History Meets Today

At the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas Rivers, smack in the middle of downtown Wichita, Kansas, towers the presence of a great work of art that is a monument to our Native American Indian heritage. It was created in 1974 and is a forty-four foot high sculpture weighing 5 tons. It is a contemporary styled sculpture of an Indian Chief designed by Native American artist Blackbear Bosin (1921-1980). In 2006, the statue was raised another 30' to the top of a man made rock promontory. It can be visited by crossing pedestrian suspension bridges from the far shore of either river. For brief periods in the evening, the Keeper is surrounded by a "ring of fire." The curves of the Keeper of the Plains echo in the design of the pedestrian bridges, as well as other art and buildings along the Arkansas River corridor through Wichita.

With friend Gwen as my tour guide, we motored around from downtown Wichita to the park area. As we neared the Keeper of the Plains, the statue could easily be seen for miles. It was immense from a distance, but it was nothing less than breathtaking in size when I found myself standing at its base. We took our place across the river at nine that evening to watch as the flames of the torches that ring the base of the rock were lit. The heat was intense. The view was impressive. But more consuming than all the immediate visuals were the images and thoughts racing through my mind. I sat in wonder and awe trying to understand a nation of people who survived this land without modern amenities. It saddened me to think that their inherent knowledge and understanding of the earth may have been lost as generations modernized and blended with society. Their abilities were apparent in the shape and size of their weapons and tools. There was a note on an exhibit that told that the length of a warrior's spear was evidence of his bravery. I marveled at the brevity of one such weapon and tried to visualize the man holding the piece. What manner of man was he? What legacy did he leave?

While my own heritage is Irish and Dutch, I couldn't help but feel a strong and compelling empathy for the many nations and tribes this one statue stood to represent. It is a firm reminder that their contribution to our country has made it all the more richer. The colors of their fabrics and the designs in their weavings can be found across our land and in our homes. Their imagery and art are a staple from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast and all points north and south in this nation. Blackbear Bosin's work is only one example of the wondrous things the people of the Native American Indian left for us to have and to hold. I shall forever have different eyes with which to see the marks their walk in life have made upon my world.