Born: 1967
Biography:
Betty Osceola, born on August 8, 1967, is a Native American Everglades educator, conservationist, anti-fracking advocate, and clean water advocate. She hails from the Panther Clan of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida. Growing up in the Everglades, Betty had a deep connection with the land, accompanying her father on hunting and fishing trips, and learning the ways of her ancestors.
As an airboat captain and the operator of Buffalo Tiger Airboat Tours on Tamiami Trail in Miami, Florida, Betty Osceola has dedicated her life to education and conservation efforts aimed at preserving the unique ecosystem of the Everglades. Her passion for the environment and her Native American heritage have fueled her commitment to protecting the Everglades.
One significant contribution Betty Osceola has made is through her involvement in various prayer walks. In collaboration with her uncle Bobby C. Billie, she founded the Walk for Mother Earth, a grassroots organization that drew people from different First Nations, Glades people, scientists, environmentalists, and concerned citizens. With Billie, she led an annual multi-day prayer walk along a proposed bike path on Florida State Route 41, known as the River of Grass Greenway (ROGG) project. The aim was to raise awareness about the detrimental impact the construction of the bike path would have on the Everglades ecosystem. Their efforts led to the project’s cancellation after public hearings and meetings with government officials.
In 2016, Betty Osceola stood in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in their protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. She made two trips from the Everglades to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation to deliver supplies and show her support for the tribe’s fight to protect their land and water.
In 2019, Osceola organized and led a seven-day prayer walk around Lake Okeechobee alongside Holley Rauen from Pachamama Alliance. This walk aimed to draw attention to water quality issues and to honor missing and murdered Indigenous women. Throughout the journey, Betty carried a red bandanna attached to her walking stick as a symbol of remembrance and activism.
Betty Osceola continues to be a strong advocate for the Everglades and Indigenous rights. Her work in educating the public and raising awareness about environmental issues has had a significant impact on the preservation efforts of the Everglades ecosystem. Through her activism, she has become an influential figure in the fight for the protection of both the environment and Indigenous communities.