Tribe buys historic parcel of land
OAKS — The future of a historic parcel of land in Delaware County appears secure as the Cherokee Nation closed on a purchase after it was once cleared for construction of a poultry grower's operation.
It's an effort that not only saved the property, but has helped galvanize a community concerned about additional poultry operation expansion in the area, according to organizers.
The 60.81-acre parcel, adjacent to Oaks Indian Mission at Oaks, was purchased to help preserve and protect the area, which abuts a historic cemetery known as God’s Acre and is near a current residential school for children. The Cherokee Nation closed on the purchase July 2. The Nation said there are no immediate plans for what will be done on the property.
“The tribe believes in protecting sites that are historically significant as well as preserving it for the betterment of our tribal citizens and environment,” Principal Chief Bill John Baker said. “The Cherokee Nation is also stronger for the future when we add land within the jurisdiction of the tribe to our land base.”
Members of the Spring Creek Coalition first raised concerns about potential impacts of the planned operation, which would have housed 300,000 chickens at the headwaters of one of Oklahoma’s most pristine streams.
The community effort soon intensified as people connected with the Oaks Mission and learned more about the historic significance of the site, which is a recognized arrival location during the Trail of Tears forced relocation of Cherokees in the 1830s.
Poultry farm operators Tran Tran LLC, building the site for production for Simmons Foods, had cleared land in preparation for building the houses before local residents realized what was happening. Simmons recognized the issue after being contacted by environmental attorney David Page of Barber & Bartz in Tulsa, and the operators agreed to halt construction and put the land up for sale.
Spring Creek member Emily Oakley spearheaded the effort and created a GoFundMe page to raise money for possible downpayment on the land if a single buyer did not come forward. The page notes that if a buyer did come forward the money would go to the non-profit Coalition for preservation efforts. The page was closed down this week with a total of just over $9,100 raised.
“It’s super, unbelievably exciting that this worked out the way it did,” Oakley said. “I am grateful that (Cherokee Nation) got it, incredibly appreciative and relieved. I’m sure whatever they decide to do with it, it will be the perfect thing for that property.”
History of the site near Oaks Mission begins with Moravians, a pietistic German sect who settled in North Carolina in the mid-1700s and were the first to do Christian missionary work with the Cherokees. Since 2008 the Cherokee Nation has been supporting work in the Moravian Archives in North Carolina for creation of a book series translation of Moravian diaries, hand-written in old German, that are said to be the earliest and longest-running account of daily life among the Cherokees.
Moravian missionaries established a mission for Cherokees at Spring Place Georgia, and during forced relocation in the 1830s, the missionaries established New Springplace in eastern Oklahoma. Remnants of the Spring House still stand near the present-day Oaks Mission at the headwaters of Spring Creek. The Moravian missionaries ultimately closed the mission, but it was reopened as a Lutheran mission in 1902. Today, it serves as a residential school for children.
The nearby cemetery contains grave sites, many unmarked, of the early missionaries as well as Cherokee people who endured forced relocation.
Oaks Mission Executive Director Don Marshall said he was “almost giddy,” at hearing of confirmation of the sale to Cherokee Nation.
“It’s really incredible, given where things stood just a month ago,” he said. “Our heads are spinning with the turn of events here. We are incredibly happy and grateful.”
Both Oakley and Pam Kingfisher, who created a Facebook group Spring Creek Guardians, said the experience at Oaks has ignited a new awareness about poultry house construction in Delaware County.
Kingfisher said she was out of town when she learned about the site and immediately sent messages about the poultry house plans to Facebook friends.
“I got such a response that I immediately created the group,” she said. Within 24 hours it had 150 members and now has about 380, she said.
People have been noticing what seems like an uptick in poultry house construction in Delaware County with the coming of a Simmons Foods poultry production plant expansion planned nearby in Arkansas. People have turned to the Facebook page to share concerns and organize, Kingfisher said.
Both Kingfisher and Oakley recognized Tran Tran and Simmons Foods for being sensitive to the community’s concerns around the Oaks property. With more construction ahead, however, people now have learned they are not alone in their concerns, Kingfisher said.
“There has been a general uplifting of environmental awareness and awareness about the water and actual things to do and how to be active in positive way,” she said. “We’re not here to take away anyone’s livelihood, but they need to be aware and we need to be aware so we all can coexist.”