History on wheels

Tour highlights Tulsa's Creek heritage

Last year, KOSU radio producer Allison Herrera launched From Creek Town to Tulsa Town, a bike tour, as part of her “Invisible Nations” project. The main focus of “Invisible Nations,” Herrera said, “is to highlight modern-day Native American culture [in Oklahoma] by showcasing the rich and complex stories of our nation’s first people.” 

The 10-mile tour featured five stops at historical sites significant to Tulsa’s Creek founders. Plus, the tour included live entertainment from Mvskoke (Creek) musician Wotko Long.

The first site was the Council Oak Tree located on Cheyenne Avenue, a significant Tulsa landmark and location of the annual ceremony honoring the Lochapoka tribe (of the Creek Nation) who migrated to Tulsa on the Trail of Tears from Alabama and Florida, essentially founding Tulsa in Indian Territory. 

It’s second stop was Creek Chief Cabin of Tuckabatchee, a member of the Lochapoka tribe who came to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears and is recognized as one of the original founders of Tulsa. 

Other stops included Zink Park on Brookside, a former trading post location; the Perryman Cemetery, Tulsa’s first private cemetery; and Woodward Park. The park, named after Helen Woodward, was allotted to her by the Dawes Commission. 

While last year’s ride was held in June, this year’s is tentatively scheduled for the fall, so tour goers won’t suffer the heat and may have a chance to witness the Council Oak Tree ceremony. Other sites may be added
as well. 

Watch the Invisible Nations Facebook page for updates and more information on registration. If you’d like to be more involved, email Allison Herrera at allisonherrera@msn.com. 

For more from BreAnna, read her article on the youth cycling group, Oklahoma Flyers.