OUR PRIMARY MISSION:
Red River Sankofa Historical Society seeks to enhance and promote awareness of the accomplishments and contributions of people of African descent as organic and essential components of larger communities within Northwest Louisiana & Northeast Texas. Red River Sankofa Historical Society will emphasize contributions to the cultural and historical landscape in this region by promoting scholarly research, providing resources for historical and genealogical studies, creating networks of individuals with similar interests, preserving African American burial grounds and assisting communities in these areas with documenting their histories.
Red River Sankofa Historical Society will basically function as a non-profit historical data repository gathering and disseminating information related to Northwest Louisiana, organize cemetery restoration projects, raise funds, and coordinate with other organization with similar goals.
We want to increase the awareness and historic value of these resting grounds and the historical context attached to them as a source of community pride. The goal is to encourage groups and individuals to help preserve these places as landmarks for future generations to appreciate.
OUR OBJECTIVES:
Surveying, Photographing and Documenting Monuments
Documenting Accurate Cemetery Histories
Monument and Environmental Preservation
Public Awareness and appreciation
Deterring Cemetery Theft and Vandalism
Educational Tours and Publications
Expanding our internet presence
Fundraising and grant applications
Building membership
DONATIONS WILL PAY FOR:
Repair critical broken monuments, mausoleums, or walls
Resetting or repinning critical fallen grave markers
Refilling sink holes, depressions, eroded areas, and improving drainage
Labeling and removal of broken markers for later repairs
Securing fencing, gates, steps
Purchasing of reinforcement tools and equipment Installation of signage, physical cemetery inventory and interpretation data
Removal of weeds, ivy, volunteer trees, fallen trees
Repairing primary and secondary roads and paths for access
Pruning of overgrown bushes, plants
Preservation of historic trees
Cyclical tree pruning
Lawn and planting rehabilitation
Installation of lighting to help thwart vandalism
Removal of litter, debris, graffiti
Purchasing of soil
Continue to improve cemetery listings, maps & web site
Assumed Name Certificate
Certificate of Formation
Articles of Incorporation
Tax Exempt Approval