Big Cypress : A changing Seminole community

Summary: Big Cypress makes available to students and others a general treatment of life in one Seminole community with a special focus upon culture change and decision making. Until the late 1950s this group had been isolated from tourists due to the lack of paved roads and completely cut off from contact with the outside world during the rainy season. Professor Garbarino was able to observe changes resulting from increasing contact with the outside world after a major surfaced road was opened. This case study includes, therefore, both ethnographic description of Big Cypress and an analysis of significant dimensions of change. The author focuses on important changes that took place, such as the introduction of the cattle industry and the development of a new political structure. This study should be particularly useful to those interested in the practical application of anthropological studies since it contains detailed materials concerning what actually happened to the individual Seminoles in the process of becoming cattlemen, the misconceptions arising from the Indians lack of technological and financial training, and the lack of communication between residents of the reservation and the agency personnel. Included is an analysis of the decision making process, as it is of prime importance in this situation. The strong tradition of autonomy existing in each Seminole group and the individualistic orientation made it virtually impossible for the communities to make decisions without outside pressure. The book also deals with the problem of alienation of the young. Parallels can be drawn for our own culture from this situation, where cultural deterrents and rewards are insufficient to curtail individual aggression.