Everglades National Park’s Historical Impact on Native Americans in South Florida

Abstract

This research examines the consequences of Everglades National Park’s establishment on the Seminole and Miccosukee Nations. Guiding questions used are: How did Seminole rights change following the park’s establishment? How did the park’s establishment influence Florida economy and tourism during this period? My research argues that as a result of establishing Everglades National Park, Miccosukee and Seminole citizens experienced changes to land use rights that affected their legal sovereignty and economic opportunities in South Florida. Using federal and state government analyses, legal rulings, and newspaper articles I assert that both nations’ sovereignty was affected. Environmental history is well saturated with ecological histories of the Everglades and human histories of parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite. This research asserts the much-needed human emphasis of the Everglades that is often missing in the literature of the park and highlights the effects of past rulings and decisions that still deeply impact Miccosukee and Seminole economics, rights, and boundaries today.