Cemetery Preservation Program

The cemetery preservation program provides cleanup services, identification and documentation for existing Chickasaw cemeteries within tribal boundaries.

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.

See contact information, program details or videos.

Apply

Eligibility

Applicant must be 18 years old or older
Any person with knowledge about the Chickasaw cemetery may apply
An application must be submitted for each possible cemetery site
Landowner permission signature is required on the application

For information regarding application process, contact us.

Required Forms and Documents

Application for Cemetery Preservation Services

Contact

Phone:

(580) 332-8685

Events

No upcoming events.

Program Details

The Chickasaw Nation Cemetery Preservation Program provides clean-up, identification and documentation for existing Chickasaw cemeteries within the Chickasaw Nation boundaries. The approved application process helps determine the scope of clean-up of an abandoned family cemetery, to perform an initial evaluation of cemetery conditions and to develop a plan of work upon approval. The program is capable of locating graves using Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment and evaluating below-ground disturbances using ground penetrating radar (GPR). Documentation of cemeteries and sites includes research of known documents, taking and maintaining photographs and GPS information. All information is mapped and filed electronically and on paper for program records and long term use. The program will never excavate in burial grounds.

Other Information

The program may provide the following with an approved application:

Locate, measure, map and document cemeteries and record directions to cemeteries.
Identify and determine Chickasaw persons who can be documented to be buried within the cemetery.
Document locations of interments and record information on markers, if any, of burials.
Clean and map the cemetery one time if interested relatives and friends agree to perform future care.

An application must be completed and submitted to cemetery preservation office in Ada, Oklahoma, with landowner information and signature. Once the application is submitted, it will be reviewed and sent to research to confirm documentation. When research is completed, the application will be approved or disapproved. The requestor will be contacted with the application status. A work plan will be developed with the landowner to evaluate the cemetery needs and address the request for services application.