The Steelville Trail of Tears Remembrance Committee on June 11 welcomed 18 Cherokee cyclists at Steelville City Park.

Remember the Removal is an annual bike ride that members of the Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) travel to commemorate the removal of the Cherokee along the Trail of Tears.

Steelville has been one of the group’s stops since 2023, when the committee was first formed, and 2026 marks their fourth visit.

The 18 cyclists bike across 950 miles called the Northern Route that spans from New Echota, Ga. to Tahlequah, Okla., traveling through Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Steelville is about 300 miles into the trip.

The riders began their journey on June 1 in New Echota, Ga., and they are expected to finish their journey on June 19 in Tahlequah, Okla. During their stop, they stayed at the Wildwood Springs Lodge.

In 1838-39, thousands of Cherokee people and slaves were forced to walk along this route that later became known as the Trail of Tears. EBCI cyclist Ernie Pheasant said he chose to ride to gain a deeper understanding of what happened to his people.

“They didn’t have a bicycle, they walked it so it’s easier for us than it was for them,” said Pheasant.

According to the Cherokee Nation, 16,000 Cherokees were forced to relocate.

“People need to understand the full story about it and (don’t) act like it didn’t happen,” said Pheasant.

Cherokee Nation cyclist Jaycee Gideon said she would be graduating college soon and wanted to ride this year before giving back to her people.

“I want to go serve the Cherokee Nation when I graduate college,” said Gideon.

Gideon currently attends the University of Oklahoma for Political Science.

“It’s been really neat to stop at each of the historical stops along the way. It kind of puts into perspective a little bit just a fraction of what our ancestors felt,” said Gideon. “This is a very real thing that happened and it’s an important part of United States history.”

Committee Chair Jennifer Whitson said Steelville’s Trail of Tears is local history and national history.

“People need to know the good, the bad and the ugly,” said Whitson.

Some of the Cherokee people died and were buried in Steelville during the journey.

Four flags are stationed outside of the entrance to Steelville City Park, including Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokees, Muskogee. The morning before the riders arrived, Missouri State professor, Dr. Alexander Wait, and graduate student Bradley Bateman helped plant 10 River Cane plants.

River Cane plants were important to Native American tribes in southeast America because they were used to feed livestock, create baskets and teepees.

Courtois resident Colleen Smith, along with her two daughters Violet and Leonora Smith, assisted White with planting duties.

Cherokee Nation citizen Aaron “AP” Anderson, EBIC Citizens Noah Hicks, Cruz Galavic and Josiah Lossiah also participated in the gardening.

The committee on Dec. 5 will have a Trail of Tears Walk, ride and bike along the original Trail of Tears route in Steelville. They will begin the events at the Steelville City Park.