Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Trail Trail News of Tears Association Wamp Introduces Legislation for Inclusion of Additional Routes by Aaron Mahr and Jerra Quinton On Friday, February 8, 2008, U. S. Rep. Zach In November, the National Park Service Wamp had 20 co-sponsors for the bill, Wamp of Tennessee introduced legislation National Trails System office completed the including: Robert Aderholt and Robert (H.R. 5335) that would add 2,800 miles to feasibility study and environmental assess- Cramer of Alabama; Marion Berry, John the existing Trail of Tears National Historic ment for the additional routes of the Trail of Boozman, and Vic Snyder of Arkansas; Trail. The proposed additions are the Benge Tears National Historic Trail. As of early Nathan Deal, Phil Gingrey, and Tom Price January, the study of Georgia; Ed Whitfield of Kentucky; Jo was under review by Ann Emerson of Missouri; Heath Shuler of the NPS Director's North Carolina; Dan Boren, Tom Cole, office. After that is completed, the “Through this legislation, we Department of will honor the historic foot- Interior and the steps taken by the Cherokee, Office of document their courage and Management and highlight their character as a Budget must approve it before it is submit- great tribe of strong people. ” ted to Congress for consideration. Mary Fallin, Frank Lucas, and John Sullivan of Oklahoma; and Stephen Cohen, Lincoln The feasibility study, Davis, John Duncan, and John Tanner of which is actually an Tennessee. Photo courtesy of Duane King amendment to the Trail of Tears Association board members Duane King (second from left) and Troy original 1986 Trail of During the week of February 11, 2008, Trail Poteete (second from right) and staff members Jerra Quinton (far left) and Paul Austin (far right) meet with Congressman Zach Wamp (center) in Washington, D.C., Tears Feasibility of Tears Association board members Troy on February 12, 2008, to talk about the Trail of Tears legislation he just intro- Study, addressed the Poteete and Duane King and staff Paul duced, which would add 2800 miles to the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. desirability and feasi- Austin and Jerra Quinton met with bility of designating See LEGISLATION, page 6 and Bell Routes; the land components of the Bell Route, the Benge Route, the land INSIDE THIS ISSUE the designated water routes in Alabama, components of the water detachment routes, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee; the the roundup routes, the disbandment routes, • TOTA President’s Message............... 2 routes from the collection forts in Alabama, and associated camp sites, as part of the • NPS Superintendent’s Message....... 2 Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee to Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. The • TOTA Chapter News.................... 3-5 the emigration depots; and the related study concluded that all of the above com- • Conoboy Retires............................. 6 campgrounds located along these routes ponents met the criteria of the national • SRC Research Day........................... 7 and land components. In addition, the bill Trails System Act and that there was public • Historic Trails Workshop.................. 7 has extensive private property rights protec- support and interest in them. Ultimately, it • Passport Program............................ 7 tions. The bill has been referred to the will be up to Congress to determine whether • IMLS Museum Program Grant........ 9 Committee on Natural Resources, and they will become part of the National • Smithsonian Visit........................... 10 Congressman Wamp’s office is pushing for Historic Trail. Keep tuned! For more infor- • TOTA Conference...........................11 enactment of the bill by this summer. mation visit www.nps.gov/trte and link to • Austin Takes New Position..............11 the Additional Routes Feasibility Study. • Trail Calendar................................. 11 Newsletter of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Partnership • March 2008 - Number 12 Trail of Tears Association President’s Message Trail of Tears Association State Chapter News On behalf of the National Association, these efforts will make for a much more has been an Georgia Kentucky North Carolina I would like to express our appreciation to meaningful experience for all visitors to the impetus for The Georgia chapter has a new leadership The Radford Farm certification was The North Carolina chapter met on the Georgia chapter and particularly the Trail. Further, this may well be the year that many of us to team with Jeff Bishop and Leslie Thomas received by owners in October 2007 and October 6th and on January 12th. The conference planning committee for making the Trail routes are expanded by Congress! increase our taking office as president and vice-presi- announced at the annual TOTA conference October meeting was held at the Cherokee our Annual Conference and Symposium a commitment dent, respectively. Bishop, an award-win- in Rome, Georgia, by