Secretary of State Cord Byrd honors Pedro Zepeda with the 2025 Florida Folk Heritage Award for his dedication to Seminole traditional arts

Tallahassee, Florida – Florida’s rich cultural heritage will be celebrated in 2025 through the recognition of one of the state’s most dedicated tradition bearers. Secretary of State Cord Byrd announced today that Pedro Zepeda, a master folk artist and educator specializing in traditional Seminole arts, is the recipient of the 2025 Florida Folk Heritage Award. The award honors individuals and advocates who have made long-standing contributions to Florida’s folklife, ensuring that the state’s unique cultural resources are preserved, celebrated, and passed on to future generations.

“This award means so much to me and my community,” Zepeda said in a statement reflecting on his decades-long dedication to Seminole traditional arts. Secretary Byrd echoed the sentiment, praising Zepeda for his dedication to preserving and advancing the art of Seminole dugout canoes. “The Florida Department of State is proud to honor Pedro for his commitment to preserving and advancing the art of Seminole dugout canoes. His contributions have led to a greater appreciation and recognition of Seminole traditional arts and artists in our state,” Byrd said.

Pedro Zepeda’s journey in folk arts began in his formative years growing up within a traditional Seminole community. Guided by the teachings of family members such as his grandmother, Tahama Osceola, his brother, Brian Zepeda, and Medicine Man Ingram Billie Jr., he learned to master a range of Seminole craft traditions. While skilled in many disciplines, Zepeda has dedicated much of his career to dugout canoe carving, a craft with centuries of cultural significance. Using only an adze and sourcing naturally fallen Cypress trees, Zepeda produces dugout canoes in the traditional Seminole style, a practice that preserves a historical method of transportation integral to the Seminole way of life.

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Beyond his artistic work, Zepeda has served as a tireless cultural advocate and educator, teaching both members of the Seminole community and the wider public. Since 2005, he has been a demonstrator and educator at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum on the Big Cypress Seminole Reservation, eventually assuming the role of Traditional Arts Coordinator. In this capacity, he provides hands-on education, leads workshops, and curates programs that allow museum visitors to gain deeper insights into Seminole culture and artistry.

Zepeda’s influence extends beyond Florida as well. His work has been featured in institutions such as the Collier County Museum, History Fort Lauderdale, and HistoryMiami Museum. He has also participated in significant cultural events including the Florida Folk Festival, Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. Notably, he served as Artist-In-Residence at HistoryMiami in 2019, a testament to his national recognition as a master folk artist and advocate for Seminole traditions.

The Florida Folk Heritage Awards, administered through the Florida Folklife Program, recognize artists and advocates who demonstrate excellence, authenticity, and significance in traditional arts. Established in 1985, the awards parallel the National Heritage Fellowships and aim to honor those who have dedicated their lives to maintaining Florida’s folklife traditions. Recipients are selected based on public nominations and recommendations from the Florida Folklife Council, ensuring that awardees reflect the community’s appreciation for living cultural heritage.

The Florida Folklife Program, a part of the Department of State’s Division of Arts and Culture, has documented and presented Florida’s folklife since 1979. Supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the program promotes awareness of traditional culture through exhibitions, demonstrations, publications, and educational outreach. By recognizing artists like Zepeda, the program not only preserves historical traditions but also encourages cultural continuity and community engagement.

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Zepeda’s recognition underscores the importance of folk arts in connecting communities to their shared histories and cultural identities. Through teaching, demonstrations, and active advocacy, he ensures that Seminole art forms are not only remembered but remain a vibrant, living part of Florida’s cultural landscape. His work exemplifies the values the Florida Folk Heritage Award seeks to celebrate: dedication, skill, and the unyielding commitment to nurturing traditional arts for generations to come.

The 2025 Florida Folk Heritage Award will be presented at a ceremony in conjunction with the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, an event that annually honors the state’s most influential artists and cultural leaders. As the state recognizes Zepeda’s accomplishments, his story serves as an inspiring reminder of how one individual’s dedication can preserve and elevate centuries-old traditions, fostering pride and appreciation for Florida’s diverse cultural heritage.

For more information about the Florida Folklife Program and the Folk Heritage Awards, including how to nominate future recipients, visit flheritage.com/folklife or contact Program Director Dominick Tartaglia at 850-245-6482.