Susie Billie, 1900-2002

Susie Billie was a healer and medicine woman of the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation. Billie received most of her training in folk medicine from her grandfather and uncle, who were medicine men of the tribe. Her knowledge included herb gathering and identification, natural cures, physical and spiritual healing, and the use of medicine songs. Billie received a Florida Folk Heritage Award in 1985. She participated twice as a master artist in the Florida Folklife Apprenticeship Program, passing her knowledge on to her daughter Agnes Cypress and to Mary Johns.