Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

The American Indian Movement of Florida is revolted, but sadly unsurprised, by the arrogant and callous actions of the Florida Bureau of Archaeological Resource (BAR) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in regards to the "find" of a number of historic Seminole canoes, which are objects of cultural patrimony for the Seminole Nation and Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Florida BAR Chief James Miller, long noted as the head ghoul by Florida AIM, and the DEP allowed logger L.C. Pinson to log and destroy and area filled with the historic Seminole canoes. Mr. Pinson was permitted by the state to log the wood out of the Newnan Lake area. The practice in and of itself is controversial as to its detrimental effects upon the environment and one the state previously banned. To allow such a questionable practice in an area where it would obviously destroy the historic canoes is an unconscionable act. More offensive is the fact that the state did not notify Tribal representatives. In his typically arrogant manner Miller claims he "forgot" to notify the Seminole Tribe about the canoes, let alone the impending destruction of them by Mr. Pinson. Miller added that notifying the tribes is a "courtesy". Appears Miller forgot to be courteous, again.

The American Indian Movement of Florida demands that Mr. Pinson and the DEP as well as BAR be investigated by appropriate agencies for this unconscionable act. Further as Mr. Pinson's permit prohibited his taking "artifacts" Florida AIM calls upon a investigation into the violation of his permit as his willful and wanton destruction of objects of cultural patrimony certainly constitutes a "taking". Florida AIM is reviewing potential violations of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act and NAGPRA by the state in their complicity in the destruction of objects of cultural patrimony. Florida AIM further calls for the immediate repatriation to the Seminole Tribe of Florida any canoes that may not have been destroyed for their determination as to disposition.

Once again we demand that James Miller be removed as head of the BAR. Despite Mr. Miller's Orwellian double speak over the last decade and a half, Miller the facts of his discourteous and forgetfulness speak for themselves. The State of Florida is miserably failing to meet the promise it made by passing the Unmarked Human Burial Act. The ravaging of pot hunters continued unabated and without prosecution. In 1994 Florida AIM provided to the Pinellas Pasco State Attorney a videotape, and four (4) eyewitness affidavits identifying the man who robbed the Reedy Mound of human remains and associated funerary objects. Miller played a significant role in the lack of a prosecution. Miller also has failed to prosecute two (2) individuals caught by police ravaging the mounds at the Cape Canaveral National Seashore on three occasions. And now Newnan Lake.

Miller is a ghoulish anthropologist with a mentality from a bye-gone era. It is time to remove the Ghouls from the BAR and place into his office someone who will not consistently "forget" to contact tribes, and consider respecting the sovereign and cultural rights of Indigenous peoples more than a "courtesy" We call upon all human beings to demand Jeb Bush remove Jim Miller from office immediately and replace him with someone who meets the approval of the Seminole and Miccosukee Tribes.