Rick Bird performs the flag song of the Cherokee during the opening ceremony for Red Clay State Historic Park’s commemoration of the 175th anniversary of the Trail of Tears.IF YOU GORed Clay State Historic Park will continue “Honor and Remember” events today. For more information, go to http://www.tn.gov/environment/parks/RedClay/ or call 423-478-0339.
RED CLAY, Tenn. — Cherokee culture and history came to life at Red Clay on Saturday as the state park commemorated the 175th anniversary of the Trail of Tears with an event titled “Honor and Remember.”
“We wanted to educate people and to let them touch and feel authentic Cherokee culture,” said event organizer Rick Bird of the Eastern Band of Cherokee. “It took a lot of people and work to make this happen.”
“We have no grudge with the past,” he said. “We don’t want people to come here and feel guilty. Instead we are righting wrongs in positive ways.”
Visitors experienced the crafts, arts and food of the Cherokee people on a day set aside to remember their forced removal to Oklahoma by the U.S. government in 1838. Storytellers immersed listeners in old Cherokee tales while other performers danced, sang or played stickball.