Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation
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Entrance to reservation
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Location of Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation
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| Tribe | Seminole |
| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Glades |
| Area | |
| • Total | 146 km2 (56 sq mi) |
The Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation is a special area of land set aside for the Seminole Tribe of Florida. It is located in Glades County, Florida, close to the northwest side of Lake Okeechobee.
This reservation is one of six areas of land that the United States government holds in trust for the Seminole Tribe. The Brighton reservation covers about 146 square kilometers (or 36,000 acres). In the year 2000, about 566 people lived there.
Contents
Language and Culture
Some people living on the Brighton reservation speak the Muscogee language, also known as Creek. This language is different from the Mikasuki language spoken by other Seminoles and the Miccosukee tribe.
Fewer than 200 people on the reservation speak Muscogee. This is the largest group of Muscogee speakers in Florida and outside of Oklahoma. The United Nations (UNESCO) says the Muscogee language is "definitely endangered." This means it is at risk of disappearing if not protected.
Life on the Reservation in the Past
In 1939, a travel guide called "The Florida Guide" described a "Seminole Village" on the reservation. About 100 Native Americans worked on projects to improve the land. These projects included building roads, fences, and helping with water systems.
These workers were from the "Cow Creek" group, who spoke the Muscogee language. The people on the reservation farmed their land and raised cattle. They had about 800 Hereford and Angus cows.
Traditional Homes
Families lived in groups of palm-thatched huts called chuckoos. These huts were about 10 feet by 12 feet in size. They had raised sleeping platforms covered with mosquito netting. One chuckoo was used as the family dining room, and another served as the kitchen.
Education and Community
The village also had a school for both children and adults. This school had modern facilities, including a community workroom, a shop, and showers and laundry areas for men and women.
The Red Barn
To help with the Seminole Tribe's cattle business, a building called "The Red Barn" was built in 1941. It was damaged by Hurricane Wilma in 2005, but its roof was fixed that same year.
Modern Life and Economy
Today, the Seminole Tribe of Florida operates the Brighton Seminole Casino on the reservation. This casino is 27,000 square feet in size. It has many slot and gaming machines, a poker room, and high-stakes bingo. There is also a restaurant and lounge for visitors.
The reservation is also an important part of the tribe's cattle operations. The Seminole Tribe runs the 12th-largest cattle business in the entire country!
Other Seminole Reservations
The Seminole Tribe of Florida has five other reservations besides Brighton:
- Big Cypress Reservation: This is the largest area, covering about 212 square kilometers (81.972 square miles). It is located in Broward and Hendry Counties.
- Hollywood Reservation: This reservation, once called the Dania Reservation, is about 497 acres in Broward County.
- Immokalee Reservation: This land is located in Collier County.
- Fort Pierce Reservation: This is a 50-acre site in St. Lucie County. The U.S. Department of the Interior took it into trust for the tribe in 1995.
- Tampa Reservation: This reservation is located in Hillsborough County.
