"We are now about to take our leave and kind farewell to our native land, the country that the Great Spirit gave our Fathers, that gave us birth...it is with sorrow we are forced to quit the scenes of our childhood...
we bid farewell to it and all we hold dear.
"~Charles Hicks, Tsalagi (Cherokee) Vice Chief on the Trail of Tears,
August 4, 1838
we bid farewell to it and all we hold dear.
"~Charles Hicks, Tsalagi (Cherokee) Vice Chief on the Trail of Tears,
August 4, 1838
Courageous Conversations About The Journey To Forgiveness And Healing
Many generations of our people share in the great pain and grief carried in our hearts and souls. There now is a revolution taking place throughout Cherokee Country. It is a time of healing, and the time to heal our wounds is now. So, we pledge ourselves to free our people from the bondage of poverty, substance abuse, child abuse and all our suffering.
We have arrived at the place where we understand what has to take place for our healing to happen. We know we must find a way to deal with our feelings about the removal from our land, our ceremonies, our language, our culture and its devastating consequences to our people, our families and our children. By finding our way through this immense
trauma we are ready to forgive the "unforgivable" and to come back into balance with our hearts, our ways and with the earth. We know this will not be easy, and we are committed to this healing journey. We ask you to listen to our story as it is a necessary step in our Journey to Forgiveness and Healing. We do this for all our relations.
The Journey to Forgiveness and Healing May 19-25th 2012
This journey and Homecoming is open to enrolled members of the federally recognized Cherokee tribes and their invited guests.
There Gathering which is open to everyone who registers, at the end of the journey May 26, 2012 in Cherokee, North Carolina.
Registration Deadline April 25th.
