One of my most unique projects has been our cases on the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians, the longest historic inhabitants of the southeast Florida Everglades, located less than 30 miles from downtown Miami. A dark horse in the wide-ranging coalition of actors tackling systemic climate issues, the Miccosukee have become some of the most powerful advocates for environmental protection—championing sacred geological wonders like the Everglades with quiet, unwavering authority. In Florida, over 3 million people rely on the Everglades for fresh drinking water, pulled from the Biscayne Aquifer as rain flows slowly through the grassy wetlands and into the sea. In the 20th century, developers tried—and failed—to drain the swamps for suburban expansion. Instead, they revealed just how vital the Everglades are to Florida’s geography, ecology, and long-term resilience.

The Miccosukee’s roots in the Everglades run deep, tracing back to their resistance against forced relocation during the Seminole Wars. With intimate knowledge of the terrain, they made the wetlands home and evaded assimilation for generations. But by the early 2000s, new threats loomed—mineral rights, oil drilling, and corporate development encroaching on tribal lands. Our HBS case explores how Miccosukee leaders organized a multi-sector response: lobbying federal agencies, forging alliances with climate NGOs, and launching restoration initiatives to rehydrate and protect the land. It was powerful to see a sovereign tribe—small in number but rich in history—emerge as a force in real estate, science, policy, and climate leadership. Their story shows how cultural reverence, when paired with strategy and coalition-building, can drive serious environmental justice.