On Saturday, June 14, the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association (SISCA) held our annual Juneteenth celebration. The day was filled with both traditional and a couple newer events.

The first traditional event was our parade, which featured Lt. Col. Richard L.
Best, US Army, Retired, as our parade marshal. While it was small, it was a spirited event.

At the Juneteenth program that followed the parade, SISCA president Augusta
“Gigi” Pines welcomed everyone. Then, Sterling “Smiley” Goodloe gave the opening prayer. Afterward, we sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which is also known as the “Black National Anthem.” Next, Lt. Col. Best spoke about the importance of Juneteenth and encouraged everyone to do their best and always keep moving forward. Augusta Pines announced the parade winners – (1) Lt. Col. Richard L. Best, parade marshal, (2) Mr. Talamantez and his horse riders, and (3) Mr. Earwood.

This year, the Carver School, where Juneteenth is held, featured Gage Brown’s
incredible artwork. Her work was displayed along the walls within the school. While speaking about her work, Gage discussed how she uses natural elements to create many of her pieces and how much of her work is informed by the land and the people who live on it.

The next part of the program focused on discussing the history of Juneteenth.
For the Black Seminoles, our celebration of Juneteenth is interesting because at the time that General Granger read General Order No. 3 in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, we were already free. The Black Seminoles, also known as the Negros Mascogos, found refuge and freedom in Mexico in 1950. Therefore, as our founder Miss Charles Emily Wilson stated we celebrate Juneteenth in solidarity with our Black American brethren. Even though the Black Seminoles were free, no one was truly free until everyone was. Following our Juneteenth history discussion, we opened the floor for comments from our attendees. Micco Fay, one of our board members, encouraged everyone to go out and travel to our diasporic locations and to places that feature our history. This is a great way to learn more about our history, and it’s a way to teach others about it. Next, we played a recording of Dr. Maya Angelou reciting “Still I Rise.”

Then we sang “This Little Light of Mine,” and Sterling Goodloe closed out the program with a final prayer.

This year, we had a display table that featured red foods. Our display featured
red velvet cupcakes, strawberries, watermelon, and red soda. Other traditional red foods can include hibiscus tea, red hot links, and red beans and rice. These foods represent the blood that was shed by those who were enslaved, along with their resilience and sacrifice.

Following our program, we held our annual BBQ plate sale which featured
brisket, chicken, sausage, rice, beans, and potato salad. We had a great team that
came together to prepare and serve the food, and then an even greater group that cleaned up afterward.

Once everyone’s bellies were full, we settled in for a few rounds of loteria. There
were several shouts of victory (and a few groans of defeat), as the game became
competitive. This year, we also had a table for kids’ crafts, so several of the kids (little and big) made necklaces and bracelets using noodles that had been dyed red, white, and blue (traditional Juneteenth colors) and cards for Juneteenth and Father’s Day.

Following loteria, we had an Afro-Seminole Creole (ASC) lesson that was taught
by Gabriel Sanchez. This was the second lesson that Gabriel has taught. Even though we focused on the basics of ASC, everyone who attended came away with a better understanding of the structure and origins of our language. We are looking forward to continuing our revitalization efforts and having our next in-person lesson in September.

As our treasurer Corina Torralba stated, this year’s Juneteenth in Brackettville
was “small, but it was powerful, full of love and unity.”

written by Windy Goodloe
reprinted in The Kinney County Post and Indian Voices
View additional Juneteenth photos on the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association Facebook Page

We are looking forward to seeing you at Seminole Days this year. We will be releasing details soon. 

We are looking forward to celebrating Juneteenth tomorrow.
If you are in the area, come celebrate with us. We look forward to sharing photos and videos with y’all.

Thank you for your support!

If you are interested in participating in the parade, being a vendor or volunteering please contact us.

Meeting ID: 872 5451 6824
​Passcode: 935701

We want to extend a very special thank you to Ms. Becky Pena Moore. On July 5 and September 5, she cleaned the State Historical Markers located at the Carver School and Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery, respectively. As you can see, they were in desparate need of a good cleaning. The before and after photo show the level of care that Ms. Moore took to make sure that both signs are now clean of debris and easy to read. 

We are looking forward to seeing everyone this weekend.
​Thank you to everyone who has supported SISCA throughout the year.

Happy Easter to you and yours! We hope your day has been a beautiful and blessed one! Keep reading to find out all that we have been up to since our last newsletter.

On Saturday, February 17, 2024, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Seminole Nation Museum in Wewoka, Oklahoma. I was invited to speak by Chief Lewis Johnson of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma. He’d seen a presentation that I’d done for the Fort Worth Public Library on YouTube, and after connecting with the kind people there, extended an invitation. I happily (and quickly)accepted.

To say that the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and the Seminole Nation Museum were kind and hospitable is an understatement. As mi prima and fellow travel partner Corina Torralba said, “They treated us like royalty.” And I am not exaggerating when I say the whole trip was magical.

From the time I got on the plane, everyone that I encountered was so warm and friendly. The Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City was full of great energy and easy to navigate. Then, when Corina and I hopped in our rental car, after setting our GPS for Wewoka, we enjoyed a scenic drive filled with endless flat land, cows, and beautifully colorful houses that dotted the sparse landscape. There were even a few times when we were directed to take backroads. It was an unexpected adventure that showed us equal parts sights we’d never seen before and surroundings that felt very much like home.

When we arrived in Wewoka, we went right to the Seminole Nation Museum, where we were greeted by museum director Richard Ellwanger and collections manager Caitlin Maddox, who quickly made us feel welcomed. We also were finally able to meet Chief Phillip Barkus of the Dosar Barkus Band in person. He made us feel instantly at home as well. He and Sen. Anastasia Pittman set up a lovely display that included tons of books and personal photos and artifacts. After they finished setting up their display, we went out to eat at a great restaurant called Rudy Alan’s Steakhouse. It was a great way to end our first day in Wewoka, where the weather was incredibly, unbelievably cold, but the people were so warm.

The next day, the day of the presentation, we were treated to a traditional Seminole meal that was arranged by Chief Johnson. The meal included fry bread and sofke/soski. I’d grown up hearing about sofke/soski, but had never had the opportunity to try it. I was surprised by how much I liked it. Everything was incredibly tasty.

Ahead of the presentation, several dear friends, old and new, began to appear. Guy Narcomey and his beautiful mom Phyllis, Erwin and Cynthia Atchico, LeEtta Osbourne-Sampson, Elizabeth Ann Gaines Ali, and Arthur “Butch” Conley all braved the cold to come out and show their support. Seeing so many familiar faces in the audience made me feel loved and just a little less nervous.

My presentation lasted about 45 minutes and was titled “The Black Seminoles of Texas and Mexico.” It consisted of a (brief) history of the Black Seminoles and a (brief) discussion about our culture, annual events, and current revitalization efforts (which include our language, Afro-Seminole Creole, and our songs.) I dedicated my presentation to my mom, Darnett Darlene Goodloe Hardrick, who passed away just over a year ago on February 3.
Following the presentation, there was a short Q&A. Then, a beautiful spread of refreshments was enjoyed by everyone who attended.
​
If I am being honest, it’s hard to believe that I am even writing about this experience right now. Being invited to Oklahoma has, quite literally, been a dream. And as with most experiences that we can’t wait to have, the date seems to take forever to approach. Then, once it’s here, it, quite literally, flies by. Even though the time was short, many wonderful memories and amazing new friends were made.

