2003 Trail News
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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Trail PAID of LITTLE ROCK, AR Tears PERMIT 196 Association Trail of Trail News 1100 N.University, Suite 143 Tears Little Rock, AR 72207-6344 Association Partners Produce Draft Interpretive Plan One of the several action items identified ing on a long-range vision for trail-wide during the strategic plan for the Trail of interpretive programming that will take us Tears National Historic Trail (TRTE) in into the next five to ten years. The final Memphis last summer was the develop- CIP document is intended to define and ment of a Comprehensive Interpretive Plan guide the trail-wide interpretive program (CIP) for the Trail. The first step in devel- consistent with achieving the Trail’s goals oping that plan was taken this April when for interpretation—increasing people’s a group of partners gathered again in Memphis. Representatives from the tribes, “The comment period for the national office and state chapters of the CIP is June and July. Trail of Tears Association, researchers, the Don’t miss this opportunity National Trails System Office – Santa Fe, to provide your input!” Sharon Brown (left) and Kim Sikoryak (right) facili- the US Army Corps of Engineers, and the tate the CIP meeting in early April. USDA Forest Service spent two days work- understanding and appreciation of the sig- Completion of the draft CIP is scheduled nificance of the TRTE. EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA for early June. The draft will then be cir- INSIDE THIS ISSUE culated to a wide scope of Trail partners Interpretive Planners/Specialists, Kim for review. The comment period is June Sikoryak, from the National Park Service and July, with all feedback needed by • CIP Meeting......................... 1 Intermountain Regional Office in Denver, Message from Trail of Tears August 1, 2003. A core team will incorpo- Association President......... 2 rate the feedback and present the final $$$$ Challenge Cost-Shaarr e PPrr ogram - 2003 $$$$ Message from NPS plan at the Trail of Tears Association $$$$ $$$$ Superintendent................... 2 annual conference in Cherokee, North Advisory Council Ends........ 3 Carolina, October 6-9, 2003. As you read through the many Projects should support the resource protection, manage- Association Chapter projects mentioned in this programs and goals of the Trail ment, visitor use facilities, News................................. 4-5 newsletter, you might notice of Tears National Historic Trail interpretation, education, or Two Association Board The completed plan will guide the work of that quite a few are receiving as set forth in the Comprehen- research. Projects require a Members Pass Away........... 6 all Trail partners for the next decade. It is Association Board Meets... 6 an important step in helping us get even funding from the National sive Management and Use 50/50 match of Federal and Certified Trail Sites............. 7 closer to our vision for the Trail becoming Park Service Challenge Cost- Plan. non-Federal funding. How- Chapter Contacts................ 7 a reality. Take a close look at the draft doc- Share Program. Your project ever, the non-Federal match Association Office Update.. 8 Thomas Yahola (left) from the Muscogee (Creek) Interpretive Publications.... 8 Nation and Sue Folsom from the Choctaw Nation ument when it is circulated and don’t miss might qualify, too. Give us a Remember, Challenge Cost-Share can include the value of represent two of the four tribes that participated call and we can send you a funds are not a grant, but volunteer time and other in- 10th Anniversary of Trail in the CIP meeting. The other two tribes represent- this opportunity to provide your input! of Tears Association.....10-11 ed at the meeting were the Cherokee Nation and project proposal form and rather are funds for mutually- kind services, donated equip- Signing the Trail........... 12-13 the Chickasaw Nation. instructions. agreed-upon national historic ment and supplies, and so 2002 Conference Review...14 trail projects. forth. If you're not sure GIS Webpage .................... 15 and Sharon Brown from Santa Fe, facili- If you have a possible project, whether or not your project MPDF Up for Approval..... 15 tated the work group in compiling foun- Trail of Tears Exhibit contact John Conoboy by mail Site-specific projects can gener- will qualify, call us anyway, dational information for the Trail. This Award................................ 15 included formulating vision, purpose, and or phone (505-988-6733) right ally only be funded for certified and let's talk. Congressional meetings.... 