Miami Indian (sculpture)

Last updated
Miami Indian
Montpelier IN Chief Godfroy.jpg
ArtistUnknown
Year1984 (1984)
Type Fiberglass, concrete, granite
Dimensions760 cm× 216 cm× 140 cm(300 in× 85.2 in× 55.2 in)
LocationMontpelier Community Building, Montpelier, Indiana, United States
Coordinates 40°33′14.27″N85°16′39.31″W / 40.5539639°N 85.2775861°W / 40.5539639; -85.2775861
OwnerCity of Montpelier

The Miami Indian is a work of public art located in Montpelier, Indiana in the United States. The piece depicts a stereotypical image of Native American man. The piece is best known for its appearance in the introductory montage of the American television program, Parks and Recreation .

Contents

Description

The sculpture, which stands 25 feet tall, is made of fiberglass that is painted. The sculpture depicts a Plains Indian man. His proper right arm is lifted in the air with his hand reaching outward. He wears a pair of white pants, with brown fringe around his waist. Both arms have fringed brown armbands around them. He wears a pair of white shoes. On his head is a war bonnet, it is blue and white. He has black hair in braids, with a blue band on each braid, that comes down along both cheekbones. On his proper right leg, just above the knee, is painted "INTERNATIONAL FIBERGLASS, VENICE". [1] [2]

A plaque, made of granite, is in front of the state and it reads:

INDIAN STATUE GIVEN TO THE CITY OF MONTPELIER, JANUARY 1984
BY LARRY P. GODFROY, CHIEF, MIAMI INDIANS [1]

Acquisition

The piece was originally installed at a Pontiac dealer, in the 1960s, which was located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The sculpture was supposed to represent Chief Pontiac. [1] It was moved to a museum in Bismarck, North Dakota in the 1970s. [3] Eventually, the piece was moved back to Indiana, and to Eagle Creek Park, where a museum resided. It sat outside the entrance of a Native American museum. [3] [4] Eventually, the statue was given to Chief Larry Godfroy of the Miami people. [1] The piece is now located in downtown Montpelier, where it was dedicated in January, 1984. [1] In 1985, the sculpture was donated by Chief Godfroy to the city of Montpelier, which resided near ancestral lands of the Miami. [1] [4]

Other information

In front of the statue is an Indiana historical marker referencing the history of the Miami people in the region. [5]

Condition

In 1993, the sculpture was evaluated by the Save Outdoor Sculpture! surveyors. The piece was described as needing treatment. [1]

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The Miami are a Native American nation originally speaking one of the Algonquian languages. Among the peoples known as the Great Lakes tribes, they occupied territory that is now identified as north-central Indiana, southwest Michigan, and western Ohio. The Miami were historically made up of several prominent subgroups, including the Piankeshaw, Wea, Pepikokia, Kilatika, Mengakonkia, and Atchakangouen. In modern times, Miami is used more specifically to refer to the Atchakangouen. By 1846, most of the Miami had been forcefully displaced to Indian Territory. The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma are the federally recognized tribe of Miami Indians in the United States. The Miami Nation of Indiana, a nonprofit organization of self-identified descendants of Miamis who were exempted from removal, have unsuccessfully sought separate recognition.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "(Miami Indian), (sculpture)". Save Outdoor Sculpture. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  2. "Montpelier, Indiana: Muffler Man Indian". Muffler Men. Roadside America. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  3. 1 2 Mayo, Kelly. "Research satisfies the curious mind". Around Campus. University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Archived from the original on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Indian". Montpelier Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  5. "Godfroy Reserve". HMDB.org. Archived from the original on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2014.