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 had a long tribal history of inhabitance in the Everglades, marked by hiding from European conquest—navigating the land through memorized channels and largely avoiding assimilation until the mid-20th century. In the early 2000s, oil companies began to size up the Everglades for mineral extraction and potential drilling. This became the focus of our HBS case: examining how the Miccosukee organized across community stakeholders to fend off drilling attempts, protecting their historic land in the process. It was fascinating to consider the rise of Native American tribes as modern-day stakeholders—not just in environmental protection, but in real estate, science, and public policy—as leading Miccosukee figures and tribal representatives are finding success advancing the role of tribes as reverends for the outdoors, social equity, and environmental justice.