The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida has long fought to heal and protect the Everglades and what remains of their ancestral lands.
Decades of massive engineering projects for development and agriculture severed the vast wetlands to about half its original size, destroying lands and waterways where the Miccosukee people hunted, fished, gathered plants, held sacred rituals and put their deceased to rest.
A massive state-federal project to clean the water and rehydrate the landscape aims to undo much of the damage. But tribe members say water management decisions have contributed to fires, floods and water pollution in their communities and cultural sites. Adding to the list of threats are climate change and the fossil fuel activities that caused it.
Although the Miccosukee people were historically reluctant to engage with the outside world due to America’s violent legacy against Indigenous people, that is changing with a new tribal administration. The tribe has played an increasingly collaborative and leadership role in healing the Everglades while protecting their deep connection to tradition and nature.