The Web site of the Seminole Tribe of Florida (www.semtribe.com) offered the following information on the history of the Seminole Indians: Show
An article published in the FSU Overtime Times, (Jan. 2, 2000), discussed the meaning of the name "Seminole":
FSU is represented by an Indian figure named Osceola at football games and other events. Who was the real Osceola?We turn again to the Web site of the Seminole Tribe of Florida (www.seminoletribe.com), which says this about the legendary warrior:
Does the university regard the Seminole name, or the team of Osceola and Renegade, as "mascots"?No. FSU does not have a mascot — we have a symbol that we respect and prize. The Seminole people have suffered many hardships and injustices, but they have remained brave, dignified and proud. They are the unconquered. These traits serve as an inspiration to all of our students, including our athletes, as well as our alumni, faculty and staff. By calling themselves Seminoles, members of the FSU community are engaging in a tradition of tribute for a people whose indomitable spirit is one that is deserving of honor. The Indian warrior Osceola is depicted riding a horse before FSU football games. Do horses really play a role in the tradition of the real Seminole Indians?The term "Seminoles" was first applied to the native peoples of Florida in the 18th century. During the 1770s, the naturalist William Bartram traveled extensively throughout Florida and wrote of the people, flora and fauna he observed. Visiting the Seminole town of Cuscowilla, near present-day Gainesville, he wrote of "innumerable droves of cattle . . . herds of sprightly deer, squadrons of beautiful fleet Seminole horses." This early description makes it clear that horses were, in fact, a part of Seminole society of the time. In modern times, FSU supporter Bill Durham states that, in creating the tandem of Osceola and Renegade in the 1970s, he spoke with Howard Tommie, then chief of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. In a Sept. 17, 1978, article in the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper, Tommie commented that horses were indeed a part of his tribe's tradition. He added that the Seminoles once had many horses, but that the white man stole some and ran others off into the swamps. In addition, Tommie not only approved of FSU's horse and rider concept, but had members of his tribe design authentic Seminole clothing for the rider. How accurate is the Seminole garb worn by Osceola?With the debut of FSU's Indian warrior Osceola in 1978, the Seminole Tribe of Florida provided the first outfit. It was a 19th-century long shirt, created in the style favored by the real Indian warrior Osceola, who fought U.S. forces during the Second Seminole War until his death in 1838. However, the long shirt wasn't ready until the second game of the 1978 season. For the first game, Durham was forced to make do. In an Oct. 10, 1980, article in the Florida Flambeau, he described the design of the original outfit: "I made the first costume, which originally was an old bathrobe of Mrs. Chenoweth. (The Chenoweth family of Tallahassee took care of the horse, Renegade, at that time.) "But the one used now is an authentic Seminole costume." By the second home game, the Seminole-made costume had arrived. The new costume consisted of a long, multi-colored cotton shirt with a neckerchief. The headdress was a long sash that hung over the rider's shoulder. The rider carried a long spear, handmade by local doctor Herb Mantooth, adorned with feathers. FSU's 1993 Renegade yearbook states that "not only were the cloak and moccasins authentic, but around the rider's neck hung a unique artifact in Seminole history. This silver necklace sparkled with countless charms, Spanish coins collected by the Seminole Indians." Similar charms were known to be favorites of Osceola, and he appears in several historical portraits displaying the distinctive jewelry. Later, the headdress was changed to a shorter cloth headband with a single feather in the back. The wig was added. With the final touches of body paint, the rider's image was complete. FSU's Indian mascot looked very much like the Florida Seminole hero Osceola. Over the years, the costume of Osceola has been tweaked and tailored, always with the say-so of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. In fact, the costume often has been handmade by tribe members. What about tomahawks, spears and some of the other Indian imagery used by FSU?In a June 8, 2000, guest editorial in the Tallahassee Democrat, Bill Durham wrote that "many Seminoles painted themselves, were great warriors and did indeed use tomahawks, guns, knives, sharpened spears and any other weapons that were available to them. They rode horses for hunting and war. They also performed dance rituals for both religious and social reasons. One popular war dance was the 'scalp' dance." Although every effort is made to make Osceola's appearance as historically accurate as possible, minor variances such as the warrior's flaming spear have become a cherished part of the FSU tradition. "Look, those little differences don't bother us," Jim Shore, legal counsel for the Seminole Tribe of Florida, said in an Aug. 16, 2005, article in the Tampa Tribune. "An (actual) Seminole warrior of the 1800s couldn't be depicted in modern time. But this character has a great resemblance to what he should be. It's modernized, not theatrical. The school has checked with us, over and over again. And we have no objections to how he's portrayed. It's always respectful." Going back even further into their history, the Web site of the Seminole Tribe of Florida (www.seminoletribe.com) offers the following information on weapons used by the Seminole Indians to defend themselves against the Spanish:
What is the origin of the "war chant" that is played at FSU sporting events?FSU's "war chant" was first heard in its current form in 1984, although its roots extend back some two decades. In the 1960s, members of FSU's Marching Chiefs band chanted the melody of a popular cheer, "Massacre," during football games. In a sense, "Massacre" was the long version of the current war chant. During a football game against Auburn in 1984, the Marching Chiefs began to perform the cheer. Some students behind the band joined in and continued the "war chant" portion after the band had ceased. The result, which was not very melodic at the time, sounded more like chants by American Indians in Western movies. Most say it came from the fraternity section, but many spirited FSU fans added the "chopping" motion, a repetitious bend at the elbow, to symbolize a tomahawk swinging down. The chant continued largely among the student body during the 1985 season, and by the 1986 season was a stadium-wide activity. The Marching Chiefs refined the chant, adding its own special brand of musical accompaniment — and the result still is seen and heard today. The war chant soon spread around the nation to other teams with Native American names, such as Major League Baseball's Atlanta Braves and the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs. However, the chopping motion gained more attention — and criticism — than did the chant itself. Former FSU President Dale Lick discussed the war chant in a 1993 column for USA Today: "Some traditions we cannot control. For instance, in the early 1980s, when our band, the Marching Chiefs, began the now-famous arm motion while singing the 'war chant,' who knew that a few years later the gesture would be picked up by other teams' fans and named the 'tomahawk chop'? It's a term we did not choose and officially do not use." What other institutions use the name "Seminole"?Because the Seminole name is such an integral part of Florida's history, the name serves as the moniker for a geographical entity, Seminole County; a city, Seminole in Pinellas County; and a college, Seminole Community College. In addition, Florida's Osceola County is named for the legendary Indian warrior who led the Seminoles in the 1830s. |