Cemetery Restoration Program

Mission

In an effort to preserve Choctaw history and traditions, as well as respect those who have passed on, the Cemetery Restoration Program within the Historic Preservation Department works to locate, preserve, and protect Choctaw burial sites inside and out of the Reservation of the Choctaw Nation.

Services

The Cemetery Restoration Program provides the following services for eligibly cemeteries free of charge:

Cleaning - Clearing away brush, mowing, landscaping, wood chipping brush, use of chopped material as mulch.
Tree Removal - Trees that are six inches in diameter or less and interfere with maintenance of the plot will be taken down unless the family asks specifically for them to be left.
Trimming - Cedar trees will usually be left. Cedar trees were once grave markers and indicate possible unmarked burial locations. In cases where trees remain, trees will be trimmed to allow for easier mowing and maintenance.
Fencing - A four-strand barb wire fence with a gate and welded iron fence posts will be erected around the restored area.
Spray - A light spray is applied around the area to prevent regrowth of brush and to aid in the upkeep.
Head Stone - Most conditions of fallen headstones lead to the quick deterioration of the stone itself which are further accelerated by improper restorative efforts. At this time, full head stone restoration and/or replacement is being planned for the future, however, as of the making of this document head stone restoration is limited to setting it upright if it is intact and with family consent.
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Survey - A GPR is able to non-invasively located anomalies under the soil. Under the right conditions, the Cemetery Restoration program can use the Ground Penetrating Radar to relocated unmarked graves.

Eligability

The services offered by the Cemetery Restoration Program are for Choctaw cemeteries and burials. Many cemeteries are of mixed ethnicity. Cemeteries that are predominantly Choctaw may be eligible. For large cemeteries where less than half of the people interred are Choctaw, restoration work may be done exclusively for the Choctaw graves.
Under most circumstances, cemeteries must be located within the Reservation of the Choctaw Nation.
Exceptions may include Choctaw cemeteries located in the Chickasaw Nation (where some Choctaw families had their allotments).