Choctaw Nation
Kendra Sikes
DURANT – The Choctaw Nation Health Services Authority (CNHSA) Healthy Lifestyle Team is excited to announce the start of the Trail of Tears Chahta Nowvt Aya (Choctaw Journey). The journey is a three-month, 620-mile virtual team walking challenge open to everyone touched by the Choctaw Nation.
Using an app, the participant will walk alongside Choctaw Ancestors, experiencing history and triumph over adversity along the path they took many years ago.
“With the points of interest added, we wanted this journey to be more than simply a walking challenge. We want it to be spiritual – a way to tie ourselves to our ancestors,” said Doris Winlock, Healthy Lifestyle Coordinator.
Participants will create an account for Walker Tracker, an app that will connect to most electronic step counters. The route participants will take is one of the routes taken on the Trail of Tears. Along the route, several points of interest will be emailed to participants as they reach the geographical point. These points include the original Nanih Waiya Mounds and the Mouth of Cache.
This challenge is open to all Choctaw Nation Tribal Members, associates, and those who live within the Choctaw Nation jurisdiction.
“We want all those touched by the Choctaw Nation to have the opportunity to experience the journey that had to happen in order for us to have what we have today,” Winlock said.
More information and the instructions to join the challenge can be found online at www.choctawnation.com/trailoftears2021.