Cherokee Nation Appoints Fite-James, Honors Poteet at Trail of Tears Conference

KENNESAW, Ga. - Cherokee Nation appointed Camerin Fite James and announced a $180,000 grant in honor of Troy Wayne Poteet, a late tribal statesman, at the 29^th National Trail of Tears Association Conference and Symposium.

The annual event, held this year September 28-30 in Kennesaw, Georgia, located near New Echota, the former historic capital of the Cherokee Nation, provides members of the national association and state chapters an opportunity to gather and discuss ongoing efforts to support the continued creation, development and interpretation of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.

During his remarks at the Booth Western Art Museum on September 29, Chief Hoskin announced to attendees that as a tribute to the late Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Justice Troy Wayne Poteet, the tribe is providing $180,000 in grant funding from the Public Health and Wellness Fund Act, which aims to make the historic sites more accessible from improved lighting to ramps, walking paths or other safety improvements

"Troy Wayne Poteet gave so much of his life in service of the Cherokee Nation and in the great effort of keeping the memory of the Trail of Tears in the public consciousness," said Chief Hoskin. "This grant will enable all nine chapters of TOTA to undertake improvement projects at many of the Trail of Tears sites Troy Wayne Poteet held so dear."

Poteet served for years as TOTA's executive director and formerly served on the Council of the Cherokee Nation. The $180,000 grant in Poteet's name is in addition to Cherokee Nation's annual $25,000 contribution to the organization.

Jack Baker, President of the National Trail of Tears Association and former Council of the Cherokee Nation member praised the tribe for investments into accessibility. Baker continues to serve the tribe through his historic knowledge and most recently as a member of The Cherokee Nation's Chief's Records Task Force.

"Frequently, these historic sites are located in remote parts of the country, without access to much investment other than the hard work of volunteers and federal funding," said Baker. "Everyone deserves to visit the trail in a way that's safe and accessible to them."

The Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, designated as a national historic trail by Congress in 1987, commemorates the forced removal of the Cherokee people from their homelands in the southeastern U.S. to Indian Territory, present-day Oklahoma, in the late 1830s.

In 1993, the Association entered into a cooperative agreement with the National Park Service to promote and engage in the protection and preservation of Trail of Tears National Historic Trail resources, to promote awareness of the Trail's legacy, including the effects of the U.S. government's Indian Removal Policy on the Cherokees and other tribes and to perpetuate the management and development of techniques that are consistent with the National Park Service's trail plan.

The event marked the first for TOTA's newest board member, Camerin Fite James of Tahlequah.

"I am honored to join the Board of the National Trail of Tears Association. I am grateful to Chief Hoskin and the Cherokee Nation for the opportunity to serve in this role. The Association's members remain committed to preserving our historic sites, protecting our stories, and ensuring the promises made to our ancestors are upheld. After completing the Remember the Removal Bike Ride in 2024, I felt a deep responsibility to do more, and my service with the Oklahoma Chapter has only strengthened that commitment. I'm grateful for the chance to continue this important work."

Fite-James was appointed by Chief Hoskin. Fite-James serves as Chief Hoskin's executive assistant and the Hoskin / Warner Administration's Senior Advisor on Public Engagement and Policy. He holds a bachelor's and a master's degree from Northeastern State University.

In connection with the event Cherokee Nation's citizenship registration department held a field event in Kennesaw, where more than one hundred citizens participated to get updated photo IDs, file new citizenship applications, learn about tribal programs and services and visit one on one with Chief Hoskin and Cherokee Nation staff.

During his September 29 address to TOTA, Chief Hoskin also provided commentary on Cherokee Nation history and contemporary Cherokee issues.

The Trail of Tears Association has nine state chapters in the nine states through which the Trail of Tears traversed, including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. State chapters address specific issues in each state, including membership development, chapter organization and other efforts that assist the national association and the National Park Service in achieving their objectives.