Cherokee Citizen From California Joins Elite 2025 Bike Ride Team

Will Chavez

Cherokee Phoenix

TAHLEQUAH – The life of Cherokee Nation member Kalina Campos from Concord, California, has undergone significant changes as she dedicates substantial time to getting ready for the 2025 "Remember the Removal" bike ride.

The bicycle ride is a youth leadership initiative that spans three weeks and covers almost 1,000 miles as a commemorative journey recreating the painful displacement of the Cherokee people in 1838 and 1839.

Following his acceptance last autumn, Campos relocated to Tahlequah for training, which started in December and will extend through May before the RTR squad heads to Cherokee, North Carolina.

I was motivated to undertake this bicycle journey as a way to deepen my understanding of my Cherokee ancestry and forge connections with my cultural background. It was actually my elder sister who first expressed interest in joining such an event; however, due to certain familial circumstances then, she couldn’t submit her application during the period when she could have participated," explained Campos. "Her influence played a significant role in prompting me to go through with this endeavor. This initiative is much for her benefit as well as for our entire clan’s sake. Since we live quite distant from the tribal community, I am eager to share all the insights gained throughout this experience once I return.

At her "base," Campos serves as a registered nurse in the Transitional Care Unit at the Sacramento VA hospital. She hails from Concord, which is part of the San Francisco Bay Area.

The great-granddaughter of Principal Chief John Ross stated that words fall short in expressing her immense gratitude for being afforded the chance to delve deeper into her Cherokee roots.

"I've always been eager to learn more and to forge a deeper connection with this aspect of myself. Through this journey, I'm beginning to bridge that gap. It has made me feel empowered, centered, and as though I belong somewhere. Most importantly, I am deeply and sincerely thankful," she shared.

She admitted recognizing the difficulty of the training, which almost made her quit when she started in December.

“I found the training extremely tough. I anticipated challenges, particularly as I had not been very active recently, but initially, I undervalued exactly how demanding it would turn out to be," she shared. "While visiting my family in California during the holiday season, I told my mother that I wished I could stay there permanently due to how hard those initial two weeks of training were for me. At that point, I doubted whether I could manage it all. Even though it’s been incredibly strenuous, witnessing our progress and growth over these months with my team members makes everything worthwhile."

Her favorite aspect of training has been the people and the support they offer to the team.

I feel incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by such an outstanding group of people. Each person has been exceptionally kind and welcoming, which has significantly eased my transition. Building relationships and connections here has been truly meaningful. The level of support we receive stands out from anything I've experienced," she shared. "(Youth Leadership Manager) Heather (Fite) excels at ensuring we have all necessary supplies for our journey. Beyond that, she personally invests herself completely in supporting each one of us and cheers us on enthusiastically.

Fite mentioned that Campos is "an exceptional addition" to the 2025 RTR team.

Her genuineness is genuinely motivating, and her deep affection and encouragement towards her teammates, as well as her dedication to her culture and language, serve as a source of inspiration. It’s particularly noteworthy that even without visiting Oklahoma or the Cherokee Nation reservation before RTR, she remains committed to discovering her Cherokee roots, which underscores her exceptional qualities," Fite stated. "This year, she has proven to be an incredible asset to our team, and I feel incredibly thankful to have her join us.

In addition to the people involved, Campos mentioned that one of the aspects of training she values the most is having the opportunity to explore many parts of the Cherokee Nation during her training rides.

I had no idea just how stunning this region is. I cherish every opportunity to admire the view during each ride we share. The landscape continues to impress me with every training course we undertake, regardless of whether we've been through it many times.

Regarding the journey along the Northern Route of the Trail of Tears, Campos mentioned that she is particularly excited about having the opportunity to tread upon the same path that her forebears once did.

I'm uncertain about the emotions those moments will evoke, but I expect them to be deeply profound and touching," she stated. "Additionally, I am eager to see the ancestral homelands of ours. I've been told about their splendor and how they have left an indelible impression on past participants, and I can hardly wait to witness this for myself.

This piece was initially released in the Cherokee Phoenix