36th Annual Student Research Conference
Contemporary Issues Regarding the Seminole Tribe of Florida; Mascots and Gaming
Isabella R. Wirthlin
Dr. Amber Johnson and Dr. Anton Daughters, Faculty Mentors
The Seminole Tribe of Florida is an indigenous nation that has a strong cultural and economic impact on the contemporary United States and has flourished despite the inhumanity of colonization. This paper reviews two contemporary issues that face the people of the Seminole tribe: mascotting and gaming. The Florida Seminoles approve of Florida State University’s use of an indigenous mascot because of the positive affiliation the mascot holds. However, the group has been criticized for not denouncing all indigenous mascots. The Seminoles signed a gaming compact to bolster the economy of both their reservation and the state of Florida, but the constitutionality was challenged. The tribe has found a way to overcome barriers of discrimination both from the dominant white society and from other indigenous nations.
Keywords: Seminole, Florida, Mascot, indigenous, gaming
Topic(s):Sociology
Anthropology
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
Session: 2-2
Location: Student Union Building Activities Room
Time: 3:00