If you'd like to watch the presentation, click the link below:

On Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2, several members of SISCA participated in Fort Clark Days, which is the annual living history event that takes place at Fort Clark Springs in Brackettville.

Fridays are always dedicated to school children. We had a booth in the living history section and were able to expose a whole new group of children to the history of the Black Seminoles and, more specifically, the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts. For the second year in a row, our booth was right next to Tom Ashmore with the West Texas Archealogical Society. Sharing a space with him meant we were able to provide a more tangible aspect to our stories. The students were able to see some of his finds and touch some of the artifacts that he brought with him.

On Saturday, we also sold brisket sandwiches. The brisket was prepared by Herbert Brown. We had a great turnout and had several customers who returned for seconds and thirds. We didn't turn them away! 

Fort Clark Days is always a great event. We are certainly looking forward to 2025!

March is Women's History Month, and March 8 is International Women's Day. This year, we honor some of our most important and influential women on our Facebook page. Below are all the ladies that we honored. 

Check out our Facebook page (Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association) to read what was written about each of the women we honored.

On Saturday, March 17, several members of SISCA went out to Camp Meyers Spring in Dryden, Texas. Tom Ashmore invited the group out to witness the unveiling of a painting depicting the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts and to go on a tour. This is our second trip out to Camp Meyers Springs. And each trip has been filled with more information as more and more artifacts are found and identified. We are certainly looking forward to Mr. Ashmore's report on his findings.

We began revitalizing Afro-Seminole Creole (ASC) on Juneteenth in 2021. Following our inital meeting, we had 11 additional lessons. Now, all of the lessons have been uploaded to our SISCA Brackettville (@siscabrackettville1413) YouTube channel.
​To check out our first lesson, click the link below:

Just like with our ASC lessons, we've also started uploading our Monthly Zoom Presentations onto YouTube. Check out our very first Zoom Presentation, featuring Dr. Wallis Tinnie and Mr. Victor Norfus below:

​​​​​Is it time to renew your membership? Our website makes it easy. Just click the button below to become a new member or to renew your membership. Or you can send us your check or money order by mail, if you prefer. Your membership is very important to us. There truly is strength in numbers. Become a member of the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association today. Thank you.

Hello! Happy New Year! And Happy Black History Month! We hope your 2024 has gotten off to a happy, healthy, and prosperous start! We are looking forward to a year that is filled with a lot of important events. Keep reading to find out what we have been up to and what we are looking forward to.

On Saturday, December 9, 2023, several of SISCA's officers and board members and their loved ones gathered at the Carver School for a holiday dinner. We have traditionally gathered during the holidays for several years. During COVID, we weren't able to get together for the past few years. 

Along with amazing food, one of our other traditions is something we adopted from the late Mary Griner Nofi and her husband Dr. Al Nofi. Each year, they would invite friends and family to their home to help decorate their Christmas tree. Each person puts, at least, one ornament on the tree. We did the same thing during our holiday gathering, thinking about Ms. Mary all the while.

Florida Black Historical Research Project Inc.’s
186th Seminole Maroon Family Reunion – January 13-14, 2024
By Windy Goodloe, secretary, Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association
 
(This article appears in the January 2024 editon of Indian Voices.)

At the end of last year’s Seminole Maroon Family Reunion, we (Corina Torralba, treasurer of SISCA and I) began making plans to attend this year’s event. Why? Because the space that the Tinnies of Florida Black Historical Research Project Inc. (FBHRP) have fostered is one of warmth, inclusivity, openness, and love. It is familial and familiar. This truly has become a family reunion that I look forward to attending each year.

This year, the focus was on those who stayed in Florida, such as Sam Jones (Abiaka) and Cha-Chi, and the Saltwater Underground Railroad (aka the Bahamas). On Saturday, January 13 at 10:00 AM, we gathered at Sunset Park, located in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the Cha-Chi’s Village Memorial Ceremony, which included a plaque dedication. The event, which was moderated by Professor Michelle T. Riley, included an invocation by Reverend Gerald Kisner. After the invocation, short speeches were given by the Honorable Cathleen Ward, who is the commissioner for the City of West Palm Beach, District 1, Mrs. Annie Ruth Harrison, with the African American Research Library and Cultural Center of Palm Beach County, Brother Victor D. Norfus with the Heart of Boynton Unity Project, and Professor Derek Hankerson.

Dr. Wallis H. Tinnie, president of FBHRP, gave the occasion. She spoke beautifully and passionately about the all the work that had gone into preparing for the day and how the ancestors had helped and approved every step of the process. Dr. Anthony Dixon gave a brief history about the Florida Maroon Community that inhabited the area. Mr. Dinizulu Gene Tinnie, who designed the plaque, spoke eloquently about his work.
The plaque reads: “Seminole Maroon Remembrance Site: Indigenous Land Acknowledgment: Cha-Chi’s Village: A prominent Seminole settlement, with a probable connection to Cha-Chi’s Landing, a historical site once identified in what is now Downtown West Palm Beach, was located in this general area before and during the Second Seminole War, 1835-1842. The site, with its wealth of verdant and thriving crop fields, was destroyed by U.S. military forces in 1841, following the capture of Cha-Chi and his wife Polly, among other captures, deaths, and forced deportation on the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma Territory under the Indian Removal Act of 1830.”

It goes on to say: “This memorial is placed by the City of West Palm Beach in cooperation with Florida Black Historical Research Project Inc. and the African American Research Library and Cultural Center of P.B. County. It was made possible by grants from ArtLife WPB, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.”

Brian Forbing and his Capital Battery Line closed out the program with their rhythmic cadences and impressive showmanship.

After the plaque dedication, we toured Boynton Beach and stopped at special sites along the way, including Brother Victor Norfus’s 92-year-old mom’s house. We ended the day with a panel discussion about the Saltwater Underground Railroad, featuring Professor Stefan Moss, Dr. Grace Turner, and Dr. Anthony Dixon. They discussed Google maps exploration of the Saltwater Underground Railroad, Angola, and Andros, respectively. The Boynton Bahamian Dancers entertained the crowd with their lively dance moves and even got everyone up on their feet a few times.

On Sunday, January 14 at 10:00 AM, we gathered at the Loxahatchee Battlefield Park for the 186th Anniversary of the Annual Seminole Maroon Spiritual Remembrance of the Two Battles of the Loxahatchee River. This event, in my humble opinion, is deeply healing and cathartic. We gathered in front of Isa’s Tree, which was dedicated on May 20, 2023, on Florida’s Emancipation Day. Dr. Wallis Tinnie and Mr. Dinizulu Gene Tinnie welcomed everyone. Afterward, a group of Buffalo Soldier reenactors, dressed in period uniforms, performed “Taps” and presented the colors.

