There is another Seminole Nation that doesn’t involve hazing or harken back to Tallahassee. It’s the Nation with the motto “Building the Father-Daughter bond that lasts a lifetime.” With roots here at home, it involves more than 500 family members. Around for many years, the Indian Princess Program builds a unique bridge between genders and generations. Fathers and their girls get involved because they want to spend more time together….and Dads know; the years go by so fast.
A spin-off of the Indian Guides program started by the YMCA in the 1920’s, the Indian Princess program is a chance for fathers to bond with daughters on many levels. Besides a strong parental bond, girls also learn how to have fun with their peers in good ways. It helps girls to develop a strong sense of accomplishment and self worth. Each tribe member, including Dad, chooses the “name” they’ll be known by as they grow together in the program. Public speaking, acting, crafting, camping and many more activities keep things exciting and grow girls into strong women with a variety of friends that they will have for their lifetime.
Parkland father Mike Morabito “Paisanawa” has four daughters who have been in the program, with just his youngest still accompanying him for the myriad of monthly and annual activities. Amanda “Princess Flower” 19, Nicole “Princess Butterfly” 17, and Samantha “Thunder Bear”15, have each gleaned a variety of blessings and lessons from their years in Indian Princesses, have broken their arrows, and moved on with self-confidence and a great group of friends. Mike says, “My daughter, Nicole, met a lot of friends and there are five of them that are inseparable; we call them the Brat Pack. They are all from different schools and areas. These girls are going to grow through life together and would have never met if it wasn’t for Indian Princesses.” His youngest daughter, Kaley “Princess Lil-Bit”, 12, enjoys every activity that she and Dad get to share. Since Mike has been involved with his daughters for 12 years, he stepped into a leadership role 7 years ago and is now the Chief of the Seminole Nation, which is made up of 12 tribes. Speaking as the Chief and the father of four young women, he says from experience, “I was probably the most naïve guy about girls before all f this. The program teaches the kids a lot of values, but also teaches a father what makes girls tick and how different they can be. The good part is the time spent together and having that father/daughter bond. As soon as a camp-out comes up, it’s amazing to have that ‘something special’ that no one else does.”
All of the tribes take part in community service events. “You take the phone and iPad away and put the girls on a food line serving people and it molds a kid differently.” Mike also speaks to the fact that as the fathers become more understanding and compassionate men, their daughters blossom as well. “They learn al lot. We’ll see girls come in very shy, but after a year, no matter their age, they aren’t shy anymore. When we go to group campouts (four times a year) there are 500 other people and skits, costume contests, crafts and war games all in front of everybody. They learn a lot more when it comes to society and interacting with others while gaining friendships that will last a lifetime.”
Open to girls 4-14 and their dads, for more info,
Go to www.SeminoleNation.org
