Marriage, Clan and Family

Each Seminole Indian born of a Seminole mother is a member of her "Clan" which is a traditional extended family unit. After marriage husbands traditionally goes to live in the wife's clan camp. Each clan is characterized by a non-human entity with which is shares many traits, such as strenght, courage, or endurance. There are eight Seminole clans, these are: Panther, Bear, Deer, Wind, Bigtown, Bird, Snake, and Otter.

A clan member is not supposed to marry within their clan. Children inherit the clan of the mother. One must be at least a quarter Seminole in order to qualify as a tribal member. When the last female in a clan dies, the clan is considered extinct. Several historical clans, including Alligator, are now extinct. The Panther clan is the largest clan in today's Seminole Tribe of Florida.

American Anthropology Association

Steel, Willard.

       N.d. Seminole Tribe of Florida - Culture, Clan. Electronic Document,

             http://www.semtribe.com/Culture/Clans.aspx, accessed April 8.