John Conoboy of the Historical Association building in Cherokee great success. All of your hard work was It is with regret that we accept the resigna- to the Trail. ning journalist, served as vice-president of National Trails System – Santa Fe office of and was scheduled to coincide with the apparent from planning the receptions and tion of Paul Austin as our Executive We wish him the Georgia chapter last year and just fin- the NPS. The Kentucky chapter wishes John annual Cherokee Fall Fair. The program trips to the abundance of great door prizes. Director. Much of the advancement that the very best ished a Challenge Cost-Share report on the the best in his retirement. was presented by Dr. Hartwell Francis, a Thanks for a great conference! the Trail has seen in the last few years is a in his new John Ross House for the National Park linguist with the Cherokee Studies program direct result of Paul’s work and leadership. position as Service. Thomas has been in charge of the A follow-up planning meeting on Mantle at Western Carolina University. His presen- This year should be a great year for the Trail Paul was instrumental in the organization of director of chapter’s newsletter, Moccasin Tracks, for Rock public use was held on January 29th, tation focused on the Cherokee language of Tears National Historic Trail. All of the the Trail of Tears Association in 1993. It was the Arkansas Photo courtesy of Cherokee Nation the past several years as Publicity Chair. She in Paducah. Among those in attendance revitalization projects in North Carolina. chapters have been working diligently to his willingness to accept the responsibility Humanities Jack Baker, President of the Trail of also serves as president of the Gilmer were NPS staff Aaron Mahr, Steve Burns locate and preserve Trail sites. Many of the of housing the Association’s office at the Tears Association Council. We County Historical Society. and Andrea Sharon. Also participating were The January meeting was held in Murphy, projects are beginning to come to fruition. American Indian Center that enabled the are not saying goodbye, however, as we David Pollock and Tressa Brown of the with a presentation by Dr. David Cozzo on I believe that this year there will be a great Association to grow. Without their main- expect to see you, Paul, at many of our Big projects for 2008 include: Kentucky Heritage Council and Kentucky the revitalization of traditional Cherokee deal of progress made in the development taining our financial and membership meetings and look forward to your continu- • “TOTAbase,” an online cooperative chapter members Beverly Baker, Ann Day, arts and crafts. Dr. Cozzo, an ethnob- of sites all along the Trail. This will include records it would have been very difficult for ing support of the organization. research database for chapter members. Carla Hildebrand, Alice Murphree, Ann otanist, is working with the Eastern Band of additional signage, development of Trail the Association to function. Even more The online database, to which members Read, and Shelly Morris, also a representa- Cherokee Indians to promote resource segments and more wayside exhibits. All of important, his dedication to the Association Jack D. Baker will regularly contribute, will include tive for the Nature Conservancy, which preservation used in traditional basket and period maps, photographs, plats, valua- owns the Mantle Rock property. carving production. Among these resources tions, newspaper clippings, and other are river cane, white oak, and blood root. documents to assist in the documentation and NPS certification of Removal-related The chapter continues to be involved in the National Trails System Office Superintendent’s Message sites and routes. production and placement of signs which • A February 16th research workshop at indicate sites involved in the 1838 removal. We’re in a time of significant change in the port, kindness, and decency the staff has and someone who possesses all the quali- New Echota. This project has been directed and execut- National Trails System office in Santa Fe. As shown, and my thanks go out to each of ties I believe will make her a superb trail • The opening of wayside exhibits at a ed by Brett Riggs, Ph.D., of the University all of you know, Superintendent Jere them. partner and leader. Dr. Frank Norris, a Cedartown public park, the former site of of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. Rodney Krakow ended his long and distinguished regional historian in the NPS office in National Park Service, Nature Conservancy, and a Removal camp. Kentucky Heritage Commission staff recently visited Snedeker, archaeologist for the National career in the National Park Service in early Other significant challenges have occurred Anchorage, Alaska, has accepted the posi- • An NPS Challenge Cost-Share to perform the Mantle Rock site to begin site planning for Forests in North Carolina, has been helpful Jnuary of 2007. Following Jere’s departure, in the last eight months. In the fall, John tion of historian in the trails office.