Lawmakers seek more complete picture of Cherokee Trail of Tears

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Several lawmakers in Washington DC are demanding the Interior Department do a better job retracing the path of the Trail of Tears.<br/><br/>History has documented the plight of American

Thursday, June 30th 2005, 6:50 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Several lawmakers in Washington DC are demanding the Interior Department do a better job retracing the path of the Trail of Tears.

History has documented the plight of American Indians evicted from Southern communities in the 1830s and forced on a deadly journey toward Oklahoma. However, official recognition of the path of some 15,000 Cherokees was often based more on guesswork than evidence.

Tennessee Republican Zach Wamp is pushing a bill that seeks a comprehensive review of the trail.

Research was limited when Congress made the pathway a national historical trail in 1987. Historians have since uncovered a number of omissions, including routes in North Carolina or Georgia.