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Not all Indians walked the “Trail of Tears”, some went by river boat, some went into the hills to hide, and others fled into new frontiers and unknown lands.

A Declaration For Independence

October 1839, a constitution was drafted and adopted. John Ross was elected principal chief, and a convention of Old Settlers meeting at Fort Gibson in 1840 approved the constitution. Joining in this, “Act of Union”, were two bands of Arkansas Cherokees who had migrated to Texas in 1819 and 1831, then had been driven out of Texas and come to live with the Old Settlers. Therefore, on paper at least, the Cherokees in Indian Territory were a united people living under a constitution and laws of their own making.

Act Of Union

Assimilation was an effort by the United States to transform Native American culture to European-American culture between the years of 1790—1920. George Washington and Henry Knox were first to propose, Indian American context, the cultural transformation of Native Americans. They formulated a policy to encourage the “civilizing “ process. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the government outlawed the practice of traditional religious ceremonies. It established boarding schools which children were required to attend, In these schools they were forced to speak English, study standard subjects, attend church, and leave tribal traditions behind.

Assimilation

The early 1800’s was a dark time in Cherokee history; some sold their land to the whites’ and moved West; some hid out in their sacred hills, and still others had their land seized, locked up, and moved by force on the Trail Of Tears, to lands in the West.

Broken Circle

Call To Arms

An effort was made to include the Seminole Of Florida in the general removal to Indian Territory in the West….this brought on war. Most elusive of the Indian leaders in the Seminole war was Osceola. Failing to capture this indomitable leader in battle, the Americans treacherously seized him under a flag of truce.

Defiance

January 1830, Major Ridge, (dressed in buckskins, red war paint and a buffalo headdress), led a party of 30 young Cherokee braves to the most southern part of Cherokee lands located in Georgia. This fierce looking party destroyed an Illegal white settlement and “evicted”, without injury, 18 white families.

Eviction, Cherokee Style

On April 3, 1860, a lone rider left on horseback from the gates of one of the nation’s most historic landmarks, the Pikes Peak Stables in St. Joseph, Missouri. Carrying saddlebags filled with our nations hopes and dreams, the riders traveled 2000 miles west to Sacramento, California. These brave young souls raced against nature’s cruel elements and rugged terrain in an attempt to unite a country separated by distance.

Express Mail

Hoop Dance

Not all the mail was delivered after that historic date of April 3, 1860, when a lone rider left on horseback from the gates of one of the nation’s most historic landmarks, the Pikes Peak Stables in St. Joseph, Missouri. Carrying saddlebags filled with our nations hopes and dreams, the riders traveled 2000 miles west to Sacramento, California. These brave young souls raced against nature’s cruel elements and rugged terrain in an attempt to unite a country separated by distance. Many a young rider gave his life, but sometimes no amount of money or riders skill, could get the mail through.

Insufficient Postage

From Wakan Tanka, the Great spirit, there came a great unifying life force that flowed in and through all things - the flowers of the plains, blowing winds, rocks, tree, birds, animals - and was the same force that had been breathed into the first man. Thus all things were kindred, and were brought together by the same great mystery.

Leaving Moose Lake

Lost Freedom

With the millions of buffalo that roamed the plains; not all went gracefully. Carnivores, fire, flood and storm took their annual toll, but neither these nor Indian hunting appeared to reduce the number of buffalo appreciably on the Great plains. The huge herds seemed indestructible before the coming of the white man.

Making A Stand

Medicine Shield

Mystic Warrior

Like the beautiful, lone bird which lived in ancient times in the Arabian desert for 500 to 600 years and then set itself on fire, rising renewed from the ashes to start another long life; the Cherokee Nation arose from the ashes of the TRAIL OF TEARS, to rebuild a great nation in Oklahoma.

Phoenix

From “First Fire” to “Space Walker”, Commander John Bennett Herrington, (enrolled member of the Chickasaw nation, born September 14, 1958), was the first Native American Indian Astronaut to go into outer space. During NASA flight STS-113 Aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor in November 2002, mission Specialist 2 Harrington docked the space shuttle to the International Space Station and became the first American Indian to walk in space during this historic NASA space mission.

