Trail of Tears educational symposium set for Sept. 12 in Athens, Tennessee

Staff file photo by Tim Barber / In this photo from March 2016, Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Justice Troy Wayne Poteete, left, is seen with local businessman Greg Vital and TWRA Game Warden Jason Jackson during a trip to Jolly's Island, considered one of the best American Indian archaeological sites in the country. Staff file photo by Tim Barber / In this photo from March 2016, Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Justice Troy Wayne Poteete, left, is seen with local businessman Greg Vital and TWRA Game Warden Jason Jackson during a trip to Jolly's Island, considered one of the best American Indian archaeological sites in the country.

By Ben Benton September 4, 2019 3 min read

IF YOU GO

What: Trail of Tears symposiumWhen: Sept. 12 at 6 p.m.Where: Second floor of Colloms Campus Center on East College StreetMore information: Tennessee Trail of Tears president Debbie Moore at bradleyfolks@aol.com.

McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy recently completed the University of Tennessee Certified County Officials Program. Guy is one of only 4 Sheriffs in the state who have graduated from the program.

The Tennessee Trail of Tears Association and Tennessee Wesleyan University in Athens, Tennessee, will host a free Trail of Tears educational symposium at 6 p.m. on Sept. 12.

The event is open to the public and will be at the Colloms Campus Center on Tennessee Wesleyan’s campus in downtown Athens, organizers said.

Guest speakers for the evening will be Joe Guy, the county historian and sheriff, and Cherokee Nation representative Troy Wayne Poteet, Tennessee Trail of Tears Association president Debbie Moore said in a statement.

Guy has published three books on Southeast Tennessee history and for the symposium will discuss the Walker family of McMinn and Bradley counties, according to Moore. Guy will focus on Major John Walker, who fought as a Cherokee officer with Andrew Jackson at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. The Walkers openly supported the removal of the Cherokee from the East. Guy will discuss the causes and effects of the assassination of Walker’s son, Jack Walker, Moore said.