Book
The enduring Seminoles: from alligator wrestling to ecotourism
University Press of Florida • Gainesville • Published In 1998 • Pages: xvi, 150
By: West, Patsy.
Abstract
Early in the twentieth century the Florida Seminoles struggled to survive in an environment altered to great extent by the drainage of the Everglades and a dwindling demand for hides, previously used as a principal item in trade. In this book West describes how the Seminoles turned to tourism as a major factor in their economy, using their own culture as a marketable commodity. The reticent I:laponathli (Mikasuki speaking Seminoles), first developed the tourist trade with the greatest success, but by the 1930s nearly all of Florida's Seminole population was engaged in the business. The Seminoles participated in fairs and expositions in Chicago, New York, and Canada and established large commercial villages in Miami and Ocala in which they sold their craft products to the tourists, wrestled alligators, and opened their palm-frond CHICKEES (dwellings) to the public. Although this exhibition economy was condemned by the government, it did provide income for the Seminole families and established a lasting cultural identity for the people (book jacket).
- HRAF PubDate
- 2003
- Region
- North America
- Sub Region
- Eastern Woodlands
- Document Type
- Book
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnohistorian
- Document Rating
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- John Beierle ; 2001
- Field Date
- no date
- Coverage Date
- late nineteenth century - 1990s
- Coverage Place
- southern Florida, United States
- Notes
- Patsy West
- Includes bibliographical references (p. [121]-135) and index
- LCCN
- 98026996
- LCSH
- Seminole Indians