Osceola County, Fl. has expanded their Southport Landfill over an
Indigenous burial site in Kissimmee, Florida Osceola County claims this
was an accident, despite the fact that the burial site has been known for
at least 11 years - the last time Janus Research conducted a survey, and
was "preserved" by a chain link fence.
Even so, Osceola County has hired Janus Research to excavate the mound.
On October 26, 1996, Sheridan Murphy of Florida AIM and Florida Indian
Alliance, Bobby Billie, Spiritual Leader of the Independant Traditional
Seminole Nation, and Bobby Billie's assistant Shannon Larson met with Ken
Hardin and Robert Austin of Janus Research. they agreed to Bobby C.
Billie's request for repatriation and argued that excavation was the only
option since the mounds had been greatly pot hunted. Ms. Larson and Mr.
Billie visited the site later that afternoon and reported the pot hunting
was not extensive. Further, they learned that the State Archaeologist
James Miller had contacted both the Seminole and Miccosukee Tribes of
Florida; excluded the Oklahoma Seminoles Nation; and was refered to Bobbie
Billie by Seminole representative David Jumper. Neither Tribe contacted
approved or authorized the excavation. When asked why he allowed it to
continue anyway, Mr. Miller informed Ms. Larson that he only contacts the
Tribes as a courtesy, and that he does not have to talk to them. He
further implied that he had no control over the excavation. Florida State
Statue 872.05 defers authority to either the County Medical Examiner (if
the remains are less then 75 years old) or the State Archeologist.
At least 12 Indigenous peoples remains have been dug up and are being held
at Janus Research and the RA Grey Bldg in Tallahassee. More are certain
to have their graves robbed unless something is done. Florida AIM and the
Florida Indian Alliance are planning direct action for the week of Nov
11-15th if the digging is not ceased and a target date for repatriation is
not set and agreeable to Mr. Billie. We have informed Osceola County,
Janus research, and Jim Miller's office.
The FIA asks all people of conscience to contact Osceola County Manager
Robert Magnaghi's office (407-847-1208) and demand that the excavations
hault. Janus Research Vice-President Bob Austin can also be reached at
(813-821-7600) We also ask that humane beings contact Florida Governor
Lawton Chiles at (9040 488-4441 as ask that State Archeologist Jim Miller
be removed from his post he has held for nearly two decades. Mr. Miller
has held Indian peoples skulls for the cameras (Windover 1986) and
despite passage of Florida's Unmarked Burial Law, Miller has only utilized
the law to justify degreed grave robbing and has yet to prosecute a pot
hunter. Florida AIM cought an individual pot huntung on tape with four
eye witnesses, and still this individual was not prosecuted.
If you need more information please contact the Florida Indian Alliance
State Office at 33 4th Street N Suite 202 St. Petersburg, Fl. 33701.
(813) 823-3534 Fax:(813) 822-3501.
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a bullet in the head, now he's dead
a friend of a friend, some one said
he was an activist with a very short life
i think there's a lesson here - he died without a fight
in the war over land where the world began
prophecies say it's where the world will end
but there's a tremor growing in our backyard
fear in out heads, fear in our hearts
prophets in the graveyard.
-indigo girls "jonas & exekial"
jessica olson
new college aim support
jolson@virtu.sar.usf.edu
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