OSHKOSH – The statue of the famed Menominee Chief Oshkosh in Menominee Park still looks nothing like him, but a recently installed plaque near it now explains why.
The plaque includes the actual image of the local Indigenous hero from the 19th century.
"As the image on this plaque demonstrates, the statue before you reimagines the personal appearance of Chief Oshkosh, depicting him according to white stereotypes of the primitive and exotic 'noble savage,'" the plaque reads.
The statue depicts a half-naked, lean and muscular man, as opposed to the actual image of a fully clothed Oshkosh who’s somewhat portly.
The monument was erected in 1911 and originally included a plaque that read that Oshkosh’s greatest achievement was lending his name to the city, to the ire of Menominee people and others who knew he accomplished so much more.
Chief Oshkosh was instrumental in making sure the Menominee held on to the land had in Wisconsin and in resisting forced deportation from their home.
He also laid the groundwork for a sustainable logging business on the reservation that the tribe still operates today. It's commended by foresters around the world as an example of how to manage a forest in a healthy way while still making a profit.
“In limiting Chief Oshkosh’s many significant accomplishments to lending his name to this city, the original accompanying plaque serves as an example of the colonial tendency to reduce and erase Indigenous strengths and achievements,” the plaque now reads. “Taken as a whole, the monument stands as a testament to the long history of misrepresentation and misunderstanding of Indigenous peoples and the living and present legacy of settler colonialism and serves as a reminder of how far we have yet to go to properly recognize the real contributions and presence of Indigenous peoples.”
A rededication of the statue was held this month and the site now includes five plaques that better tell the history of Oshkosh.
The event included dozens of attendees, including local leaders, such as Gov. Tony Evers, Menominee Chairwoman Gena Kakkak and Oshkosh Mayor Matt Mugerauer.
“People who visit the monument will get a better understanding about the life of our great chief,” Kakkak said.
Mugerauer said they city is proud to unveil the new historical features at the monument.
“These features better reflect our shared history of these lands, because the history of the Menominee people is part of our history in Oshkosh,” he said.
Evers commented on how the process to enhance the monument has been years in the making.
“Great to see the result of so many folks’ hard work to help ensure this statue better represents Chief Oshkosh and his impact in Wisconsin,” Evers wrote in a social media post.
Menominee tribal historic preservation officer David Grignon and several tribal members had been working with city officials since 2018 to add the language on plaques at the site.
The city council approved the plaques in fall 2021.
“I did see the wording and it was a good collaboration to get the words right,” said Guy Reiter (Anahkwet), a Menominee tribal citizen and executive director of the Menominee Indian community organization Menīkānaehkem Inc.
The city and the tribe also have been collaborating on other projects in recent years, such as the naming of Menominee Elementary School and the recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day.
“The five plagues now surrounding the monument celebrate the life and culture of an important chief of the Menominee Nation,” one of the new plaques reads. “They have been placed here in the hope of promoting the forms of education and dialogue that are necessary steps in the process of healing.”
Frank Vaisvilas is a former Report for America corps member who covers Native American issues in Wisconsin based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact him at fvaisvilas@gannett.com or 815-260-2262. Follow him on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank.
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2023-06-26 10:02:35Z
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