Cherokee Arts & Humanities Council

     Throughout the Cherokee Nation proper there are cemeteries which are the final resting place of our ancestors. Many of these cemeteries are on small family allotment lands, or land selected after they arrived over the Trail of Tears or in earlier removals to the area. And, many of these cemeteries have passed out of the family ownership, have been abandoned, destroyed or badly neglected. This project chooses to do something about these cemeteries, and in taking action began in 2006 to adopt cemeteries for restoration efforts, and have begun work to restore them and give dignity, honor and respect to our ancestors.  Adopt A Cemetery Project as the project manager.

Watt Christie Burial Ground (Original Goingsnake District, C.N.; now, Wauhillau, Adair County, Oklahoma; Trail of Tears District, Cherokee Nation) - project director: Roy Hamilon and Jason Woodward.  Ceretery Board: Roy Hamilton, Jack Christie, Neta McMurrian.
photo by Neta McMurrian, great great granddaughter of Ned Christie.

In 2010 the following Two Burial Grounds were added to our work:

Warseat/Sourjohn Cemetery (Original Skin Bayou/Sequoyah District, C.N.; now, Sequoyah County, Oklahoma; District 2, Cherokee Nation) - Project director: Barbara Girty and Renella Ashlock

Left: Clean up began in October, 2010.  This is an ongoing project.  The Noisey Family Reunion was June 4, 2011.

Creek Sam Cemetery (Original Skin Bayou/Sequoyah District, C.N.; now, Sequoyah County, Oklahoma; District 2, Cherokee Nation) - An amazing burial ground.  I will post pictures later.

Creek Sam.

1. Awaiting the landowner's marking of the four corners of the burial ground to begin work.

2. Working on Scheduling a work day there soon.

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Squirrel Adair Cemetery (Originally the Flint District of the Cherokee Nation; now, Adair County, OK (edge of Coon Mountain; Sec. 36, R24E, T16N).  Added in 2011 to the preservation project.

Squirrel Adair (ca 1810-?) married Susie Sali Sixkiller (1815-1906) and they had the following Children:
Susan Squirrel m. Samuel Johnson
Snow Adair
Young Beaver
Wash Adair
Tuhanut Adair
Foreman Adair
William Adair
Rerbird Adair
Caroline Adair
Squirrel Adair survived the Trail of Tears. He is buried here, close to where he lived out his life in what is today Adair Co., OK, and now is forgotten, abandoned and like so many other Cherokee cemeteries closer to total distruction every day.
Buried here: Quatie Keys Johnson, Daniel Snaketail, George Christie, White Johnson, Squirrel Adair, baby of William and Susan Adair, Caroline Adair Tindle, Y. B. Adair, Infant dau. of F. and J. Adair, Tandy Adair, P. Adair, Lydia Adair, and about 15 more unmarked graves, or just rocks as headstone. [Section 36, R24E, T16N, woodland, brush]

To adopt this cemetery or one of twelve others in the same county email us at gwytutsi@yahoo.com  And, we are always accepting donation to restrict to preservation, or volunteers to work on work days.  You may also send donations to: CAHC preservation, P. O. Box 594, Park Hill, Ok 74451.  Wado, Thank you!

 Work day schedule: 1.