Westran students portray historical Missouri events

By Liz Morales

The fourth and fifth grade classes at Westran Elementary School presented an historical drama portraying the Potawatomi Indian tribe’s exile from Indiana to Kansas.

In 1838 President Jackson ordered the tribe to leave their entire lives, culture and ultimately whole world to live in Kansas where they knew nothing about the land so the white settlers could take over the abandoned land.

The journey was called “The Trail of Death March”. The Indians were led by gunpoint by the U.S. Army from Indiana to Kansas in September to November of 1838. On the march, the Indians were led through what is now Huntsville where they set up camp for about three days. The whole journey started out with 850 or so Potawatomi Indians. Through the 660 mile distance, over 40 natives died, mainly children, of typhoid fever and the stress of the situation.

Before the performance, the students in the fourth grade class dressed up as famous Missourians. Each student was given a number corresponding to a list of numbers on the back of the program where audience members could guess who the famous Missourians were.