Episode 192: Miccosukee Sovereignty, the Everglades, and a Forgotten Cold War Story

What does it mean to fight for your people—not on a battlefield, but in courtrooms, in capitals… and even on the global stage?

In this episode of Reckoning with Jason Herbert, I’m joined by filmmaker and Miccosukee storyteller Montana Cypress to talk about his powerful new film, Becoming Buffalo. At the center of the story is Buffalo Tiger—a man raised in the Everglades who would go on to lead his people into one of the most unlikely diplomatic moments in American history: a meeting with Fidel Castro during the Cold War.

But this conversation goes far beyond the film.

We dig into what it means to be Miccosukee—how culture, language, and community are rooted in the Everglades, and why that landscape is not just land, but lifeblood. We talk about the differences between the Miccosukee and Seminole tribes, the importance of preserving Indigenous language, and the weight of telling a story that many people—even within the community—didn’t grow up hearing. 

Montana opens up about stepping into the role of Buffalo Tiger, the responsibility of representing his people on screen, and the challenge of translating a deeply internal, cultural story to broader audiences. And along the way, we explore a larger truth:

Some of the most important battles in Native history weren’t fought with weapons—but with strategy, diplomacy, and an unshakable commitment to sovereignty. 

This is a story about identity. About survival. And about what it means to carry culture forward in a modern world.

If you’ve ever wondered about the real history of Florida, the Everglades, or Native sovereignty in America—this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Montana Cypress is a Los Angeles-based playwright, filmmaker and actor. Originally from the Miccosukee Tribe located in South Florida, he has studied acting at the NYC Stella Adler Conservatory, New York Film Academy Burbank Campus and UCLA’s Professional Acting Program. He is a three time winner of the Von Marie Atchley Excellence in Playwriting Award, winner of Best Native American Directed Short at Phoenix Film Festival and was runner-up at the National AT&T Create-A-Thon Contest held by Warner Brothers. His full length comedy stageplay “A Christmas In Ochopee” premiered in Minneapolis, MN produced by New Native Theatre. His documentary about alligator wrestling can be viewed on PBS North’s YouTube channel titled, “The Art of Gator Wrestling”. Montana continues to study all things related to theatre, cinema and acting.