Committee Members:
Mary Auger, Member, City of Bemidji Parks and Trails Commission
Kathryn Beaulieu, Secretary, Red Lake Tribal Council
Al Belleveau, Artist; Sculpture Walk Committee Chair
Mitch Blessing, Artist; Sculpture Walk Committee
Wanda Hoyum, Director, Beltrami County Historical Society
Carolyn Jacobs, Chair, Shared Vision
Sandy Kaul, Artist; Public Art Consultant
Marcia Larson, Director, City of Bemidji Parks and Recreation
Bernice Mitchell, Member, Anishinabe Arts Initiative Council
Paul Richards, Architect, Widseth Smith Nolting
Mary Ringhand, Administrative Asst., Red Lake Tribal Council
Kevin Waldhausen, Councilor, Bemidji City Council
Timeline of the Statues:
1901
Danish lumberjack Gustaf Hinche, a harness-maker, painter and naturalist, carved the first statue of Chief Bemidji out of boards nailed together. The statue was moved to various locations over the years.
1904
The town mourned Shaynowishkung’s death and erected a large monument in his name (which still stands) in Greenwood Cemetery.
1927
Bemidji’s Park Commission placed Hinche’s Chief Bemidji statue in Library Park to overlook the flowage of the Mississippi River through Lake Bemidji.
1952
The original statue, which had deteriorated, was replaced by a wood and fiberglass replica, carved by a retired lumberjack named Eric Boe. It was gifted to the Beltrami County Historical Society.
1983
A plaque was donated by Joyce Bedeson Skelton and placed near the existing statue.
2009
A coalition of diverse local groups form a committee to explore the preservation of the existing statue and the creation of a new one that better reflects our community’s values.
Project Mission:
The Chief Bemidji Statue Project committee is interested in commissioning a new statue of
Chief Bemidji. This new representation would depict him in a dignified and respectful way,
honoring the man and his legacy.
Project Goals:
1. Engage the commmunity in a disccussion about the value of creating a new statue, and about perceptions surrounding the existing statue in Librabry Park.
2. Commission a life-sized or larger realistic bronze sculpture. This will allow a detailed representation of Chief Bemidji, in a material traditionally chosen for its beauty, quality, and durability.
3. Select a location that is highly accessible and visible by the public, one that will allow for greater interaction with and understanding of Chief Bemidji and his role in our City’s founding.
4. Develop an educational exhibit at the Beltrami County Historical Society, or other venue, that tells the story of Chief Bemidji and the statues and memorials that have been created in his honor.
5. Consider relocating the current wood/fiberglass statue of Chief Bemidji to the Beltrami County Historical Society.
How does Shared Visions intend to fulfill Project Goal #1: "Engage the community in a discussion about the value of creating a new statue, and about perceptions surrounding the existing statue in Library Park"?
ReplyDeleteAs a local settler interested in truth telling and restorative justice I feel this is the most important component of this project. The remaining goals are entirely secondary to how Goal #1 plays out.
The Chief Bemidji Statue Project committee will be focusing on Goal #1 at their next meeting. This blog is intended to be just one of the ways to engage the community in discussion. Other ideas we've had include holding public meetings, and having articles in area papers/media, directing readers to the blog, letter writing, and public meetings. Please feel free to offer ideas on this topic.
ReplyDeleteOn the agenda of tonight's City Council meeting is the appointment of this committee under the Parks and Trails Commission. For clarification, Shared Vision supports this project's mission but the committee's work would best be under Parks and Trails since a new statue would most likely be on city property.
John, great question, and the answer is in your comment. You are participating, and that's what we are asking for.
ReplyDeleteWe are trying to facilitate a conversation that is open to everyone. We are planning on collecting all threads of this conversation online in the blog AND printed as a physical collection of letters. Then we intend to hold a public informational meeting at a comfortable and neutral community location at which info can be provided and opinions exchanged.
Opinion letters, letters of support, editorials, research results, etc. are all encouraged, indeed requested from anyone with an opinion to share. This will hopefully generate the community engagement we speak of in Goal #1.
Thanks, and come back again. M
Boozhoo, my name is Shane Plumer, I am a local and member of the Red Lake Nation. I think it is a noble effort to restore/recreate the statue of Chief "Bemidji." The life size bronze casting would be beautiful but costly. I think this project is an opportunity for area Tribes (Red Lake, White Earth, Leech Lake) to take the lead and show their desire for some real community building. As for location, I think the new Bemidji Regional Events Center would provide the largest audience and give the city of Bemidji the opportunity to showcase its respect for the history of the lake and community. Furthermore, I agree that the current statue is a bit unsavory, holding a weapon is not a welcoming, peaceful image. Good luck with this project, please post future meetings as I would be happy to donate to this kind of work.
ReplyDeleteShane, Thanks for your comments about this project. Our next meeting is today at 2pm at the casino in Red Lake. We will post notes from our meetings on this blog, so folks can keep up on what's being talked about and add comments. We hope to plan some community meetings to hear what people think about this project, and will post dates/locations for those also.
ReplyDeleteNOTES from the committee's March 18, 2010 meeting:
ReplyDelete1. Kevin reported on the outcome of the March 15, 2010 City Council meeting. Our committee was referred back to the Parks and Trails Commission, and the City will act as our fiscal agent. The City Council wants to make sure this project is what the native community wants, and feels that having adequate American Indian representation on the committee will ensure that.
2. Community Engagement
Questions to ask when we engage the public:
a. What is the value in creating a new statue to honor Chief Bemidji?
b. What are your impressions of the current statue?
c. Where should a new statue be located?
d. Do you have stories, photos, history to share related to Chief Bemidji and this time period?
3. Committee discussed the desire to host 4 public information meetings: Red Lake, Leech Lake, Bemidji, and White Earth. The meetings will be to a) give information on the project’s mission and goals, and possible locations, and b) get feedback from the communities on the new statue, existing statue, location, and stories/history. Meetings will be planned for early May, week night at 7-8:30 pm.
4. Committee reviewed maps of South Shore Development, Library Park, and Paul Bunyan Park. We would like to focus the next meeting solely on the topic of location, and take tours of these three park areas near the south shore of Lake Bemidji.