FORT SMITH - Four thousand Cherokees died on the Trail of Tears as they were forced to endure harsh conditions on the journey to Indian Territory in 1838 and 1839. New legislation signed into law by the president designates additional routes as part of the historic trail. The hope is that the newly designated routes will not only serve as a remembrance, but also generate tourist interest.
"It's basically very personal to a lot of Cherokee citizens very important interesting to think about our family those were our family members that cam her on the Trail of Tears," tribal spokeswoman Talisha Nichols told 5NEWS.
The Cherokees not only survived their darkest days on the Trail of Tears, they have gone on to thrive as a modern tribe functioning as a sovereign nation. Although the five tribes were moved as part of the Indian Removal Act of 1830 it was the Cherokees who traveled in the harshest conditions.
The original route that marked the Trail of Tears was recognized in 1986. Now, two more primary routes have been included.
"The Benge Route went through Harrison and Fayetteville. The Bell Route came across through Memphis to Little Rock and then on the north side of the river," Bill Black with the Fort Smith National Historic Site said.
Additional routes include land along the waterways like a spot along the Arkansas River at the Fort Smith National Historic Site.
"It's very popular how many visitors we get in that just want to see the Trail of Tears overlook we call it," Black said.
Nichols says the trail of tears documentation act is important to Cherokee citizens as they honor their ancestors.
"Anytime that we can better define and better understand the history of the Cherokee Nation and our people it only helps to catapult our growing as a nation into the future," she told 5NEWS Monday.
Congressman Zach Wamp of Tennessee who authored the legislation is himself part Cherokee. He has said that completing the story of the tribe's removal has been personal for him.
Arkansas congressman John Boozman also included legislation ordering the study of the Butterfield Overland Stagecoach Route which ran from Missouri through Arkansas to California. He hopes it will one day be included as a historic trail.
"It's basically very personal to a lot of Cherokee citizens very important interesting to think about our family those were our family members that cam her on the Trail of Tears," tribal spokeswoman Talisha Nichols told 5NEWS.
The Cherokees not only survived their darkest days on the Trail of Tears, they have gone on to thrive as a modern tribe functioning as a sovereign nation. Although the five tribes were moved as part of the Indian Removal Act of 1830 it was the Cherokees who traveled in the harshest conditions.
The original route that marked the Trail of Tears was recognized in 1986. Now, two more primary routes have been included.
"The Benge Route went through Harrison and Fayetteville. The Bell Route came across through Memphis to Little Rock and then on the north side of the river," Bill Black with the Fort Smith National Historic Site said.
Additional routes include land along the waterways like a spot along the Arkansas River at the Fort Smith National Historic Site.
"It's very popular how many visitors we get in that just want to see the Trail of Tears overlook we call it," Black said.
Nichols says the trail of tears documentation act is important to Cherokee citizens as they honor their ancestors.
"Anytime that we can better define and better understand the history of the Cherokee Nation and our people it only helps to catapult our growing as a nation into the future," she told 5NEWS Monday.
Congressman Zach Wamp of Tennessee who authored the legislation is himself part Cherokee. He has said that completing the story of the tribe's removal has been personal for him.
Arkansas congressman John Boozman also included legislation ordering the study of the Butterfield Overland Stagecoach Route which ran from Missouri through Arkansas to California. He hopes it will one day be included as a historic trail.
