HOLIDAY, Fla. — A song of hope and prayer is something the performers and native people are under the pavilion at Anclote River Park are passionate about because this place means a lot to them.
What You Need To Know
- Native American advocates held a prayer and demonstration at Anclote River Park in solidarity of the surrounding mounds at the park
- Pasco County approved a project last year that would create a restaurant at the park but Native American organizations are concerned that construction could harm the surrounding mounds
- According to a report earlier this year by the Tampa Bay Times, samples from the park had been taken but hadn’t shown any evidence of burials in the area
- Robert Rosa, chairman of the American Indian Movement of Florida, wrote a letter to the county in August saying his organization will be watching developments related to this project
“We want to respect that they’re there and respect everything that’s going on,” said Robert Rosa, chairman of the American Indian Movement of Florida.
On Indigenous People’s Day, Rosa is advocating for a Native American mound in the park to be preserved.
“We’re here to bring a lot of awareness to the tragedies and everything that’s going on in Indigenous communities,” he said.
And he claims one of those tragedies could come in the form of potential construction at Anclote River Park.
The plan for the park, which was approved by the county in August of 2022, includes putting a new restaurant in between the beach and the boat ramp.
In August of this year, Rosa sent a letter to the county saying they’d be watching developments to make sure sacred parts of the park were maintained.
“It’s very important that people understand these are our ancestors and they deserve to be left in peace,” Rosa said.
They want this place to remain peaceful and the sage they’re burning in this demonstration is supposed to create that peace.
“It’s our responsibility as indigenous people today to protect those ancestors that came before us,” said Betty Osceola, one of the people participating in the demonstration.
Osceola is a member of the Miccosukee tribe with ancestral ties to this part of Florida.
She says this responsibility means a lot which is why she’s grateful to see people here in solidarity.
“To see people come out and recognize the significance and willing to speak up to protect these areas along with the indigenous people, it does mean a lot to us,” Osceola said.
So far, there’s been no construction at the park that we can see.
If folks, like Rosa have their way this place will be preserved as long as possible.
“We don’t know what to expect but we refuse to be silent any longer,” Rosa said.
On Indigenous People’s Day, the songs sung here are piercing the silence at this beautiful park.
Bay News 9 reached out to Pasco County’s media relations team Monday afternoon for the latest developments of the project at Anclote River Park but, so far, haven’t heard back.
In February, the Tampa Bay Times reported that samples from the park had been taken but hadn’t shown any evidence of burials in the area.
