Tribal Historic
PReservation Office
Research Section
The Research Section performs the historic and academic research needed to best support and accurately tell the story of the Seminole Tribe of Florida and their ancestors. They also provide outreach to the public, work with academic communities, and promote the decolonization of history.
“Maintaining cultural authority in decision-making processes throughout research projects and long-term data outcomes in relation to an derivatives or secondary activities resulting from research, represents Indigenous communities asserting their self-determination.”
-Hudson et al. 2023
If you have questions about Seminole history or culture or would like to consult with THPO on research you have done that involves Seminole history or culture, email us at THPOresearch@semtribe.com
If you are looking to conduct research with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, please complete and submit this form: Seminole Tribe of Florida THPO Research Request.
*Please be aware that the permit review process takes 30-60 days and permits are not reviewed until all necessary documents have been submitted. We strongly encourage all parties wishing to submit a proposal for a STOF-THPO research permit to first read the articles provided under “Recommended Readings on Indigenous Research and Data Sovereignty” on this webpage.
Please note that certain subjects are considered sensitive and private to the Seminole Tribe of Florida and cannot be shared with external parties/non-Tribal members. Permission for access to such information cannot be granted.
Guidelines for requests to access oral histories:
- Identify the topics you are interested in from the oral histories (be as specific as possible).
- Explain how these topics relate to your research questions and how you intend to use the information you obtain from the oral histories in your research.
- Explain the expected outcomes of your research.
- Identify any benefits and any risks to the Seminole Tribe of Florida based on the expected outcomes of your research.
Guidelines for interviews with Tribal Members:
- The THPO and Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum do not arrange interviews with Tribal members on behalf of researchers. If you are interested in interviewing a member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida as part of your research, it is expected that you have independently established contact of have an existing relationship with them prior to your research.
- Include with your proposal a final draft of interview questions that you intend to use.
- If affiliated with an institution, provide evidence that your research has been approved by an Internal Review Board (IRB) at your institution.
- Explain how the information you will acquire from the interview will be used in your research.
- Explain the expected outcomes of your research.
- Identify any benefits and any risks to the Seminole Tribe of Florida based on the expected outcomes of your research.
- Note that reviews will not be completed until all required documents are received in full.
Helpful Tips:
1) Be sure to complete all items requiring a response and include all necessary documentation
2) Be sure to select the appropriate category for your proposed research/project.
3) Some cases may not require a permit, such as conducting off-reservation fieldwork, submitting a document or text regarding Seminole history and culture for review and approval by THPO, or proposing a collaborative project with THPO. Cases that involve conducting research on Seminole land, with Seminole Tribal members, or with Seminole collections (e.g., oral histories, historic documents) require a permit.
4) If a permit is required, please be attentive to the following:
a) Provide all required information requested on pages 5 and 6 of the research permit request form.
b) Provide a clear explanation of the reasons for your research, the goals of your research, and benefits and risks of your research to the Seminole Tribe of Florida. NOTE: These sections are particularly important in the evaluation of your research proposal and decisions to grant permits.
c) Provide a detailed explanation of your methods and include final drafts of any documents, such as survey or interview questions, that you plan to use in your research.
Please contact us at THPOresearch@semtribe.com with any questions about completing the research permit request form.
Recommended Readings
A) Indigenous Research and Data Sovereignty
- Carroll et al. 2019: Indigenous Data Governance: Strategies from United States Native Nations
- Carroll et al. 2021: Operationalizing the CARE and FAIR Principles for Indigenous data futures
- Garba et al. 2023: Indigenous Peoples and research: self-determination in research governance
- Hudson et al. 2023: Indigenous Peoples' Rights in Data: a contribution toward Indigenous Research Sovereignty
B) Seminole History and History of the Indigenous Southeast
Click on the above title for the reference list. Another resource is the History section of the semtribe.com website.
C) THPO-produced Seminole Histories
- Egmont Key
- Cowkeeper’s Legacy
- Tamiami Trail (forth coming—stayed tuned!)
- Seminole History Stories
- Artifact of the Month
FAQ
Research:
Yes, you can, but it requires a permit that is granted after an internal review of the proposed research. See the section entitled “Research Permitting” on this web page for detailed information on submitting a research proposal.
Yes, you can, but it requires a permit that is granted after an internal review of the proposed interview and questions. See the section entitled “Research Permitting” on this web page for detailed information on submitting a research proposal. Please be aware that the Tribal Historic Preservation Office cannot arrange interviews with Tribal members.
The Seminole Tribe of Florida are the authority on their history and culture, and the Tribal Historic Preservation Office has produced resources that tell the Seminole Story as expressed by Tribal members. There are also publications by non-Tribal members that present accurate information on Seminole history and culture. Examples of THPO-produced histories and external publications can be found under “Recommended Readings” on this web page.
Indigenous peoples of the Americas (and other parts of the world) have been marginalized by settler-colonial societies and governments. A key component of marginalization is co-opting the histories and stories of Indigenous groups in ways that fit settler-colonial agendas. Not teaching the history of the Seminole is a direct attempt by mainstream society and culture to control and marginalize them.
History:
The Seminole are the descendants of the first people of Florida who came to the peninsula over 14,000 years ago. To read about the Seminole ancestors and their history you can visit: https://stofthpo.com/seminole-history/
No. The Seminole were not part of the Creek Confederacy. Roughly one third of the Tribe are descended from the Muscogee people who rebelled against the authority of the Creek Confederacy, and were known as the Upper Creek or Red Stick Creek. After the Creek Civil War in 1814 they sought refuge with the Seminole in Florida.
American histories record three Seminole Wars; Jackson’s invasion from 1817 to 1818, the first removal war from 1835 to 1842, and the third from 1855 to 1858. This captures the American perspective, marking the periods where Congress officially declared action. But for the Seminole people there was only one war. They came under armed and organized attack from America in 1812, and the fighting only ended in 1858. While there were negotiations and times where the Army did not directly engage them, the Seminole still faced regular aggression and violence from American settlers, militia, slave-catchers, and even lawmen throughout this period.
Because it is their home.
Before the Seminole War, Florida became a refuge for people who escaped Enslavement in America. Free African communities grew in Florida, home to those who had won freedom for themselves and their children, born free in Florida. These communities regularly traded and interacted with the Seminole, with some individuals even being adopted into the Tribe. Some Seminole had also purchased African slaves, who then lived in the Free African towns. When America invaded, the Seminole and Free African communities fought together. Much as Americans called all native people in Florida Seminole, they simply referred to the African allies as Black Seminole. While it was not a term they chose themselves, there are descendant communities who now proudly claim the title.
The Seminole War was never officially ended, and no treaty was ever signed by the Seminole remaining in Florida with either the United States or Florida governments. Those who stayed remained free in Florida to keep their culture and traditions, unconquered.
"The concept of data sovereignty...is linked with indigenous peoples' right to maintain, control, protect, and developed their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, as well as their right to maintain, control, protect, and develop their intellectual property over these."
-Kukutai and Taylor 2016