The bust of Vine Deloria Jr., the Lakota author, theologian, historian, and activist, is among four at the the First Nations Sculpture Garden at Halley Park in Rapid City, South Dakota. Photo by James Giago Davies / Native Sun News Today

Opinion

Tim Giago: First Nations Sculpture Garden deserves our support

Monday, April 29, 2019

Notes from Indian Country

First Nations Sculpture Garden: A very worthy project

By Tim Giago (Nanwica Kciji – Stands Up For Them)

Elizabeth Cook-Lynn is a member of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe. She comes across as angry at times, but she has every right to feel that way. Born Elizabeth Irving, Elizabeth Cook-Lynn grew up on the Crow Creek Reservation in South Dakota.

The federal government's past policies of forceful assimilation of Native Americans separated many tribal people from their cultural roots. However, from her traditional Dakota family and reservation community, Cook-Lynn absorbed and retained important elements of her indigenous heritage, such as the language and old stories. As she grew up, she was angered by the lack of Native American content in the materials she read in school and made the cause of indigenous cultural survival and expression her life's work.

In 1952, Cook-Lynn received a bachelor's degree in English and journalism from South Dakota State College (now a university). After nineteen years devoted to marriage, child rearing, and her work as a journalist, editor, and teacher, she obtained a master's degree in education from the University of South Dakota in 1971. From 1972 until her retirement with emeritus status in 1993, he served as an associate professor of English and Native American studies at Eastern Washington University.

Elizabeth wanted the world to know that there were great Native artists and intellectuals living right here in South Dakota and in all of Indian Country who would never be honored or even recognized. She envisioned a park where sculptures of traditionalists, scholars like Black Elk, Vine DeLoria, Charles Eastman and Oscar Howe could be displayed so that America could learn that there was another side to our story.

She chose a place in Rapid City called Halley Park to place the statues and named the project First Nations Sculpture Garden, right next to the old Sioux Museum. But first she had to fight City Hall and the Halley family to achieve that goal. The simplistic argument of the Rapid City Council was that there was no parking available around the Park and there would be accidents. The Halley family argued simply because such a project had never been a plan for the park named after their ancestors.

Posted by First Nations Sculpture Garden, Inc. on Thursday, December 13, 2018

When the final meeting between Elizabeth and the City Council, held at the old Sioux Museum happened, I made sure that I and several other Lakota people were in attendance just in case the City Council tried to dodge the issue by doing something stupid. Rapid City’s Mayor, Sam Kookier, was behind the project full bore. In the end I think it was his strong support that finally got the City Council to approve the location and the Halley family, although unhappy about it, followed suit.

The first four sculptures of Black Elk, DeLoria, Eastman and Howe were soon taking their place in the park. The great Lakota artist, Marilyn Wounded Head, created the statues and they are a beauty to behold.

But through all of this struggle Elizabeth has had to fight tooth and nail to raise the funds to continue the task. She wants to see more sculptures of other Native American scholars and artists in the park. She is ready to move on the next phase, but finding the money to continue is still a struggle. One would assume that the wealthy gaming tribes with money to spare would consider it a great honor to contribute to such a meaningful project; but none of them have stepped forward as yet.

Elizabeth feels that this project has been difficult to take on since it is a history project rather than a tourist attraction. I don’t see why it can’t be both. It should have the full support of the City and should be included in all of their advertisements. The locals call downtown Rapid City the City of Presidents because there is a sculpture of many former Presidents of the United States standing on nearly every corner. The City sees no problem in funding these projects.

Elizabeth said recently, “It would be great if someone would do the directorship of this project because I continue to think it is an important one, but there is no money and very little thanks in this kind of a public project. My health and age is no big deal, but I’m not getting any younger.”

Elizabeth needs our help. Her Sculpture Garden will benefit all Native Americans and will serve as an educational tool for Non-Natives and to our own people to expound on the undeniable fact that we had our own heroes.

If you know of any who would contribute to this worthy cause just contact Elizabeth at:

Elizabeth Cook-Lynn
First Nations Sculpture Garden
3755 Blake Court North
Rapid City, SD 57702

And if you find yourself in Rapid City make it a point to visit the First Nations Sculpture Garden at Halley Park and learn about the achievements and contributions to Indian Country made by the four heroes now on display at the park.

Contact Tim Giago at najournalist1@gmail.com