The guest speaker was Professor Magdalena LaMarre. Her presentation was entitled “Sourcing Florida’s Maroon Communities.” Even though her speech was brief, she gave a thorough history of the Black Seminoles and even mentioned Brackettville and El Nacimiento. After her speech, a panel featuring Prof. Stefan Moss, Mr. Thomas Mitchell, Dr. Grace Turner, and Prof. Derek Hankerson discussed the Seminole Maroons of the Saltwater Underground Railroad. The panel was moderated by Dr. Anthony Dixon. And just like the day before, the program concluded with Brian Forbing’s excellent Capital Battery Line.

This year’s event also acknowledged the passing of two luminaries — Dr. Rosalyn Howard and Richard Procyk. Dr. Howard’s research on the Black Seminoles of the Bahamas is seminal. She is deeply missed. Richard Procyk was a champion of the Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park. Several of his dear friends spoke lovingly about him. Like Dr. Howard, his loss is immeasurable.
​
On a personal note, I had the pleasure of meeting the most extraordinary seven-year-old. As she and her mom and a few of her friends were walking toward where the event was taking place, I saw that she was carrying a small bouquet of freshly picked flowers. I asked her what she was going to do with the flowers, and she said that she wanted to place them at Isa’s tree. She asked me to accompany her, and I happily obliged. Before she placed the flowers at the base of the tree, she said a prayer, and the words she spoke left me in awe. She understood why we had gathered there, and she wanted to do her part to bring peace, love, and unity. In her tiny hands, our future is safe. I can’t wait to return next year to see her and everyone else who I have come to consider family. 

From Lt. Col. (retired) Richard Best (dated January 21, 2024):
"A promise made nearly 20 years ago from childhood into adulthood was kept by me, Lieutenenat Colonel (retired) Richard Best and his wife. As a young adult who entered military service in the US Army in 1990, I kept my promise to never forget my roots. So recently this last year, I set out on a personal misson or project to support the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association of Brackettville, TX, with park material to hlep make it rather more modern in the year 2024. On behalf of myself (LTC) (retired) Richard Best/Mrs. Pamela Best and family, we donated on January 20, 204, ten (10) ready custom-made picnic tables to the (SISCA) Association of Brackettville, TX. It was a personal promise which was kept to the association members, IN REMEMBRANCE OF CPL ISAAC PAYNE, USS ARMY, TRUMPETER, METAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT 1875. I hope this small gesture encourages other Semiole descendants to support/help with funds to keep our great heritage alive going forward into the future."

Dear Lt. Col. Best, thank you so much for your generosity. A lot of time and work went into crafting these beatiful tables. They will be a source of pride for many, many years to come.

Following the completion of the renovation of the fence at the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery, we reached out to members and friends to help pay for the debt that occurred as a result. For those who wish to donate $100, their name or the name of their family or a loved will be placed on a plaque that memorializes their support.

This has been an ongoing project that we hope to complete soon. The deadline to pay the $100 and have your name added to the plaque is March 2, 2024. If you have any questions, please contact us. 

​If you'd like to donate, please click the link below.

We look forward to Fort Clark Days every year. This is Brackett/Fort Clark's largest event. It brings together living historians from all over Texas and beyond, and it is a chance to step back and time and hear the stories and (sometimes) actually feel the artifacts that were used a century (if not longer) ago.

For more information, click the button below:

​​​​Is it time to renew your membership? Our website makes it easy. Just click the button below to become a new member or to renew your membership. Or you can send us your check or money order by mail, if you prefer. Your membership is very important to us. There truly is strength in numbers. Become a member of the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association today. Thank you.

Thank you to everyone who supports SISCA.
​None of this would be possible without your support.

Welcome!
First, we would like to thank everyone who helped with Seminole Days 2023. Ths year was incredibly special. and it wouldn't have happened without the help of several volunteers who are dedicated to making sure that everything we do is successful.

Following Seminole Days, we felt it was important to continue to connect with everyone. One of the ways that we can do this is virtually, so the idea of having a monthly lecture series was presented. This is a way to continue to discuss matters that pertain to Black Seminoles, whether it is through history or current events, on a more regular basis. We hope that we can forge a stronger connection through these events.
​ 

Dr. Wallis Hamm Tinnie, granddaughter of the late Seminole Florence Ealer Jones Hamm, is a native of West Palm Beach, Florida.  Dr. Tinnie’s grandmother Florence left her native home in the village of Mikasuki on the edge of Tallahassee, Florida, to go to Tampa, Florida; later, she married James Hamm and went to West Palm Beach with her husband in the second decade of the Twentieth Century. Their union included seven children, one of whom was Dr. Tinnie’s father. 

Dr. Tinnie has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida A and M University, a Master of Arts from the University of Florida, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Iowa.  Dr. Tinnie serves as  President of Florida Black Historical Research Project, Inc., a Florida non-profit organization founded by her late cousin, Isa Hamm Bryant, a Seminole Maroon descendant who was one of the driving forces behind the reclamation of Loxahatchee River Park as a Battlefield site in Jupiter, Florida..

Dr. Tinnie is a retired College Professor and former Protocol Officer of the City of Miami.  As a long-time cultural programmer, she was one of the chief organizers of Miami’s Annual Pan African Bookfest and Cultural Conference spearheaded by the African American Caribbean Cultural Arts Commission which she co-founded.

As president of Florida Black Historical Research Project, Inc., Dr. Tinnie has worked diligently, with the help of family members and others, for the last 15 years to continue the work of honoring the sacred site of her ancestors, work begun by her cousin, Seminole Maroon descendant, Isa Hamm Bryant.

Cha Chi’s Village:
Revisiting the Historiography of the Seminole Wars
 
In the case of the Seminole Wars, a wealth of emerging information that might have been previously hidden, forgotten, denied, ignored, misrepresented or misunderstood not only adds to our knowledge, but, even more importantly affects how we interpret what we learn.  What we think we know is based on our cultural presumptions about what is important and why. This presentation questions many of the accepted modes for interpreting and presenting Seminole Wars history, suggesting re-presenting this history through the perspectives, purposes, and priorities of history in the Seminole maroon experience.

​​​Is it time to renew your membership? Our website makes it easy. Just click the button below to become a new member or to renew your membership. Or you can send us your check or money order by mail, if you prefer. Your membership is very important to us. There truly is strength in numbers. Become a member of the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association today. Thank you.

Thank you so much for continuing to support us! 

Seminole Days 2023 begins tomorrow. We are looking forward to seeing everyone. This year, as does every year, promises to be full of excitement. Click the link below to view the full scope of all the events we have planned for this year's celebration. 

Join us! This Saturday for our annual Juneteenth celebration!
We will have a follow-up newsletter detailing the event.
If you have any questions, please contact us.

Hello, everyone! Here we are, on the last day of February at the eleventh hour, sending out our monthly newsletter. We just wanted to give a quick rundown of our upcoming events. 

Fort Clark Days will be taking place on March 3 & 4 (Friday and Saturday). This annual event is one of the most popular events that take place in Brackettville/Fort Clark.

SISCA will be located in two places. Members of our organization will be in the living historian section, educating visitors about our history. We will also be serving as food vendors. We will be selling brisket sandwiches.

