Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Visit Trail News www.NationalTOTA.org for conference registration Cherokee Youth Feel Some of Ancestors’ Pain during Bike Ride by Will Chavez, Senior Reporter forcibly removed, but going through “a Organizers said the ride was meant Cherokee Phoenix fraction of the suff ering” they endured made to provide participants the chance to him appreciate his heritage more. experience Cherokee history personally The bicyclists who rode nearly 1,000 miles and help understand the strength of their through six states learned leadership, The bonds the group formed helped make ancestors. teamwork and Cherokee history, but they the trip successful, Nelson said. also shared some of their ancestors’ pain. This is the third tribally sponsored group “You get to be family pretty quickly,” he said. to make the trip. The fi rst “Remember Although the pain was physical, the challenges “There were defi nitely hard parts, through the Removal” ride was in 1984. The ride were mental, said most of the bicyclists who the mountains of Tennessee…but we was revived in 2009 to mark the 25th endured the third “Remember the Removal” worked pretty well together.” anniversary of the 1984 event. Riders age ride. The ride retraced the northern route of 16 to 36, representing eight communities, the Trail of Tears. The ride was the “hardest thing” 18-year-old participated in this year’s trip. Ashley Johnson, of Claremore, said she has ever experienced, but she had “a lot of fun” Sierra Carson, 18, of Welling, said she doing it. learned more about the Trail of Tears and wants more people to know about it. “It was totally worth it, but there were days I just wanted to get off my bike and just go “It was really hard, but I got a real sense of home,” she said. “I learned so much about pride in my ancestry and being Cherokee,” myself and my heritage. I’m proud to be Carson said. “It was hot, and no hill is just Cherokee.” a hill when you’re on a bike, but it was awesome.” Johnson also said the people she traveled with for three weeks are like family now. The oldest rider, 36-year-old Nathan Smith, photo courtesy of Cherokee Phoenix of Westville, refl ected on a particularly hard “Remember the Removal” cyclists make their way up a hill east of Stilwell, Oklahoma, on June 23 on Cherokee Nation marshal Danny Tanner, day in his blog. their way to Tahlequah. who accompanied the riders, said he admired See BIKE RIDE, page 6 how the riders and their personalities came together to complete the trip. Ten Cherokee students and four chaperones INSIDE THIS ISSUE set out June 5 from Calhoun, Ga., and rode “We were wondering at fi rst if they were through Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, even going to make it. About a week in, they • Cox, Baker Remembered............. 2 Missouri, Arkansas and back to Tahlequah. seemed to all fall into together and knew • Unaka Exhibit Dedication............. 3 They returned June 23 to a homecoming what their job was and their mission and • TOTA Chapter News.................... 4-5 celebration at the Cherokee Nation they accomplished that,” he said. Courthouse. • National Historic Trails Workshop.. 6 Tanner provided fi rst aid after bicycle • Surface Transportation Project..... 8-9 Jordan Nelson, 21, of Stillwater, said the accidents, insect stings and when riders got ride was an “amazing journey” that made too hot. He also drove a security vehicle, • TOTA Conference Info..............10-11 him appreciate Cherokee history more. He changed fl ats and repaired bicycles. said he knew of some ancestors who were Newsletter of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Partnership • July 2010 - Number 16 TOTA Remembers Cox, Baker for Long-time Championing of Trail Partners Gather to Unveil New Trail of Tears Exhibit Panel in North Carolina In March of this year, the Trail of Tears board member and former Georgia chapter In Beverly’s own words from an article in by Alan Keith, Unaka Community Development Club possible include Cherokee County, the Association suff ered its first loss with the president the February 2005 edition of this newsletter: director of the Cherokee County Chamber Unaka is a community of 1,200, located 15 passing of Tommy Cox, former president of “These past 19 years have been a great of Commerce, Cherokee Scout (the local miles north of Murphy in Cherokee County, the Georgia chapter and former member of “Tommy Cox was a mighty warrior with experience and learning opportunity. newspaper), Cherokee One Feather (the North Carolina, at the intersection of Joe the national TOTA board. Along with wife a good heart. We were once having a What began as a local historic preservation EBCI newsletter), WKRK radio station Brown Highway and Beaverdam Road. Kathy, Tommy