More than a dozen members of the Eufaula-Canadian Tribal town went on their annual Memorial Walk Saturday morning.

The walk is a tribute to their ancestors who, almost 200 years ago, were forced from their land in Alabama to walk to what is now Eufaula in McIntosh County.

It also serves as a reminder of the Green Corn Festival, a tradition the tribe brought with it from Alabama.

The Green Corn Ceremony tradition was brought with the tribe from Alabama.

A few tribal towns continue to hold the ceremony, but the numbers are decreasing.

It is designated as Green Corn time – a renewal time of year, with Green Corn beginning a new year when bad transgressions and hard feelings are forgiven and taken away.

It is a time of fasting and taking medicines, cleansing ourselves. Fasting is important when significant events are coming up.

Creek artist and community leader Jon Tiger led the walk, which began at the east end of McKinley Avenue near the cove and went west to the end of Foley Avenue.

Before the Walk began, which has been held for the past seven or eight years, Tiger led the group in prayer and then gave a brief history of how the northern Eufaula Creeks in Alabama ended up here.

Tiger noted that the tribe brought the name Eufaula Town with them from Alabama.

“A lot of our traditions came along with us,” he said. “We all met at Fort Gibson. From there we came here, along the South Canadian River. The more progressive of us went to Tulsa, Broken Arrow and Coweta.”

Tiger urged those in attendance to never forget those who made the almost 1,000-mile journey.

“We must remember those we followed,” he said.

Historically, all Creeks belonged to a clan. The clans settled 44 tribal towns in Indian Territory.

“Now there are less than 20,” Tiger said.

He urged a renewal of spirit and appreciation of the ancestors.