Here's more information about Fort Clark Days

​From the official website:
 
For more than 40 years, Fort Clark Days has taken place at Fort Clark Springs in Brackettville, Texas. More than 100 living historians demonstrate skills from the past and educate our visitors about the history of southwest Texas. In addition to our living historians, we have arts & crafts and food vendors.  

Our 2023 celebration will be a living history (educational) event on Friday, school day.  Food vendors will be on site for lunch and dinner.  On Saturday, March 4 (open to the  public day), we will also have arts and crafts vendors. We are expecting more than 100 living historians in 2023.

Join us for a Street Dance Friday night in front of the Commissary from 7:00-10:00 PM. Arts & Craft Vendors will be open during the Street Dance. 

Fort Clark Days is sponsored by Fort Clark Springs Community Council, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and Fort Clark Springs Association.   

Our annual multi-day event helps us fulfill three of the six purposes of Fort Clark Springs Community Council (FCSCC):

• To assist in the education of the youth and general public in the history of Southwest Texas.
• To preserve, protect, and promote the Fort Clark Historic District for its citizens, the visiting public and future generations. 
• To raise money to help achieve these goals.

Students at Lytle High School created Is Living History a Dying Art? and were runners up at the Young Filmmakers State Finals on March 12, 2021. Video was shot at the 2020 Fort Clark Days event. 

Click the link below for more information:

Here are some pictures from last year's Fort Clark Days.

​​Is it time to renew your membership? Our website makes it easy. Just click the button below to become a new member or to renew your membership. Or you can send us your check or money order by mail, if you prefer. Your membership is very important to us. There truly is strength in numbers. Become a member of the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association today. Thank you

Happy New Year, everyone! We hope your 2023 has gotten off to a great start. In this newsletter, we will let you know about an event some of us just attended and some of the events we are looking forward to this year.

From January 11-15, members of  SISCA attended an incredibly special event known as the 185 Year Seminole Maroon Family Reunion. Florida Black Historical Research Project Inc. is responsbile for creating and hosting this annual event. Check out the photos below. 

On Wednesday, January 11, there was a welcome reception at a beautifully eclectic place called the Seminole Inn.

On Thurday, January 12, attendees went on a bus tour of Jupiter. Our first stop was at the Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church. Because of the danger of flooding, graves are weighted with cement overlays that weigh 5,000 pounds!

Our next stop was Riverbend Park. This was where signficant battles during the Second Seminole War took place.

Our third stop was at a reserve, where a beautiful traditional African libation ceremony was performed by Theodore Lush.

On Thurday and Friday night, several lectures and presentations took place. Each talk brought enlightenment and interest.

On Saturday and Sunday, we returned to Riverbend Park. Each day, we listened to great lecutres and were entertained by two amazing drumming groups. We also honored the legacy of Isa Hamm Bryant, who was the founder of Florida Black Historical Research Inc.
​For more information, click the link below.

Because we know how important it is to plan ahead for some of our events, we will do our best to let everyone know (as far in advance as we can) about our upcoming events. What we know for sure is that we will definitely be participating in or hosting the three events that are listed above. Mark your calendars and join us for each one!

This will be our first official cleanup for the year!

​Is it time to renew your membership? Our website makes it easy. Just click the button below to become a new member or to renew your membership. Or you can send us your check or money order by mail, if you prefer. Your membership is very important to us. There truly is strength in numbers. Become a member of the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association today. Thank you!

Thank you for your continued interest and support in
the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association.

Merry Christmas, everyone! We hope that you and yours are enjoying this holiday season. We hope that everyone is safe and warm. In this newsletter, we wanted to provide a recap of some of the past events that SISCA members have participated in and look ahead to some upcoming events that we are really excited about. Read on to find out!

On Friday, December 2, Corina Torralba Harrington (treasurer) and Windy Goodloe (secretary) traveled to Beaufort, South Carolina, to attend the Four Sierra Leone-Gullah Homecomings.

Ahead of the symposium, they attended a pre-Kwanzaa celebration at Georgia Southern University. The event was organized by Dr. Maxine Bryant. She is the Director of the Center for Africana Studies and the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Center. Lillian Grant-Baptiste spoke eloquently and beautifully about Kwanzaa.

Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day. It was created by activist Maulana Karenga, based on African harvest festival traditions from various parts of West and Southeast Africa. (Wikipedia)

Following the pre-Kwanzaa presentation, they raced to Beaufort, hoping to catch Aunt Pearlie Sue and the Gullah Kinfolk's Christmas concert. They arrived in time to catch the tail-end of the performance, but just the short bit they saw was enough to know that the songs that are being sung in Mexico have origins in South Carolina. What was even more amazing was that Amadu Massally, the creator and host of the Sierra Leone-Gullah Geechee event, was called up to the stage by Aunt Pearlie Sue. He was recognized for all the work that he has done bringing the two groups togther.

Aunt Pearlie Sue is the creation of Anita Singleton-Prather, a native of the Sea Islands of Beaufort, South Carolina. Based on her grandmother, Aunt Pearlie Sue's character has entertained audiences with Gullah-flavored folktales for over 20 years from the schoolhouse to the White House.
In addition to being a renowned master storyteller, Prather is an educator, historian, business woman, writer, singer, actress, and director/producer.  She is the founder and artistic director of the musical performance group the Gullah Kinfolk. As a storyteller and singer, Prather has performed at many festivals, the Beaufort Gullah Festival, Penn Heritage Days Festival, Woodlands Festival, Spoleto USA  International Arts Festival in Charleston, SC and San Francisco Festival of the Sea, just to name a few. (from https://www.gullahkinfolktravelingtheater.org/aunt-pearlie-sue)

On Saturday, December 3, ahead of the symposium, there was an event that took place called Gullah Taste of Christmas. It featured numerous vendors and performances by the Gullah Kinfolk Traveling Theater. The highlight of the event (without question) was the rice cook-off.

The Four Sierra Leone-Gullah Homecomings was an event organized by Fambul Tik, which means "family tree" in the local Sierra Leonian Creole. The event, which was held at The Technical College of the Low Country brought together four groups that had traveled to Sierra Leone. The trips took place in 1989, 1997, 2005, and 2019. Members from each of the four groups told those in attendance about the experience of traveling to Sierra Leone, which is, for many, the area from which their ancestors were stolen into slavery.

The audience learned about a song that was sung in South Carolina that linguist Dr. Lorenzo Dow Turner discovered was a Mende song, originally from Sierra Leone. 
 
They also heard the story of Priscilla, who was taken into slavery in 1750, at just ten years old. Her seven-times granddaughter was able to return to Sierra Leone in 2005. 

Renowned linguist Joseph Opala gave a brief history about the Black Seminoles. After his speech, Corina and Windy spoke about the Gullah-Black Seminole connection and what life was like in Texas and Mexico.

Below are a few pictures from the event: 
1. The beautiful HUGE Christams tree that was the centerpiece of the Taste of Gullah event.
2. Windy Goodloe, Amadu Massally, Corina Torralba Harrington, and LeeJay Krueger
3. Gabriel Greaves (Black Seminole and scholar) and Corina Torralba
4. Amadu Massally and Corina Torralba Harrington
5. Windy Goodloe, Amadu Massally, and Corina Torralba Harrington
​6. The Sierra Leonian flag

Florida Historical Black Research Inc,, one of our sister organizations received a grant that will enable them to present their annual spiritual remembrance/family reunion for five days in January. Make plans to attend this important event. Click the link below for more information.

