CULLOWHEE (July 19, 2014)—“Beyond the Trail of Tears: A View from the Cherokee Homeland,” a Summer Institute for K–12 schoolteachers and eligible graduate students, was hosted by the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) for three weeks in July.
The Institute was sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Educators examined the forced removal of thousands of Cherokees from their homes in the East to
land west of the Mississippi River, often called the Trail of Tears, following the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
The Summer Institute started on June 29 and ended July 19.
Teachers had the chance to hear from and talk with Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Michell Hicks. The participants had several field experiences at local areas in Western North Carolina to build knowledge and understanding.
“Having the opportunity to be here to talk with sources really helps me in bringing this history home to my students,” said Peter Trentacoste, a teacher at Arizona School for the Arts
in Phoenix, Ariz.
The Institute had 27 teachers from eight states, including North Carolina.
“My husband and I recently moved to North Carolina to teach and I wanted to learn more about the state’s history,” said Danielle Dietz, a teacher at Bunn High School in Franklin County, who took part in the program with her husband John. “This was a great experience with an intense look at this subject. The resources and time here can really help me explain this in my classroom.”
Faculty for Institute included:
Elaine Franklin, Director of the Kenan Fellows Program, and former Executive Director of the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching.
Brett Riggs, a research archaeologist with the Research Laboratories of Archaeology at UNC Chapel Hill.
Andrew Denson, an Associate Professor of history at Western Carolina University.
Jane Eastman, an Associate Professor of anthropology at Western Carolina University.
Roseanna S. Belt, Director of the Western Carolina University Cherokee Center
Tom Belt, the Western Carolina University Cherokee Language Program Coordinator.
Joyce Dugan, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee, with an extensive background in education, served for five years as Superintendent of the Cherokee Central Schools. She
was also the first woman to hold the office of Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Andy Mink, Executive Director of UNC-Chapel Hill’s LEARN NC.
Lynn Harlan, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee, serves as Tribal Historian.
Peter Julius, Fellow at NCCAT.
Sandra Bowling, Programming Specialist at NCCAT.