In 1830, a treaty was signed. In 1830, hearts broke. Tears fell on the long journey for twenty thousand. The Choctaw Nation was forced to leave their homelands to preserve their people. But they could not save them all. For this collection of short stories, Choctaw authors from five U.S. states come together to present a part of their ancestors’ journey, a way to honor those who walked the trail for their future. These stories not only capture a history and a culture, but the spirit, faith, and resilience of the Choctaw people. From a little girl who begins her journey in a wood box to a man willing to die for the sake of honor, these extraordinary tales of the Choctaw Removal from their homelands delve into raw emotions and come out with the glimmer of hope necessary for the human soul. Tears of sadness. Tears of joy. Touch and experience each one. “Touch My Tears is a significant and moving addition to the record of Choctaw heritage; accessible and entertaining. This fine collection of tales is invaluable for the insights it provides into the heart of a unique Native American culture.” —Brock Thoene, co-author of The Jerusalem Chronicles “This book reflects the joining of courage and endurance that defines a great nation. I cried in many places, sometimes it seemed more than they cried for themselves.” —Lisa Reed, editor of the Biskinik, the Official Publication of the Choctaw Nation "As well as the Plains and Prairie Tribes are known for their mastery of painting and dance, the Choctaws may well go down in history for their remarkable ability to blend their rich oral and written traditions. In the tradition of Choctaw writers such as J.L. McDonald and Peter Pitchlynn in the nineteenth century, Muriel Wright and Louis Owens in the twentieth, and D.L. Birchfield and LeAnne Howe in the twenty-first, the writers in this anthology demonstrate their versatility in the language arts. No tribe has more seamlessly assimilated the English language than the Choctaws. Read these stories and marvel at their quality. They have the multiple capabilities to inspire you, to entertain you, and to educate you. Ilvppa holisso nan anoli achukma! These stories are good!" —Phillip Carroll Morgan, author of The Fork-in-the-Road Indian Poetry Store and Who Shall Gainsay Our Decision? Choctaw Literary Nationalism in the Nineteenth Century. "Touch My Tears is a milestone of fictional and historical Choctaw storytelling that exemplifies the value of Native knowledge through literary arts. This deeply moving and significant collection will hopefully generate a paradigm shift in written expression of the Native American experience." —Keevin Lewis, Museum Programs Outreach Coordinator, National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian

Mississippi, 1834 “Protect the book as you do our seed corn. We must have both to survive.” The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek changed everything. The Choctaw Nation could no longer remain in their ancient homelands. Young Tushpa, his family, and their small band embark on a trail of life and death. More death than life lay ahead. On their journey to a new homeland, the faith of his father and one book guide Tushpa as he learns what it means to become a man and a leader. But before long, betrayal from within and without rip at the unity of the band. Can Tushpa help keep his tattered people together? Or will they all be lost to sickness of the mind, body, and spirit on the four hundred mile walk? A continuation of the anthology Touch My Tales from the Trail of Tears, this story follows an original manuscript written by Tushpa’s son, James Culberson. “As the great-granddaughter of Tushpa, a boy on the Trail of Tears, I grew up far away from Oklahoma with little knowledge of our history. It is through reading the moving stories collected by Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer that I have a better understanding of the struggles, endurance and bravery of our Choctaw ancestors.” Beverly Bringle, direct descendant Continue the Journey in "Touch My Tales from the Trail of Tears”: In 1830, a treaty was signed. In 1830, hearts broke. Tears fell on the long journey for twenty thousand. The Choctaw Nation was forced to leave their homelands to preserve their people. But they could not save them all. For this collection of short stories, Choctaw authors from five U.S. states come together to present a part of their ancestors’ journey, a way to honor those who walked the trail for their future. These stories not only capture a history and a culture, but the spirit, faith, and resilience of the Choctaw people. From a little girl who begins her journey in a wood box to a man willing to die for the sake of honor, these extraordinary tales of the Choctaw Removal from their homelands delve into raw emotions and come out with the glimmer of hope necessary for the human soul. Tears of sadness. Tears of joy. Touch and experience each one.