This concerns Seminole Rest. The name Seminole Rest has been given to the burial ground by non-Indigenous people not too long ago. As far as we know it is Indigenous burial ground... Sacred ground. The whole area called Seminole Rest is about 23 acres. The mound is located in the middle of the area. We've been struggling with this for over a year to protect this sacred ground from development and becoming a tourist attraction.

A bill was passed about eight years ago by the U.S. Congress to protect this sacred ground. Today, the National Park Service and Florida Congressman Mica are trying and determine to turn this sacred ground into a money making business for non-Indian people. This sacred ground would be open to the public seven days a week and tourists brought in by cars, buses and boats. Electricity, water and plumbing would be brought in through the mound itself and bathrooms park staff offices and other facilities put on top of the mound.

We've been struggling to stop this but the struggle is more difficult because the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, Inc. and the Seminole Tribe of Florida Inc, tell the Park Service they don't have to listen to me because I'm not a member of a recognized tribe. This happens over and over every time I'm trying to protect the burial grounds or bring our ancestors back with their personal belongings to their resting grounds.

These ancient burial grounds will become a tourist attraction for non-indigenous people to make money off our ancestors. Enough is enough. If you are Indigenous or Native People, this people I'm talking about are relatives, our people. There is no difference between your brothers and sisters if you turn around and look at it as your own brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, and all the other relations. Look back as the same way. Stand up for your rights and their rights. If its undisturbed leave them be. If it is disturbed get it and put it back the same place where its coming from. Either human being bones or their belongings it needs to go back where it belongs. That will give us who we are and what we are. What our rights are. But if you think you can't do that - all those rights of the Indigenous people and you go the other way - so called recognized tribe or government to government relationship that makes you recognized who you are. If you finally waking up to that, this Indigenous people has no relationship to that. They have their own way of Life. They have their own Law. They have established the government Their own way of Law - What they suppose to do to regulate their nation. This has been passed on from the beginning of time generation to generation The people themselves they don't create this Law. The Creator himself create that way of Life, of Law. If you live a way of life the 

Creator has given, it's not just the prayer and forget. It is more than that. You have to live and make things happen in your way of life. That's the prayer of your life. We must live by that and respect it. That gave me recognition of who I am and what I am suppose to do. I know what needs to be done on this earth, and I know some of you know all this or you lost all that, but I have not and that is my rights.

BACKGROUND: 
 

DESECRATION OF AN INDIGENOUS SACRED SITE

In 1988, an Act was passed to "manage the lands known as Seminole Rest for the primary purpose of protecting and interpreting their archeological and historic resources", and approximately 10 acres of land known as Stuckeys for the primary purpose of establishing an administrative headquarters and visitor center within Volusia County Florida. 

The Shell Mound is under threat of full scale development for the purpose of bringing tourists to this area. Florida Congressman John L. Mica and Superintendent Bob Newkirk of Canaveral National Seashore have developed a plan that would open the Shell mound to daily public use, install water lines, electricity, and restore two old houses situated on the mound For park personnel, Public meetings, etc. A boat dock would be built to bring people in by boat, and a parking lot for cars and buses. The Park Service admits in their report that this will impact the mound. 

There are only 917 people living in Oak Hill where the shell mound is located. The development of this Indigenous Sacred Site is suppose to benefit the residents of Oak Hill. The only ones to benefit will be the National Park Service From the collection of fees from the public and from having their offices put on top of the mound. It is difficult to understand why they want to put their offices on top of an Indigenous Sacred Site when additional land was set aside under the same bill for the purpose of establishing an administrative headquarters and visitor center. There is a county park located within 5 miles of this site with a public boat dock, restrooms and facilities, and numerous mounds throughout Florida with interpretive information. It is doubtful that the public can learn anything new from this Site, and to develop it in the manner that has been proposed is a desecration of an Indigenous Sacred Site which is suppose to be protected by law. 

The amount of money requested just to establish interpretive centers on and near the mound is over $500,000. An estimated 8 million dollars will be required to complete this project. This amount does not include purchase of land for the parking areas described in the plan. The Park was told by one of the owners of the land proposed for the parking lot that they did not intend to sell. The park service response is that they will simply go into litigation. How much does the Park Service want to spend on this project that is totally disrespectful to the Indigenous People of Florida? 

Bobby C. Billie, Spiritual Leader of the Independent Traditional Seminole Nation of Florida considers Seminole Rest as a Sacred Indigenous Site, and does not want this shell mound used as a tourist attraction. Bobby asks that letters be written to the people listed below telling them to respect this Indigenous Sacred Site, and stop plans to develop this Site as a tourist attraction. This Site is important to the Indigenous People, and is suppose to be protected by law from disturbance. Daily public and park personnel use of this Indigenous Sacred Site would be a violation of the sanctity of this site and is a desecration of an indigenous Sacred Site. 

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