Sandra Hale Schulman
Special to ICT
Billy Cypress, who served for more than 26 years as chairman of the Miccosukee Tribe, died on February 28 at age 74. The tribe did not confirm his cause of death, though sources said he had been battling cancer.
Cypress was first elected to the Miccosukee Business Council in 1973 and served for more than a decade before his election as chairman, making him the longest serving executive of the tribe, and one of the longest serving executive officials in the Western Hemisphere.
Cypress is survived by his sons, daughters, grandchildren, and his nieces and nephews.
Miami Mayor Daniella Cava said in a post, “I mourn the passing of Billy Cypress, a visionary and longtime Chairman of the Miccosukee Tribe. His decades of service transformed the Tribe, expanded its reach, and strengthened advocacy for our Everglades. My deepest condolences to his family and our Miccosukee community.”
During his tenure, Cypress oversaw the establishment of the tribes’ gaming operations, expanding the administrative departments, and became a leading advocate for the tribe and for the Everglades. The tribe’s reservation lands in Southeast Florida are mostly in swamp and sawgrass, vital sources of water filtration and wildlife. They derive much of their income from tourism and fishing licenses. The sole casino resort off the main highway hosts craft festivals.
“Many in South Florida first became aware of the tribe through his advocacy and outreach, who would be impossible to fully capture the breadth of his accomplishments and his lengthy 10-year in office,” said current Chairman Talbert Cypress in a post. Talbert Cypress is clan-related to Billy Cypress.
“The former chairman led fights in Congress and in the courts all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court,” Talbert Cypress continued. “He took on Big Sugar’s water pollution and established the first stringent pollution control standards in the Everglades, which resulted in billions of dollars in state and federal investment. He advocated tirelessly to restore historic flows and engineering flooding in the Everglades.
“He protected the right of the tribe to teach its young people in a traditional way. He brought tens of thousands of acres back into tribal control and re-established jurisdiction over areas of Everglades National Park that the tribe had been evicted from in the 1940s. He established the tribe’s first embassy and built diplomatic relationships with foreign nations, which led to the issuance of Miccosukee passports that were recognized by the same.
“And all Billy Cypress’s work in office set the standard for tribal self-determination and emphasized the importance of Miccosukee traditional practices as being ever more vital in today’s world.”
In testimony to Congress in 1997, Billy Cypress said, “We’re not asking for much. Just leave us alone and we’ll leave you alone. We’ll protect the environment, protect water quality, assist in Everglades’ restoration. Miccosukee’s hope to see just one law, yours and mine, and that we’re all equal under it together.”
Cypress is remembered by his friends and extended family as funny, charming, and lighthearted, though he took his role seriously as an elected official. He made traditional crafts and proudly wore the detailed rick rack shirts and jackets that are distinctive to the tribe.
Talbert continues that “He always made time to talk to family, friends, and his fellow tribal members. He was a great storyteller with an excellent memory, who loved to teach and share. He loved the tribe and all that it stands for, and his focus was always on the well-being of the tribal community as a whole. I worked with Chairman Billy Cypress on the business council for four years as the tribal secretary. He always recognized the honor it was to serve as chairman for our people, and he carried himself with a men’s pride.
When I was elected to serve as chairman in 2021, he was nothing but gracious and supportive. Whenever I saw him or spoke to him, I always made sure to refer to him as chairman. There are few who understand the responsibility of the seat, but only he served for almost 30 years. Chairman Billy Cypress, thank you for your humor, your dedication, and your service.”
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