local native American population.

Native Americans of the Everglades – Who are the Seminole Indians?

The Seminole Indians were the first tribe to bring gambling to the reservation lands over 40 years ago. The extensive money made from the gambling industry has gone towards building schools, homes, and numerous recreation centers. This industry has completely expanded and brought wealth to the tribe. The Indians of the Everglades pride themselves in following their traditions since the beginning. Even though these Indians have made a nice living for themselves and their families, there are still tribe members who live in modern huts with the Everglades ecosystem. Some have found it hard to adjust to the modern world and still live a very simple and traditional lifestyle.

The Love and Preservation of the Everglades

The Seminole Indians do their best to preserve their culture and the rich history of the Everglades. You can immediately feel the pride and joy when you speak to a Seminole Indian and their contributions to society and the state of Florida should not go unnoticed. Everglades Holiday Park provides a Florida shore excursion that include learning about the history of the Everglades, including the native Americans of the Everglades. For more information on the Everglades attractions and airboat tours we provide, give us a call today!