185-Year Seminole Maroon Reunion @Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park

Picture Cutline: The top picture is an illustration by Loveis Wise from the back cover of Ibram X. Kendi's Magnolia Flower, a story adapted for children from a short story about Florida's indigenous people written by Zora Neale Hurston, a legendary African American Florida writer.

There is no cost for this event. However, the tour is restricted. You MUST register for the Tour which is of limited capacity.

Indigenous Architect, Chris Cornelius

To Give Final Keynote at January Seminole Maroon Commemorative

Indigenous Architect, Chris Cornelius, a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, will provide the Keynote address for “The 185-Year Seminole Maroon Family Reunion @ Loxahatchee River Battlefield, Sunday, January 15, the weekend of MLK holiday.

Professor Cornelius, chair of the Department of Architecture at the University of New Mexico and the founding principal of studio:indigenous, will provide the final Keynote in a five-day Commemorative event, January 11-15 organized by Florida Black Historical Research Project, Inc. in collaboration with Palm Beach County Parks and Loxahatchee River Battlefield Preservationists, Inc.

As both creative artist and architect, Prof. Cornelius seeks to decolonize architecture by creating space for Indigenous American voices. He will speak on key issues highlighted during the Conference--indigeneity, decolonization and the American Maroon experience. He will also provide valuable insights on the creation of a comprehensive vision for the proposed Interpretive Center for the Loxahatchee River Battlefield site.

A Landmark Reunion of Seminole Maroons

The landmark “Reunion” will bring together Seminole Maroon (“Black Seminole”) descendants and friends from around the Maroon Diaspora – Oklahoma, Mexico, Texas, the Bahamas, Florida itself, and beyond --on their Ancestral homeland, at the site of the two decisive 1838 Battles of the Loxahatchee River during the “Second Seminole War.” These descendants will tell their stories.

Programing occurs at different venues- Palm Beach State College on PGA Boulevard in North Palm Beach January 12 and 13 and Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park on Indiantown Rd., January 14 and 15.

Included in the 5-day event are the following: a tour of historic sites in and around Palm Beach County that are related to the pivotal events of the Second Seminole War that culminated at Loxahatchee River Battlefield; a two-day Symposium and keynote presentations on The Negro Fort, Angola and the Bahamas, The Trail of Tears and the Oklahoma Seminole Bands, Texas, Mexico and the Negro Indian Scouts will be hosted by Palm Beach State College; and a two-day slate of programs commemorating the historic military site will be hosted by Palm Beach County Parks Department at Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park.

Florida Scholars of Seminole Maroon History

Featured guests include outstanding scholars on Seminole Maroon history and culture including Keynotes by Dr. Anthony Dixon, President of Archival and Historical Research Associates and author of Florida's Negro War: Black Seminoles and the Second Seminole War 1835-1842; Dr. Rosalyn Howard, an Emerita scholar of University of Central Florida and author of Black Seminoles in the Bahamas; and Dr. Uzi Baram, Professor of Anthropology and Director of New College Public Archaeology Lab who is working on The Angola Project which is groundwork for understanding the nature of Black-centered Maroon communities in early Florida.

Children’s Books Highlighted

Dr. Martha Bireda, author of Obi, Seminole Maroon Freedom Fighter and Executive Director of Blanchard House Museum will discuss her book, Obi, Seminole Maroon Freedom Fighter, illustrated by Anne Shively. Magnolia by Ibram X. Kendi, Director of Anti-Racism Institute at Boston University, which revises a tale written by Florida’s Zora Neale Hurston, will be discussed. (The Book Jacket's back cover illustration by artist Loveis Wise is the image that headlines this article.)

The combined scholarship of these experts and others supports FBHRP's mission to illuminate our State’s “hidden history,” highlighting the historic significance of the successful intercultural exchange that occurred on Florida soil for two centuries as America's First Nation Peoples and their descendants and Africans and their descendants bonded for survival.

The January event represents the 185th anniversary of those encounters in which the outnumbered Native and African American Seminoles were not defeated on the battlefield but were later lured to Fort Jupiter under a flag of truce, only to be captured and deported westward on the Trail of Tears, with some being turned over to so-called “slave catchers.”

