Chief Bemidji, (sculpture).

Chief Bemidji, (sculpture).

Boe, Erik, sculptor.

Hinche, Gustaf, sculptor. (copy after)

Chief Bemidji, (sculpture).

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: carved cedar coated with fiberglass, painted; Foundation: concrete.

Sculpture: approx. 6 ft. x 2 1/2 ft. x 18 in.; Foundation: approx. 3 in. x 3 ft. x 3 ft.

Chief Bemidji stands with his proper right hand raised to shield his eyes and his proper left hand holding a rifle, the butt of which rests on the ground. A small log is at his feet. The sculpture is surrounded by a low chain-link fence.

Portrait male -- Bemidji, Chief -- Full length

Ethnic -- Indian -- Ojibwa

Occupation -- Other -- Chief

Object -- Weapon -- Gun

Outdoor Sculpture -- Minnesota -- Bemidji

Administered by Bemidji Jaycees, Bemidji, Minnesota

Located Library Park, Paul Bunyan Drive, Bemidji, Minnesota

Nearby plaque reads: SHAYNOWISHKUNG KNOWN AS "CHIEF BEMIDJI" 1824-1904/IN THE 1800s, SHAYNOWISHKUNG AND A BAND OF OJIBWE INDIANS LIVED ON THE SOUTH SHORE OF A LAKE KNOWN TO FUR TRADERS AS LAC TRAVERSE. THE OJIBWE WORD FOR TRAVERSE IS BEMIDGEGUMAUG, AND IT MEANS 'THE RIVER (ROUTE) FLOWING CROSSWISE' AS TIME PASSED, THE LAKE WAS CALLED "BEMIDJI." THE FIRST WHITE SETTLERS, GEORGE E. AND MERIAN E. CARSON CAME IN 1888. SHAYNOWISHKUNG HOUSED AND FED THEM AND OTHERS. ALTHOUGH HE WAS NOT A TRIBAL CHIEF, THOSE EARLY HOMESTEADERS RESPECTFULLY CALLED HIM 'CHIEF BEMIDJI." WHEN HIS DAUGHTER, BAHGAHMAUSHEQUAY, MARRIED MARIAN CARSON, BEMIDJI'S FIRST POSTMASTER, THE RELATIONSHIP WAS CEMENTED BETWEEN THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS AND THE WHITE SETTLERS.

IN 1896, THE NORTHERNMOST TOWN OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WAS INCORPORATED AND IT WAS NAMED BEMIDJI. LUMBERJACK GUSTAF HINCHE CARVED THE FIRST CHIEF BEMIDJI STATUE IN 1901, HONORING A LIVING SHAYNOWISHKUNG. IN 1904, THE TOWN MOURNED SHAYNOWISHKUNG'S DEATH AND ERECTED A MONUMENT IN HIS NAME AT THE GREENWOOD CEMETERY. IN 1927 BEMIDJI'S PARK COMMISSION PLACED HINCHE'S 'CHIEF BEMIDJI' STATUE IN LIBRARY PARK TO OVERLOOK THE FLOWAGE OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER THROUGH LAKE BEMIDJI. YEARS AND WEATHER TOOK ITS TOOL ON THE ORIGINAL STATUE AND IT WAS REPLACED IN 1952 BY A REPLICA CARVED BY RETIRED LUMBERJACK ERIC BOE. COATED WITH FIBERGLASS TO PROTECT IT FROM THE ELEMENTS, IT REMAINS A SYMBOL OF ESTEEM FOR THE OJIBWE INDIAN SHAYNOWISHKUNG, KNOWN HONORABLY AS 'CHIEF BEMIDJI.'/PLAQUE DONATED BY JOYCE BEDESON SKELTON, OCT. 1993.

The sculpture honors Shaynowishkung (1824-1904), known as Chief Bemidji, an Ojibwe Indian. In 1901, lumberjack Gustaf Hinche carved the first Chief Bemidji sculpture. The sculpture was placed in Library Park in 1927. In 1952, this replica was carved by Eric Boe to replace the worn original. The nearby plaque was donated by Joyce Bedeson Shelton.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Minnesota survey, 1995.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

Control Number:

Horizon Information Portal 3.25_9382

Powered by SirsiDynix

About | © 2020 Smithsonian | Terms of Use | Privacy | Contact

SIRIS - Smithsonian Institution Research Information System