As a descendant of the Spanish Seminoles who once populated Sanibel Island and an eighth-generation Sanibel native, David Rahahę·tih Webb will speak about his book, The Spanish Seminole: The Untold History of the Spanish Indians as Told by a Descendant, at two free lectures at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island Thursday, Jan. 30. The lectures begin at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Visitor & Education Center Auditorium.
In the 1700s, as Florida’s Indigenous tribes were displaced, the forebears of the Miccosukee and Seminole descended along the southwestern gulf coast. They soon began working with Hispanic-Latino and Indigenous fishermen from various Spanish colonies, who worked seasonal operations along the barrier islands, including Sanibel.
Eventually, the seasonal operations became prolific year-round fisheries and communities, incorporating the fishing practices handed down from the 6,000-year-old Calusa culture. Their productive estuarine fisheries were called ranchos.
Author and artist Webb adds to our understanding of the ranchos from the perspective of a descendant. His family included the first documented births on Sanibel and in southern Florida.
Webb’s Sanibel pedigree dates to pioneer families and his involvement with “Ding” Darling goes back four generations to his great-grandfather, Jake Stokes, the refuge’s first employee. Webb lived part-time with his grandmother, Edythe Stokes, who worked at the refuge for 33 years before retiring and is honored by the naming of the administrative building. Webb’s mother worked at the refuge and for the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS), and Webb then worked at the refuge 1996-1997 with Americorps, helping with wildlife monitoring and giving talks on various topics.
His The Spanish Seminole, which is available for purchase in the Refuge Nature Store, presents a detailed account of the Spanish Indians of Sanibel and beyond — their history, culture, and legacy — using newly uncovered documents, primary sources, and oral histories. He will do a book-signing following the lectures.
DDWS co-hosts the lectures, part of a six-lecture series, with the refuge and through financial support from Friends of the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society. Note: Opinions expressed in guest lectures do not necessarily reflect the views of refuge and DDWS management, staff, and board of directors.
Seating for the free lectures is limited on a first-come basis. Early arrivals can check in after 9 a.m. for the morning lecture and 12 p.m. for the afternoon and obtain an entrance wristband so they can explore the Visitor & Education Center or Wildlife Drive and trails before the lecture starts. Saved seats must be filled 15 minutes before lecture time or risk being reassigned.
Below is the calendar of upcoming scheduled lectures. Book-signings will follow all starred (*) lectures. For more information about the lecture series, visit dingdarlingsociety.org/lecture-series.
*Jan. 30 – Author/Indigenous Native David Rahahę·tih Webb, The Spanish Seminole: The Untold History of the Spanish Indians as Shared by a Descendant – Sponsors: Friends of the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society
*Feb. 6 – “Python Huntress” Amy Siewe, “Burmese Pythons in the Everglades” – Sponsors: Susan & Cliff Beittel
*Feb. 20 – Author Charles Sobczak, “The Great Florida Invasion – From Pepper to Pythons” – Sponsors: Friends of the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society
*Feb. 27 – Author/photographer Budd Titlow, Bird Brains: Inside the Minds of our Feathered Friends – Sponsor: A Friend of “Ding” Darling
March 13 – Actor Joe Wiegand, “President Teddy Roosevelt Reprised” – Sponsors: Heather & Bill O’Keefe
NOTE: Book signings will follow all lectures marked with an asterisk (*)
ABOUT DDWS
As a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, DDWS works to support J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge’s mission of conservation, wildlife and habitat protection, research, and public education through charitable donations and Refuge Nature Shop profits. To support DDWS and the refuge with a tax-deductible gift, visit dingdarlingsociety.org or Ann-Marie Wildman at 239-789-8991 or [email protected].