Members of Miccosukee and Seminole tribes personally impacted by debate over ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention center.
The continuous rumble of passing dump trucks overshadows the serene chirping of birds near Mae’anna Osceola-Hart’s family home in Everglades National Park. The 21-year-old photographer, with roots in both the Miccosukee and Seminole tribes, remarks, “It’s all-day, all-night truck noise.” This cacophony accompanies the controversial construction of a detention center dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” encircled by the homes and sacred sites of her people. Osceola-Hart reflects on her great-grandfather, Wild Bill Osceola, who valiantly opposed airport development on this very land. In 1968, Miami-Dade County initiated the Big Cypress Jetport project, claiming it would be the “world’s largest airport.” This venture threatened the ceremonial grounds used by the Miccosukee tribe and drew scrutiny.
Notably, leaders dismissively referred to environmental and tribal advocates as “butterfly chasers.” Resistance grew, and in 1969, a coalition, including her great-grandfather, convinced the governor to halt the project, leaving behind only one runway. Although proud of her great-grandfather’s legacy, Osceola-Hart mourns the loss of sacred land. The struggle for secure territory has persisted, as the Seminoles sought refuge in the Everglades after the Seminole Wars, while the Miccosukees fled urban development in Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
Today, many tribe members reside on the Big Cypress Reservation or in makeshift homes along the Tamiami Trail, a road that disrupts water flow essential to the park’s ecosystem. The construction of this highway in 1928 transformed the Everglades, enabling tourist access but also accelerating the decline of native species. Tribe leaders tirelessly advocate for the preservation of their ancestral lands and the national park’s biodiversity, albeit without governing authority over land use. William “Popeye” Osceola, the Miccosukee Tribe’s secretary, emphasizes the ongoing fight for tribal rights, encouraging younger members to remain engaged.
He describes this struggle as a historical parallel. Osceola-Hart concurs, stating, “This is history repeating itself.” The construction of the detention center, sanctioned by Governor Ron DeSantis, raises significant concerns and highlights ongoing tensions surrounding land and heritage for those who have inhabited the Everglades for generations.