LIVING HISTORY
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Marty Tommie Jr. gives his steer a bath in preparation for a 4-H auction. The steer is kept at
Chupco Youth Ranch, where Shamy Tommie tries to teach the younger generation Seminole
customs.
really lives the Indian way,’’ said Wanda.
AT THE RANCH
One of the ways Shamy is passing on his Seminole heritage is through
the establishment of the Chupco Youth Ranch, a 12-acre parcel Shamy petitioned
the tribe to purchase.
Walking from the barn for the interview, Shamy looked the part of a
cowboy, wearing a Stetson hat, jeans, and boots. His personable and open
manner was accompanied by an easy smile and firm handshake.
“See all this,” he said. “I cleared it all and added the plants and flowers.”
Shamy’s dream is to build a 4-H program for the youth on the reservation
to gain experience in animal husbandry and to provide exercise by caring
for and raising horses. Shamy has eight horses himself, including a colt
named Chupco.
The ranch has horse stables, cattle pens, arena, snack bar, and log cabin
set under a hammock of oaks. His brother, Marty Tommie works with him
on the ranch. Shamy has already had Creek language classes in the cabin.
Tribal children have the opportunity to raise cattle and hogs for 4-H and
for sale at the yearly auction at Brighton Reservation. Marty’s son Marty Jr.
is raising a steer for the 4-H program.
Shamy hopes to make the family more visible in the community and
share its heritage through participation in local parades and the hosting of
local youth rodeos.
Louise Jones Gopher, a Seminole from the Fort Pierce Jones family who
now serves as director of education for all of the tribe’s six reservations,
said the Fort Pierce reservation makes it possible for multiple opportunities
for the future generations of Seminoles living in Fort Pierce.
“It was a good idea because up until that point Seminole people in Fort
Pierce lived scattered all over the place,’’ Jones said. “They had no place to
come together as a cultural community. It was something that had been
promised to the elders for a long time and most had passed away before
they saw it happen.”