Dreams of a tribal monument
Louis Whitehead
For the Argus Leader
published: 04/21/05
Two Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate tribal members are taking the first steps toward making one man's vision of a Native American monument real.
"Inspiration for the monument came to me in a dream during a ceremony," said Laurs Williams, a Dakota elder living in Veblen.
"It's something that's been needed for a long time," he said. "It's going to be a memorial to the millions of our people who have died since the time of European contact."
Laurs' son, Bryan Williams said he hopes it will help people learn to respect the human rights of Native Americans.
At this time, Laurs Williams and his son are in the early planning stages for the monument.
Bryan Williams said it is too early to talk about funding, and he and his father want to focus on getting the word out about the monument. They have spoken to Gov. Mike Rounds and talked with the media. They also want to make people aware of the dream through word of mouth.
Laurs Williams said they eventually will ask artists to submit designs based upon his vision.
A drum-shaped building housing a Native American history museum will be the monument's central structure. On top of the building will stand a statue of a woman holding a lifeless child.
The statue will symbolize the millions of indigenous people of North and South America who have died since European contact more than 500 years ago. Causes of death have included conflict with invading peoples, genocide and exposure to diseases such as smallpox, Bryan Williams said.
Outside the central structure, there will be four statues of Native American leaders such as Geronimo, Tecumseh and Little Crow, Laurs Williams said. Each statue will face a cardinal direction.
"Such men were people who worked and fought for the survival of the people," he said.
Structures representing 38 scaffolds will surround the central building and statues of leaders. Each scaffold will represent a Dakota man hung at Mankato, Minn., Dec. 26, 1862. The men were hanged for their alleged involvement in the Dakota Conflict that took place in western Minnesota earlier that year.
"When I was in high school at Tiospa Zina, we learned about the 1862 uprising. A lot of public schools don't teach about it," said Maya Peters, a South Dakota State University freshman. "There are a lot of stereotypes out there, and the monument will help people see why things are how they are today."
Dan Napolitano, director of education for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, said he thinks the monument is a good idea.
"Our museum is entirely supportive of Native Americans proclaiming oppression in their history," he said. "It's a story that needs to be told by the victims. And it's good that they're tapping into the icons and images of their history and culture."
Bryan Williams said he and his father would like to see the monument built near the continental divide located north of Sisseton.
"It's at the heart of Turtle Island. The heart of anything is located at its center," he said.
"We're about a unity of indigenous people. This monument is not a self-glorification project," he said. The monument also will be designed to showcase how Native Americans have contributed to American society through the years, particularly with regard to natural resources.
"Some Native Americans will say that our monuments are natural. But non-Indians need something physical to remind them of what's happened," Bryan Williams said. "It will also show future generations what we've been through."
Link to Report
Thanks to Bea Woodward for sending this on!
April Reports
Last updated on April 22, 2005