Seminole Negro Indian Scouts Historical Society
Meet the Team
Sarah N. Johnson, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Sarah is the Society’s Founder and Executive Director; as such, she oversees all the Society’s research activities and sets its strategic priorities.
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Sarah is a sixth-generation direct descendant of Chiefs John Horse and Elijah Daniel, and founder of the Seminole Negro Indian Scout Historical Society. Her formal academic work focuses on peace, conflict resolution and displaced persons, all subjects which apply directly to her ancestry and the the cultural history and unique linguistics of the Black Seminoles. Dr. Johnson earned her doctorate in International Studies from The American University in Washington, DC
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Thomas A. Soule, PMP
Finance & Operations
Tom manages the Society’s finances and operations.
An experienced project manager in the fields of language instruction and curriculum development, he became interested in the Scouts when he learned about Afro-Seminole Creole, the language of the Black Seminoles. He has a special interest in understanding culture and society through the lens of language.
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​​Tom holds a BA in Classics (University of New Hampshire), an MA in Classics (Boston University), an MA in Education and Human Development (The George Washington University) and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®).
Natalie M. Johnson
Fundraising
Natalie is responsible for identifying grants and other funding opportunities for the Society. She has over twenty years' experience in the development field and in higher education administration, and has worked with a local humanities council.
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She is a a sixth-generation direct descendant of Chiefs John Horse and Elijah Daniel, and believes that the history of the Scouts and Black Seminoles is an important way for people to learn about the little-known, but immensely important, contributions that people of color have made to formation of the United States.
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Natalie has a B.A. from Trinity College (Washington, D.C.) and has undertaken graduate work at George Mason University.
Mary L.J. Sarazin
Primary Researcher
Mary researches intercultural dialogue and intercultural relationships. Her research interests include cultural heritage, identity and preservation, public policy, cultural intelligence, and history.
Her master’s thesis, Growing up Seminole: Policy, Perception and the Black Seminole Identity, examines the cultural preservation of the Black Seminoles of Texas in contemporary times. She was an invited researcher and participated on a panel discussion for the UNESCO/UNHRC Durban Human Rights Conference in 2009.
Mary, a a sixth-generation direct descendant of Chiefs John Horse and Elijah Daniel, has taught Intercultural Studies at Sorbonne University in Paris, France and is a playwright. Ms. Sarazin received her BA from Spelman College and her MA from New York University.
Katarina "Kato" Wittich
Primary Researcher
Kato has been conducting research on the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts for over twenty years. She has published multiple Black Seminole history articles online on various websites and is frequently cited as a resource by other researchers. She presented a paper on the History of the Scouts at Tuskegee University in 200. She is currently writing a fictional television series based on the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts. Ms. Wittich is a member of the Directors Guild of America and holds a BA from Yale University and an MFA in Film and Television from New York University.