Arpeika (medicine man)
Arpeika was a significant figure in the history of the Seminole Nation, believed to have been born in Georgia before migrating to Florida in the late 18th century. As a hillis haya, or medicine man, he was highly respected among the Seminoles and played a crucial role during a tumultuous period when the U.S. government sought to remove Native tribes to Indian Territory. Arpeika emerged as a military leader during the Second Seminole War (1835-1842), actively opposing removal and leading his warriors in several battles, all while cautioning other leaders against trusting American truces. Despite his advanced age, he managed to evade capture by U.S. forces by leading his band into the Everglades after the war. He continued to resist removal during the Third Seminole War (1855-1858), fighting alongside notable leaders like Billy Bowlegs. Notably, Arpeika was the only major Seminole leader to survive the Seminole Wars and remain in Florida. He passed away near Lake Okeechobee in 1860, with accounts suggesting he was around one hundred years old at the time of his death.
Arpeika (medicine man)
Category: Medicine man
Tribal affiliation: Seminole
Significance: Arpeika was the only Seminole leader successfully to resist removal to the West
Arpeika probably was born in Georgia and moved into Florida in the late eighteenth century as part of the migration of Creeks that created the Seminole Nation. A hillis haya, or medicine man, he became a revered figure among the Seminoles and was an ardent opponent of attempts by the U.S. government to remove the tribe to Indian Territory (modern Oklahoma). During the Second Seminole War (1835-1842) he became a military leader despite his advanced age, leading his warriors in a number of battles while unsuccessfully warning Osceola and other Seminole leaders not to trust the American flags of truce.
While most Seminoles were being removed to the West after the war, Arpeika led his band into the Everglades and eluded U.S. forces. In the Third Seminole War (1855-1858) he again fought to avoid removal, fighting beside Billy Bowlegs. The only major Seminole leader to survive the Seminole Wars and remain in Florida, Arpeika died of natural causes near Lake Okeechobee in 1860. He was thought to be one hundred years old.