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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Ten Cherokee bicyclists who were part of the 2023 Remember the Removal Bike Ride finished their 950-mile journey on Friday with a homecoming ceremony in the capital city of the Cherokee Nation. The cyclists retraced the northern route of the Trail of Tears in honor of their ancestors who were forcefully removed from their homelands.
Cyclists from the Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians began the memorial ride in New Echota, Georgia, on June 5 and traveled through Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma. They finished at the Cherokee National Peace Pavilion in downtown Tahlequah on Friday.
“I am a firm believer in our Cherokee people and our ability to persevere and overcome any obstacle we face when we stand united. The Remember the Removal Bike Ride embodies that each year. These cyclists traveled nearly 1,000 miles to pay homage to their ancestors, learn more about some of the worst tragedy in the history of the Cherokee Nation and demonstrate to the world that Cherokees are still resilient and strong as ever,” Cherokee Nation Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner said in a press release.
Cyclists ranged from ages 18 to 47. They visited historical sites significant to Cherokee history such as Blythe Ferry in Tennessee and Mantle Rock in Kentucky.
“This is an experience that I’ll take with me for the rest of my life,” 19-year-old Faith Springwater, Cherokee Nation, said. “I’ve learned so much about my heritage. And from a mental and emotional standpoint, I’ve only gotten stronger from this experience. Just learning everything about my ancestors and my heritage, it means the world to me. I couldn’t be more proud of this team of cyclists for the hard work and resilience we showed.”
The ride’s inaugural event was held in 1984 to illustrate the hardships that Cherokee people faced. It is estimated that 16,000 Cherokees were removed from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina. Nearly 4,000 of them died during the roundup, incarceration and removal.
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As Indigenous peoples in Canada celebrated National Indigenous Solidarity Day on June 21, the Canadian government announced controversial plans to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Although the proposal drew support from some First Nations leaders, others questioned whether the move would be used to replace the sweeping Indian Act of 1876, which largely covers how Canada interacts with Indigenous nations on such issues as land, healthcare, education and its system of reserves.
Indigenous voices in the Canadian capital of Ottawa largely hailed the announcement, but chiefs in western Canada denounced the plan and called for a day of action on Canada’s birthday on July 1.
Minor Chief Regena Crowchild of theTsuut’ina Nation said a gathering is planned in Edmonton at a monument to Treaty Six.
“We reject this process that is going forward without our input and without our consent,” Crowchild told ICT. “Canada doesn’t come to us to address how we’re going to work on our government-to-government relationship with them. They go to organizations, or they just pick certain chiefs that they talk to who don’t talk to us, either. We’ve never given our consent to anybody to speak on our behalf with respect to the treaty.” READ MORE — Miles Morrisseau, ICT
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is accepting public comments until June 29 on proposed revisions to emission standards for mining operations that process taconite, a low-grade iron ore.
The EPA estimates the standards will reduce mercury emissions by approximately 57 percent — mercury emissions were not included in emission standards adopted 20 years ago — and will further reduce hydrogen chloride and hydrogen fluoride emissions.
Hydrogen chloride and hydrogen fluoride emissions are acid gasses that have been demonstrated to cause adverse health effects, including “chronic and acute disorders of the blood, heart, kidneys, reproductive system, respiratory system and central nervous system,” the EPA reported.
Several tribal nations and the environmental law organization Earthjustice welcomed the mercury emission standards — they sued EPA to set the limits — but say the standards don’t go far enough to protect the environment and human health. READ MORE — Richard Arlin Walker, Special to ICT
INDIGENOUS A&E: Low riders, kernels of knowledge and a bronze ‘Sovereign’
A biweekly column from ICT with the latest news from the arts and entertainment world. READ MORE — Sandra Hale Schulman, Special to ICT
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The best men’s lacrosse teams from around the world arrived in San Diego this week for the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship.
The Haudenosaunee Nationals play their first of four round-robin games Friday in a matchup against England. The team will then play the United States, Canada and Australia in consecutive days over the weekend, wrapping up round-robin play on Monday.
The tournament began Wednesday with the United States beating Canada 7-5 and pool play concludes Monday. After round-robin pool play, the 14 teams with the most accumulated points advance to the championship bracket.
The Haudenosaunee Nationals are ranked third in the world, behind only Canada and the United States.
World Lacrosse CEO Jim Scherr said this year’s field of teams may be the most competitive it’s ever been. READ MORE — Kolby KickingWoman, ICT
- Supreme Court rejects Navajo Nation’s water rights trust claim: UPDATED: Arizona v. Navajo Nation is the final federal Indian law case to be ruled on by the high court this term
- Two more tribes make historic co-management agreements: Four tribes in Oregon can now issue their own hunting and fishing licenses for their citizens under the agreements, based on harvest limits informed by tribal values
- The first Indigenous Solidarity Day in Canada: Reporter’s notebook: Reflecting on the historic day that started Canada’s official, unofficial holiday
- Summer solstice, a time for Indigenous traditional knowledge: A Minnesota-based organization is hosting a first-time Facebook live event to encourage the traditional knowledge education for Indigenous people on the deeper meaning of the summer solstice and seasons
- Why Guatemala has never had an Indigenous president
- National Indigenous Peoples Day important but learning should be year-round, says advocate
- Gorsuch tribal rights dissent is latest in long line siding with Native American claims
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