SISCA will be participating in Fort Clark Days as both living historians and vendors. We are certainly looking forward to it. For more information, click the link below.

​Is it time to renew your membership? Our website makes it easy. Just click the button below to become a new member or to renew your membership. Or you can send us your check or money order by mail, if you prefer. Your membership is very important to us. There truly is strength in numbers. Become a member of the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association today. Thank you!

Thank you for your support throughout the year. May the new year bring continue health, love, and properity.

Seminole Days 2022 was amazing! This Seminole Days, the first we've been able to celebrate in-person since 2019, was one of the most well-attended celebrations. We appreciated everyone who took the time to travel to Brackettville to help us celebrate and honor the legacy of the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts. Enjoy a few of the photos that were taken during the event.

We were honored to have Johnny Montgomery attend Seminole Days. He brought several of his paintings along with him. They were displayed in the Carver School throughout the weekend. He calls his work "cultural art." Many of his paintings depict Black Seminoles  and important events from our history. 

Members of the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association will be participating in the 4th Annual Texas Veterans Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. The event will take place in Denton, Texas. The four Medal of Honor recipients buried at the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery will be honored. They are Adam Payne, Isaac Payne, John Ward, and Pompey Factor. Clarion Windus, the fifth Medal of Honor recipient who is buried at the Masonic cemetery in Brackettville, will also be honored. 
​For more information, click the button below.

Another important event will be taking place in December. The Four Sierra Leone - Gullah Homecomings will take place on Saturday, December 3, beginning at 2PM EST at the Auditorium of the Technical College of the Low Country (104 Reynolds Street, Beaufort, SC 29902).
For more information and to purchase tickets, click the button below: 

One of our sister organizations received a grant that will enable them to present their annual spiritual rememberance/family reunion for five days in January. Make plans to attend this important event.

FLORIDA BLACK HISTORICAL RESEARCH PROJECT, INC. RECEIVES NATIONAL GRANT FUNDINGFlorida Black Historical Research Project, Inc. (FBHRP) has received $50,000 from Telling the Full History Preservation Fund—a grant program from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, made possible through the National Endowment for the Humanities under the American Rescue Plan.
The funding enables the planning and presentation of a five-day “185-Year Seminole Maroon Family Reunion,” on January 11-15, 2023, a physical and virtual gathering in Jupiter Florida (in present-day Palm Beach County), site of the two pivotal 1838 Battles of the Loxahatchee River during the Second Seminole War, which significantly altered the course of full American history.
The event also marks the 25th anniversary of the groundbreaking “160-Year Family Reunion” held in 1998, which brought Oklahoma Seminole Maroon (“Black Seminole” or “Estelusti”) descendants (of Trail of Tears survivors) to their Ancestral homeland of Florida for the first time, garnering remarkably broad local interest and support, and establishing permanent networks and exchanges which continue today, with January’s event expanding to include Maroon descendant communities in Mexico, Texas, and the Bahamas as well as Oklahoma and Florida itself.
FBHRP is one of 80 organizations that received $25,000 or $50,000 grants to interpret and preserve historic places of importance  that embody the history of underrepresented communities in our nation.
Telling the Full History grants support the core activities of humanities-based organizations as these organizations recover from the pandemic, using historic places as catalysts for a more just and equitable society. To learn more about this program, visit Forum.SavingPlaces.org/tellingthefullhistoryfund.

We want to say "thank you" to everyone who has supported SISCA, especially in recent months, as we prepared for Seminole Days and during Seminole Days. We truly cannot thank you enough.

This year will be the first time we've celebrated in-persion since 2019. In 2020, we had a drive-through BBQ plate sale. In 2021, we focused on outdoor activities across the three-day celebration, so we went out to Seminole Canyon, had our parade and BBQ plate sale, and our cemetery service on Sunday.

For this year's full itinerary, please take a look at the flyer below:

We've created a special section on our website that is dedicated to Seminole Days. Each event has its own page. If you have any particular event that you are curious about or would like more information about, this is the place to go.

For the past ten years (except for 2020 because of COVID-19), we have started off our annual three-day celebration with a trip to Seminole Canyon. This year marks a decade that we have been doing this. This trip is open to everyone. We will meet at the Carver School at 6:30 AM and will leave at 7:00 AM. We should arrive in Comstock (where Seminole Canyon is located) at about 8:30 AM.

Please note: According to our guide Tanya, because of the rain, we will have to take a different route to the Watering Hole. Be prepared to walk/hike a little bit longer. We will provide more information before Friday morning. 

For more information, click the button below:

Since Juneteenth 2021, we have been having monthly classes in an effort to revitalize our language, which is called Afro-Seminole Creole. During Seminole Days, we will have two lessons. One will be on Friday at 5PM and the second will be on Saturday at the same time. The classes will be taught by reknowned linguist Dr. Ian Hancock. We will be providing updated dictionaries and handouts for participants who are in attendance.

This year our guest speakers are Mr. Tom Ashmore and Mr. C.A. Maedgen III. The title of their presentation is Camp Meyers Spring and the Seminole Negro Indian Scout Encampment. Mr. Ashmore and Mr. Maedgen's presentation will begin at 6PM on Friday.
Tom Ashmore spent 22 years in the Air Force as a special intelligence analyst.  After retiring active duty he taught intelligence skills for another 20 years for the Air Force Intelligence School at Goodfellow AFB, Texas.  He headed up avocational archeological investigations for the Concho Valley and Iraan Archeological Societies and worked closely with the Texas Archeological Society over the last 15 years.  He completed a book in 2019 on his Butterfield Trail investigations, ‘The Butterfield Trail Through The Concho Valley And West Texas.’  He is currently a member of the West Texas Archeological Society and board member of the Southwest Federation of Archeological Societies.
​C.A. Maedgen, III is a military veteran having served in Viet Nam at Da Nang in the U.S. Air Force in 1970. Prior to military service C.A. graduated from SMU with a degree in Geology and MFA in Communications. After military service C.A. worked in Houston as a licensed Real Estate Broker for 10 years and in the last 30 years C.A. worked for a national chemical manufacturer. C.A. has many hours of avocational archeology at Forts Chadbourne and Concho historic sites, Butterfield Trail station sites, Horse Head Crossing, Lower Pecos Rock Art and archeology sites.  He served for over 10 years as the Region 10 Director of the Texas Archeology Society, 4 years as president of the Concho Valley Archeology Society, and past board member of the Southwest Federation of Archeology Societies.  He is currently an active member of the West Texas Archeology Society and Texas Archeological Society.

The Fort Clark Historical Society (FCHS) has worked closely with SISCA over the few years (nearly a decade) to honor the Scouts who called Fort Clark home during their service. Several markers have been erected thanks to the FCHS's dedication to keeping the Scouts' legacy alive.

This year, we will be having breakfast with the FCHS. They will be providing early birds with a variety of breakfast tacos and other goodies. The breakfast starts at 8:00 AM. It will be held at the Palisado Building on Fort Clark.  

