Will Chavez
Cherokee Phoenix
TAHLEQUAH – Life has changed a lot for Cherokee Nation citizen Kalina Campos of Concord, California, as she devotes much of her time to preparing for the 2025 “Remember the Removal” bicycle ride.
The bicycle ride is a youth leadership program and is a three-week, nearly 1,000-mile memorial ride taken to commemorate the forced removal of Cherokee people in 1838 and 1839.
After being accepted to do the ride last fall, Campos moved to Tahlequah for training, which began in December and will continue throughout May before the RTR team departs for Cherokee, North Carolina.
“I was inspired to do this bike ride because I wanted to learn more about my Cherokee heritage and connect with my roots. My older sister is the one who originally wanted to participate, but due to family matters at the time, was unable to apply when she was eligible,” Campos said. “She is a big part of why I decided to do the ride. I wanted to do it for her and for my family. Being so far removed from the nation, I wanted to be able to bring back everything I will learn here back home to them.”
At “home,” Campos works as a registered nurse with the Transitional Care Unit at the Sacramento VA hospital. Her hometown of Concord is in the San Francisco Bay area.
The direct descendant of Principal Chief John Ross said words cannot describe how grateful she is to be given the opportunity to learn more about her Cherokee heritage.
“I have always wanted to know more, to feel more connected to this part of me, and through this ride I am finally starting to fill that void. I feel empowered. I feel grounded. I feel a sense of belonging. But above all else, I am just truly, genuinely grateful,” she said.
She did acknowledge the challenge of training for the ride nearly discouraged her from continuing after training began in December.
“Training has been very difficult. I knew this was going to be a challenge, especially since I hadn’t been very active in some time, but I think at the beginning I underestimated just how challenging it would be,” she said. “I remember telling my mom while being back home in California for the holidays that I didn’t want to come back because those first two weekends of training were so difficult for me, and I felt that there was no way I was going to be able to do this. Though it has been difficult, it has been really rewarding seeing how far my teammates and I have come and grown since then.”
She added her favorite part about training has been the people and the support for the team.
“I am blessed to have such an amazing team of individuals around me. Everyone has been so kind and welcoming to me, which has made making this move so much easier. Getting to know everyone and forming friendships and bonds has been special. The support we have is unlike any other,” she said. “(Youth Leadership Manager) Heather (Fite) does a phenomenal job of making sure that we not only have everything we need supply wise for the ride, but also supports us individually with her whole heart and is our biggest cheerleader.”
Fite said Campos is “an extraordinary asset” to 2025 RTR team.
“Her authenticity is truly inspiring, and her profound love and support for her teammates, culture and language are a beacon of hope. Notably, despite having never visited Oklahoma or the Cherokee Nation reservation prior to RTR, her devotion to exploring her Cherokee heritage is a testament to her remarkable character,” Fite said. “She has been an absolute blessing to our team this year, and I am deeply grateful to have her on board.”
Besides the people, Campos added the part of training she’s appreciated the most has been being able to see so much of the Cherokee Nation during training rides.
“I never knew how beautiful this area was. I love looking out at the scenery and taking it all in every chance I get on every ride we do together. It never ceases to amaze me at how in awe I am of the land on every training route we do, even if we’ve ridden it before.”
As for the actual ride along the Northern Route of the Trail of Tears, Campos said she is most looking forward to being able to walk on the original trail that her ancestors walked on.
“I don’t know what sentiments that moment(s) will bring, but I anticipate it to be profoundly impactful and moving,” she said. “I am also looking forward to seeing our ancestors’ original homeland. I have heard of its beauty and the lasting effect it has had on previous riders and am excited to experience it for myself.”
This article was first published in the Cherokee Phoenix