| Florida Pioneers: Natives Reclaiming Their History |
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| September 05, 2009 |
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It’s fascinating to hear the family histories of friends and family who traveled far before adopting Florida as home. One particular group of people, the Florida Pioneers, are those who can document that their ancestors lived in Florida before statehood on March 3, 1845.
The Florida State Genealogical Society, which promotes the study and research of genealogy and local history, awards the Florida Pioneer Descendants Certificates.
I learned about this program through my friend and occasional collaborator, Antonieta Echenique Bernardino, whose lifelong love of genealogy led her to spend more than a decade chronicling her family’s journey across continents and countries. Toni, as she's called by friends, was born in Cuba and studied during her high school years in Key West.
Following years of studying, Toni learned fairly recently that her forebears included Nicolás Ponce de León, who came to Florida in 1630 to serve as the first accountant of the Royal Treasury and was appointed 19th Governor of Florida on May 14, 1651.
Ponce de León served in St. Augustine, which later this week will celebrate its 444th anniversary with the annual re-enactment party and mass. You can read about it here.
Toni’s history fascinated me, particularly since she and I often discuss culture and language, two things that are so fundamental. In fact, Florida is a good place to study history and other cultures.
From the Greek sponge fishermen in Tarpon Springs to the Cuban, Italian and Spanish in Tampa’s Ybor City to the old Florida influence in Everglades City and the Native American influence in names such as Weeki Wachee and Micanopy, Florida is a richer state for the many flags that have flown here.
And by the way, you might want to read this interesting story about a route that traces Florida's Native American heritage. |
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| Sponge diving in Tarpon Springs |
| Credit: VISIT FLORIDA |
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