We are so happy and proud to announce that our parade marshal for Seminole Days 2022 is Mr. Joe Louis Factor.
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He is one of our board members. He is the main caretaker of the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemtery. He is a descendant of Pompey Factor.

Andwho doesn't love a parade?!
We are looking forward to our annual parade this year, as we do every year. 
​Would you like to be in the parade? If so, click the link below to access our parade entry form.

​Johnny Montgomery has been painting for most of his life. He has been painting the Gullahs, Seminoles, and Black Seminoles for more than 50 years. He calls his work "cultural art." He is, also, a student of the history of his subjects, having studied for as long as he's been painting them. 

His most recent exhibit was at the Seminole Nation Museum in Wewoka, Oklahoma.

Mr. Montgomery is a Vietnam veteran. He was was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. He lives in Charleston, South Carolina.

Lovie is a Nigerian/Seminole/British/Ashkenazi-Jewish filmmaker, who raised an Army brat. He played professional basketball overseas. He developed a unique flavor for storytelling. Lovie first directed music videos, socially conscious/hip reality shows, and helped develop PSAs for non-profit programs for the homeless youth in the Southeast.

Lovie's experience as an actor in the stage productions Amistad and For Black Boys along with films such as "Fright Night", "Debt to Society", "UTU", and "The Sounds of War..." contribute to his ability to bring the character to life.

Lovie is producing the feature films "Supernal Darkness", a psychological action/thriller, and "Sidewalk Baby" an urban/hip hop bi-opic. Current projects in active development are a paranormal/sci-fi action-thriller called "The Blackest Yellow...", a black western called "The SINS".

Next on the film slate is a paranormal/action short called "Your 24..." which is Produced, Written, & Directed by Lovie. He will also be co-starring in Greg Hatanaka's upcoming horror/thriller "Amityville Cop" (October 2021) and Benny Tjandra's newest action-epic "Prey Of Wrath" which is due out in 2022.

Lovie is committed to create social awareness and positive change through film and television around the areas of child abuse awareness and child sex trafficking plus social-change topics.

Lovie's training and life experience combine to provide him a unique lens through which he views life. It is this lens which he applies to the discipline of storytelling as a Filmmaker/Actor/Writer/Director...
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if you have a loved who has passed away within the past three years (2019 - 2022), please let us know so that we can honor them during our ceremony.

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We want to take a to say "thank you" to everyone who has helped us prepare for Seminole Days. We simply could not have planned for this event without your help. This year is the first year we have been able to gather fully and in-person since 2019. We do not take this for granted at all. One million thank yous!

Happy New Year, everyone! We are so excited about 2020! It is a big year for us, and we can't wait to tell you all about what we are planning. This year commemorates 150 years since the founding of the Seminole-Negro Indian Scouts. We are planning to do a lot this year. Keep reading to find out.

In this newsletter, along with letting you know about our plans, we also want to let you know what has happened since our last newsletter. We will begin with a Seminole Days recap. From there, we will let you know about a special plaque that was given to a special person. You'll also read about and see several pictures from our Thanksgiving get-together and the 151st celebration of Cactus Jack's birthday at the Briscoe-Garner Museum in Uvalde, Texas. In late November, two beautiful souls passed away. In December, they were buried at the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery. You'll learn about them and see a touching photo that was taken following their burials. Also in December, a beautiful celebration of song took place in Nacimiento. Finally, we will discuss ways that you can become more involved with SISCA. Are you interested in sharing family photos? Are you interested in learning Afro-Seminole Creole? Would you like to share information about a Seminole-Negro Indian Scout? If so, find out how you can contribute and learn.

Seminole Days took place between Friday, September 20 and Sunday, September 22, 2019. Our annual celebration was packed with several events that were both fun and educational. 

On Friday morning, Seminole Days kicked off with our annual trip to Seminole Canyon. Each year, this trip becomes more sacred as hikers are taken on a tour that retraces the steps our Seminole Negro Indian Scouts ancestors trekked. That Friday evening, Dr. Anthony Dixon, author of Florida's Negro War, enlightened the audience about the wars fought by the Black Seminoles in Florida. His lecture was riveting and powerful. 

On Saturday, the majority of our Seminole Days events took place. Saturday morning, a group gathered in a beautifully shaded area in Fort Clark for the Robert "Bobby" Kibbetts' marker dedication. Following the dedication, our annual parade took place. Mr. Frank Arredondo was our parade marshal. After the parade, we gathered at the Carver School grounds. Dr. Rosalyn Howard, author of Black Seminoles in the Bahamas, spoke during our annual program. This was her second time speaking during Seminole Days. Her lectures are always beautifully insightful and personal. Later that afternoon, the elders' circle took place. Linguist Dr. Ian Hancock began the presentation with a short speech. This year, we began having an annual meeting. During the meeting, Mr. Warrior encouraged other members to donate, at least, $5 a month (more about this at the bottom of the newsletter). That evening, we enjoyed our annual pasta dinner, which was prepared by Dr. Al Nofi, and our annual dance. 

On Sunday, we gathered at the cemetery for our annual ceremony. Following the ceremony, we gathered back at the Carver School and had a pot luck before saying our goodbyes.

We wanted to show our appreciation for Joe Louis Factor, one of our board members. He has taken on the care and maintenance of the cemetery, often going out there every day to clean and observe its condition.

The Miss Charles Award was presented to Mr. Joe Louis on September 26. This award is for those who embody the dedication and generosity that Miss Charles was known for. We truly appreciate Mr. Joe Louis's attention and dedication to SISCA and the cemetery.

​The plaque reads: Thank you for giving your time, talent, and expertise to SISCA. You have made a difference through your dedication and hard work.

​(Photos courtesy Corina Torralba Harrington)
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On November 19, several members gathered to enjoy an early Thanksgiving meal. We dined surrounded by Christmas decorations as festive music played softly in the background. 
​(Photos courtesy Corina Torralba Harrington)

On November 23, several SISCA members traveled to Uvalde, Texas, to celebrate the 151st birthday of John Nance Garner, also known as Cactus Jack. He was the 32nd vice president, serving alongside Franklin D. Roosevelt. 

SISCA's table displayed several photos and pieces of memorabilia that detailed the history of the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts and their descendants. Our table was set up beside Allen Mack, who is our favorite Living Historian/Buffalo Soldier reenactor. 
​
(Photos courtesy Corina Torralba Harrington)
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Rose Mary Haywood Scott was born on March 3, 1926 in Del Rio, Texas. She passed away on November 24, 2019 in San Angelo, Texas. She was buried at the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery on December 7, 2019. Memorial services were also held in San Angelo, Texas and Los Angeles, California.

