Inside Central
The official blog of the University of Central Oklahoma
  • Share An Idea
  • Connecting Stories
  • University of Central Oklahoma

About

Peak is a modern grid based WordPress theme, boasting a masonry grid that adapts to any screen size or device thrown at it. The grid auto-populates, but you have full control of any new tiles you want to put in there. Add cards to highlight different categories, authors, testimonials, pages – or just about anything else you can imagine.

[themify_button style=”black outline rect” link=”https://themify.me/themes/peak”] Buy Now [/themify_button]

Recent Posts

  • a wide shot of Old North and the Education buildingJan. 13, 2021: UCO to Temporarily Shift to Virtual Instruction Amid COVID-19 Surge
    January 13, 2021
  • veterans-day-flag-of-the-united-states-of-america--CJUQCCYVeterans Day Message
    November 10, 2020
  • 122875202_10158100290323995_3349593520740155072_oUCO Closed Thursday-Friday, Oct. 29-30
    October 28, 2020
a group of bike riders poses in front of a sign on the trail of tears
sneese July 20, 2018
bike ride, Cherokee, incoming freshman, professor, remember the removal, trail of tears
Like 2 Thanks! You've already liked this
UCO

Riding to Remember

For many, a ride across state lines is simply a road trip – a chance to wander to new landscapes and venture to new destinations. However, for Dr. Jennifer Barger Johnson, a legal studies and business law professor at Central, a trip across state lines was a trip of remembrance and a trip to be remembered.

Dr. Barger recently was selected to participate in the 2018 Remember the Removal Bike Ride, which retraces the northern route of the Trail of Tears. The ride spans 19 days, seven states and nearly 1,000 miles. Participants included 18 riders total – 10 selected by the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) and eight riders selected by the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians (EBCI). Riders are chosen on the basis of their leadership potential, as the program is designed to foster leadership among Cherokee youth. Most riders are between the ages of 16-24, while mentor riders are older than 35.

two female bike riders on a street
Dr. Jennifer Barger Johnson rides in the 2018 Remember the Removal Bike Ride, which follows the northern route of the Trail of Tears.

Alongside Dr. Barger, UCO incoming freshman Emilee Chavez also participated in the ride.

The riders are selected through an extensive interview process. CNO participants are required to complete history, language and culture classes, along with physical training sessions every weekend from January through June, without missing more than two days total.  To qualify for the ride, candidates also are required to complete a 70-mile training ride and successfully illustrate competency in their native Cherokee language.  As part of this competency, the riders must introduce themselves while speaking Cherokee to public groups, including the CNO Tribal Council.

twelve bike riders pose in the middle of a street
Participants in this year’s Remember the Removal Bike Ride pose for a photo during one leg of their journey.

The inaugural ride was in 1984 but was not revisited again for 25 years. In 2009, the ride became an annual event, and two years later, the EBCI tribe joined the ride.

This year, the ride was in its 10th consecutive year, making it the 11th ride overall. During the ride, the cyclists were accompanied by Jack Baker, a Cherokee Elder, historian and genealogist, who gave them history lessons along the way.

bike riders ride in a single file line along a street
Remember the Removal riders train together in preparation for the ride.

The team visited the Kituwah Mound in the original Cherokee homeland; stopped at unmarked graves of their ancestors; visited New Echota, the former Cherokee capital in present-day Georgia; and experienced Red Clay, which served as a capital-in-exile of the Cherokee Nation when the tribe was forced out of Georgia by legislation. Riders also visited Rattlesnake Springs, an internment camp for Cherokees before the Trail of Tears; experienced the grueling climb up Cumberland Mountain on bike; stopped at Blythe’s Ferry along the Tennessee River, where Cherokee’s gathered during their forced removal; walked parts of the original trail on foot, near Port Royal in Kentucky, Meramac Springs in Missouri, and Pea Ridge in Arkansas; and took time to reflect on their ancestors at Mantle Rock and other historic Cherokee sites.

Dr. Barger was the first female mentor rider and only the second mentor rider to have participated in and completed the ride.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Related posts:

Connect to Central: Get Involved!
More Dollars for Scholars
What's It Like to Be: UCOSA President

sneese

At the Office of University Communications at the University of Central Oklahoma, we bleed bronze and blue — Pantone 116 and 282, to be exact. The University Communications staff of professionals promotes Central to the community through news releases, media relations, advertising, branding and marketing initiatives, publications and electronic media — and, of course, using the university's official colors (that's the Pantone 116 and 282). We believe the University of Central Oklahoma is a thriving, opportunity-rich institution located in one of the best metropolitan areas in the country with innovative students, faculty and staff who make a difference in our world. It is our pleasure to share the Central story with you.

MBA on the Move All Moved In? Now What?
veterans-day-flag-of-the-united-states-of-america--CJUQCCY
UCO

Veterans Day Message

122875202_10158100290323995_3349593520740155072_o
UCO

UCO Closed Thursday-Friday, Oct. 29-30

Cowan_1
UCO

Bridging the Generational Gap: One Student’s Familial Journey to Education

Search

Subscribe for Updates

Enter your email address:

Articles by Category

  • Alumni
  • Athletics
  • Bronchos to Know
  • Commencement
  • Coronavirus Updates
  • Edmond Community
  • First-Year Experience
  • Housing & Dining
  • International
  • Leadership Central
  • Music
  • News
  • SPB/Campus Activities
  • STLR
  • Student Involvement
  • Success Central
  • Transformative Learning
  • Travel
  • UCO
  • UCOSA
  • What's It Like To Be

Latest Tweets

  • UCO joined communities across the nation to remember and honor the lives lost to COVID-19 by illuminating Old North… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
    22 hours ago
  • We're coming together to honor the lives lost to COVID-19. Old North will be lit at 5:30 p.m. Central time tonight… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
    2 days ago
→ Follow me

Featured Posts

  • a rug made of red dirt covers the floorAcross Embroiders: Melton Gallery Exhibit Explores Nontraditional Embroidery
  • Standup_2A Look on the ‘Inside’: UCO Student Gains Valuable Experience Working Behind the Camera on ‘Inside the Issues’

Recent Comments

  • Mike Schmitz: Great story!! My wife works for Cowan Engineering. I know J…
  • Sarah McLain: Awesome! Go, Jordan, go!! 💪👏…
  • Ariel West: UCO has policies and procedures in place to address the med…

Blog Tools

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
© Inside Central 2021

UCO DISCLAIMER STATEMENT: The views, opinions, and conclusions expressed in this page are those of the author or organization and not necessarily those of The University of Central Oklahoma or its officers and trustees. The content of this page has not been reviewed or approved by The University of Central Oklahoma and the author or organization is solely responsible for its content. It is the policy of the university to abide by and follow federal and state laws. Outbound links, such as third party websites or personal pages of UCO's students, faculty and staff represent individual views and do not necessarily reflect the views and/or policies of the university. The university is not responsible for the content of these pages or any links that you may follow from this server beyond this point. The statements and communications of the bloggers on the University of Central Oklahoma website do not represent a statement of the university's official position or policy.