Trail of Tears walk this weekend

ANNA-JONESBORO, Ill. -- In a few years, historical groups will retrace the route Meriwether Lewis and William Clark took nearly 200 years ago when they explored the American West. Americans will celebrate. This weekend, others will retrace a different route with a sadder history.

"We're doing this in remembrance," says John Rivera, one of the organizers of the Trail of Tears Memorial Walk in Southern Illinois.

An estimated 4,000 men, women and children died during the removal of 16,000 Cherokee and other Indians from their eastern lands to the Oklahoma Territory during the harsh winter of 1838-39.

Members of tribal communities in Louisiana, Oklahoma, Nevada and Michigan have indicated they will participate in the walk. The event is sponsored by "Native Voices," a program broadcast WDBX 91.1 FM in Carbondale, Ill. Rivera is one of the hosts.

Native Americans and non-Native Americans are invited to join in the walk.

"We want to show there are American Indians in the present day," Rivera said. "But a lot of non-Indians are participating."

He points out that though the Cherokee are associated with the Trail of Tears primarily, many different tribes had their own corresponding walks. "The Choctaw and others all had their own Trail of Tears," he said. "All tribes in that region were forced to go west."

Participants can set up camp at the forest beginning at 3 p.m. Friday. At 8 a.m. Saturday, participants will be shuttled from the forest to the Wal-Mart parking lot in Anna-Jonesboro. Beginning about 9 a.m., the walkers will head back to the state forest on Highway 127 northwest of Anna-Jonesboro. The route is close to the one Cherokees followed during the winter of 1838. It covers a little more than eight miles.

Artisans will exhibit their creations at the encampment. There also will be storytelling, educational programs and a social dance Saturday evening.

"Native Voices" has been on the air for three years. The program has raised funds for people who have been hurt by natural disasters and has brought Native American speakers to the area. "Native Voices" has sponsored two powwows at John A. Logan Community College and brought Native American New Age musician Robert Mirabal to Southern Illinois University to perform last weekend.

Traditional and contemporary music are played on the program. The hosts also have started an on-air flute circle.

The hosts play flutes on the air for about half an hour hoping people listening at home will join in.

"We're not professionals," Rivera cautions. "But it lets people reclaim their identity."

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182