Space Walker

In 1907 “Oklahoma Territory” and “Indian Territory” became the state of “Oklahoma” marked on statehood day with a ceremonial wedding of a Cowboy and Indian.

Statehood, 1907

1823 when Texas was still part of Mexico, there were serious problems with raids by Indians. Under Mexican law, Austin was authorized to form a militia to ward off Indian raids, capture criminals and patrol against intruders. In May, while Austin was in Mexico City, his lieutenant, Moses Morrison, used this authority to assemble a company of men to protect the Texas coast from Indians. The term "Texas Ranger" did not appear officially in a piece of legislation until 1874.

Tales OF The Texas Rangers

Cherokees! The President of the United States has sent me, with a powerful army, to cause you, in obedience to the Treaty of 1835, to join that part of your people who are already established in prosperity, on the other side of the Mississippi. Unhappily, the two years which were allowed for the purpose, you have suffered to pass away without following, and without making any preparation to follow, and now, or by the time that this solemn address shall reach your distant settlements, the emigration must be commenced in haste, but, I hope, without disorder. I have no power, by granting a farther delay, to correct the error that you have committed. The full moon of May is already on the wane, and before another shall have passed away, every Cherokee man, woman and child, in those States, must be in motion to join their brethren in the far West. General Winfield Scott, Cherokee Agency, May 10, 1838

The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia

We have lived upon this land from days beyond history’s records, far past any living memory, deep into the time of myths and legends. The story of my people and the buffalo are one single story. We are always joined together.

The People And The Buffalo - SOLD

In 1835, the most infamous of the treaties was negotiated at New Echota, Georgia, the Cherokee capital. By riverboat, wagon andhorseback - but mainly on foot - the Cherokee began their forced exile across the Mississippi. Over four thousand men, women, and children died on that fateful journey. The silent graves stretching from the foothills of the Smoky Mountains to their new territory in the West, mark what has come to be known to the Cherokee as the TRAIL OF TEARS.

Trail To The Nightland- SOLD

In 1835, the most infamous of the treaties was negotiated at New Echota, Georgia, the Cherokee capital. By riverboat, wagon andhorseback - but mainly on foot - the Cherokee began their forced exile across the Mississippi. Over four thousand men, women, and children died on that fateful journey. The silent graves stretching from the foothills of the Smoky Mountains to their new territory in the West, mark what has come to be known to the Cherokee as the TRAIL OF TEARS.

Under A Winter Moon - SOLD

A French Agent and his guide wait for the dark of the moon to meet with other woodland Indians and to carry out raids into the English settlements during the French and Indian War, 1754 — 1763. The conflict is known by several names. In British America, wars were often named after the sitting British monarch, such as King William's War or Queen Anne's War. Because there had already been a King George's War in the 1740s, British colonists named the second war in King George's reign after their opponents, and thus it became known as the French and Indian War. This traditional name remains standard in the United States, although it obscures the fact that American Indians fought on both sides of the conflict.

Waiting For The Dark Of The Moon - SOLD

In 1835, the most infamous of the treaties was negotiated at New Echota, Georgia, the Cherokee capital. By riverboat, wagon and horseback - but mainly on foot - the Cherokee began their forced exile across the Mississippi. Over four thousand men, women, and children made that fateful journey.

We Will Not Forget

In 1835, the most infamous of the treaties was negotiated at New Echota, Georgia, the Cherokee capital. By riverboat, wagon andhorseback - but mainly on foot - the Cherokee began their forced exile across the Mississippi. Over four thousand men, women, and children died on that fateful journey. The silent graves stretching from the foothills of the Smoky Mountains to their new territory in the West, mark what has come to be known to the Cherokee as the TRAIL OF TEARS.

Where Angels Fear To Tread - SOLD

 

 

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