Indigenous Community Representatives
Houston Cypress, is a Miccosukee Poet, Artist, and Activist from the Otter Clan. He is part of the Coordination Circle of the Love the Everglades Movement and has been the producer of the Miccosukee TV Magazine.
Lee Tiger, is the son of Buffalo Tiger, the first Chairman Miccosukee Tribe of Florida. He gained recording artist fame in the 1960’s with the band “Tiger Tiger.” He and his brother Stephen, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native American Music Awards. He has been a long time adviser to Indigenous efforts at FIU.
Rubi Hurtado, is a Xauxa-Quechua from Peru. She is a performer and project coordinator at the Kuyayky Foundation. She received a B.S. in Journalism and a B.A in Anthropology from FIU. Currently she is a graduate student of Biology at Miami University Ohio.
Van Samuels, is the Director of Outreach for the Seminole Tribe of Florida and works at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Seminole Museum. From Choctaw descent, he is also an accomplished musician, storyteller and noted MC a Seminole Tribal Fair and other tribal gatherings.
Marnie Billie, is a member of the Deer Clan of the Onoñda'géga, Haudenosaunee Confederacy, NY. She is an FIU Alumnus who recieved her M.S. in Environmental Science in 2005. She is also the Past-President of the FIU Native American Society 2002-2004.
