Riders trace ancestors

A group of young Cherokee Nation citizens set out from Tahlequah, Okla., several weeks ago to retrace the historic northern route of the Trail of Tears by bicycle and are more than halfway home now.
After caravanning in June by automobile to the Cherokees’ original southeastern homelands, the riders participating in the Remember the Removal project have been riding their bikes back home from Rome, Georgia, and the New Echota area, ending in Tahlequah, Okla., the capitol of the Cherokee Nation in a few weeks.
The riders are currently passing through Missouri. They passed through St. Robert and Waynesville Thursday  morning , along with Principal Chief Chad Smith, who is also riding the route by bicycle.
Wyatt Collins of Chelsea, Sarah Holcomb of Vian, Kolton Holmes of Rocky Mountain, Gary Walker of Salina, Dallas Smith of Peggs, Johnny Christie of Sallisaw, Jared Dry of Fort Gibson and Baron O’Field of Park Hill will join Cherokee Nation leaders for the 900-plus mile ride that is estimated to take 23 days. 
The riders, who are traveling between 40 and 70 miles each day, are stopping periodically to visit historic sites and to learn about things that happened along the Trail of Tears. The ride is also being held in observance of the 25 year anniversary of the first Remember the Removal event held in 1984.
“The removal has shown exactly how strong the Cherokee are today.  I have a lot of respect for my ancestors.  My mother was part of the first bicycling trip (in 1984) and she always speaks of it.  I am looking forward to taking what I learn and teach others of this journey,” said Sarah Holcomb, the only woman rider.
The Trail of Tears of the Cherokees took place over the winter months of 1838 through 1839.
An estimated 16,000 Cherokees were forced by the U.S. to remove themselves and their families from their homes, farms and communities.
After being held in federal stockades until deep winter, they were subsequently herded on overland and water routes that moved through territories that represent the present-day states of Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas.
More than four thousand Cherokees died along the various routes from the harsh conditions of the crossing.
Ride organizers of Remember the Removal hope to promote awareness of these significant events as riders re-visit the areas where the journey took place.
Other goals of the Remember the Removal bike ride are to help educate Cherokee students about their tribe’s history and the difficulties associated with the Trail of Tears, and to promote the achievements of the modern Cherokee Nation to those along the route.
“The Remember the Removal ride is important to me because I will be able to retrace my ancestors’ steps through history.  I will have the chance to get a first hand look at the great challenges they faced and see exactly what they had to grow from to build the great Nation that exists today.  I will have the chance to learn more about my culture, history and myself today,” said Gary Walker.
Those wishing to follow the riders on their journey via the web can do so by going to www.remembertheremoval.org.
Riders will be providing updates, thoughts and comments each day in a blog about the trip.
Also available on the site is an interactive map that will pinpoint where the group is at any given time.