Lindsey Bark
Cherokee Phoenix
ROCKY MOUNTAIN, Oklahoma – On May 7, the 2023 Remember the Removal participants completed a 60-mile road test to officially ride the 950-mile trek from New Echota, Georgia, to Tahlequah, Oklahoma, in June.
Amaiya Bearpaw, 22, of Jay; Kenzie Snell, 19, of Keys; Mattie Berry, 18, of Webbers Falls; Samantha Cavin, 18, of Pryor; Faith Springwater, 19, of Tahlequah; and mentor rider Libby Neugin, 40, of Muskogee received their riding kits or uniforms in a small ceremony that included their families after completing the test.
“We have just completed the 60-mile road test for the Remember the Removal bike ride, I’m excited. I’m ready to get out there on the road,” Berry said.
Riders must complete the 60-mile road test in order to go on the bike ride. Each rider had to endure long stretches of road, hills and heat as they traveled on roads in Adair County and Sequoyah County, starting and ending at Rocky Mountain School near Stilwell.
“I’m really happy that we got out here and got it done,” Springwater said. “It was definitely extremely tough, but it’s going to be like that probably every day on the ride.”
Springwater said the most important part of completing the test was relying on her teammates.
“I think as for this team, for the most part, we just stayed together and did it,” Springwater said. “About halfway you get a little fatigued and you start struggling. That’s when we need each other.”
The participants began training in December, starting with 10 to 15-mile rides.
“I remember that first day, we went and rode the L that we ride quite a bit. It’s one of the roads there by the (tribal) complex,” Springwater said. “We rode about 10, 15 miles, and we were all like ‘holy crap like this, this is a lot.’ Then here we are riding 60. So, I think we’ve definitely come a long way and have grown with each other for sure.”
Berry said when she was first selected, she thought riding a bike would be easy.
“Starting off training, I thought I was going to be so easy because you’re just riding a bike. But it’s way more, and more goes into it than just riding a bike because you’re climbing hills and stuff. So, like physically and mentally, I’m more prepared now,” Berry said.
Berry added one of the things she’s learned over the course of training is how to be a better teammate.
“Over the past few months in training, I’ve learned how to be a better team player and stick with the team instead of like going off and doing my own thing,” Berry said.
Springwater said she has learned a lot about her herself over that past few months.
“I personally I learned a lot about myself. I can do things that are hard, and I think I’ve always known that. I always had that mindset of like, ‘I’m going to do it and I will finish.’ I have a team behind me that’s supporting me.” Springwater said.
In a small ceremony in front of family and friends, each of the six riders received their kits to wear on the ride.
“I’m extremely just grateful and glad that like God allows me to do this because there are some people that can’t do this,” Springwater said. “It just means the world that all this work that we put in that we are rewarded with that kit, and it will be even more rewarding when we’re on the ride.”
This article was first published in the Cherokee Phoenix.