A Celebration of the life of Paul Glenn Ward
Sunrise May 4, 1949 ~ Sunset November 27, 2019
Viewing 4-7PM Friday, December 6, 2019 Sunset Memorial Oaks Funeral Home
2020 N Bedell Ave, Del Rio, TX 78840 (830) 778-2020
Funeral Services 11AM Saturday, December 7, 2019 at Brackettville Sunset Funeral Home
302 Spring Street Brackettville, Texas 78832
Internment at the
Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery
With presentation of USA Military Honors
Repast immediately following at The Seminole Indian Scout School and School Grounds

Obituary of Paul Glenn Ward

On May 4, 1949, in Del Rio, TX Paul Glen Ward was born to the proud parents of Willie and Mary Ward. Paul’s sister was born two years later. The family moved to Brackettville where they stayed until Paul’s father completed his sixth year of military service. Now residing in Ozona, TX, Paul started first grade and was baptized in 1955 at Saint Mary Magdalene Catholic Church. His Godparents were John Joe Nunley and Hazel Washington. Under recommendation from Uncle Pete Pierce and Auntie Annie Mae Pierce, Paul’s Father relocated the family to Los Angeles, California.

Paul attended Saint Odilia’s Catholic School, made his first holy communion and later the sacrament of confirmation. Although Willie Ward bought a home for his family in San Dimas, California, Paul and his sister spent summers between two sets of Grandparents in Ozona and Del Rio, Texas. Paul enjoyed spending time with his Grandpa Billie Ward, foreman of the Ralph Jones Ranch, riding horses and roping, branding, feeding, cleaning, and handling cattle. Papa Billy believed that hard work would help young Paul prepare for manhood. For three to four weeks, leaving at five a.m. on Monday morning for the ranch, they did not return to home until mid-day on Saturday. Paul learned to swim in the community pool. Going to the double-feature movies and having fun with the kids in the neighborhood were favorite pastimes. As he attended Damien High School, Paul became an outstanding athlete, receiving, for three years, the most valuable player award in track and varsity football. He also excelled in science.

At seventeen years of age, Paul joined the United States Army doing basic training at “Fort Ord” in Northern California. He traveled to and lived in several countries during his years in the military and completed three tours of duty in Vietnam between 1966 and 1976. In the field of battle, Paul relayed phone messages with orders to drop Napalm, Agent Orange and bombs. His special duties included going through underground tunnels to dismantle Vietcong strongholds; and to locate and destroy stockpiles of weapons or supplies. He was wounded in battle and spent time in Germany healing. In addition to an honorable discharge, Paul received the following Army decorations: National Defense Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Vietnam Campaign Medal w/60 Dev: Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/palm; Expert Badge (M-14 Rifle); Marksman Badge (16 Rifle). When the war was over, like many veterans, Paul had a very difficult time adjusting while lamenting the thousands who died.

Paul met his smart and beautiful wife Specialist 4 Paula Jones (General Westmoreland’s secretary) in General Westmoreland’s Office. He had come to Fort Eustis, a US Army installation in Newport News, Virginia, to receive an award for being wounded in Vietnam. It must have been love at first sight. Paul and Paula were later married, and their first son Kenneth Eugene Ward was born Sept. 29, 1976. Their second son, Erin Antonio Ward was born Oct. 2, 1978 in Trenton New, Jersey.

Best memories Paul shared: reuniting in San Dimas for a wonderful vacation with his 10 and 12 year old sons; Celebrating his Paul’s 65th birthday with his best friend Dora Factor, her daughter and many more - hosted by his cousin Billy Joe and his loving wife Marian; Paul’s first visit to Alamo Village with his sister- they had a great time before the movie set was closed for good; Paul’s enjoyed working, cooking and eating at the Sirloin Stockade Restaurant;. and the best memory will always coming together on Seminole Indian Scouts Celebration Days the third weekend in September in Bracketville, Texas.

Paul was blessed with 70 years, he departed Nov. 27, 2019, the day before Thanksgiving. Preceding Paul in death were his wife Paula Ward; his parents, Mary and Willie Ward; his Grandparents: [Nancy Wilson-Williams, Clifton Williams, John Wilson, Gertrude and Billie Ward}; his friend & companion Dora Factor; cousins, Billy Joe Pierce, Debbie Pierce, Dorothy Nell Best and Alford Best; Aunt Hazel Washington and Uncle Earl Wilson.
Paul leaves to cherish his memory, his two sons: Kenneth Ward (Farada), Erin Antonio Ward (Kimberli); Billie Jean Frierson (sister), David Frierson (brother-in-law),Pete Pierce (uncle), Juanita Montague (aunt); grandchildren: Farah Lee Ward, Soraya Ward, Michael Ward, and Katherine Ward; nephews and nieces: Rashad Frierson, Spencer Chenier and Gregory Chenier, Chante Frierson, Sheri Frierson Chenier, Cassandra Frierson, Sadie Frierson, and Saia Frierson; cousins: Marian Pierce, Ethyl Warrior, Rodessa Jones, Cynthia Shaw, Linda Wytch, Louise Thompson, Terry Shaw and Extended families:: Keshia Factor, Warrior’s, Wilson’s, Gill’s, Taylor’s, Washington’s, Montague’s, Payne’s, Hall’s, Grayson’s, July’s, William’s, Bowleg’s, Hatley’s, Daniels, Perryman’s, Roach’s, Wytch’s, Blank’s, Young’s, Benson’s and of course the Ward’s.

Active Pallbearers
Clint Williams, James Bass, Earnest Benson,
Herbert Blanks, Clyde Adams, Bernie Sanders,
Honorary Pallbearers
Kenneth Ward, David Frierson, Pete Pierce, William Warrior, Brother Jackson,
Rashad Frierson, Russel Coleman, Patrick Montague, Erin Antonio Ward,
Michael Ward, David Montague, John Wytch, Denise Benson, Terry Shaw,
Tommie Wytch, Joe Wytch, Michael Montague, Luther and Clarence Ward

Acknowledgement
The Ward and Frierson Families express our sincere thanks for your many sincere expressions of love through our time of bereavement.
Your cards, flowers, visits and above all your prayers have been of great comfort. It’s during a time like this that we realize how much our family and friends mean to us.
Your kindness will be acknowledged by mail please complete the envelope.

Miss Me–But Let Me Go by Christina Rossetti

When I come to the end of the road And the sun has set for me
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room. Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little–but not too long And not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love that we once shared, Miss me–but let me go.
For this is a journey that we all must take And each must go alone.
It's all a part of the Master's plan, A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick of heart Go to the friends we know
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds. Miss Me–But Let me Go!

​Internment at the
Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery
With presentation of USA Military Honors
Repast immediately following at The Seminole Indian Scout School and School Grounds

Following the burials of Mrs. Scott and Mr. Ward, their families gathered at the Carver School for the repast.
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On December 26, our treasurer, Corina Torralba Harrington, and two of our board members, Jerry Fay and Dina Rodriguez, attended an event called Cantando la Historia in Nacimiento. This very special event showcased the songs of the Negros Mascogos. Many of them were Negro Spirituals which were sung in English, even though Spanish is the only language many of the Negros Mascogos speak. Their teacher Jordy Barrera is responsible for organizing this event. He has been working very hard to teach the songs to the children and make sure they understand the meanings of the songs. Two highlights were "(It's a) Very Happy New Year" and "This Little Light of Mine."

SISCA will be selling the program from this event. More details will follow shortly.
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​(Photos courtesy Corina Torralba Harrington)

(FYI: There is some great video of the children singing. Unfortunately, I was having a hard time uploading the videos onto the site. Please check out our Facebook to see the videos.)
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We love that you all have liked and followed our Facebook and Twitter pages, but sometimes, it feels like we're having a very one-sided conversation. 

