The mention about the new museum In Fort Smith, AK reminded of something I discovered in my research in the past. I found that thousands and thousands of Creeks and Cherokees went west prior to the Trail of Tears in the late 1830s. Very few went initially to Oklahoma because it was claimed by other tribes. Cherokees and Upper Creeks often went to Arkansas, sometimes to Missouri. Lower Creeks, Alabamas, and Koasati's went to Louisiana, Texas and Mexico - perhaps also to the southern tip of Arkansas. Some Cherokees went to Texas and then to Mexico. Most Cherokees were chased out of Texas after it became a Republic. However, a considerable number of Alabamas, Koasati's and Lower Creeks were allowed to stay in Texas because they had fought along side the Texans against the Mexicans. As I mentioned last week, also look for Friendly "Georgia" Creeks in Texas. The Friendly (Hitchiti-speaking) Creeks were promised that they could keep their farms in Georgia and South Carolina, but many were either illegally dispossessed or felt insecure in an anti-Indian political environment. The Friendly Creeks carried with them a hybrid culture that was a mixture of the Mound-Builders and Scottish frontiersmen. Many also has aspirations of being planters or ranchers in Texas. Their descendants tended to blend in with the Texans since Creeks are not that different in appearance from Mexican Mestizos. Also, when planning to serve possum for prominent guests or wedding parties, be sure and feed the possum cornbread and buttermilk for a couple of weeks before dressing them. Parboiling the possum for awhile will get rid of the excess fat created by the cornbread and buttermilk. Richard T. **************Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read reviews on AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/cars-BMW-128-2008/expert-review?ncid=aolaut00050000000017 )