supported the Association for conversation about the TOTA and the work eff ort soon opened my eyes to the greater (along with a personal endorsement of For centuries, the Unicoi Turnpike was the over a decade. that we do. He stressed to me that we must potential…. The removal of the Cherokee radio personality Bill Younce), the Cherokee principle trade route that connected the never forget those who were a part of the people, as well as the other civilized tribes, County Sheriff ’s Department, Wells and eastern seaboard of the southern states to To share Trail of Tears and preserve their memory. His means a great deal to the history of this West, the Tennessee Overhill Heritage land west of the Appalachian Mountains. with readers dedication and commitment to the TOTA’s nation. It must be preserved! I will be able to Association, the Benton MacKaye Trail The events of 1838 resulted in a new name the impact work was and is an inspiration to me.” – work on this for many years to come.” And Association, and many others. for the turnpike – the Trail of Tears. Much that Tommy Myra Reidy, Georgia chapter member that she did until her death. of modern Joe Brown Highway follows had on his Guest speakers drove hours to be part of The Wachessee Town exhibit panel, located in front sections of the Trail of Tears. That part colleagues “When Tommy became GA TOTA president Here are some expressions from Beverly’s the program. T. J. Holland, director of the of the Unaka Community Center, provides informa- tion on the importance of the town’s role in in the Trail following a diff cult period in the chapter’s colleagues. Junaluska Museum in Robbinsville and a Cherokee removal. of Tears history, he unif ed the board and infused it citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Association, and the membership with his optimistic and “It is with sadness that we learn of Ms. Indians, spoke to attendees about early many of those good-hearted personality. Everyone loved Baker’s death. She was one of the old- Cherokee life and Wacheessee in particular. complained. About 120 came to the open colleagues Tommy. Tommy and Kathy were volunteers time original researchers. As the rest of Dr. Anne Rogers, president of the North house, health fair (compliments of Unaka posted notes at the Funk Heritage Center many years us old timers begin to fade away, we are Carolina chapter of TOTA, and Diane Wells, Volunteer Fire Department), and smoked photo courtesy of Jeff Bishop online or ago which is where I met them. They have comforted knowing that so many good young a prominent Murphy resident and member pork meal. The turnout was beyond Tommy Cox, former president, sent emails of always been generous with their time - researchers will continue the task.” – Bill of TOTA, explained TOTA’s mission and expectations, especially for a rainy day 15 Georgia chapter condolences. volunteering at the Funk and then at the Jones, Tennessee chapter president and TOTA why the Trail of Tears is so very signifi cant. miles out of Murphy, North Carolina. To include Booth Museum in Cartersville while also board member these in this article really is the best way being active members of GA TOTA. Tommy Typically, considerable eff ort goes into such of describing the love and respect felt for is the one who asked me to join GA TOTA “It is an event and relatively few take advantage Tommy by so many in the Trail of Tears and I was very proud and honored to become with Anne Rogers, president of the North Carolina chap- of the opportunity. Seventy folks stood ter of the Trail of Tears Association, spoke to the Association and community. secretary under his watch. We sometimes great crowd of 70 before the unveiling of the Wacheessee in the rain for the unveiling, and not one had our differences but there was always an sadness Town exhibit panel. “To say ‘we have lost a valuable member of underlying respect and genuine concern for to hear our team’ just doesn’t seem good enough each other. I will miss his great smile and his this in the case of Tommy Cox. In many ways, bear hugs but am thankful that, for too short news. once known as Wacheessee Town, for he was the heart and soul of the Georgia a time, he was part of our lives.” – Linda She was the very prominent Wacheessee and his TOTA chapter, and his absence will be deeply Baker, Georgia chapter secretary one of large family, is now known as Unaka. The felt for many years to come. I learned many the great Unaka Community Development Club lessons from Tommy Cox while he served as Last month, the Trail of Tears Association foun- recognizes the historical signifi cance of president of the Georgia chapter of the Trail lost a second long-time advocate with the dations Wacheessee Town and the Trail of Tears of Tears Association.