Big Shootout at Big Cypress Reservation - Fort Lauderdale 

The 2nd The Big Shootout in the Big Cypress Reservation took place this year from 21 - 24 February. In this event amateur actors enacted battles from the 2nd Seminole War 1835-1842. At this happening were also arts and crafts dealers who sold their goods and you could taste traditional Seminole food. Interested visitors could try their skills in ax throw and archery.

The Big Shootout based on the following historical fact: 

To get more land for their own people the American dwellers and soldiers tried to evict the Seminole in the 1830s from their tribe land. The Seminole neither wanted to abandon their land nor to give up their freedom. 

When peace and trade agreements with the Indians were broken the Seminole took their weapons. The U.S. government trusted its militant and technical superiority and went with 52,000 soldiers into the war against the Seminole.

During the seven years war many villages were burnt and Seminole families abducted or killed or relocated to Oklahoma. The Seminoles defended with only 2000 warriors their rights with courage and determination on their traditional terrain - the Swamp of the Everglades. 

In front of the background of natural Swamp area parts of the war and typical tactics were demonstrated with authentic weapons, soldiers and Indian warriors on horses. The cannon thunder, the gunpowder smoke and the battle cries of the Seminole created the right battle feeling for the audience.

The 2nd Seminole War cost the American government more than the American Revolution in 1776 and still ended without a peace agreement. The descendants of the Seminole were never beaten by the Americans and were now regarded as the unconquered. They live today in the Big Cypress reservation with financially independent management.

The event was completed with a faithful replica of a natural Seminole village and a soldier’s camp with its typical tents and supplies dealers. All participants were dressed in historic costumes and sold the typical products of that time such as silver jewelry and leather clothing. Also wood carvings and medicine bags made of leather could be bought.

For interested visitors there was the opportunity to show their skills in ax throwing and archery. From these two "sports" ax throwing was certainly the more difficult. You need a special throwing technique and strength to put the ax on the target at 18 a feet distance and get stuck there. Most ax thrower had only after countless tries a successful hit.

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