Everglades National Park, Florida — The sound of construction vehicles has replaced the gentle melodies of birdsong at Mae’anna Osceola-Hart’s family home, where the impact of a new detention center looms large. Osceola-Hart, a 21-year-old photographer with roots in both the Miccosukee and Seminole tribes, is troubled by the constant din of dump trucks that distract from the natural beauty of the area, particularly as it affects tribal lands sacred to her people.
The facility, often referred to as “Alligator Alcatraz,” is nested alongside lands historically significant to the Miccosukee and Seminole tribes. Osceola-Hart reflects on her great-grandfather, Wild Bill Osceola, who played a crucial role in fighting the construction of a proposed airport at the same site more than five decades ago. His efforts, along with those of local conservationists, culminated in a pivotal moment in 1969 when Florida Governor Claude R. Kirk Jr. halted plans for the airport, which had been touted as the world’s largest despite opposition from tribal leaders.
While Osceola’s determination preserved some of the land, the intrusion of the detention center has reignited a sense of loss among tribal members. “We got kicked out of ceremonial grounds,” Osceola-Hart lamented, highlighting how development has continually encroached upon spaces once deemed sacred by her ancestors. The historical struggle for land among Florida’s Indigenous peoples is long-standing, stretching back to the post-Seminole wars when the Seminole tribe sought refuge in the Everglades.
Today, many Miccosukee and Seminole people continue to inhabit the Big Cypress Reservation or reside in informal camps along Tamiami Trail, a major roadway that compromises the natural flow of water essential to the Everglades ecosystem. Completed in 1928, Tamiami Trail opened the picturesque national park to tourists but also set in motion significant environmental challenges. The efforts to develop tourist attractions, while economically beneficial, have led to a decline in native species and disrupted traditional lifestyles.
Leaders from both tribes face a perennial struggle for rights to their ancestral lands, a battle that William “Popeye” Osceola, the secretary of the Miccosukee Tribe, describes as “long and fraught.” Transitioning from an art teacher to a tribal leader, he emphasizes the importance of educating younger generations about their legacy and the continuing fight for land rights.
Betty Osceola, a respected voice within the Miccosukee Tribe and a member of the Everglades Advisory Board, stresses the park’s significance as a place of healing and spirituality. Her village lies in close proximity to the newly constructed detention site, underscoring the tensions between development and cultural preservation.
The state of Florida, under Governor Ron DeSantis, has moved forward with the construction of the facility using emergency powers that bypass local governance. The Miami-Dade County Mayor, Daniella Levine Cava, expressed concerns about the implications of this detention center on local ecosystems and community well-being in a recent correspondence to state officials.
Although Governor DeSantis asserts that the detention center aligns with larger federal immigration objectives and claims it will not adversely impact the surrounding natural area, many tribal leaders vehemently contest this assertion. They warn of the profound implications such developments pose to the cultural and environmental integrity of the Everglades.
As the Miccosukee and Seminole tribes navigate yet another challenge, Osceola encourages younger members to stay engaged. “This is history repeating itself,” she states, urging them to inherit a legacy of resilience and activism for future generations. With longstanding ties to the Everglades, the tribes continue to advocate for the protection of their heritage amid ongoing pressures from development.