Cherokee Nation Allocates $925K Annually to Preserve Historic Burial Sites

By Staff, Cherokee 411

Published: October 15, 2025

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Cherokee Nation has enacted a new law to honor its ancestors and safeguard historic burial grounds, dedicating $925,000 annually to document and restore cemeteries across the reservation.

The Cherokee Nation Historic Cemeteries Preservation Act, approved for fiscal year 2026, authorizes funding to identify, document, and restore historic Cherokee cemeteries established between the Trail of Tears in the 19th century and the early 20th century.

“Our ancestors rest in sacred ground throughout the Cherokee Nation Reservation, and it is our solemn duty to ensure their final resting places are preserved for future generations,” Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. “These cemeteries are not just burial grounds — they are living records of our people, our communities, our churches, and our enduring bonds as Cherokee families.”

The Act mandates publication of a comprehensive record of Cherokee Nation historic cemeteries between 2026 and 2030. Each site identified will be added to the Cherokee Nation Registry of Historic Places.

One such example is a small four-plot cemetery behind the Grove Schools Administration offices, rediscovered through local genealogy research. The site, dating to 1879, includes the grave of Electa Crittenden, a Cherokee woman who survived the Trail of Tears and died in 1879. Her headstone bears the inscription: “Her gentle ways will ever dwell in the hearts of those who knew and loved her well.”

A broader assessment of historic Cherokee cemeteries has not been conducted since 1969, when researchers James Tyner and Alice Timmons published Our People and Where They Rest, a 12-volume series documenting burial grounds across the Nation.

The new legislation also establishes the Cherokee Nation Historic Cemeteries Survey and Preservation Fund, authorizing $750,000 annually to survey and prioritize cemeteries in need of repair. The Secretary of Natural Resources will oversee the fund, which may involve third-party assistance and technological tools for mapping and documentation.

An additional $175,000 per year will continue the tribe’s cemetery repair and maintenance grant program for individuals and nonprofits through the Community and Cultural Outreach department.

“As Cherokees, our connection to the land is inseparable from our connection to those who came before us,” said Secretary of Natural Resources Christina Justice. “Through careful stewardship and community partnership, we will ensure that future generations understand where we come from and the sacrifices of our ancestors.”

The Act also integrates volunteer efforts through the Gadugi Corps and other community programs to promote local participation in cemetery preservation. Tribal officials plan to begin implementation later this winter.