The Miccosukee Tribe and the Battle to Save the Everglades: A Miami Climate Action Story

The Miccosukee Indians, a small tribe of indigenous people in South Florida, have a long-standing interest in protecting the land, waterways, and habitats of the Everglades, their ancestral home, which serves as a watershed for urban areas in Miami-Dade County and a defense against climate change. For many years, the Everglades were threatened by suburban development and oil drilling. Recently, tribal members had engaged in various actions to increase awareness and reduce harm, including a protest march, use of the arts, and restoring habitats for fish, while also lobbying public officials and joining with environmental groups. Now, Curtis Osceola, chief of staff to the newly elected tribal chairman, assessed the value of actions to date and considered wanted what kinds of coalitions the tribe should join or convene for greater impact on Everglades restoration and climate change mitigation.