1st Nations Sculpture Garden Inc. offers an artists rendering of the proposed sculpture garden in downtown Rapid City.
First Nation’s Sculpture Garden shot down
3 – 3 tie vote broken by Chairman Jeff Schild
By Karin Eagle
Native Sun News Correspondent RAPID CITY - The Rapid City Native American community, in an effort to create a place to honor their own, faced unexpected opposition to a proposed sculpture garden in Rapid City. What was the surprise, at a recent Rapid City Parks Advisory Board meeting, was how close the vote was, and the support from a higher level of city government. The First Nations Sculpture Gardern was first envisioned by Elizabeth Cook-Lynn, a long time resident of Rapid City, who is an educator and supporter of her Dakota heritage. Cook-Lynn's vision was to create a larger than life sculpture gardern that would offer the Native community a chance to enjoy quiet contemplation on the contributions and achievements of their own ancestors. Included in the list of sculptures are Black Elk, Oscar Howe, Charles Eastman and Vine Deloria. Since August of 2012, Cook-Lynn and the board of the First Nations Sculpture Garden have been meeting with the advisory board in order to address the concerns that the board has identified. One of the most argued points was whether the garden would be, in fact, a tourist attraction, which is the stand that the board took, or would remain an unadvertised venue that might attract the spill over foot traffic created by the Tour of Presidents that exists through out the downtown area of Rapid City. The First Nations board insists that this project is not intended to be a draw for tourists, who although welcome to visit, would not be directly targeted in advertising. At the most recent meeting, which wa held on the location of the purposed park, at the former Sioux Indian Museum on West Boulevard in Rapid City, the First Nations representative, Cook-Lynn, requested a Memorandum of Understanding with the Parks Department. "We had taken the proposal to the Mayor, Sam Kooiker, who was in support of the project, and who advised that we follow this route, seeking the MOU, from the Parks Advisory Board, which is what we are doing." explain Cook-Lynn. In following the protocol of the meeting, the chairman of the board,Jeff Schild, allowed speakers on the topic to address their concerns, or voice their opinions. Several of the speakers made comment on the lack of parking, and the location which is located between two of the busiest street in Rapid City, connecting West to East Rapid City. Each of the speakers against the proposal were very clear in indicating that they thought the project was a good idea, which would help in enhancing relations between the communities, but that the location was the issue that concerned them most,as they felt that the garden would naturally become a large tourist draw. It was noted by Tim Giago, founder of Native Sun News, that there has been a museum, the Sioux Indian Museum, which operated for many years with the same amount of parking. Giago also pointed out that he had lived in the Rapid City community for several decades and had never known any of the Native community to complain about the location of the museum. Giago further remembers playing in Halley Park as a child. "This will be a place to meditate, to contemplate, not a place for large flocks of tourists to come through," said Giago. James Swan, of the Urban Indian Warrior Society in Rapid City, explained that the Native community is inundated with monuments to the Non-Native leaders of the United States, by walking downtown. On nearly every corner there is a statue representing one of the former Presidents of the United States. "In light of past relations between the Native community and the whtie community, we really don't ask to much." said Swan, addressing the board. "This is the land where they want the garden to be." Toni Martin, Rapid City, asserted to the board that she felt that the project should be located in Memorial Park. "Halley Park is a jewel in Rapid City." said Martin "If this passes, it will be a problem." Rapid City City Councilwoman, Bonnie Peterson added her comments that she would support that project if it were to come before the full council. Peterson added that the museum had operated successfully with the same amount of parking, and reiterated what Swan had said, "This is where they chose it to be." When discussions were called to a close, a motion was made to deny the proposal with the recommendation that the First Nations board work with the Parks Department to identify a more appropriate space. The motion was made by Chuck Tinant, with a second from Rick Askvig. Cook-Lynn re-addressed the board, explaining the historical significance of the location, and the broader vision of the garden. Cook-Lynn explained that the image of the Native Americans were as warriors, as massacre victims, as drunks under a bridge. The garden would offer, according the Cook-Lynn, the opportunity for the Native American children to re-examine how we acknowledge themselves with regards to their heritage and culture. "How true, for every Native to hear the words, 'Move somewhere else'" stated Cook-Lynn "This garden is not for people to come just to know 'something' about Indians." Chairman Schild brought up a discussion that was held during a March 2013 meeting between the Parks department and the First Nations board. Schild stated that Cook-Lynn had made a comment that offended him, and he wanted to address it. He asserted that Cook-Lynn had stated that the project was not intended for "little white third and fourth graders." "Well, I have a little white third or fourth grader." said Schib. "I would like to ask that you did not refer to them as little white kids anymore." Cook-Lynn responded by acknowledging her comment, and that she had felt that the comment was not a derisive comment, and that she had not intended any insult, but that she was merely stating the true intention of the proposed sculpture garden. "It is up to you to teach your own children about 'Indians'," explained Cook-Lynn. "We have our own third graders that we want to educated about their history." "There is no recognition, anywhere in this community, of the Peace treaty that was established between the Lakota and Dakota and the US Government." said Cook-Lynn." We live a different way, and we live seperate lives, but it is time for this community to do the right things for the Native community." Advisory Board member, Heather Thompson, CRST, spoke about the way the sculptures downtown did not draw huge flocks of tourists on any one corner. She explained that it was because there were so many of them, that not one single statue drew more than a handful of people at any one time. "This garden could be just one of many, should be one of many, to the point where its really is just an every day sight." explained Thompson. "We should drive by it and not even notice it because its one of several sites through out the community; common every day sight." Thompson expressed that she would vote against rejecting the proposal and would offer her own counter motion to adopt an MOU with the First Nations should the rejection fail. Another board member Karen Olsen, also expressed her support for the project, explaining that the statues downtown were not a destination for tourists, but rather an amenity, which is how the sculpture garden at Halley Park would become. Olsen explained her personal connection to the project was that she had been a student of Oscar Howe, taking several classes which he taught. Board member Nicholas Stroot took the floor and went into a discussion concerning the research he had done about the land held in trust for the tribes by the US Government. Stroot claimed that his research indicated that the land which Sioux San, the IHS hospital in Rapid City,is located on, and formerly the Rapid City Indian School, was never held in trust for the tribes, and that the land which Halley Park was never part of any trust land either. Stroot pointed out several descendants of the founder of Halley Park, who were in attendance, and asked them show hands if they were not in support of the sculpture garden being located on Halley Park land. All of the approximately ten people raised their hands. Stroot concluded his address by reiterating the concerns about parking and access to the garden if it were to be approved. Board member Chuck Tinant spoke about his concerns over the parking and access issue as well, citing his fears for the potential death of a child if the park were to be built at the proposed location. Tinant expressed his wish that First Nations would work with the Parks department to find a better location, suggesting near the Journey Museum in North Rapid City. Immediately before the vote was called, Cook-Lynn pointed out that the US Supreme Court had ruled that the land, including the land in question, had been taken from the area tribes illegally, in 1980. Cook-Lynn expressed, directly to the board, that should the MOU fail at the vote, she would not be pursuing any further action on the progress of the project. When the vote was called by roll call, the members voting for the rejection of the propsed MOU between the First Nations Sculpture Garden Inc. And the Rapid City Parks Department were Rick Askvig, Chuck Tinant and Nicholas Stroot. Members voting against the rejection, in support of the project, were Heather Thompson, Karen Olsen and D. Rodriguez. With the vote divided, Chairman Schild was allowed his vote as a tie breaker. Schild voted to reject the MOU. A recess was called immediately after the vote. Cook-Lynn left the building, follwed by many of the supporters of the sculpture garden. Several of those supporters, including board member and former editor of Native Sun News, Jesse Abernathy, expressed disappointment and yet no surprise in the outcome. Councilwoman Peterson expressed to Cook-Lynn that there was still hope for the project and that the First Nations board should continue on without the MOU, as it was merely one avenue to finding success. As of press time, there has been no decision as to whether or not the project would continue under the direction of Cook-Lynn. (Contact Karin Eagle at staffwriter@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission by Native Sun News
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