16 significance statements; identifying pri- away. sites. Projects can be related to 2003 Conference Info....... 17 Chapter Evaluation mary interpretive themes; defining Trail Project proposals should be received Form............................. INSERT visitors and their expectations; defining at the National Trails System Office - Santa Fe goals for interpretation; and finally, identi- fying the steps needed to implement a Participants in the CIP meeting prioritize goals for by June 2, 2003. trail-wide interpretive program. interpreting the National Historic Trail. Newsletter of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Partnership • May 2003 - Number 2 A Message from the Trail of Tears Association President Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Advisory Council “Sunsets” My vision for the Trail of Tears National appeared in 1838-39. Interpretive waysides Duncan and Trail of Tears: A vivid image comes to mind nations removed at about the same time. his leadership, his dedication to the project, Historic Trail is to have numerous certified should also be placed here. Brett H. when I hear or read this phrase. When first This was an opportunity to educate the and his in-depth knowledge of the historical sites with interpretation all along the Riggs, identi- asked to represent Arkansas on the Trail of nation, and we wanted this to be a primary events, we could not have accomplished routes so that someone may travel the Congressman Zach Wamp held a meeting fies many Tears National Historic Trail Advisory focus of trail development. what we have to date. THANK YOU to all entire route without having to go a long on April 14 that brought together various Trail of Tears Council, I was hesitant because of the the Advisory Council members for your distance between sites. I believe that this groups with an interest in the Trail of sites in the images and sadness it brought to mind. But In the years that followed, the Advisory dedication and hard work! will happen within the next three to five Tears. Several counties in southeast East that it is difficult to tell your Governor, “No,” Council helped develop the Comprehensive years. Tennessee were represented, as well as are primarily when asked to represent him. (Especially if Management Plan,developed sitecertifica- Bobbie Heffington groups from Georgia and Alabama. associated you wish to continue to work!!!!!!!!!!) tion criteria, established the Trail of Tears The Northwest Arkansas Regional Various projects in that area include a new with the Association, and helped to monitor activities Advisory Council members: Planning Commission is working with var- interpretive center for Moccasin Bend beginning of Now, here we are 12 years later, with the in each state that might jeopardize any Dr. Duane King ious groups, including the Pea Ridge National Archeological Site, the Cherokee the Trail. Advisory Council’s work complete for the remaining parts of the original trail routes. Governor Anoatubby National Historic Park, Benton County Memorial at Blythe’s Ferry, and interpre- This book National Park Service. But for the members The Council members were advocates for Ms. Beverly T. Baker Historical Society, and the Trail of Tears tive exhibits in conjunction with the Jack Baker,President of the Trail shows what of the Council, our work has only just the trail in each state as well. There are Mr. Walter W. Baker Association, to form a “Friends of the Chattanooga Riverfront Development of Tears Association can be done begun. As members of the Trail of Tears now two major visitor centers with trail Mr. Jack Baker Heritage Trail” to recognize, mark, and Project. These projects, when completed, to identify and describe historical sites. I Association, I know we will continue to exhibits in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and in Ms. Jeannie Barbour promote trail sites in Benton and will make many more people aware of the look forward to the time when such a guid- work for what many of us have poured our Cherokee,NorthCarolina. And there are Mr. Ken Blankenship Washington counties, Arkansas, relating to story of the Trail of Tears, as well as pro- book is available for sites all along the Trail. hearts and souls into. plans for a video that can be used by all the Mr. H. Riley Bock the Civil War, the Butterfield Stage Route, viding destinations for those wishing to states for informational and promotional Dr. Frederick L. Briuer and the Trail of Tears. The Benton County retrace the Trail. I also pledge my support and that of the For a moment, let’s look back. The first purposes. Progress was slow, but progress Ms. Debra Charles Historical Society recently rededicated the Trail of Tears Association to identify and meeting of the Advisory Council was in has definitely been made. Mr. John Cook Cross Hollows Civil War Marker near Our Association members working with mark the Removal Trails of the Choctaw, Tahlequah, September 17-18, 1991. I was Mr. Bill Cunningham Lowell. This site was also a campsite for the National Park Service employees Muscogee (Creek), Chickasaw, and reticent about the meeting because I knew In 2002, the Advisory Council “sunset” Mr. David M. Dailey some of the removal detachments. It is (Steve Burns and Aaron Mahr) have been Seminole Nations. I look forward to the very little, if anything, had been done in and the NPS made the decision not to Mr.