Siyo, Lexi Melton is 24 years old and is from Vinita, Oklahoma.
Lexi had dreamed of participating in the Remember the Removal Bike Ride for a decade. She was selected as a rider for the 2024 team but unfortunately sustained an injury at the end of training that prevented her from participating.
In 2025, she was given a second chance to join the Remember the Removal Bike Ride team.
Training for the Remember the Removal Bike Ride over the course of two years has been a true blessing. The program provided Lexi with an eye-opening understanding of the horrific injustices her ancestors endured. It was an honor for her to retrace their steps from New Echota, Georgia, to Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Visiting historic sites such as Blythe Ferry, Port Royal, and Mantle Rock allowed her to immerse herself in those places and reflect on the sorrow and heartbreak experienced there.
The program also gave Lexi the opportunity to discover her own resilience, strength, and perseverance while deepening her appreciation for the resilience of the Cherokee Nation as a whole.
