It's June 21st, 1839. Under the darkness of night, a group of men meet in a small cabin.

They pass around a hat and each draw a piece of paper. Some papers are blank, others marked

with an X. The men with an X are given assignments. They split into groups and before the sun comes up,

they mount their horses and ride off to different places in Cherokee Nation to carry out the plan.

A daybreak, 25 men arrive at the house of Cherokee leader John Ridge. John is asleep inside with his family.

Three men barge through the front door and find John in bed. They drag him outside. His wife tries to run after him,

but some of the men hold her back. The men have been warned that John is very persuasive and not to let him speak.

To drown at his pleas, they shout over him.

John struggles, but he knows what's going to happen. He knows he's living on borrowed time and now comes the inevitable.

Who was John Ridge and why does his story matter? Let me tell you.

Your listening to this land, a podcast about broken promises, tribal land, and murder.

This year, the Supreme Court will change the future of five Native American tribes in the US,

including mine when it answers one question.

Is half the land in Oklahoma, Indian country?

I'm your host, Rebecca Nagel, citizen of Cherokee Nation. In this episode, we're going to go way back.

I'm going to tell you the story of how my people came to Oklahoma and how this land became our land in the first place.

It's also the story of my family, the decisions they made and the price they paid for it.

Growing up, my grandmother often told me stories about John Ridge and his father, Major Ridge, our ancestors.

Major Ridge is my great, great, great, great grandfather.

Before I was old enough to know about things like US Presidents or Treaty Rights,

I knew my ancestors had been leaders of Cherokee Nation.

And in their lifetime, they fought and died for our tribe.

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