Inside - Seminole Tribe of Florida

The Seminole Tribune 14 April 7, 2006 DriveContinued from page 1Stretching out his arms he said, “God hasgiven us a magnificent day to be outside and sharethe wonders of his world. Our ancestors would havebeen very grateful for such an opportunity when theyrounded up their livestockand followed this same routeover sixty years ago. Todaywe commemorate those hardworking men and womenwho established the cattleindustry in the SeminoleTribe. They spent over aweek gathering up the herdfrom the woods and thendriving them down the trailthat you will follow today.”Chairman MitchellCypress addressed the groupfrom horseback.“Moses Jumper,Paul and Richard Bowerswere the originators of theJunior Cypress Trail Drives,”he said. “Setting around acampfire during a cattleroundup, they talked aboutthe need to recognize theirelders and keep the traditionalive for future generations.When many people think ofthe Seminole Tribe, theythink of casinos and gambling.We are so much more.”Continuing Cypresssaid: “Today represents a lotof history. Each year weselect one of our elders asHonorary Trail Boss. For ourTenth Annual Drive, we recognizeJimmy Smith. Hisfather, Morgan Smith, participatedin the arrival of the firstcattle herd to Big Cypress.“In an effort toestablish industry on thenewly formed reservation, theU.S. government brought cattlefrom the MescalaroApache to the railhead atBatson, north of Okeechobee.Morgan Smith was one of themen who drove the cattlesouth through the woods andswamps to Big Cypress in thelate 1930s.“Jimmy Smith followsin his family’s footstepsand has been a part of thecattle production at BigCypress during his entire life.From that small beginning,the Seminole Tribe has developedinto one of the majorbeef producers in the state ofFlorida.”In conclusionCypress said: “At this time, Iwould like to recognizeBenny Hernandez. He hasworked for the SeminoleTribe for many years and hasbrought the livestock out herefor each one of the ten cattledrives. He may not be tall,but he is the man who makesthings happen and we appreciatehis effort. The SeminoleTribe is very happy to inviteall of you here today andhope that you will want tocome back next year. Put uson your calendar.”Moses Jumper thenadded some comments.“Each year, I seemore and more new faces inthe crowd,” said Jumper.“Cattle were the first industryfor the Seminole Tribe andhave a great history. I amhappy to be a part of thisTenth Annual Trail Drivecommemorating that historyand our forefathers. My onlyregret is the fact that due to aknee injury, I will not be ableto ride with you.”Pointing to a largeswamp buggy, he said: “I willbeing following you everystep of the way from my bigwheel chair, because I wouldn’twant to miss this for theworld. I hope we don’t havetoo many wrecks or buck-offsthis year. I know that’s allpart of the fun, but no dogand pony shows. We don’twant anyone to get hurt.”Jumper concludedby introducing Bruce Pratt,the pastor of the HollywoodChickee Church.“I am a PawneeIndian, originally fromNebraska, but most recentlyOklahoma,” he said. “I nowmake my home inHollywood, Florida, and lookforward to joining you fortoday’s event.”Laughing, Pratt said,“I think I should warn you,the Pawnee were known asgreat horse thieves. I see a lotof fine animals here todayand you might want to keepan eye on them. Seriously,every good thing comes fromGod and I would like to takethis opportunity to thank himand ask his blessing for theSeminole Tribe of Floridaand their friends, the beautyof the day, the sunshine andits warmth. God bless us all.”Charles Hiers-Billie,mounted on his beautiful customizedHarley Davidson,carrying the flag for theSeminole Tribe, led off downthe trail as the cattle were turned out of the pens andthe riders fell into place.It was an impressive sight with more than150 riders on some of the most beautiful horsesimaginable. Muscular quarterhorses born to work cattle,tall energetic thoroughbreds racing back and forthamong the riders, the never tiring Arabians, and thePasofinos dancing down the trail, made for a horselovers paradise.Ayze Henry tacks up her horse for the trail drive.Billy Johns on his Peruvian Pasafino.One of two hayride wagons that participated in the trail drive.Honorary Trail Boss Jimmy Smith.Judy WeeksJudy WeeksJudy WeeksIris Wall, a member of an old Florida pioneer family from Indiantown,still works her ranch.Judy WeeksJudy WeeksImmokalee Seminole Youth and LivestockRanch provided mounts for a number of the dignitariesand