Wednesday, April 11, 2007

The Seminole Tribe of Florida fought the U.S. Army in the 1800s and resisted
forced migration to Oklahoma. A century later, they rescued themselves from
poverty by becoming the first tribe to venture into the gambling business.
Now is the time for an ambitious new challenge - being the first American
Indian tribe to buy a global company. The Seminoles finished their $965
million purchase of Hard Rock International's restaurants, hotels and
related businesses from U.K.-based The Rank Group PLC on March 5. Its 3,300
members are now in the position to add to their already impressive wealth.
But the acquisition also speaks to something deeper, a respect for an
ancestry of "unconquered warriors" whose kin are motivated by history and
preserving their culture. "I don't think the measure of how much money comes
in to the tribe is the benchmark," tribe Vice Chairman Max Osceola said. "I
think the measurement is what you do with it. Money only buys convenience.
It doesn't buy character."