A Project of NTHP’s” Telling the Full History Preservation Fund”

This project is being undertaken through the largesse of a $50,000 Grant awarded by The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Telling the Full History Preservation Fund (NTHP) and the American Rescue Plan of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The grant is one of 80 given to select organizations nationwide with projects that helped preserve, interpret, and activate historic places to tell the stories of underrepresented groups in our nation.

Please also see FBHRP’s "developing" web page for info on the Grant project that may be accessed here - FLblackhistoricalresearchproject.org- or from the FBHRP website: www.fbhrpinc.org.

Next Picture: Maroon Descendant Windy Goodlow stands with History scholar Dr. Anthony Dixon at Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park

Seminole Wars Convocation in Jupiter, April 1-3, 2022

Picture l. Dr. Wallis Tinnie, FBHRP President, with women of the local Seminole Tribe of Florida

Picture 2. FBHRP Board Members, Dr. Wallis Tinnie (Center) is flanked by Chief Louis Johnson of The Great Seminole Nation of Oklahoma (l) and Dinizulu Gene Tinnie (r) with two members of the Nation's Volunteer Honor Guards at the Seminole Wars Convocation in Jupiter, April 1-3, 2022.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Loxahatchee River Battlefield 185-Year Seminole Maroon Reunion:

Freedom Trails, Marronage, Voices in the Wind

KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS

1. The “Negro Fort,” Angola and The Bahamas2. The Trail of Tears, John Horse, Mexico, Texas and Negro Indian Scouts3. Palm Beach County and Environs: A Haven for Cha Chi’s Village, Fort McCrae, Okeechobee, Loxahatchee River Battlefield, Fort Jupiter & More4. The Trail of Tears and the Oklahoma Bands5. Seminole Language, Afro-Seminole Language Recovery

Wednesday, January 11. 2023 – 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. - WELCOME RECEPTION

Thursday, January 12, 9:00 – 4:00 p.m. - HISTORICAL TOUR

A Historian accompanies a day-long bus tour of South Florida sites that reference and/or honor Seminole Maroon history: Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park, Fort McCrae, The Seminole Inn, Limestone Creek, Cha Chi’s Village and Fort Jupiter.

Thursday, January 12, - 6:00 – 9:00 p.m Palm Beach State College – PGA Blvd.

“Voices in the Wind…” SYMPOSIUM-

This Symposium focuses on Language and Seminole History and is primarily for teachers but is open to the public

Friday, January 13, 9:00 – 5:00 pm ” Palm Beach State College – PGA Blvd.

Conference DAY “Freedom Trails and Marronage.

This is a day-long series of lectures, workshops and scholarly presentations featuring history and

life of Seminole Maroons in Florida (Fort Mosé, The Negro Fort, Angola, Okeechobee,

Loxahatchee River Battlefield, and others) Cuba, The Trail of Tears, Oklahoma, Texas, Mexico,

and The Bahamas.

Friday, January 13, 2023 7:00 – 9:00 pm - Palm Beach State College – PGA Blvd.

Movie @ 7:00 p.m. The story of the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts of Texas

THE SEMINOLE MAROON VILLAGE -– January 14 and 15 – Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park

A Cultural community with artifacts, craftsmen, artisans, etc. Drumming and Expressive Arts

Saturday, January 14, 2023 - Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park – 9040 Indiantown Rd.

ORAL HISTORY IN THE PARK – “Voices from Exile and Reunion”

This is an expansion of an established series presented by the Loxahatchee Battlefield

Preservationists. We are featuring authors of Seminole Maroon history and autobiographical

and personal stories of descendants from the target communities in the Bahamas, Mexico,

Texas, Oklahoma and Florida.

Sunday, Jan 15, 2023 THE SPIRITUAL REMEMBRANCE – “Voices of Commemoration & Remembrance”

An expansion of the annual Spiritual Remembrance presented by FBHRP. It features sacred

presentations by various religious faiths to honor the fallen on both sides—the U.S. Military and

the Seminole Maroon warriors and family members.- Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park

Host or Publisher The Florida Black Historical Research Project (FBHRP)