Monument to embrace Native American Leaders and Culture proposed - KOTA Territory News

A Rapid City woman wants Halley Park to be home to a new monument that pays tribute to Native American tribes.

The monument proposed by Elizabeth Cook–Lynn of Rapid City, would comprise of four statues of well–known Native American leaders, such as Black Elk.

Cook–Lynn says the idea came to her when "Pap" Cabin was moved to the Journey Museum.

To her the cabin symbolized an illegal wave of white settlers moving into the area.

"It was after the [Mount] Rushmore Project started that Rapid City started to think of itself as a tourist destination, and that meant that all of those unsightly Indians down there had to be moved,"says Cook-Lynn.

Cook–Lynn says she has already formed a board for the First Nations monument project and is negotiating with the city.