followed the herd with a pick up trailer forthe weary. The procession included two horse drawnwagons, swamp buggies, a chuck wagon and the redwagon with a multitude of refreshments.Beginning at the end of the West BoundaryRoad, the Cattle Drive follows the trail of the originalSeminole cattlemen for 12 miles before arriving(L-R) Jimmy Smith and Rudy Osceola.Pauletta Bowers holding Savannah Fish.Charles Hiers-Billie leads off the trail drive with the Tribal flag.at the Junior Cypress Rodeo Arena. Along the way,participants had an opportunity to see the beautifulcountryside, which the Seminole Tribe has developedfrom scrub and swamp into woodlands, pasture land,water management areas, citrus groves and producefarms.While cattle was the first Tribal industry, theSeminoles have expanded in many directions whilepreserving their independence and prospering in thehighly competitive world ofthe 21st Century.A relay camp hadbeen set up at the halfwaypoint to rest the livestock andriders. Mary Jene Koenes hadgraciously allowed the use ofa portion her cattle pasture forthis purpose. Wearing her nailapron and with hammer inhand she stopped her fencework long enough to greet thecowboys and cowgirls.A rare sight was thepicket line with more than100 horses tied in a row whiletheir riders rested andrefreshed themselves in a Red,White, Black and Yellow tentprovided for their comfort.Richard Bowers tookcontrol of the rest area andJudy WeeksJudy WeeksJimmy Smith was a passenger in the chuckwagon during the cattle drive.Judy Weeks(L-R) Chairman Mitchell Cypress, Alice Sweat, Trail Boss Jimmy Smith,Jenny Johns Garcia and Richard Bowers.Judy WeeksJudy Weeksbegan by thanking CountyCommissioner Bill Maddoxand his wife for their sponsorshipof refreshments. He thenacknowledged the SeminolePolice Department, Fire andRescue, Ambulance Serviceand Seminole Broadcastingfor their fine efforts. Nextcame a brief history of thecattle drive, Junior Cypressfor whom it is named and thepast honorary trail bosses.Bowers then introduced thisyear’s trail boss, JimmySmith.Jimmy Smith wasborn in the woods somewherebetween Ft. Pierce andOkeechobee, Fla. 73 yearsago. His father was the legendaryMorgan Smith whodrove the Mescalaro Apachecattle from Batson to BigCypress and started the cattleindustry for the Seminoles.His mother Julia Billie eventuallyhad her own herd carryingthe Bar5 brand. Heclimbed in the saddle at avery early age and learnedranching from the bottom up.By the time Smithwas 14 years old, he was onhis own and seeking jobs tosupport himself. Like so manyof the Seminoles of his era, hewas a day worker on themajor South Florida ranches–Collier’sImmokaleeRanch, Alico, Lykes Brothersand Davis, to name a few.It would be modestto say that he is a self-mademan. Despite his 73 years, hestill owns approximately 75head of cattle with the JSbrand and shares a pasturewith his nephew Mike Smith,and sisters, Jenny JohnsGarcia and Alice Nunez.Smith told the gathering:“I haven’t been on ahorse in three years, but I stillhelp with the vaccinating,worming and working of mycows. My sisters are ridingthe horses today but I am ridingin the chuck wagon. Ithink a lot about the time Iwas nearly run down andkilled by a cow in my youngdays.”Sitting beside hiswife, Rosie, he talked aboutthe alcohol and drugs whichhave become a major setbackon the reservations. Hewished to tell our young peoplethat he has been in recoveryfor ten years and theyhave been the best years ofhis life. It is never too late tobecome sober and turn yourlife around.Chairman Cypressthanked Smith for his wordsof wisdom and recalled thebrave elders who had built theSeminole Tribe into what it istoday.“Last year was ascorcher, but we have had agreat ride on the first half andthe promise of a wonderfulsecond leg of our journey,” hesaid.Richard Bowers thenintroduced Vivian “The TexasTornado” Villarreal. Villarrealis the sixth-ranked women’spool player in the world. TheSeminole Tribe of Florida’sSeminole Sports Managementsponsors her.Villarreal said: “Ihave proved today that I amnot a cowgirl, but I have had awonderful time. Since my lastvisit, I have filmed two showsand contracted for severalmore. I played the BlackWidow last night and defeatedher 7-6 on the pool table.”She then told ahumorous story aboutChairman Cypress and “theBlack Widow’s web,” beforethanking the Seminole Tribefor their sponsorship andinviting everyone to see thecompetitions being held at theHard Rock in Hollywood.Benny Motlow reminiscedabout the old days