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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
PP.
336-337
Scanned Image Archive
UNITED STATES SELECT COMMITTEE ON
INDIAN AFFAIRS
Senate Hearing 95th Congress
SECOND SESSION
ON
S. 2000
Also see:
Confirmation of U.S.
Recognition
(Retyped for clarity)
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
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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