Toggle Menu
News >

Spirit of the Land: Unearthing Native American Heritage

November 28, 2023

By Jessica Firpi ’11

Rollins students on an immersion experience on the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation

With passion and purpose, a cohort of Rollins students set out to explore Native American history on an Immersion experience at Florida’s Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation.

Each year, Tars contribute thousands of hours of service to nonprofit organizations across the country through Rollins’ Immersion program. Facilitated by the Center for Leadership & Community Engagement, these one-of-a-kind service learning experiences give students the opportunity to engage cultural, environmental, social, and political issues right at the source during weekend and sometimes weeklong journeys of education, reflection, and action. Through direct community engagement and leadership development, these experiences show students firsthand the commitment it takes to effect real change in the world and the true responsibility of global citizenship.

Rollins students at the American Indigenous Arts Celebration (AIAC)
The event featured performances from Native Pride and the HAKA Maori Cultural Experience, showcasing ancestral skills passed down through generations.

The Scoop

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, which recognizes the achievements and contributions of Native Americans, the “Spirit of the Land: Unearthing Native American Heritage” Immersion connected a group of Rollins students to the traditions, arts, and food of the Seminole Tribe of Florida through the American Indigenous Arts Celebration (AIAC) at the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation. The event was hosted by the Seminole Tribe and the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum, which is home to more than 200,000 works of art and historic objects.

“This immersion is important because this is a topic that isn’t covered appropriately within American education,” says international relations major Giuliana Bertuso ’26. “I could see things that I’d read in books, but beyond that, I appreciated hearing directly from the natives rather than reading something written from a European perspective. I come from a country that has a lot of indigenous communities, and I wanted to learn more about my country.”

Rollins students at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum
The Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum is home to more than 200,000 works of art and historic objects.

The vibrant tapestry of Native American culture was on display with the intricate craftsmanship of Whakairo wood carvings and raranga basket weaving, as well as performances from Native Pride and the HAKA Maori Cultural Experience, showcasing ancestral skills passed down through generations. The festival gave students an up-close look at mau rakau weaponry, the beauty of ta moko (tattoo), and the fusion of traditional and contemporary style in the Ahfachkee Youth Fashion Show and the Seminole Fashion Show. The event also featured a heartfelt Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) tribute.

“Not only were we able to support local businesses and get firsthand experience with the Seminole culture,” says philosophy and political science double major Erica Mungin ’24, “but we also got to interact with those from indigenous communities and listen to their stories.”

Rollins students at the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation

Biggest Takeaways

“As an Immersion facilitator, I developed more of my leadership skills and, at the same time, made room for everyone to feel a sense of belonging during the weekend,” shares Bertuso. “This Immersion allowed participants to start realizing that many institutions are structured to accommodate one way of living and tend to either limit or exclude others. It also lets you learn more, empathize, and interact with indigenous cultures.”

Rollins students at the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation
The immersion gave students the chance to explore various outdoor exhibits and walk the mile-long boardwalk that leads to one of the ceremonial grounds.

“I would say the overall theme of this trip was enlightenment,” says Mungin. “When we reflected on our experience, we all noticed that along with being able to do service work for the celebration, all of us were able to have really great and enlightening conversations with locals and those who also worked at the museum. We volunteered, learned from Seminole people, and immersed ourselves in the culture, where we were able to dig deeper than surface-level knowledge. I’ve started deconstructing our institutions to see how Native Americans and other marginalized communities could be included and feel a sense of belonging systemically, socially, and in every corner of our society.”

Former Rollins president Thaddeus Seymour ’82HAL ’90H and Tina Osceola ’89 install the Walk of Fame stone for Tina’s ancestor Chief Osceola.
Photo by Courtesy Rollins College Archives.

Fun Fact

On Earth Day 1990, former Rollins president Thaddeus Seymour ’82HAL ’90H and Tina Osceola ’89 installed the Rollins College Walk of Fame stone for Tina’s ancestor Chief Osceola and the Seminole Tribe.

Image of image-b342c9a2d8a62c2257e02ff5a8e253c18f409384-1400x934-jpg

A Campus Committed to Change

Rollins is one of just 42 colleges in the world to earn Ashoka U’s Changemaker Campus designation, which recognizes the leading institutions in social innovation and changemaking.

Explore Our Changemaking CampusExplore Our Changemaking Campus

Related News

October 30, 2024

Political Science Professor Explains Amendments

Patrick Rickert, an assistant professor of political science, provided his expertise on Florida amendments for Central Florida Public Media's Engage.

Political Science Professor Explains Amendments

October 25, 2024

Rollins Campus Dining Ranked Among Nation’s Best

The Princeton Review has ranked Rollins No. 11 in the country for best campus food.

Rollins Campus Dining Ranked Among Nation’s Best

October 17, 2024

Climate Week at Rollins College

Anne Stone, Cornell Chair of the Rollins Social Impact Hub, and Director Melissa Nelson discuss the importance of Florida Climate Week and the activities designed to help students understand their role in protecting the environment.

Climate Week at Rollins College