Cyclists to retrace Trail of Tears

Nine cyclists from the Cherokee Nation will participate this June in the 2018 Remember the Removal Bike Ride, marking 180 years since the Trail of Tears.

The annual ride allows young Cherokees to retrace the northern route of the Trail of Tears — about 950 miles from Georgia through Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas to Oklahoma.

The nine cyclists, ages 18 to 24, started training in January.

Cyclists were selected based on essays, interviews and a physical to ensure

they are up for the grueling challenge. The tribe also selected Jennifer Johnson, 48, a Cherokee Nation citizen and Oklahoma City lawyer, as this year’s mentor rider.

They will travel an average of 60 miles each day and will visit several Cherokee gravesites and historic landmarks. Of the estimated 16,000 Cherokees who were forced to make the journey to Indian Territory, about 4,000 died from starvation, exposure to the elements and disease.

Cherokee Nation cyclists

will be joined by cyclists from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina and start the ride June 3 in New Echota, Georgia. For more information or to follow along during the journey, go to www.facebook.com/ removal.ride and watch for the #RTR2018 hashtag @ CherokeeNation.