GROVE, OK - The Seneca-Cayuga Nation today announced the receipt of $20,743 in grant money from The National Park Service to be used to map and revitalize Bassett Grove Cemetery in Grove, OK. 

According to William Tarrant, Cultural Director of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation, the project will include cleaning and restoring the grounds and headstones as well as deploying ground-penetrating radar to map potential unmarked burial sites. Tarrant says that "There is physical evidence of at least nine unmarked graves. We discovered one grave by accident, so this project is critical for the preservation of the site." Tarrant indicates that identifying remains is not likely, but that sites will be marked and preserved for future generations.

The work in Bassett Grove Cemetery is an extension of a project started in 2015 when Tarrant was trained in cemetery restoration procedures. Since then, the summer youth program has done restoration work in Bassett Grove Cemetery, the Council House Church Cemetery, and Cayuga Mission Church Cemetery. This summer's program is scheduled for July and will coincide with the radar survey. Tarrant is hopeful that the project will inspire youth and expose them to career choices they may not have otherwise considered.

Members of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation have contributed time and knowledge to the restoration and mapping of Bassett Grove Cemetery. This project represents an essential next step in that process. Members of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation who would like to be involved in the project are encouraged to call 918-787-5452 for more information.

This grant is one of 12 from the National Parks Service for preservation projects across the country to support the protection of America's Indigenous cultures.