16. Commemorating the Mocamas

“Commemorating America’s French Heritage” National Park Service Display

A French Memorial in the Replica Fort A photo of the National Park Service display commemorating the deaths of the French colonists at Fort Caroline. No mention of the Mocama people who built, sustained, and dissolved the Fort Caroline project. Source: Center for Instructional and Research Technology (CIRT), University of North Florida, and the National Park Service Creator: Michael Boyles (photo), the National Park Service at the Fort Caroline National Memorial (display) Date: 2023

The Mocamas never gave up their territory or political power - their sovereignty – to the French, the Spanish, or any other outside power. In the 1680s, for example, Parucusi Merenciana -the high chief of the Mocamas - informed the Spanish that Cumberland and Amelia islands belonged to her people as they had to their ancestors.

We honor the Mocama people on whose utimile (homeland) Fort Caroline briefly stood. Their history began thousands of years before the French and Spanish arrived, and continues to this very day. The Muscogee (Creek) Nation and Seminole Tribe of Florida claim the Mocamas among their ancestors.

To learn more about the Mocamas, and ongoing Mocama archaeology and history projects run by UNF faculty and students follow indigenousflorida.domains.unf.edu.

Audio

Commemorating the Mocamas Audio Narration This is an audio narration for this stop on the Indigenous Fort Caroline Tour. Source: Department of History, Center for Instruction and Research Technology (CIRT), University of North Florida Creator: Amarilys Sánchez Date: 2024

Images

Commemorating America's French Heritage NPS Display A still image of "Commemorating America's French Heritage" National Park Service wayside display located inside of the Fort Caroline National Memorial. Source: National Park Service Creator: The National Park Service at the Fort Caroline National Memorial

Indigenous Fort Caroline Tour Map A map displaying the physical locations associated with each tour spot. You are now at Spot 16 in front of the “Commemorating America’s French Heritage” National Park Service display located inside of the Fort Caroline replica. Our path takes you from the Main Parking Lot, past the Timucuan Preserve Visitor Center, overlooking the river, along the Fort Caroline Memorial Trail, to the actual replica of Fort Caroline. Source: Center for Instructional and Research Technology (CIRT), University of North Florida, and the National Park Service Creator: Michael Boyles and the National Park Service at the Fort Caroline National Memorial Date: 2023

Location

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Metadata

Official Website

indigenousflorida.domains.unf.edu

Citation Info

Indigenous Florida, “16. Commemorating the Mocamas,” Indigenous Florida, accessed October 4, 2024, https://indigenousflorida.domains.unf.edu/items/show/49.