Native American culture is deeply woven into the fabric of wild Florida. The influence of tribes like the Seminole and Miccosukee, among others, can be seen in traditional land stewardship practices that have shaped the state’s ecosystems for generations.
Sustainable Hunting & Fishing
The Calusa, indigenous to Florida’s southwestern coast, were adept at constructing intricate systems of canals, watercourts, and fish traps. These structures enabled them to efficiently harvest large quantities of fish while allowing younger fish to escape and mature, thereby preventing overfishing.
The Seminoles relied on white-tailed deer for meat, hides, and tools, but they implemented sustainable practices to ensure the population remained healthy. By hunting seasonally, they avoided harvesting deer during breeding seasons, allowing the population to regenerate and thrive. In addition, hunters targeted mature animals, particularly males, and avoided young or pregnant females. This practice helped sustain deer populations and maintain the balance of the ecosystem.
State regulations simulate traditional sustainable hunting practices through bag limits and seasonal dates, ensuring hunters target specific species at optimal times to maintain healthy wildlife populations and protect breeding cycles.
Prescribed Burns
Florida, the lightning capital of the United States, has a history deeply tied to fire. Frequent lightning strikes sparked wildfires long before humans inhabited the region, playing a crucial role in shaping ecosystems like pine flatwoods and prairies. Florida’s Indigenous peoples, including the Seminoles and their ancestors, recognized the ecological importance of fire and began using it intentionally to manage the landscape, promoting biodiversity and aiding hunting practices. These controlled burns mimicked natural fire cycles, reduced underbrush, promoted new plant growth, and created ideal grazing habitats for animals like deer and turkeys, supporting both biodiversity and hunting needs.
Today, the practice continues with prescribed burns. By applying fire strategically, land managers maintain Florida’s delicate ecosystems, reduce wildfire risk, and support species that have thrived in fire-dependent habitats for millennia.
Everglades Stewardship & Restoration
Historically, the Everglades have been inhabited and protected by Florida’s Indigenous people, like the Miccosukee who adapted their lifestyles to the rhythms of the Everglades. They built homes on tree islands or hammocks, small elevated patches of land surrounded by water, which minimized their footprint while preserving the surrounding wetlands.
They also used small-scale farming methods, cultivating crops such as corn, squash, and pumpkins on the hammocks. These elevated fields were naturally fertilized by the seasonal floods, eliminating the need for intensive intervention.
Today, individuals like Betty Osceola, a member of the Miccosukee Tribe, have been instrumental in advocating for the protection of the Everglades. As an environmental activist and educator, she leads initiatives to raise awareness about the ecological significance of the Everglades and the importance of preserving Indigenous lands.
Recognizing Native American Heritage Day is an opportunity to honor these enduring contributions and advocate for the continued stewardship of wild Florida in partnership with Indigenous voices and knowledge.
