Potawatomie Indian Sculpture - La Porte, IN
N 41° 36.686 W 086° 43.324
16T E 523157 N 4606672
This sculpture shows a Potawatomi Native American with a broken spear as a symbol of peace with the pioneers. Howard A. Demyer was the sculpture. It is located in on the La Porte County courthouse grounds in La Porte, IN.
Waymark Code: WM37BQ
Location: Indiana, United States
Date Posted: 02/22/2008
Views: 49
The plaque reads:
"On land once belonging to his people, this Potawatomi Indian stands. His broken spear a symbol of peace with the pioneers. Presented by the citizens of La Porte in our nation's bicentennial year...1976.
Howard A. Demyer Sculptor"
The Smithsonian Art Inventory web site lists this information:
"Sculpture: welded copper; Base: concrete with pea gravel.
A standing full-length figure of a Potawatomi Indian dressed in buckskin coat, trousers and mocasins, and wearing his hair in two braids with a headband and feathers. His arms are extended above his head, and he holds in his hands a spear which is broken to symbolize peace with the European settlers in the area. He stands upon a promentory, at the base of which is a miniature Indian camp and a pioneer homestead. Statue sits in reflecting pool and is lit with floodlights at night.
On nearby plaque: THE CHIEF OF THE POTAWATAMIE FAREWELL ADDRESS/1838/"MY WHITE BRETHREN, I HAVE CALLED YOU HERE TO BID YOU FAREWELL./MYSELF AND MY BAND AT SUNRISE TOMORROW MOVE ON TO UNKNOWN COUNTRY THAT/THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS PROVIDED US WEST OF THE MISSOURI./WE LEAVE YOU AND THE SCENES SO DEAR TO US ALL. THE WHITE SETTLERS/HAVE BEEN GOOD TO US AND IT SEEMS LIKE SEVERING THE TIES OF/FRIENDSHIP. WE GO AWAY, REMEMBERING YOU WITH KINDNESS."