Canku Ota

(Many Paths)

An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America

January 24, 2004 - Issue 105

One of nine Sacajawea statues at Museum of Idaho

IDAHO FALLS—The Museum of Idaho received a eight foot statue on Tuesday, Jan. 13. The Sacajawea statute is one of 400 items to go on display in commemoration of the Lewis and Clark Discovery Expedition.

The statue will greet patrons to the Lewis and Clark display at the entrance of the museum, which is located at 200 N. Eastern Avenue scheduled to open February 17 at 9 a.m.

This is one out of nine statues of Sacajawea made by sculpturer Glenna Goodacre, who was the designer of the Millennium golden one dollar coin.

Going off with no photographs of Sacajawea she selected a Shoshone model who was a student at the University of New Mexico at the time when asked to submit a sculpture of a already selected Sacajawea image for the new $1 coin.

U.S. mint coins have never had a baby on a coin before but Goodacre's design included the baby as when the Lewis & Clark's expedition chose a negotiator for the route.

The statue delivered was of the same model who Goodacre selected.

"There are nine Sacajawea statues that exist, that's because the mold broke and this statute here at the Museum of Idaho is on loan. It was made in 2001," said statue and coin model Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Member Randy'l Teton.

The cost of the statute is $99,000.

"It is just an honor to display this," said museum Lewis and Clark Display Coordinator Kathy Burggraf, "My job is to display. She will be the first patrons will see and the display will be in a natural environment. We'll bring the displays to life in a natural environment. And we will have running water as well."

Teton imagined the statute would be outside, but the museum's Program Director Nick Gailey said she will be the first thing to see as entering to buy your ticket.

"We're fortunate to have this statue," said Gailey.The museum received the statue by loan from Goodacre after Teton gave her a call.

Teton is appointed by the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes as the Lewis and Clark tribal consultant and has been assisting the museum with the upcoming display.

"We're interested in having it, it's so important to the exhibit and plus having Idaho's own Randy'l Teton propose for it," stated Gailey.

Museum volunteer Pam Hawker commented that Sacajawea wanted to get back home. That was the reason she joined Lewis and Clark's expedition.

"We're proud of Randy'l and very pleased to have the statue. It is one feature of this exhibit but didn't think about the drama of getting it in," Hawker said.

After the statute arrived on Tuesday morning, getting it into the museum took eight men and concern from model Teton and sculpturer Bernie Jestrabek-Hart, who also delivered a bugling elk and golden eagle to go with this display.

Tribal member Rusty Houtz was also on hand to help with the statue delivery. Houtz has been really helping out and took it upon himself from the Tribal Museum, and he too has been working with Teton as consultant.
"We have been making the best in providing history to the museum," said Teton.

Jestrabek-Hark is from Meridian, Idaho and has been a sculpture since 1988, working with barbed wire, steel, aluminum, and other metals that reflect a most realistic and impressionistic images. The bugling elk and golden eagle she delivered is more of a newer style, and since 2000 worked from barbed wire. She sculptured the Eagle which is at the Sacajawea Center in Salmon, Idaho.

Houtz's small sculptures will also be featured in the display. Among them is a buckskin covered saddle with beadwork and a old horse blanket.

"Years ago on parades there would be 10-17 women who come along on horses and you could hear the jingles," said Houtz.

On display is one of these old horse blankets with jingles noise makers and also a beaded buckskin horse breast collar.

A VIP reception will be held on Feb. 15 and is by invite only to sponsors and state representatives.

Delivery driver Don Tittsworth left Sante Fe Sunday, Jan. 11 and got to Idaho Falls on Monday evening. He has been Goodacres deliverer since 1988. "She's my main client whom I deliver bronzes all over for. The bigger the better," said Tittsworth.

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