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Tahlequah, OK - When leaders of the Cherokee Nation retraced the "Trail of Tears" and visited their traditional tribal homeland in Georgia and North Carolina, they expected a history lesson. What they got was an intense, emotional, cultural experience.

"I'm thankful for the opportunity to make this trip," said Stephanie Wickliffe, one of the seven tribal council members on the tour. "It was such a moment of joy when we sang 'Orphan Child' and 'Amazing Grace' in Cherokee; singing traditional songs in a land where they hadn't been heard in so long."

The group visited the historic capitol of the Cherokee Nation, New Echota. In the 1830s, a group representing a minority of Cherokees signed the infamous Treaty of New Echota, which eventually led to the forced removal of the Cherokees and the "Trail of Tears".

Many of the visitors experienced mixed emotions at New Echota. "I was proud because of what our people had accomplished," said council member Barbara Starr-Scott. "We were such an advanced society. I also felt sadness because of what our ancestors had to give up."

"When traveling through northern Georgia, I looked out and saw all those beautiful houses," said council member Johnny Keener. "We were crazy to give up those houses. If it weren't for my grandkids, I'd stay here in Georgia," Keener added with a laugh.

The group also met with Mary Thompson, a council member from the Eastern Band of the Cherokees. "I look forward to a joint meeting between the Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band," said council member Dorothy McIntosh.

Principal Chief Chad Smith has emphasized a program in his administration to protect and preserve Cherokee tradition and culture. He thinks that there are lessons to be learned from the trip. "We could get home from Georgia in about 12 hours because we can ride a bus," he said. "The journey took our ancestors 12 weeks in the dead of winter. The sad thing is that in Georgia, we were visitors in a land that was once ours. The perspective of history and culture teaches us who we are, where we've been, and where we are going."

The Oklahoma chapter of the Trail of Tears Association sponsored the trip. Among the dignitaries in the group were Principal Chief Chad Smith, Deputy Chief Hastings Shade and council members Don Garvin, Mary Flute-Cooksey, Stephanie Wickliffe, John Ketcher, Dorothy McIntosh, Johnny Keener and Barbara Starr-Scott.