William J. Popeye Osceola

William J. “Popeye” Osceola taught language, culture, and digital arts at the Miccosukee Indian School before he was elected Secretary of the Miccosukee Business Council in 2021. As the grandson of past-Chairman Billie Cypress, Popeye watched the Tribal government grow and evolve from his time in grade school until his time in office. In his early thirties, he is the Council’s youngest member, balancing tradition and modernity with a creative flair. He was born in Florida and raised in different camps inside the Reservation. When he was 5 years old, his family moved to Connecticut. Living there for 7 years gave him an in-depth perspective on the outside world and increased his appreciation for his Tribal community upon his return.

As an executive branch official of a federally-recognized and sovereign Native nation, Secretary Osceola is committed to ensuring that the Miccosukee Tribal community is engaged in the work of building a collaborative and democratic government, which can meaningfully respond to citizens’ concerns about the environment, education, infrastructure, language preservation, and support the goals and dreams of his constituency. Secretary Osceola’s work in office has focused on cultivating the next generation of Tribal leaders and ensuring that every Tribal citizen has the space, resources, and services they need to thrive.