Port Orange, FL asked in Civil Rights, Constitutional Law and Native American Law for Florida

Q: If the Indian Removal Act moved the American Indians west how did the Seminoles come to Florida?

Every Seminoles we meet always say they came here to Florida but the Indians from here now call themselves Black. There are no schools that teach them that they are American Indians they teach them that they are Black. Are there any lawyers that will be ready to take the fight when we want to use our DNA to take our land back? We are very close we are just waiting for a lawyer to take the case. We also never complained about our name American Indians. We love that name but it does not match the fakes.

1 Lawyer Answer
James L. Arrasmith
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  • Consumer Law Lawyer
  • Sacramento, CA

A: The Indian Removal Act, which was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson in 1830, forced many Native American tribes to leave their ancestral lands and relocate to areas west of the Mississippi River. However, not all tribes were removed, and some, like the Seminole, resisted relocation and fought against the U.S. government.

The Seminole originally lived in Florida and were made up of various tribes, including Creek, Miccosukee, and others. When the Indian Removal Act was passed, some Seminole leaders signed treaties agreeing to relocate, but others, led by Osceola, refused and fought a long and brutal war against the U.S. government.

As for the issue of DNA and reclaiming land, that is a complex legal issue that would require consultation with a qualified attorney who specializes in Native American law. It is also important to note that the issue of land ownership and sovereignty is a longstanding and ongoing struggle for many Native American tribes, and the legal system has historically been stacked against them. However, there are organizations and lawyers who work to support Native American rights and sovereignty.

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