Earth Day Celebration

For the Miccosukee Indians, Earth Day is more than a holiday. It is a celebration of life. This year, the celebration, referred to as ‘International Big Mama Day,’ took place on Saturday, April 18, at their village near Miami.

Admission was free and everywhere you looked there was something to do, see, or experience. There were several chickee huts filled with Native American apparel, handmade jewelry, and crafts for sale. There were exciting alligator wrestling shows, educational lectures, workshops, and indigenous music and bands.

Kids enjoyed the coloring stations, bounce house, and obstacle course. Families tasted both native and local cuisine, as the delicious aromas were impossible to resist. If one needed a break from the heat, the Miccosukee Museum was open and available for self-guided tours.

Emcee of the event, Kendal Osceola, welcomed everyone. She said how special it was to share such good energy with visitors on their village land that has belonged to her mom’s side of the family for over one hundred years.

Councilman and lawmaker, Petties “Pete” Osceola Jr., expressed how sacred this day is for members of his tribe, “It's part of our DNA and everyday life,” said Pete. “In our culture, the teachings that we have are still from our elders. We believe we come from the Earth, the Mother, and we try to honor and respect it.”

“We put it in our thoughts and prayers every day because our life, the nourishment that it gives us, we treat it sacredly; it's precious to us. And that's why today is very special for me, Earth Day, speaking in front of you and letting you know that we welcome you to our community,” Pete said before introducing Betty Osceola.

Known as a woman of action, a passionate worker, a leader, and “a true member of the tribe,” Betty Osceola, the organizer of the day, talked about the origin of the event three years ago. One of her nephews, Garret Stuart (referred to as Captain Planet), had come to her and said that he wanted to throw a birthday party for Earth, but he wanted it to be different. “He said that it had to be different because ‘we should find joy and happiness on this Earth and everything about this creation.’ Being the woman of action that I am, I said ‘Let’s do it!’ In my culture, when you show the planet your love, when you show all the creatures and human beings love, it helps with the healing process of the Earth. So how we act is very important.”

One of the highlights of the event was a performance by the Ameyal Cultural Organization, led by Ms. Cecilia Ortega. They have been great friends of the Miccosukee, and their Aztec dancers have been performing on the village grounds for many years.

Visitors could see the passion and feel the energy emitting from the powerful displays of dance and culture.

After the dance, there was a prayer honoring and giving thanks for Mother Earth. “The only place that we have to live is nowhere else but this place.” The prayer also honored humanity and thanked moms. “We are honoring all this beautiful energy all around us and the life givers. We want to say thank you to all those mothers who brought us, raised us, because thanks to them, we got to have a life, and we got to be here.”

Guest speakers Sophia Hemsi, a first-year PhD student at Florida International University, and Jordan King, who obtained a Master of Science in Biology degree at 23 years old, each discussed preservation of the ecosystem within the Everglades and the animals that reside within.

The band, Thunder Beingz, entertained the crowd with their Native American fusion. The Jack Shealy Band brought all to their feet. Known for their “Swamp Rock,” the music combines the rhythms of the Everglades and the electric guitar. The band Southern Stampede kept the party going with a blend of southern and country rock.

Garrett Stuart, also known as Captain Planet, commented on the importance of teaching the little ones in our lives how to care for the ‘homies,’ referring to the plants, animals, and all life within Mother Earth. Stuart went on to say that we have been looking at it backwards. It is not what kind of planet are we leaving for our children, but rather, “What kind of children are we leaving for our planet?”

“My Aunt Betty told me once, ‘If you look at life, life is slow. Life is patient. The only thing fast about life is death,” Stuart said. He reminded everyone to slow down and soak in the life that surrounds us.

This year, may we all be more mindful of the nature that surrounds us and take the time to admire the beauty in not only the big things, but in the small details of everyday life. Let us all give thanks to Mother Earth for the gorgeous planet we call home.