Indigenous People's Day Observances 2009

This year’s Indigenous Peoples of the Americas Observance will focus upon one of America’s greatest tragedies - the forced removal of Native Americans, in the 1830s, over “the Trail of Tears”.  The Trail of Tears was the result of a legislative declaration that no foreign government, which included Native American tribes, could be physically located within the borders of the United States.  Any tribe that failed to disband or move of its own accord to the specially designated “Indian Territory” of present day Oklahoma, would be forcibly removed by Federal forces.  Thousands of people died during this thousand mile journey over the “Trail of Tears”.  Part of this infamous trail traverses Northwest Arkansas.

On Monday, October 12th, the University of Arkansas will host a special program recognizing the “Trail of Tears”.  The 74 minute documentary Trail of Tears from the 2009 PBS series We Shall Remain will be shown at 11:00 a.m. in the Student Union. 

From 1:00 to 2:00 members of the Honors Film Association, Native American Student Association, and OMNI will be expressing their thoughts about this sad chapter in American history, by reading passages from journals kept by those who walked the Trail of Tears.  Members of the public are encouraged to share their feelings and do readings relating to the Trail of Tears during this open forum. This observance will be held in the Connections Lounge in the Student Union.   

At 2:00 there will be a procession from the Connections Lounge to the marker on Highway 62, which commemorates the location where a thousand Cherokees camped during their journey to Indian Territory in 1839, over the Trail of Tears.  Further information about this historic site can be found at http://campusmaps.uark.edu/461.php.

Contact:
Frank Scheide
Professor, Department of Communication
J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences
479-575-5961
fscheide@uark.edu

The University of Arkansas Indigenous Peoples of the Americas Observance is sponsored by the Honors Film Association; the Native American Student Association; the OMNI Center for Peace, Justice, and Ecology; the Honors College; the Multicultural Center; and the Department of Communication.  For more information contact Frank Scheide at 575-5961 (fscheide@uark.edu).