SOUTH COFFEYVILLE, Okla. — On Tuesday, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. will designate Little Flock Baptist Church in Nowata County as a protected and culturally significant site, adding it to the Cherokee Nation Registry of Historic Places.

Little Flock church played an integral part of the surrounding Cherokee Freedmen community for more than 100 years in both religious, educational and cultural history.  

Originally built in the early 1900s, the structure is representative of the stone masonry work commonly found in Cherokee Freedmen communities.  

Tuesday’s dedication and designation adds the property to the tribe’s existing registry for preservation and potential restoration.

Chief Hoskin, Cherokee Nation leaders and members of the local community will be on hand for the official designation.

During the ceremony, Chief Hoskin is also slated to sign legislation, pending approval by the Council of the Cherokee Nation on Monday, creating a $1 million fund to help restore Cherokee Nation historic preservation sites listed on the tribe’s registry.

In 2019, Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner established The Cherokee Nation Registry of Historic Places Act passed by the Council of the Cherokee Nation.

Little Flock Baptist Church (Hickory Creek) will be the 16th site added to the tribe’s historic places registry.