The Choctaw Nation Cemetery Restoration Crew provides the services of locating, preserving and protecting abandoned and historic Choctaw Cemeteries within the 10 ½ counties of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.  With its own ground-penetrating radar (GPR), and a trained technician on board, the Cemetery Restoration Crew is able to remotely sense underground features, and locate unmarked graves, without causing any disturbance to the burials.

The crew has five members, a coordinator/GPR technician who coordinates the projects with Choctaw families and runs the ground penetrating radar, three Cemetery Restoration Technicians based in the Durant office, and a fourth technician based on the Tuskahoma Council House Grounds who maintains the Choctaw Veterans Cemetery.

The Cemetery Restoration Crew works closely with Choctaw families to provide the best service possible.  To request a cemetery restoration:

• The cemetery must be a Choctaw cemetery, with Tribal members buried in it
• Family members must fill out a Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma NAGPRA Form and submit it to the Cemetery Restoration Crew.
• If the cemetery or burial site is located on the property of a private landowner, it is important that a name and phone number of the landowner is provided.
• Once contact is made with the landowner, two agreements must be signed prior to any work: (1) Assessment and Inspection Agreement, (2) Cemetery and Clean-Up Agreement
• If the ground penetrating radar is needed to locate an unmarked burial(s), an additional form must be signed by the family or landowner.
• If all parties are in agreement, work will begin with an initial assessment report and photo documentation of the site's original condition.
• Restoration work will then proceed, following the terms of the Clean-Up Agreement.
• Once the work is completed at the cemetery or burial site, then pictures will be taken again to document the results of the restoration.

It is our hope that family members and friends will partner with us in preserving these sacred sites by continuing to preserve and protect them after restoration is complete.  At this time, due to a high level of demand, burial sites are eligible for the services provided through the Historic Preservation Department, Cemetery Restoration Program only once.

For more information, please contact Skyler Robinson at 1-800-522-6170  ext. 2236, Fax 580-920-3181, srobinson@choctawnation.com