Steelville Area Historical Society's Trail of Tears Remembrance Committee receives a Missouri Humanities Council Grant!
The Missouri Humanities Council (MHC) has awarded a grant of $25,000 to the Steelville Area Historical Society’s Trail of Tears Remembrance Committee in support of the project titled “The Trail Remembered: Steelville’s Journey to Honor the Past “. The MHC is the only statewide agency in Missouri devoted exclusively to humanities education for citizens of all ages. It has served as a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities since 1971.
This project will create a short documentary film showcasing how the small town of Steelville, Missouri, is working to honor the memories of thousands of Native people who encamped there during their forced removal along the Northern Trail of Tears. Produced in collaboration with Indigenous filmmakers, the documentary will follow the Steelville Trail of Tears Remembrance Committee’s efforts to implement “The Trail,” a 10-foot bronze sculpture by renowned Cherokee and Pawnee artist Daniel HorseChief which reflects the hardship and loss of the forced removal and the resilience of the Cherokee people. This piece is symbolically connected to another sculpture by the same artist, “Ascendant” which will be placed in Tahlequah, the capital of the Cherokee Nation, to symbolize the Cherokee people’s resurgence in Indian Territory. Together, these monuments, positioned over 300 miles apart in the Ozark Plateau, connect Steelville and Tahlequah through shared history and remembrance.
The documentary will feature interviews with Steelville community members, artist Daniel HorseChief, and descendants of those forced to walk the Trail of Tears through Steelville. These perspectives will highlight the community-driven efforts to preserve this history and underscore the importance of memorialization through art, research, and remembrance. Through vivid storytelling and compelling visuals, the film will connect Missouri’s role in this national story to broader themes of resilience, cultural preservation, and self-determination. It will educate audiences on the enduring impact of the Trail of Tears while emphasizing the importance of honoring Indigenous history in shaping America’s identity. By collaborating with Native filmmakers, the documentary embraces authentic storytelling, highlighting the importance of Indigenous voices in preserving and interpreting Native history.
This film, to be completed by 2026, will be shared with the community in conjunction with the 250th birthday of the United States, helping to tell share the history of our nation.
