North Carolina resident Dale Stewart is on a quest to solo paddle the Trail of Tears water route by Aug. 20. During the 1,226-mile voyage of discovery from Ross’s Landing in Chattanooga, to Fort Smith, Ark., Stewart will paddle the Tennessee, Ohio, Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers.
Although many have heard of the Trail of Tears, most are unaware of the water route and the story of the 2,800 Cherokee who on these four rivers were moved by force from their homes to Oklahoma Indian Territory, said Stewart. “These rivers are living threads of history. Along their banks are the camp ruins and gravesites of many Cherokee who did not survive the journey of removal.”
The first group departed from Ross’ Landing in June 1838. Many Cherokee refused food or clothing from the U.S. government as a form of non-violent protest to the forced removal, and many adults and children died due to severe heat and drought. Stewart’s inspiration to undertake this journey is to honor the men, women and children of the Cherokee.
“The Cherokee culture is alive in the hearts of the Cherokee people. It is strong, rich and enduring. What makes this journey unique is its focus on the resilience of these great people,” Stewart said.
Stewart has received the blessing of the Cherokee Eastern Band’s Tribal Council and Principal Chief Michell Hicks.
“Dale’s journey will provide new scholarship about the water route of the Trail of Tears and a new vision for the Cherokee children who will benefit from his voyage,” said Hicks.
The public will be able to follow Stewart in real-time on www.expeditionunbound.com.
Besides the scholarship and remembrance of the journey, Stewart will be using the voyage to raise funds for the new Cherokee Children’s Home being constructed in the Qualla Boundary in North Carolina.
Stewart is an explorer, speaker and published author. His exploration philosophy is to immerse himself in extreme environments, going alone and learning from indigenous people and what nature has to offer. Stewart’s expeditions have taken him from the Sahara of northern Chad, to kayaking the fjords near Svalbard, Greenland, to the rain forest of Central and South America.
He recently returned from Belize, where he lived with the Maya near Sand Creek.
“To me, exploration is not about being the first but about opening my mind to what is before me, gaining knowledge and returning to share what I have witnessed and learned,” said Stewart.