Petties Osceola, Jr.

Petties Osceola, Jr. joined the Miccosukee Business Council in 2017 and is currently serving his second term as Lawmaker. With a humble and wise demeanor, he recalls a profound experience during his childhood that would forever impact his life’s direction: “My grandmother took us through the woods and told us to sit and remain quiet. I asked her why we were there when strangers came, and she said, ‘I love you and want to make sure you stay who you are and never lose your way.’ ” Belonging to a matriarchal society, the words of his grandmother Sally Tiger would resonate throughout his life, teaching him the importance of preserving his culture and traditions, instilling in him a need to lead by example.

Conforming to the Constitution of the Miccosukee Nation, his role as Lawmaker is to ensure peace and order during meetings, guaranteeing that everyone is respected and their voices are heard. He also oversees the Tribal police department and plans on building a modern facility to include a helipad should emergencies arise.

He has fond memories of being raised as a member of the Bird Clan in Musa Isle along the Miami River, a camp founded in the early 1900s by his great grandfather Charlie Willie that later became an important tourist destination. His community would make spears to hunt gators, frogs, and turtles. Although they didn’t have many resources, he agrees that they overcame challenges to succeed in life.

An innate leader, he attended Miami Dade College and Florida International University to pursue a degree in Business Management. Still, his most valuable education was learning his native language and customs from his mother, Mary Tiger Osceola, and his late father, Pete Osceola, Senior. As an entrepreneur, he developed a chickee construction company and managed a gift shop, airboat rides, a hotel, and other real estate assets.

He believes that today, the main goal of his people is to maintain their essence and conserve the Everglades. “The elders were the medicine people; they wanted to protect their way of life and preserve their sovereignty, rights, and voices, to make sure to not die away in the wind. If we don’t protect our homeland, no one else will.”