In the context of this artwork, analyze the Controversy and removal of the History.
Members of the Ho-Chunk nation had opposed the statue’s installation from the beginning, and had actively advocated for its removal since the early 2000s. The statue had been loosely modeled on the traditional dress of the Mohawk people, though its appearance was a conglomeration of traditional wardrobe from many tribes. Because of this, it did not reflect the traditions of the Ho-Chunk Nation, and local association of the statue to their culture was denigrative. In effect, the statue was a caricature and generalized image of a Native American, which had been solely intended as a tourist attraction. Of the statue, Tracy Littlejohn stated that “It is not an honor to us. It does not teach anything. People don’t learn about the Ho-Chunk people because they see a statue. It was a tourist attraction not meant to teach anything.”By 2000, the statue was in need of repairs as its plaster had begun to erode and several cracks had formed which exposed its interior steel frame. A report compiled following an inspection of the structure found it to be dangerous, and recommended that if major repairs were not carried out, a fence should be placed around it to prevent pieces of plaster from falling on passersby. An estimated repair cost of $50,000 sparked debate within the community over the statue’s worth and continued maintenance by the city. This debate resulted in public outcry both by those who found the statue historically important and those who found it disrespectful. A special “Hiawatha Statue Committee” was formed to address the controversy. This committee ultimately voted in favor of keeping the statue of Hiawatha, and funds were allocated to refurbish it.On July 13, 2020, the city’s Mayor, Tim Kabat formally requested that the statue be removed by the Board of Park Commissioners. The city had been coordinating with the artist’s family to remove the statue for several years, who had requested that the statue be returned to them and relocated out of the city. Alongside these talks, the Mayor’s decision was catalyzed by the removal of monuments during the George Floyd Protests. His letter recommended that the statue be immediately removed from the park and relocated to the city’s Municipal Service Center until the family of the artist identified a privately owned location for the statue. He also proposed that the site be later renovated to honor Ho Chunk and First Nation people in a more respectful manner. The board unanimously agreed with the mayor's proposal. The statue was then removed on August 10, 2020 and placed in storage.
Ho-Chunk Nation Ho-Chunk Mohawk people Hiawatha removal of monuments during the George Floyd Protests