Florida Seminole Cattlewomen
The Seminole Indians have always raised cattle since the 16th century when the cattle were introduced by the Spanish. Being a Tribe with a matrilineal clan-based culture, “Seminole women have always played a role in Seminole cattle ranching. The cattlewoman’s role has been recorded for over 100 years. One of the earliest recorded was Ada Tiger, who was said to have the largest Seminole herd during the 1920’s.”
“Following Ada Tiger, the next generation of Seminole cattlewomen was led by Ada Pearce, Lena Gopher, Arlene Johns, and Betty Mae Jumper” when the Seminole Tribe of Florida organized a formal Cattle Association in 1954 on the Brighton (36,000 acres) and Big Cypress (52,000 acres) Reservations. “These women were seen as equals at a time when equality was not common throughout the rest of the country. These Seminole cattlewomen owned their own herds and took care of all the responsibilities necessary to have a successful cattle operation, from buying feed to being on the trail.”
“The legacy of these early cattlewomen is still seen today.” Throughout the years, women have worked alongside their fathers, husbands, and other family members tending to their cattle. Some of the women inherited their cattle from their husband, father, or brother(s), a few pioneering women applied for grazing leases and purchased their own cattle. Currently there are 62 cattle owners, of which 28 are women, maintaining over 6000 head of cattle. It is the heritage of a lifestyle that has been passed down through generations.
In the summer of 2009, the women cattle owners of the Seminole Tribe of Florida formed a chapter of the Florida CattleWomen, Inc. as the Seminole Florida CattleWomen’s Association that was active until 2015; after 3 years of inactivity, the Association re-established in the fall of 2018 as Florida Seminole CattleWomen, Inc. The Chapter is a voice for Seminole women in the beef cattle industry. “Their strength is shown through their determination to carry on the traditional Seminole cattle ranching legacy.” The mission is to involve and support members in maintaining and building consumer needs and desires for beef through education, and to promote the welfare of beef cattle.
This feature includes excerpts from CATTLE KEEPERS – The Heritage of Seminole Cattle Ranching
“Following Ada Tiger, the next generation of Seminole cattlewomen was led by Ada Pearce, Lena Gopher, Arlene Johns, and Betty Mae Jumper” when the Seminole Tribe of Florida organized a formal Cattle Association in 1954 on the Brighton (36,000 acres) and Big Cypress (52,000 acres) Reservations. “These women were seen as equals at a time when equality was not common throughout the rest of the country. These Seminole cattlewomen owned their own herds and took care of all the responsibilities necessary to have a successful cattle operation, from buying feed to being on the trail.”
“The legacy of these early cattlewomen is still seen today.” Throughout the years, women have worked alongside their fathers, husbands, and other family members tending to their cattle. Some of the women inherited their cattle from their husband, father, or brother(s), a few pioneering women applied for grazing leases and purchased their own cattle. Currently there are 62 cattle owners, of which 28 are women, maintaining over 6000 head of cattle. It is the heritage of a lifestyle that has been passed down through generations.
In the summer of 2009, the women cattle owners of the Seminole Tribe of Florida formed a chapter of the Florida CattleWomen, Inc. as the Seminole Florida CattleWomen’s Association that was active until 2015; after 3 years of inactivity, the Association re-established in the fall of 2018 as Florida Seminole CattleWomen, Inc. The Chapter is a voice for Seminole women in the beef cattle industry. “Their strength is shown through their determination to carry on the traditional Seminole cattle ranching legacy.” The mission is to involve and support members in maintaining and building consumer needs and desires for beef through education, and to promote the welfare of beef cattle.
This feature includes excerpts from CATTLE KEEPERS – The Heritage of Seminole Cattle Ranching
ADA TIGER,
THE LONE CATTLEWOMAN
Twice a year in the 1920’s, one lone Seminole woman would walk into the market at Indiantown, Florida, leading a herd of cattle. Accompanying her were two “cow-chaser” dogs, guiding the herd. In town she would sell some of the cattle, have the rest treated for ticks and fleas, and buy some essential goods. Then she would walk her herd the ten mile trip home to her camp out by Lake Okeechobee.
Ada Tiger (Snake Clan) maintained her cattle on her own, her only aid coming from the two dogs she had raised and trained. She had no fences or pens to keep them in. Instead she kept them well fed with corn grown by the family, and worked the area around the camp to ensure it was a place the cattle would want to stay in.
Ada had become a cattlewoman in unfortunate circumstances. Her cattle had been inherited from her three brothers, each of whom had succumbed to tuberculosis or pneumonia within five years between 1914 and 1919. She took on the job of managing the family’s stock, and by the mid twenties her herd was the largest owned by any Seminole.
In 1928, conditions forced Ada Tiger, now mother to a five year old girl, to leave Lake Okeechobee for the Dania (now Hollywood) Reservation. The cattle were sold to pay for the move. In Hollywood she took up making crafts and souvenirs for the tourist trade, and raised her two children; Betty Mae Tiger Jumper and Howard Tiger, both of whom would grow up to become leaders and elected chairs of the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
Dave Scheidecker, MA, RPA, Senior Research Coordinator
Seminole Tribe of Florida Tribal Historic Preservation Office - www.stofthpo.com
Ada Tiger (Snake Clan) maintained her cattle on her own, her only aid coming from the two dogs she had raised and trained. She had no fences or pens to keep them in. Instead she kept them well fed with corn grown by the family, and worked the area around the camp to ensure it was a place the cattle would want to stay in.
Ada had become a cattlewoman in unfortunate circumstances. Her cattle had been inherited from her three brothers, each of whom had succumbed to tuberculosis or pneumonia within five years between 1914 and 1919. She took on the job of managing the family’s stock, and by the mid twenties her herd was the largest owned by any Seminole.
In 1928, conditions forced Ada Tiger, now mother to a five year old girl, to leave Lake Okeechobee for the Dania (now Hollywood) Reservation. The cattle were sold to pay for the move. In Hollywood she took up making crafts and souvenirs for the tourist trade, and raised her two children; Betty Mae Tiger Jumper and Howard Tiger, both of whom would grow up to become leaders and elected chairs of the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
Dave Scheidecker, MA, RPA, Senior Research Coordinator
Seminole Tribe of Florida Tribal Historic Preservation Office - www.stofthpo.com