Betty Osceola facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Betty Osceola
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Osceola at Lake Okeechobee (2019) by Lisette Morales
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Betty Osceola
August 8, 1967 Ochopee, Florida, U.S.
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| Occupation | Airboat Captain, Everglades Educator, Miccosukee tribal judge & Everglades Advisory Committee |
| Known for | Everglades advocacy and prayer walks |
| Awards | Defender of the Everglades (2024), John V. Kabler Award (2018) |
Betty Osceola, born on August 8, 1967, is a Native American environmental activist. She is also an educator and an airboat captain. Betty is part of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida and the Panther Clan. She is well-known for working to protect the Everglades. She sees the Everglades as the land where her family has lived for a very long time.
Betty has led many public prayer walks and campaigns to teach people about the environment. These events happen across South Florida. She often focuses on dangers to Native American lands, clean water, and fair climate solutions. She is also a judge for the Miccosukee tribe. She serves on the Everglades Advisory Committee too.
Betty grew up in the Everglades. She learned how to hunt and fish in traditional ways from her father. Today, she shares her knowledge of the area. She operates Buffalo Tiger Airboat Tours in Miami, Florida.
Contents
Growing Up in the Everglades
In a 2019 interview, Betty Osceola shared details about her childhood. She grew up in the Everglades. She lived in a chickee hut with four walls. Her mother and grandmother lived in traditional open-sided huts. As a child, Betty often spent whole days barefoot. She loved exploring the swamp.
Betty also talked about her community's old ways. They used to grow corn and pumpkin on tree islands. She is worried that pollution has made the water too dirty. This means people cannot live off the land as their ancestors did.
What Are Prayer Walks?
Prayer walks are a very old practice in Native American communities. They are about ceremony and respecting the land. They also show spiritual responsibility. Betty Osceola continues this tradition. She organizes prayer walks across South Florida.
These walks honor the Earth. They help people learn more about environmental issues. They also offer spiritual healing for places facing harm. Betty's prayer walks are based on Miccosukee teachings. They have taken place in important areas. These include Big Cypress National Preserve and Lake Okeechobee. They also include Loop Road and the Miami Circle. People from all backgrounds can join these walks. They are not protests. They are prayerful gatherings. They focus on Native American values. These values include respect, good relationships, and protecting nature.
Recent Prayer Walks and Public Actions
2025: Protecting the Everglades
On June 28, 2025, Betty Osceola led another gathering. This event continued to raise awareness. It opposed the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport (TNT) project. During this event, many semi-trucks and vehicles were seen. They were entering the construction site. This action showed ongoing environmental worries. It also highlighted cultural concerns as the project moved forward.
A few days earlier, on June 22, 2025, Betty organized a prayer gathering. This was against the proposed Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport (TNT) project. This project was once called the Everglades Jetport. About 700 to 1,000 people attended. They came from many different backgrounds. They were worried about plans to build a detention center there. Many people now call this site Alligator Alcatraz. People against the project think it is harmful to people and the environment. This area is very important for nature and culture. Construction on the site had already started by June 24, 2025.
2023: Honoring Ancestors at Miami Circle
On March 18, 2023, Betty Osceola led a peaceful prayer walk. It was about a mile long. The walk was against building on a historic site. This site is important for Native American culture and all of humanity. Walkers went from Brickell Park. They walked around the Miami Circle. They stopped at 444 Brickell Avenue. The walk ended at 77 SE 5th Street. At this last site, archaeologists found human remains and old tools. These might be older than the pyramids of Egypt. The site is in an area where the Tequesta people lived for thousands of years. It is near the Miami Circle in Brickell, Miami.
2021: Prayer Walks and Hikes
On April 10, 2021, Betty Osceola led a hike. A group of concerned citizens joined her. They hiked into Big Cypress National Preserve. The goal was to teach the public. It was also to protest a planned oil drilling project. After the hike, protesters stood along Interstate 75.
From February 6-12, 2021, Betty and Reverend Houston R. Cypress led a second walk. They walked around Lake Okeechobee. A group of 26 people walked for seven days. They covered 118 miles. They prayed for the Earth's healing. The walk also opposed a new EPA permit plan. This plan was about dredge and fill permits under the Clean Water Act.
From January 2-3, 2021, Betty and Reverend Houston R. Cypress led another walk. A group of 41 people walked for two days. They covered 36 miles on State Road 41. This was in Big Cypress National Preserve. They walked from East to West. This walk also opposed the EPA permit plan. The group started at the East entrance of Loop Road. They ended in Carnestown, Florida, on the second day.
2019: Healing the Land and Waters
From December 7-8, 2019, Betty Osceola and Reverend Houston R. Cypress led a prayer walk. Over 60 people joined them. They walked for two days. They covered 31 miles on the historic Loop Road in Ochopee, Florida. This walk was for healing the land.
From January 26 to February 3, 2019, Betty and six others walked 118 miles. They walked around Lake Okeechobee. This walk raised awareness about water quality issues in the lake. Betty carried a red bandanna. This was to bring attention to missing and murdered Native American women.
2016: Standing Rock Support
Betty Osceola traveled twice from the Everglades. She went to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. She delivered supplies to the Dakota Access Pipeline protests.
2015-2017: Walk for Mother Earth
The Walk for Mother Earth was started by Betty Osceola. She worked with her uncle, Bobby C. Billie. He was a respected spiritual leader. This effort brought together Native American communities, scientists, and environmentalists. They were against the River of Grass Greenway (ROGG). This was a bike path planned along Florida State Road 41.
Each year, Betty and Bobby led a multi-day prayer walk. They walked along the planned path. They wanted to raise awareness about dangers to nature and culture. They spoke at public hearings. Because of their work, both counties involved stopped the project. After Bobby Billie passed away in 2018, Betty has continued to lead prayer walks.
Films Featuring Betty Osceola
Path of the Panther (2022)
Betty Osceola is featured in the documentary film Path of the Panther. This film is 88 minutes long. It was directed by Eric Bendick. It was produced by Carlton Ward, Eric Bendick, and Tori Linder. Leonardo DiCaprio was an executive producer. The film was released on February 24, 2023.
PBS Native America, Season 2 (2023)
Betty Osceola was featured in an episode called "Betty Osceola - Earth Protector." This documentary aired on October 24, 2023. It shows how Betty uses Miccosukee teachings. These teachings are about respecting all living things. They are also about protecting our world. She leads prayer walks to raise awareness. She also helps organize people to save the Florida Everglades.
Awards and Recognition
- March 2024: Betty Osceola received the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Defender of the Everglades award. This award came from the Friends of the Everglades.
- January 2018: Betty Osceola received the John V. Kabler Grassroots Organizing Award. She received it during the Everglades Coalition annual summit.
See also
In Spanish: Betty Osceola para niños
