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Ask an expert: What was the Trail of Tears?

An artist's depiction of Cherokees leaving their homeland

November 20, 2000
Web posted at: 12:09 PM EST (1709 GMT)

By Aaron Lemster

Question: What was the Trail of Tears?

Answer: The term is hard to explain. Originally, Cherokees lived in villages (not tepees, by the way) mostly along the Tennessee River. Their territory stretched from northern Alabama to Virginia. In the 1500s, there were about 23,000 Cherokees.

The Trail of Tears refers to the journey taken by Cherokees from Southeastern states to territory in Oklahoma during the 1830s. "Tears" is in the phrase because they did not move voluntarily.

European settlers were growing in number, and they wanted more land. They did not recognize the Cherokees as a nation with rights to property. The U.S. government offered to pay the Native Americans something for the land, but many refused and were driven from it anyway. There were sorrows, hardships and deaths caused by this forced migration.

Question: What were some results of this event?

Answer: Aside from anguish created by the move, the Cherokee tribe split into factions. When the U.S. government first offered money for the land, telling Native Americans that they would have to move in any case, some took the offer and left. But another faction decided to fight for ownership. These are the ones who are remembered for the Trail of Tears. This group resented the first ones to leave, whom they felt made the takeover easier for European settlers. When they reached the Oklahoma territory, the first group had already set up their own government, and the second group was expected to comply. There was dissension and anger.

Question: What is the Oklahoma territory like today?

Answer: It is now a 14-county region of Oklahoma, not a reservation. Back in the 1830s, each family was given a parcel of land, and many still own that original trust land, tax free. There is also tribal land, where tribal businesses are located.

Question: How is the Cherokee tribe doing today?

Answer: Cherokees are progressive with services and programs. By the way, there are only three federally recognized Cherokee tribes: the Eastern Cherokee tribe in North Carolina; the Keetowah Band in Oklahoma, which broke off from the Cherokee Nation; and the Cherokee Nation.

Federally recognized means that tribe members are proven to be descended from Cherokees. The U.S. government took a roll of all that had Cherokee bloodlines. There are many other groups -- I call them "hobby" groups -- that claim Cherokee blood, but they cannot prove it. We have a governmental structure with a judicial branch that holds tribal court and a legislative branch. Cherokee Nation members vote for representatives on the tribal council, for chief and for deputy chief.

Question: If you could point out just one thing that you believe is traditionally distinct about your tribe, something that other Americans can learn from, what would it be?

Answer: Traditionally, Cherokees lived in small villages and took care of their own. Our word "gadugi" means sharing or sense of community. Family members help each other, and tribal members within the villages do the same for other members. We still do this. In our modern country, there is so much isolation and lack of concern for others. All Americans would do well to think about community and what really matters -- people over material.

Aaron Lemster is a member of the Cherokee Nation and works at the Museum for Education and Cultural Outreach of the Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.