Page 146 - PINE CREST 2015

ulture is always a strong tie that binds people together, especially completely different culture coming to school every day from the
C in the Seminole tribe where senior Brianna Blais-Billie has grown reservation.” However, this difference has not prevented Brianna from

up. The rich history of the tribe has always played an important
taking part in both American and Seminole cultures. Within the tribe,
role in their culture. “Since the Seminoles were isolated in the
swamp during most of the time our culture was developing, we’re she actively participates in many events. Last year, she was crowned
Junior Miss Seminole in her tribe’s pageant, making Seminole history
completely different from most other with her sister, Tia; together, they were
native tribes.” Brianna speaks of the “CROWNED JUNIOR MISS the first sisters that reigned together. She
tribes culture with great admiration, describes a moment on the night ending
emphasizing the artwork as one of her SEMINOLE IN HER TRIBE’S PAGEANT, her reign as “probably the best moment ot
favorite parts. “Our artwork consists of my life.” She had just finished crowning
a lot of patchwork, which was invented MAKING SEMINOLE HISTORY” the new girls when all the council
during the turn of the twentieth century members came on stage and told her I
in the swamps, when our women found scraps of fabric and just sewed and Tia, “you guys are the best princesses we’ve had in my entire time
them together to create intricate designs.” The Seminole history creates working for the tribe!” Brianna continued, “my culture is really modest,
an environment very different from their surrounding areas despite we don’t praise that often... so to get that kind of praise from the council
constantly interacting with other cultures. “Because tribes recognized was mind-blowing.” Brianna’s role as part of the Seminole tribe has
through the federal government are semi sovereignties, meaning they been a defining part of her identity, creating a foundation of tradition
are pretty much their own countries within the United States, it’s a that she hopes to continue to pass down for generations to come.

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