50-foot Stainless Steel Statue, "Dignity," Honors Native Americans in SD

[MineralMan]

My wife and I are taking a road trip to the Black Hills next month. Although she grew up in South Dakota, her parents never took her to the Black Hills. Every trip was to visit relatives somewhere, and there were none there. Along with seeing the Badlands, some dead Presidents carved out of a mountain and Deadwood, the trip will also include a stop at Wall Drug and several other places.

In particular, we're interested in seeing this new statue that has been installed, overlooking the Missouri River, at a rest stop near Chamberlain, SD. It hasn't been their long, but a 50-foot high representation of a Lakota woman near I-90 promises to be a high point. Donated to the state, it has caused admiration by many and concern from some. We're looking forward to seeing it:

[The Wielding Truth]

1. She is beautiful. Lakota woman

[Achilleaze]

2. Excellent

[longship]

3. Stunningly beautiful.

I would definitely make a diversionary trip to see that if I were in SD.

[Canoe52]

4. Wow! KnR!

[lunatica]

5. It makes me want to travel there!

[volstork]

6. Wonderful!

So much better than some murderer with a gun...

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. Good for you! The Black Hills really do seem sacred, and this statue is wonderful! /t

[forgotmylogin]

8. It's a beautiful statue, but I'm curious...

It looks like the wind could catch in what amounts to a sail or a kite she's holding up. Are there vents built into it (like an umbrella) so a strong gale won't topple it?

[AtheistCrusader]

9. There are. The colored bits of glass can spin as vents.

More angles here:

http://www.kuriositas.com/2017/08/dignity-statue-america-needs-right-now.html

[forgotmylogin]

11. Oh, that so cool!

So it's also kinetic and uses the wind!

[AtheistCrusader]

12. It's a staggering piece of art.

I love it.

[Duppers]

13. Wonderful info at that link.

Thanks for posting it, AC.

[Duppers]

10. BEAUTIFUL but caused "concern"??

Can you expand on that, please?
Thanks.

Native Americans should get more recognition throughout this country.

[AtheistCrusader]

14. Might be a 'it's on public property' issue.

Some people will seek to cloud the debate on religious or confederate art/statues on public lands with this example.
It's of course, ridiculous comparison, but I used the word 'cloud' on purpose. It's a distraction tactic.

[Duppers]

16. Thank you.

I dearly hope conservative opponents don't succeed with such a distraction tactic.
Thanks again.

[AtheistCrusader]

19. Quick search on Facebook for it shows people already starting to use it for false equivalency.

Sad, but predictable.

The Lenin statue here in Seattle is on private property, for sale, and held in a Trust by the local Chamber of Commerce, not the city or the state, but it's being used as a counter-example to the confederate statutes, even though there's no equivalence whatsoever.

[L. Coyote]

15. See the museum at the Crazy Horse monument. Maybe Devils Tower, WY too.

Indian Museum of North America, Crazy Horse, SD. There's a nice town on the north side of "the Hills" called Spearfish, on the freeway to WY and Devils Tower. The road thru the Black Hills and Deadwood is worth the trip, beats the freeway on the east side. Watch for the Buffalo Jump museum along the freeway just past WY border, Vore Buffalo Jump.

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Nac Mac Feegle]

24. Another suggestion:

I don't know which direction you're coming from or your route, but if you're going to be in Northern Wyoming, going through Cody, check out the Buffalo Bill Cody Museum there.

It's actually 5 museums in one complex, and it's very good. It's been a long time since i was through there, but it's a good day to go through it.

https://centerofthewest.org/?utm_source=madden&utm_campaign=dmwybuff17&utm_medium=googlecpc&utm_content=grant-visit&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7cCVrvLr1QIVhi-BCh1h6wsKEAAYASAAEgK0sfD_BwE

[TheFrenchRazor]

17. that's one of the best rest stops on any highway i know. the statue's a nice addition. nt

[progressoid]

33. I know the man that designed that rest stop.

He also designed the concrete tipi structures that accompany all the SD rest stops.



http://www.argusleader.com/picture-gallery/news/2015/02/12/photos-architect-ward-whitwams-honored-by-sd-historical-society/23298245/

[SergeStorms]

18. Impressive!

Any idea who donated it?

I hope you both enjoy your trip. I envy you!

[7wo7rees]

20. That is beautiful!! n/t

[Maven]

21. I love it! nt

[burrowowl]

22. Stunningly Beautiful!

[Honeycombe8]

23. Wow. What a beautiful statue. nt

[Steve McEnroe]

25. Was just there

The sculptor is Dale Lamphere who lives near the Black Hills between Rapid City and Sturgis SD. The girl is a Lakota shawl dancer, one of the traditional Sioux dances that continue as part of modern-day pow wows around the country. The "shawl" is a traditional Lakota star quilt with the pattern formed by colored diamonds. The star quilt is often presented to people in an honoring ceremony. For what its worth, I have lived in Rapid City and the Black Hills for 30 years and have known Dale for much of that time as a photographer on the local paper.

[rzemanfl]

28. Welcome to DU. n/t

[MineralMan]

30. Thank you for sharing that info!

I'm looking forward to the trip.

[Lochloosa]

35. Thanks for the background Steve. And tell Dale he did good.

Welcome to DU...

[2naSalit]

26. It's about time this was erected...

may there be many more and soon!

Thanks for posting, I didn't know about this beautiful statue.

2na

[Jim Lane]

27. Great photograph! What's the source?

I assume it's not your own work. It's a better depiction than the photo now included in the Wikipedia article, so I'd like to pursue getting permission to use it.

[MineralMan]

31. Right click and copy the source link.

Paste it into your browser to go to the site. I can't remember.

[aikoaiko]

29. Beautiful.

I wouldn't have expected something like that to hold up in the strong plains winds, but what do I know.

Its impressive

[raven mad]

32. I wish she'd been there our last trip through SD.

Unfortunately, that was in 1996.

THIS is definitely saved - beauty, strength, and compassion all in one.

[progressoid]

34. As you stand next to it, you'll look right at her ankle!

Depending on your height of course.

There is a nice Native American museum in Chamberlain too. About 10 minutes from the rest stop. It's at the Saint Joseph's Indian School. It was recently updated with a wing dedicated to the treatment of the Lakota by the church in the past (not a pleasant experience for most Native Americans).

If you don't want to be depressed for weeks to come, avoid the Wounded Knee cemetery on the Pine Ridge Reservation.