(Miami, FL) April 6, 1999 — The now famous Miami Circle
will be the focus of a fundraising concert at Tobacco Road
on April 16, 1999 from 9:00 p.m. to closing. The "Save
the Circle Concert" will kickoff the fundraising
campaign to buy the property where this relic was found.
The benefit concert will feature local bands, a display
of Native American art, photos of the Miami Circle, celebrity
appearances and information booths about conservation, archeology
and Native American issues. All bands are donating their
time for this event and include: Circle of Stone; Dashboard
Saints; Vesper Sparrow; Second Nature; Teri Catlin; Rangelhart
and Native American drummers and dancers. Tobacco Road will
be donating 100% of the door and a percentage of beverage
sales to the Miami-Dade Miami Circle Trust. "This is
a very special event for us as we have a long history in
Miami and we are located near the Miami River within walking
distance from the Circle," said Patrick Gleber, owner
of Tobacco Road.
On March 16th Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penales
and County Manager, Merrett Stierheim, held a meeting with
the various groups working to save the Miami Circle. They
urged the groups to work together in fundraising and public
awareness. At the meeting there representatives from The
Historical Society, Dade Heritage Trust, Miami-Dade Mayor’s
office, Native Americans, Miami Circle supporters, Backus
Turner International and TribaLink International.
The ancient archeological site has been covered in every
major news media including CNN, NBC Today Show, The New
York Times, and Associated Press. The public outcry and
the plea of school children, as well as thousands of letters
written to public officials from President Clinton to Mayor
Penelas has stopped development on the site. An emergency
injunction filed by Miami-Dade County lawyers and the support
of Governor Bush and the Florida Cabinet has given Circle
supporters a ray of hope. The main focus now is raising
the money needed to purchase the land at the mouth of the
Miami River where the ancient Circle was found.
"Discovery of the Tequesta Indian Site Circle has presented
us with a unique opportunity to physically connect to our
past as we look towards our future. Such an opportunity
is indeed, quite rare and presents this community with an
awesome responsibility to do what is right while balancing
public policy interests. I would like to see the site preserved
for the many generations of Miami-Dade Countians," said
Mayor Penelas at the Task Force meeting on February 5th.
A court hearing regarding the Miami Circle is scheduled
for April 12 and 13 before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Fredricka
Smith.
TribaLink International is a news agency for Native American
issues and the environment and was one of the first groups
that broke this story to the national media. For more information
please contact Louis Mejia lmejia@the-beach.net
visit the Tribal Ink web address at www.tribalink.org
for all the latest details. Tobacco Road is located at 626
South Miami Ave. 305-374-1198 www.tobacco-road.com
Contributions are being received at the following address:
"Miami Circle Trust Fund" 111 NW 1st
St. Miami-Dade Office of Management and Budget, Suite 2710
Miami FL 33128. Attention: Terea Hebert. Please make checks
payable to Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners.
