Thursday, June 25, 2009
Day Four: Cowboys vs Indians (and the Indians win!)
Before I get started today, let me thank Kristin for her guidance in tweaking this blog and inserting pictures. This is my first attempt at blogging -- I was working in an incorrect window -- I'm learning as I go...a constant work-in-progress as well. Now I need to figure out how to delete the right column so I can widen this posting screen. Kristin, help again. :-)
Okay, it is official. We made it to the Crazy Horse Memorial. I have much better pics and angles of this mountain work-in-progress which I'll include. See the face of Crazy Horse directly above my head? That is the only part that is officially completed. For those of you really interested in this monument (and it should be a priority on anyone's "bucket list"), there is an excellent site for additional info on this memorial at crazyhorse.org.
The picture to the left is how the mountain will look when completed. You can see the actual mountain in the background. Although I included some of this information on the first blog day, it bears repeating. (Sorry, that's the teacher in me -- wanting to be sure you "get it.")
The sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski won first prize for his sculpture of the Polish musician Paderewski at the New York World"s Fair (1939) which attracted the attention of Lakota (Sioux) Chief Henry Standing Bear. He said, "My fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know the red man has great heroes, also."
Crazy Horse represents not just one leader, but he stands as a great symbol for the spirit of all Native American Indians. Mount Rushmore is just a few miles away built on sacred land to the Indians. The Crazy Horse Memorial dwarfs Mount Rushmore -- all four heads of the Presidents would fit in the head of Crazy Horse with room to spare. When completed, this will be a statue in the round. This is definitely a "statement" (in-your-face literally) piece! 
Born in 1843, an American soldier stabbed Crazy Horse while under arrest at Fort Robinson under a flag of truce -- he died on September 6, 1877 at the age of 34. He had been arrested for leaving the reservation in search of a doctor for his ill wife. The "authorities" had him confined to the reservation so he would not assemble or incite or disseminate information to the outside world.
Crazy Horse defended his people and their way of life. During his short life he witnessed:
- the Treaty of 1868 broken (this had been signed by the President of the United States) -- the treaty stated "as long as rivers run and grass grows and trees bare leaves, Paha Sapa -- the Black Hills of Dakota -- will forever be the sacred land of the Sioux Indians."
- his leader, Conquering Bear, exterminated by treachery
- the government agents failed to bring required treaty guarantees, such as meat, clothing, tents, and necessities for existence which they were to receive for having given up their lands and gone to live on the reservations.
- his people's lives and their way of life ravaged and destroyed.
This colossal mountain carving is also a humanitarian project -- telling present and future generations the story of all North American Indians by collecting and preserving outstanding examples of their cultural heritage -- both of yesterday and today -- benefiting all Native American people through the creation of a formal educational institution.
Korczak had three major goals: the mountain carving, the Indian Museum of North America, and the planned University and Medical Training Center for the North American Indian. I marvel at the tenacity of the sculptor, Korczak. He had a dream from which he never wavered. He was determined and dedicated. His wife and 10 children continue to share this dream today. Korczak truly is a "storyteller in stone."
He did not care for depictions of Indians as a defeated and dejected people. Thus, he designed Crazy Horse as a proud figure with his left arm stretched out across this expansive valley proclaiming in response to a derisive question asked by a white man, "Where are your lands now?" Crazy Horse replied, "My lands are where my dead lie buried." He never signed a treaty.
The Welcome Center features informational movies, classrooms, conference facilities, a research library, the sculptor's workshop (now utilized by one of his talented daughters), an incredibly well-stocked museum gift shop (in which I became so frustrated wanting one of all the above books they have on display -- hundreds of books on Native Americans and culture), and the Native American Educational and Cultural Center. Tonight we went back for the spectacular "Legends in Light" laser show on the side of the mountain. Inspiring. This show incorporates so many aspects of not only the project but a sense of binding together all peoples...and it has a decidedly American theme. But the light show is worth the price of admission -- which we did not have to pay because my traveling companion is indigenous. :-) She loves flashing her card stating she is a member of the Choctaw Nation. (Native Americans are admitted free to this site -- of course!)
Tomorrow night we are going back for a night blast. They conduct two night blasts per year -- June 26th and September 6th. (The September 6th date is "auspicious" for this project because not only is it the date Crazy Horse died but it is also the date of Korczak's birth. The "Elders" considered this a good omen.)
Additionally, we visited Mount Rush
more today. The scenic drive up to this memorial is dramatic and solemn. I can see why these hills are still considered sacred by the Lakotas. It was almost a jolt to come around a curve and see this magnificent mountain. Another spectacular sudden view are the Mount Rushmore heads looming out of the mountain as you climb to the sight. Hard to not get an interesting or dramatic picture here. In the extensive museum gift shop, one of the original workers on this project was signing his book and chatting with visitors. It was a thrill to see incredible photos of this grand construction project. This really is a nice monument -- visitor friendly with several areas that allow the visitors to just sit and enjoy this spectacular creation.
more today. The scenic drive up to this memorial is dramatic and solemn. I can see why these hills are still considered sacred by the Lakotas. It was almost a jolt to come around a curve and see this magnificent mountain. Another spectacular sudden view are the Mount Rushmore heads looming out of the mountain as you climb to the sight. Hard to not get an interesting or dramatic picture here. In the extensive museum gift shop, one of the original workers on this project was signing his book and chatting with visitors. It was a thrill to see incredible photos of this grand construction project. This really is a nice monument -- visitor friendly with several areas that allow the visitors to just sit and enjoy this spectacular creation. As we drove back to Custer, all I wanted to do was to process the sights and sounds of the day. I have always wanted to see Mount Rushmore upclose and personal. Had never considered Crazy Horse until my indigenous friend broached this as "the" destination and purpose" for this western adventure.
I am honored to have experienced this day.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
There are just some things you have to see and do. Books and commentaries just don't do them justice. I love the feeling of "discovery" an experience like this brings.
ReplyDeleteHave fun!
Jimmy