2012 Trail News
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Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Trail News Commemorative Bicycle Tours Catch On with Two Other Tribes Article by Jeff Bishop the way is Mantle Rock, she said, near where really appreciated what they endured to thousands of Cherokees camped while they leave a lasting legacy of the best of the Three years ago, Cherokee Nation Chief waited for ice in the river to melt so they human spirit, and to not only survive in their Chad Smith and a group of young bicyclists could continue their journey to the West. new lands but to thrive against all odds,” said decided to reignite the “Remember the participant Stuart Winlock. Removal” bicycle ride, retracing the Such rides commemorating the Indian Northern Route of the Trail of Tears. The removals of the early 19th century have The fi rst Choctaw Nation bicycle team to fi rst Remember the Removal ride was in been catching on with the other federally traverse the Choctaw Trail of Tears included 1984. recognized tribes as well. On May 21 a Johnnie Anderson; Greg and Mary Barrs; number of citizens of the Choctaw Nation, Billy Eagle Road II and III; Nikki, Jordan and The ride was revived in 2009 and has along with one Cherokee citizen and one Teresa Eagle Road; Roy and Tammy Griffi th; become an annual event aimed at educating Kiowa citizen, completed a 4-state, 6-day, Cheyenne Murray; Dean and Melanie younger generations about the Trail of Tears. 434-mile trip from Philadelphia, Mississippi, Lanning; Tracie Lake; Nancy Jeff erson; Sarah Holcomb has been along for every ride to Talihina, Oklahoma. Brian and Brianna Johnston; Tony Stoltzfus; since then. Donna and Phillip Tawkoyty; MaryAyn and “The ride was an experience of a lifetime, Eli Tullier; and Stuart Winlock. “I just really enjoy it,” she said as she and as I rode the same paths that my prepared to leave from the New Echota ancestors had trod many years before, I State Historic Site. Her favorite site along See BIKE RIDES, page 11 INSIDE THIS ISSUE • Missouri Sign Dedication................. 2 • Coopertown Signs........................... 2 • Traveling Trunks for Teachers............ 3 • History Center Lecture Series........... 3 • National Historic Trails Workshop..... 4 • Guntersville TOT Exhibit................... 5 • New Echota Anniversary.................. 5 • TOTA Chapter News.................... 6-9 • Off cial Map & Guide....................... 8 • Illinois Tour of TOT..........................11 • Alabama Tornado.......................... 14 • Tommy Cox Award........................ 14 • Nancy Ward Musical...................... 15 photo by Jeff Bishop • National Register Listing................ 15 Local bicyclists in Macon, Georgia, show their support by joining Muscogee (Creek) citizen John Beaver as he begins his journey home to Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Newsletter of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Partnership • June 2012 – Number 19 Missouri Dedicates 30 Signs in Greene County Grant to TOTA’s GA Chapter To Provide “Traveling Trunks” for State Schools By Jackie Warfel Bodenhamer. Recognized for their work Article and photo by Jeff Bishop standards. The Trail of Tears Association March by Mary Louis Fitzpatrick, and … on this Cherokee Trail of Tears project were is also increasingly sought out to provide If You Lived With the Cherokee by Peter and The unveiling and dedication of 30 Trail The Georgia chapter of the Trail of Tears Steven Bodenhamer, Neal Lopinot, Jackie presentations at various national, state, Connie Roop. of Tears signs across rural Greene County, Association received word from the Georgia Warfel, and Ryan Zweerink. county, and local parks and historic sites, Missouri, was held at the Sports Complex Humanities Council recently that it has especially during Native American Heritage Mountable images and maps, a copy of the east of Straff ord on Saturday, April 7, 2012. been approved for a $4,000 Trail of Tears Also present were representatives from the Month each November, and also on offi cial National Park Service Trail of Tears This location at Historic Route 66 and Farm “traveling trunks” development project. offi ces of U. S. Senators Roy Blunt (who important days of commemoration, such as DVD, a mining pan, a turtle rattle, craft Road 249 marked the location where the This grant is in addition to a $5,000 grant would read an extension of remarks to the upcoming 175th anniversary of the Trail supplies, copies of reproductions of the Cherokee Trail of Tears entered Greene secured earlier this year from the Tillotson Congress the following Monday to make the of Tears in 2013. Cherokee Phoenix newspaper and Cherokee County. Greene County is the fi rst county Foundation by Trail of Tears Association event a part of the Congressional