BETTY MAE JUMPER
Name: Betty Mae Tiger Jumper
Born:April 27, 1923
Betty Mae Tiger Jumper was born on April 27, 1923, in a
Seminole camp near Indiantown, Florida. She grew up in Dania, in Broward County.
At night Tiger Jumper listened as older members of the tribe told stories passed
down from their ancestors. "The stories taught you how to live," she says. She
would later write down these stories to preserve them for future generations.
Before she could do that, she had to learn how to read and write. At that time
Seminole children were not allowed to attend public schools in Florida. Tiger
Jumper decided to attend a boarding school for Native Americans. She became the
Seminole to learn to read and write English and the to graduate from high school.
Tiger Jumper continued her education and became a nurse. She travelled to
Seminole towns to care for members of her tribe. She also wrote books and worked
as an editor of a newspaper now called the Seminole Tribune.
In 1967 Tiger Jumper became the first female chair, or chief, of the Seminole
tribe. When Tiger Jumper became chief, the tribe had just $35 in savings. Thanks
to her leadership, the tribe had $500,000 when she left office in 1972. She also
brought together several tribes to form an organization that runs health and
education programs for its members. "I had three goals in my life," Tiger Jumper
says. "To finish school, to take nurse's training and come back and work among
my people, and to write three books." She has met those goals and many more.
Name: Betty Mae Tiger Jumper
Born:April 27, 1923
Betty Mae Tiger Jumper was born on April 27, 1923, in a
Seminole camp near Indiantown, Florida. She grew up in Dania, in Broward County.
At night Tiger Jumper listened as older members of the tribe told stories passed
down from their ancestors. "The stories taught you how to live," she says. She
would later write down these stories to preserve them for future generations.
Before she could do that, she had to learn how to read and write. At that time
Seminole children were not allowed to attend public schools in Florida. Tiger
Jumper decided to attend a boarding school for Native Americans. She became the
Seminole to learn to read and write English and the to graduate from high school.
Tiger Jumper continued her education and became a nurse. She travelled to
Seminole towns to care for members of her tribe. She also wrote books and worked
as an editor of a newspaper now called the Seminole Tribune.
In 1967 Tiger Jumper became the first female chair, or chief, of the Seminole
tribe. When Tiger Jumper became chief, the tribe had just $35 in savings. Thanks
to her leadership, the tribe had $500,000 when she left office in 1972. She also
brought together several tribes to form an organization that runs health and
education programs for its members. "I had three goals in my life," Tiger Jumper
says. "To finish school, to take nurse's training and come back and work among
my people, and to write three books." She has met those goals and many more.