LWVCC held its first general meeting of the season with Betty Osceola as distinguished guest speaker. She is prominent member of the Panther Clan of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida who has dedicated her life to protecting the natural wonders of the Florida Everglades. Drawing from her Miccosukee heritage, she teaches others about the importance of respecting and preserving our environment for future generations.
Osceola is also an airboat captain and has been featured in several documentary films. She received the 2024 “Women Who Shine” award from the Miami-Dade League of Women Voters for her environmental leadership. She has also received the “Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Award” honoring an individual who demonstrates outstanding dedication to the mission of Friends of the Everglades to preserve, protect and restore the unique Everglades ecosystem.
In honor of Native American Heritage Month, the event was presented by the DEI committee of LWVCC whose co-chairs Cynthia Cave and Cynthia Cromwell offered a land acknowledgement to the Native Americans, on whose ancestral homelands we reside. We are grateful for the preservation of lands that have been cared for by the indigenous communities, including the efforts of the Council of the Original Miccosukee Seminole Nation Aboriginal Peoples, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida. These native Americans are a testament to the enduring spirit of Florida’s indigenous people. It is important to acknowledge the indigenous communities of southwest Florida to honor their past, present, and future existence.