The Dignity Statue

“My intent is for the sculpture to stand as an enduring symbol of our shared belief that all here are sacred and in a sacred place.”

– Dale Claude Lamphere

Overlooking the Missouri River by Chamberlin, South Dakota is a statue that towers the landscape. The Dignity Statue. To truly understand it’s beauty, you have to see it up close. Seeing it against the South Dakota skyline is truly breath taking. It is a very inspiring nod to the Native American women of South Dakota.

Coming in at 50 foot tall, you can’t miss it along interstate 90. And weighing in at over two tons, just the spectacle of it is well worth a stop. It is free to see. It is one of the easiest locations to find in South Dakota. And it is pretty much in the smack dead center of the state.

As I read the plaque that was on the side of the statue, I couldn’t help but think about these words. As a South Dakotan, I have a very strong belief in what it said. There are a lot of people that make up South Dakota. From all different cultures and backgrounds. The Native Americans were here long before my ancestors. And their ancestors seen beauty in this area, that I try to see. I will probably never understand and see it the way they did. But that won’t keep me from trying.

We all have very different ideas. We all have different ways we see things. But at the end of the day, we all share this state. I personally love what South Dakota has to offer. And respect it to its core. Just as I know so many others do.

I have the hope that we can come together and blur the lines of culture. While loving and respecting everyone’s own identity and where it comes from. There is no way that we can see the world from other people’s eyes. So there is no way you will ever know how another person lives. What makes them what they are. And what their culture has to be proud of. That doesn’t mean we should destroy it. Or try to understand it. Isn’t that the golden rule? Do to others as you would want done to yourself?

At its core. What I see in the statue is peace, love, unity, respect, and hope. Others may look only seeing a tall sculpture of metal. But I guess I see so much more. And maybe I’m wrong, but I think this was what Dale Lamphere intended.

The next time your driving down I-90 stop and see it for yourself. And tell me what you see? Art is supposed to be subjective. But it’s not hard to see something different for yourself. And the Dignity statue should be a new must stop.

Until next time.