INA, Ill. (Nov. 15, 2023)—Rend Lake College celebrated National Native American Heritage Month by inviting Dr. Mark J. Wagner from SIU Carbondale to discuss the history of the Cherokee Trail of Tears in Southern Illinois.
Wagner is an Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Archeological Investigations at SIUC. He is also the National Representative for the Illinois Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association where he works with members of Cherokee tribes in preserving historical landmarks in Illinois and educating others on their history.
In his presentation he talked about how the Cherokee were forcibly removed from their homes in the Southeast in the 1830s. He said there were several different routes they took when they were removed and one of them travels through Southern Illinois, which still exists, and what the Illinois Chapter is working to preserve with modern day Cherokee tribes.
“It is important to be educated on these subjects because it is part of our history,” Wagner said. “The Cherokee are still with us today and it is a tragic part of their history. It matters a great deal to them that people know about that history and understand it.”
RLC celebrates diversity and we would like to thank Wagner for visiting our campus to share his knowledge with our community.
For more information on different diversity events on campus, contact Sarah Draper at drapers@rlc.edu or call 618-437-5321, ext. 1264.
To learn more about the Illinois Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association and what is involved, visit: Home (illinoistrailoftears.org).