Record) Constitution, and a copy of the Cherokee in Missouri to locate and mark the actual volunteer Bill Barker to place signage for the and Claire McCaskill, Superintendent photo by Glenn Jones Despite the continued requests, the Georgia Syllabary are examples of other items that historic route. Trail of Tears “original route” in Chattooga Ted Hilmer of Wilson’s Creek National National Trails System Intermountain Region chapter has thus far had neither the funding may be included. Lesson plans will be County, Georgia. Battlefi eld, Northern Stone County Superintendent Aaron Mahr (left) and Greene nor the resources to develop a range of age- National Park Service Superintendent County Historic Sites Board Chair David Eslick speak Commissioner Jim Huy, Greene County at the Greene County dedication of a wayside panel appropriate lesson plans and presentations See TRAVELING TRUNKS, page 12 Aaron Mahr from Santa Fe, New Mexico, “We’re thrilled to be able to stretch our Presiding Commissioner David Coonrod, about the Cherokee removal. to meet these educational standards. This was the featured speaker. Other featured limited funding resources in this way, and and TOTA’s Arkansas Chapter Vice new grant funding should help correct that. speakers included Greene County we’re very thankful to both the Tillotson President Glenn Jones. The Missouri House Following the unveiling of the historic signs Traveling trunks for teachers will be Commissioners Jim Viebrock, Harold Foundation and to the Georgia Humanities of Representatives also sent a framed there was an auto caravan across Greene developed by Dr. Donna Myers, president of Bengsch, and Roseann Bentley; and Greene Council for this assistance,” said President proclamation obtained by Speaker Pro Tem County, led by Jackie Warfel. The group the Friends of New Echota, in consultation History Center To Preview County Historic Sites Board Chairman Jeff Bishop. Shane Schouler. stopped at portion of the orignal route that New Exhibit through David Eslick and Vice Chairman Steven is on the Ozark Greenway Trail. “The Trail of Tears is an important story Lecture Series and this funding will go a long way toward A reception, hosted by Battlefi eld City helping us to tell it, in consultation with the The Chattanooga History Center Administrator Rick Hess, was held at the National Park Service and the Cherokee (CHC) will present the firs t lecture in newly renamed Cherokee Trail of Tears Nation and other tribal groups,” he said. a special preview series, Gallery Talks, park near Battlefi eld City Hall, which held The Tillotson Foundation grant funds have at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 26th. an exhibit by Cherokee Master Heritage already been received, and the Georgia The series will examine each gallery Artist Talmadge Davis. Following the Humanities Council will award 90 percent visitors’ encounter with the center’s reception, Superintendent Mahr unveiled of the grant funds right away, but there are new exhibit, scheduled to open next the interpretive signs installed at Cherokee a few requirements that go along with the year. Each preview will stand as an Trail of Tears park. fund request, Bishop said. independent program. The fi rst is The Cherokee Nation: Struggle for All attending were given a handout with Georgia curriculum performance standard Donna Myers, Ph.D., speaks to the Georgia chapter Sovereignty. The History Center’s maps showing the route of the Trail of Tears about the traveling trunks for teachers she is SS8H5 requires that Georgia students Executive Director and Historian Dr. across Greene, Christian, Stone, and Barry developing in consultation with the chapter and demonstrate an ability to “analyze events native tribes. Daryl Black will present the program. Counties and into Arkansas and Oklahoma that led to Cherokee removal in Georgia,” Space is limited and pre-registration that included written driving instructions photo courtesy of David Eslick including the roles played by Andrew is required by Monday, June 25th. To The Missouri chapter unveils 1 of 30 Trail of Tears signs erected in Greene County, Missouri, in early April. and GPS coordinates of the route. with TOTA and the native tribes. The Jackson, William McIntosh, Sequoyah, register, call 423-265-3247. traveling trunks will be used to support John Ross, the Dahlonega Gold Rush, John Georgia performance standards concerning Marshall and the Supreme Court decision This program will discuss the core American Indian histories and cultures and Original Route Signs Erected in Coopertown, TN of Worcester v. Georgia, and the Trail of story that backs up the content of the also to meet a perceived growing demand Tears. Georgia performance standard SS8H1 fi rst gallery in the new CHC exhibit for information from the public related On June 9th, the town of Coopertown, The unveiling