We are looking for ways to change that. One idea is to open our feed up to you, so we can show the beauty and diversity of the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts descendants and the greater Black Seminoles/Negroes Mascogos community.

Does this sound like a great idea? Would you like to participate?

If so, all you hae to do is upload a picture to our Facebook messenger or any of our other socail media accounts (Instagram and Twitter), or you can email us at seminolecemeteryassoc@gmail.com

The photo(s) belongs to you and will only be uploaded with your permission. If they aren't watermarked or copyrighted, we will add that for you.

What kind of photos are we looking for?

Any and everything that shows you and your loved ones living and enjoyoing life. They canbe in color or in black and white. They can be from 100 years ago or from yesterday. We just want to see you and your loved ones/ We hope this will include parties/dances, marriages, (embarrassing) school photos, graduations, and lots and lots of candid shots.

Along with the photo, we'd like you to share a little bit of information about it, like who's in it, when it was taken, and/if there is an interesting story that goes along with it.

Our goal is to upload, at least, one photo a day. We are so excited and can't wait to see what you guys send in.

​Please let us know if you have any questions. Thank you!

 

Afro-Seminole Creole is the language spoken by Black Seminoles and their descendants. Unfortunately, for many reasons, it was not passed down to subsequent generations and is in danger of being completely forgotten as more of our elders pass away. 

We want to change that.

This year, we want to focus on revitalizing our language. We are still working on ways to learn it, but we want to start by introducing an Afro-Seminole Creole Word of the Day. Thanks to the work of renowned linguist Dr. Ian Hancock, we have a dictionary that we can work from. The dictionary will be available for sale shortly. Check out the website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter each day to learn a new word.
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 This year, 2020, is the 150th year of the founding of the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts. The first group of Seminole Negro Indian Scouts crossed the border into Texas on July 4, 1870. They were mustered into service for the U.S. Army on August 18, 1870 at Fort Duncan, in Eagle Pass, Texas. We are looking forward to spending the year celebrating this important milestone in the history of the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts.
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Our next regular meeting will take place on Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 1:00 PM. If you would like to participate via teleconference, please contact us for the call-in information.
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One of our members, Mr. Clarence Warrior, was moved during our annual meeting after learning that, many times, we pool our personal resources to meet our financial goals. Below is his suggestion for improving this situation and getting others involved:

In 2020, SISCA would like to raise $2000 to help with maintaining and improving the cemetery and school grounds. Currently, the membership dues collected are being used for this work, but more money is needed. A descendant has suggested that members be invited to donate $5 a month (or $60 for the year) to help with expenses. If 33 members can make an annual donation of $60.00 for the 2020 year, we will easily reach our goal of $2,000. Donations can be submitted through the SISCA website or by check (sent to SISCA). Thanks for helping!

Clarence Warrior
Descendant of Carolina Warrior

Twenty-nineteen was a big year for SISCA. It couldn't not have been without the  support of so many of you. We are forever in your debt, and we are dedicated to making 2020 an even bigger year.

Our next monthly meeting will take place on Saturday, June 8, at 1:00 PM at the Carver School. We are looking forward to seeing you there.

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On October 5, 2018, the votes were tallied by the Kinney County Judge's secretary Yvette Garcia. Of the 41 votes that were received before the September 28 deadline, all the votes were unanimous for SISCA's proposal, which was to return the entrance to its original design. Of the 14 votes received after the deadline, 13 voted for the original entrance as well. SISCA informed the Conoly family and Lee Young about the results via email on October 5.

 On November 12, 2018, SISCA was cc'd on a letter that David Conoly wrote to Lee Young stating that the Conoly family feels that SISCA has fulfilled our side of the agreement made on June 4 and that the community has spoken with a vote that clearly indicates that most active SISCA members are in favor of the entrance being returned to its original design.

On November 13, 2018, Lee Young responded to David Conoly's letter. In this letter, he accepts the outcome of the vote and agrees to restore the entrance to its former appearance. In addition, he states that the Absentee Seminole Tribe had discontinue its plans regarding further improvements and modifications to the cemetery. He also mentions that the article in the ASTT's constitution which stated their jurisdiction was the Carver School Grounds and the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery was removed on September 14, 2018.

Currently, the ASTT has removed the rock from the poles but has not yet reattached the gate or addressed the issue of the cement pad the rocks were on, which sticks up above ground level and is dangerous. SISCA is looking forward to the completion of the restoration so that we can begin our own plans to renovate the entrance by cleaning and painting and giving it some TLC.

December proved to be a very fun and productive month for SISCA. We had a very special meeting on December 1st.

This meeting served as our Thanksgiving/Christmas celebration. Several members arrived with special dishes they had prepared, and many were delighted by the Christmas tree and decorations that greeted them. (Special thank you to Mary and Al Nofi for decorating the school.)

And a few days later, we had the opportunity to visit with a curator from the Smithsonian and a writer who is completing her book about John Horse.
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Photo Courtesy of Sarah Nicole Johnson.

Photo courtesy of Corina Torralba Harrington.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Nicole Johnson.

Photo courtesy of Corina Torralba Harrington.

Photo courtesy of Kato Wittich.

Our annual dance was held inside the Carver School this year. The normal location was changed because of the rain. Nonetheless, as was the theme for the whole weekend, regardless of the weather, everyone had a great time.

Paulina Rocío del Moral González was born in Torreón, Coahuila, in Northeast México. She received a bachelor’s degree in Social Communication at Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco (1986) in México City. Years later, she received a Master’s Degree in Social Anthropology (2006) at Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores en Antropología Social, in Chihuahua City, with a dissertation on the mestizo pilgrimage to Señor de Mapimí Sanctuary in Cuencamé, Durango. In 2013, she wrote a thesis on ethno-meteorology and a regional ritual system in North Central México to achieve her Ph.D. in Anthropological Sciences (2013) at Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, in México City.
 
Part of her life has been dedicated to independent research, alongside editorial works, advising to non-governmental organizations, and freelancing. In the summer of 1991, she visited the Mascogo community of El Nacimiento, Coahuila for the first time and started a modest cultural fieldwork in 1992, which culminated in the publication of the book Tribus olvidadas de Coahuila (Forgotten Tribes of Coahuila, 1999), the first monography on the black Seminole of Coahuila and Texas. It was edited in México. She is also co-author of Recetario Mascogo de Coahuila (Mascogo Cookbook, 2000, reprinted 2004 and 2014).

In 2014 and 2015, with the support of Conacyt (The National Council of Science and Technology in México), she did research about body, ethnicity, and ritual in the communities of El Nacimiento and Cuarterones y Morelos, both in the Múzquiz municipality, Coahuila.

Presently, Dr. Del Moral is working as a coordinator of traditional cooking and morteros workshops as part of the Colectivo Comunitario Mascogo, an initiative sponsored by Mexico’s federal Ministry of Culture for revitalization of Mascogo’s cultural heritage.

Invited by SISCA, Dr. del Moral will offer the conference “Bride Theft among the Coahuila Mascogos” for Seminole Days, edition 2018, afternoon session at Carver School, Saturday September 15, in Brackettville, Texas.