in 2022, a wilderness designation was proposed for the big cypress national preserve in south florida, a place the miccosukee tribe of florida has called home for generations. members of the tribe say the designation would have eliminated almost 200,000 acres from public access, including miccosukee neighborhoods and spiritual places.

despite this, the wilderness designation was proposed, which would have characterized the area as “untrammeled by man,” thereby enforcing preservation policies the tribe says are at odds with their way of life.

miccosukee tribal members betty osceola, michael frank, and deputy general council for the miccosukee tribe edward ornstein, discuss the community’s efforts to halt the proposed designation.