10/12/2026
This , we honor the cultures, contributions, resilience, and strength of the peoples who first cared for and defended this land—and whose descendants continue that responsibility today.
The and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida are separate sovereign nations and original stewards of the landscapes we work to protect. Their ancestors made the Everglades and Big Cypress home. During three wars with the United States, a few hundred people resisted removal in the swamps and sawgrass. The Seminole Tribe—known as the “Unconquered” because it never signed a peace treaty—received federal recognition in 1957; the Miccosukee Tribe followed in 1962.
For generations, both tribes have carried deep knowledge of South Florida’s water, wildlife, and dry ground. For both nations, spiritual life and the land are inseparable. That knowledge continues to guide their care for the region, while decades of Miccosukee advocacy for cleaner water and restored flow have helped shape Everglades restoration.
At Common Ground Ecology, we’re grateful to work with the Seminole Tribe of Florida Department of Conservation on strategies supporting healthy alligator populations, wetland habitats, sustainable harvest, and tribal member rights. Alligators are both a keystone species and an important part of Seminole culture and history. Alligator wrestling grew from survival and tourism into a cultural touchstone—supporting livelihoods while helping educate Floridians about Seminole history and coexistence with alligators.
For conservationists, today is a reminder that these ecosystems were never empty wilderness. Protecting Florida’s wild places means listening to and supporting the nations that have cared for them longest—and including Indigenous voices in planning, research, decisions, and leadership as true partners. We’re grateful for our tribal partnership and all we continue to learn from it.
