HOPKINSVILLE, KY. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The 30th Annual Trail of Tears Pow Wow was held September 9 and 10 at the Trail of Tears Commemorative Park in Hopkinsville.
The weekend was filled with Native American heritage, dance competitions, singing, story telling, arts, and crafts.
The Trail of Tears Park is one of the few documented campsites used during the forced removal of the Cherokee people from Georgia to Oklahoma in 1838-39. It was along the banks of the Little River in Hopkinsville which was one of many sites on the journey where the Indians camped and received provisions.
Thousands of Cherokees died on the long trip which took place over the winter and the park is the burial ground for two Cherokee Chiefs, Fly Smith and Whitepath, who died on the site and are honored with statues in the park.