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Dignity of Earth and Sky

Norm and Eunabel McKie of Rapid City, South Dakota, announced their gift of Dignity to the State of South Dakota in 2014, in honor of the 125th anniversary of South Dakota statehood. The statue was erected in September 2016 at a site near Interstate 90, where it overlooks the river. It is situated in the Chamberlain Interstate Welcome Center..

The statue measures 50 feet high. The star quilt held by the woman has more than 100 blue diamond shapes that move in the wind "like an Aspen leaf".

Three Native American women from Rapid City, SD served as the models for the sculpture. Sculptor, Dale Lamphere began by first drawing the form and then sculpting a one-eighth-scale model. The sculpture was created in an isolated area near the Cheyenne River, east of Rapid City, SD, and later moved to the installation site. The statue boldly proclaims that South Dakota's Native cultures are alive, standing with dignity.
When interviewed nearly a year after the dedication, Lamphere said "It's been well-received by the Native community, and by visitors from all over the country. My hope over time is it really gets people to think about the beauty of the native cultures."

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Norm and Eunabel McKie of Rapid City, South Dakota, announced their gift of Dignity to the State of South Dakota in 2014, in honor of the 125th anniversary of South Dakota statehood. The statue was erected in September 2016 at a site near Interstate 90, where it overlooks the river. It is situated in the Chamberlain Interstate Welcome Center..<br /> <br /> The statue measures 50 feet high. The star quilt held by the woman has more than 100 blue diamond shapes that move in the wind "like an Aspen leaf".<br /> <br /> Three Native American women from Rapid City, SD served as the models for the sculpture. Sculptor, Dale Lamphere began by first drawing the form and then sculpting a one-eighth-scale model. The sculpture was created in an isolated area near the Cheyenne River, east of Rapid City, SD, and later moved to the installation site. The statue boldly proclaims that South Dakota's Native cultures are alive, standing with dignity. <br /> When interviewed nearly a year after the dedication, Lamphere said "It's been well-received by the Native community, and by visitors from all over the country. My hope over time is it really gets people to think about the beauty of the native cultures."
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