CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
PP. 336-337
(Scanned Image Archive)
UNITED STATES SELECT COMMITTEE ON 
INDIAN AFFAIRS
Senate Hearing 95th Congress
SECOND SESSION
ON
S.  2000
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336

UNITED STATES

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS

Washington 25, D. C.

 

                                                                AIRMAIL                   JAN 27, 1958

The Executive Council
Everglades Miccosukee Tribe of Seminole Indians
c/o Mr. Morton H. Silver, Attorney-at-Law
710 Biscayne Building
19 West Flagler Street
Miami 32, Florida

Dear Sirs:

In your letter of January 6, you ask for Bureau of Indian Affairs recognition of your tribal organization.

Ordinarily formal recognition is given to Indian Tribal organizations by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of the Interior where these organizations deal with assets under the trusteeship of the Federal Government. Since your organization admittedly does not deal with such assets, and is presumably not interested as an organization in the management of such assets, the request you have made presents us with a rather unique situation.

After my recent visit to Florida, I am satisfied that your organization includes in its membership a substantial number or Seminole Indians of Florida who are not affiliated with the reservation organizations nor participating in the services now being sponsored by this Bureau. I am also aware, of course, of the recognition which was granted to your organization by the Board or Commissioners of State Institutions of Florida last July.

I am, therefore, willing and glad to recognize your organization which you call the “Everglades Miccosukee Tribe of Seminole Indians” as qualified to speak for and on behalf of those Indians who have affiliated with the organization by signing their names to the roll attached to the Constitution. More, specifically we are recognizing your organization as qualified to speak for its members on matters which are of concern to the Florida Seminoles as a whole (such as the pending claim against the United States) and in connection with the State lands where your organization may be given special jurisdiction by the State. You will, of course, understand that this recognition in no way affects the Federal recognition accorded to the majority of Seminole Indians of Florida who are now organized under Federal law and with whom we are associating in the management of the tribal trust property.

EXHIBIT 59a

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337

It was indeed a pleasure to have had the opportunity to visit with your organizational leaders and members and I trust that your organization will hold firm to the admirable intention with which it was conceived.

Sincerely yours,

Commissioner

EXHIBIT 59b
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