The Trail of Tears Bike Team was welcomed May 23 at the Choctaw Nation Headquarters after a 500-mile pilgrimage from Philadelphia, Miss., to Durant. They were honoring Choctaw tribal members who walked the Trail of Tears from Mississippi to Oklahoma.
Almost 200 years ago, the first Choctaws’ forced migration began from their ancestral lands in Mississippi and Alabama to their new home in what was then Indian Territory. The initial journeys of removal in the 1830s were made in harsh conditions leading to the loss of an estimated 14,000 people, onefourth of the tribe on what came to be called “the Trail of Tears and Death.”
Jana Boykin, Tina James and Beckah Boykin are the coordinators of The Choctaw Nation Trail of Tears Bike Team.
“This is our second year after the lady before us retired,” Jana Boykin said. “We take this annual trip to the homelands in Mississippi.
Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat We start in Philadelphia and we get to meet with the chief and other tribal council members and they encourage us as well because our ancestors left the homelands in 1832.
“For the removal and the remembrance of our ancestors, we do this ride annually. This ride simulates the trails and the walk. Along the trails that we take, we try to simulate most of the trails that are a part of the Trail of Tears from Mississippi into Oklahoma and in doing so, we learn about the culture and the history that related to the Choctaw people as they crossed the many terrain and rivers, waterways and the big Mississippi (River). We try to encourage the riders that ride with us through cycling. It’s a healthier lifestyle. But also our main focus is to teach the history of our ancestors who took those steps before us.”
According to Boykin, the ride took seven days.
“It’s an endurance ride,”she said. “It’s not a race. It’s an endurance and strength ride but it’s to teach about our culture.”
Boykin said that God willing, they will be doing the ride again next year.
“It’s pretty unique because every day, we have someone from back home that before we ride, says a prayer for the team and that is different individuals throughout Oklahoma that we call and do a via phone call prayer time,” she said.
Padraig Kirwan of Wicklow, Ireland, was among the riders.
The tribe says the Choctaws and Irish have been kindred spirits since the Irish Potato Famine. This relationship began in 1847 when the Choctaws, who had only recently arrived over The Trail of Tears to what is now Oklahoma. The Choctaws donated more than $5,000 in today’s money to support the Irish during the famine.
Kirwan rode in remembrance of this relationship.
“I was invited by the organizing committee by Jana and Tina to come along and we’re honoring the gift that The Choctaw Nation sent to the islands on behalf of the people of Ireland,” Kirwan said. “I’m really happy to be here and participate in this.
“I think Choctaw Nation has a very special place in the hearts of the Irish and we acknowledge the fact that just after the Trail of Tears happened, the donation came from the Choctaws to the Irish and we know that connection is long and it’s enduring and in terms of thinking about how you look for moments of reciprocity and how we help each other in this world. I think this is a really important moment. So, to be here on this ride has been wonderful for me and a celebration. I’m very honored.”
