The "Dignity" sculpture by South Dakota Artist Laureate Dale Lamphere overlooks the Missouri River near Chamberlain, South Dakota. Photo: Dignity Sculpture
The Dignity sculpture was unveiled along the banks of the Missouri River in South Dakota last fall as the battle over the Dakota Access Pipeline raged in neighboring North Dakota. Poet Tiffany Midge, a citizen of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, imagines a 50-foot-tall Native woman coming to life and protecting the waters from the threats facing her people:
In September of last year, a 50-foot monument bearing the likeness of an unnamed Lakota woman replete with a blowing-in-the-wind star quilt, was installed along the banks of the Missouri River in Chamberlain, South Dakota. Her creator, Dale Lamphere, a non-Native artist, titled the giantess sculpture “Dignity.” On his website Lamphere states, “’Dignity’ represents the courage, perseverance, and wisdom of the Lakota and Dakota culture in South Dakota. She is very solid. Grounded into the earth, literally and spiritually.” Indeed, she is—weighing in at 12 tons and made entirely of stainless steel. The million-dollar sculpture was financed by Rapid City businessman, Norm McKie and his wife Eunabel, on behalf of their family and was given as a gift to all the people of South Dakota. At the time of the launch if you followed the Missouri river to the north, you would have witnessed another launch taking place. The launching of concussion grenades and dog attacks, water cannons and rubber bullets. The launching of incalculable greed and disregard for life. The NoDAPL demonstration and stand-off was an event on a scale which the world has never seen, and it sparked universal awareness and attention towards the most critically urgent issues of our time. Protecting the Water. Mni Wiconi. Water is Life.Read More on the Story:
Tiffany Midge: Attack of the 50ft Lakota Woman from the Missouri River Banks (Indian Country Media 3/9)
Join the Conversation
Related Stories
Dakota
Access defends effort to keep oil spill documents secret (3/9) Native Sun News Today: Water protectors take DAPL fight to DC (3/9)
Ivan Star Comes Out: Water protectors experienced raw trauma (3/9)
Judge refuses to halt Dakota Access as pipeline nears completion (3/7)
Dakota Access revises timeline after making 'very good progress' (3/6)
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe leads Native Nations Rise march in DC (3/6)
Award-winning group raises funds for Water Protector legal fund (3/6)
Ruling expected this week on injunction against Dakota Access (3/6)
Dakota Access trying to keep documents from tribes and public (3/2)
Senate confirms Dakota Access ally to lead Energy Department (3/2)
Bill to approve non-Indian casinos in North Dakota called 'racist' (3/2)
North Dakota gains financially with completion of Dakota Access (3/2)
Native Sun News Today: Evictions end historic #NoDAPL campsite (3/1)
Winona LaDuke: Water protectors are still standing strong all over (3/1)
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe waiting on Dakota Access injunction (2/28)
Peter d'Errico: Yankton Sioux Tribe battles Dakota Access in court (2/28)
Sioux Nation citizens seek to join Dakota Access Pipeline lawsuit (2/27)
Dakota Access files another status update on construction work (2/27)
Mark Trahant: The story of Standing Rock won't be going away (2/27)
Jenni Monet: Tribes continue fight as #NoDAPL camps evicted (2/27)
Albert Bender: The war against Dakota Access can still be won (2/27)
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe blasts Trump claim of 'constant contact' (2/24)
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe calls out Trump 'lies' on Dakota Access (2/24)
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe slams Trump for lack of consultation (2/23)
Indian Country joins legal push to block Dakota Access Pipeline (2/22)
Dakota Access offers up March 6 as earliest date for completion (2/22)
Trump administration opposes injunction against Dakota Access (2/22)
Trump team puts hold on pro-tribal Dakota Access legal opinion (2/22)
Native Sun News Today: #NoDAPL campsites see their final days (2/22)
Elizabeth Cook-Lynn: Dakota Access is everything wrong with US (2/22)
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe hopes to see return of casino business (2/21)
Dina Gilio-Whitaker: Sen. Hoeven raises red flags in Indian Country (2/20)
Bureau of Indian Affairs issues 'trespass' notice to #NoDAPL camp (2/17)
Hearing on injunction against Dakota Access moved to February 28 (2/17)
Army Department formally cancels Dakota Access Pipeline review (2/16)
Native Sun News Today: Dakota Access firms see spills, explosions (2/16)
James Giago Davies: Tribes face bigger threat than Dakota Access (2/16)
Monte Mills: Tribes turn to courts to battle Dakota Access Pipeline (2/16)
Standing Rock leader vows to 'forgive' despite White House slight (2/15)
Freedom Socialist: Voices from water protectors at Standing Rock (2/15)
New leader of key House panel defends handling of Dakota Access (2/14)
Dakota Access ready to start transporting oil sooner than expected (2/13)
More tribes join effort to halt completion of Dakota Access Pipeline (2/13)
Army Corps gave go ahead to Dakota Access Pipeline in key memo (2/13)
Mark Trahant: Battle over Dakota Access Pipeline is far from over (2/13)
Tribes head back to court in hopes of halting Dakota Access Pipeline (2/10)
Dakota Access pushes to finish pipeline with Army Corps easement (2/9)
Mark Charles: The real reason Trump hasn't heard about #NoDAPL (2/9)
James Giago Davies: Dakota Access battle has got us divided again (2/9)
Tribes promise fight to keep Dakota Access Pipeline out of homeland (2/8)
Key Dakota Access document from Army Corps wasn't filed in court (2/8)
J. Gabriel Ware & James Trimarco: City breaks with bank over DAPL (2/8)
Tracy Loeffelholz Dunn: In defense of Native journalist Jenni Monet (2/8)
Chelsey Luger: Media is still trying to divide and conquer our people (2/8)
Peter d'Errico: Even Donald Trump can't trample over tribal treaties (2/8)
Andrea Carmen/Roberto Borrero: Trump's slash and burn on treaties (2/8)
Trump administration formally approves easement for Dakota Access (2/7)
Mark Trahant: Native journalist charged by North Dakota authorities (2/7)
Albert Bender: Donald Trump goes blitzkrieg on #NoDAPL movement (2/7)
Dakota Access offers timeline as Trump finalizes decision on pipeline (2/6)
Ladonna Bravebull Allard: Indigenous nations must stand our ground (2/6)
Jenni Monet: I got arrested for reporting on the #NoDAPL movement (2/6)
Ray Cook: Now it is time for all of us to stand down at Standing Rock (2/6)
Frances Madeson: More tribes joining with #DefundDAPL movement (2/3)
Mark Trahant: Donald Trump's 'logic' on the Dakota Access Pipeline (2/1)
Winona LaDuke: Tribes emboldened by resistance at Standing Rock (2/1)
Native Sun News Today: Tribes push back on Trump's pipeline orders (2/1)
