(Newswire.net — November 14, 2013) Monticello, Illinois —
Every five years since 1988, the Trail of Death Commemorative Caravan has visited historical markers along the Trail of Death route to remember the forced removal of the Powawatomi from Indiana to allocated land in Kansas. The forced migration was enabled by the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which paved the way for treaties between Native tribes and the U.S. Federal Government that exchanged tribal lands for promises of protection, aid, and tribal sovereignty.
The plans for the 2013 Trail of Death Commemorative Caravan have recently been released by the Trail of Death Association
According to the official announcement, the 2013 Caravan will see the dedication of two new historical markers at Spring Hill and Trading Post, Kansas. The 2013 Caravan will also dedicate historic highway signs at Brunswick to DeWitt, Missouri and Danville and Monticello, Illinois.
The commemorative Caravan travels along the original Trail of Death route in order to remember those who died along the trail in 1938 and to remember the harsh treatment of Native Americans in early American history. Participants in the Caravan intend to raise awareness for Native American rights and help people understand the origin of guarantees by the U.S. Federal government for provisions for Native tribes and protection of tribal sovereignty. Like many other tribes, the Powawatomi were driven out of familiar land where they had established a traditional way of life and forced to start over in a completely different environment that destroyed their traditional means of livelihood. In the case of the Powawatomi, they were marched away from lakeside forests along the southern tip of Lake Michigan and on to the dry plains of Kansas, where generations of culture and knowledge were inapplicable.
The 2013 Trail of Death Commemorative Caravan will travel for seven days, traveling 80 to 150 miles per day and visiting various parks, campgrounds, farms, cabins and historical markers. While on the road, travel will be coordinated by citizen band radio and historical information will also be provided citizen band radio. Participants will see some of the memorials of those who deceased during the original journey. Of the 40 individuals that perished of disease and exhaustion during the 1838 March, the majority were children. According to the Trail of Death Association, one of the major highlights of the commemorative caravan will be the statue of Chief Menominee in Plymouth, Indiana. Chief Menominee was the greatly respected tribal leader of the Powawatomi during the march. He died two years after settling in Oklahoma.
Registration for the 2013 Trail of Death Commemorative Caravan is still open.