PEORIA, Ill. – A sculpture that honors Peoria’s connections to those who tended the land before European settlers arrived is now available for the public’s eye.
On Friday morning, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held at Upper Laura Bradley Park for the Preston Jackson piece. The artwork, titled “Never Extinct: A Pictorial History of Indigenous People,” features symbols representing Native Americans and animals who lived on the land, and the natural land.
The ribbon cutting ceremony featured remarks by Jackson, a poem reading from the Interim Director of the Illinois State Museum, Dr. Michael Wiant, and remarks from a member of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma. The ribbon was cut at exactly 9:46 A.M., to mark the start of the spring equinox.
Park District Executive Director Emily Cahill says the timing with the equinox was planned to symbolize the start of a new season and new thoughts, and moving from the darkness of winter to the hope of spring. She says it’s a similar vibe with a new sculpture at the park.
The sculpture replaces the Christopher Columbus statue that the park removed in fall of 2020. Cahill says that it felt “appropriate” to celebrate the indigenous people that meant so much to Illinois, while Columbus still played a role in bringing people to the area.
“Being able to switch out the sculpture that was Christopher Columbus and replace it with a sculpture that honors and celebrates indigenous people we think is absolutely a statement in and of itself,” Cahill said.
Cahill says it was important for the board to have a connection point for people in the park, but change the conversation around the Columbus statue, and replace it with something that honors indigenous people.
Cahill says there are some people who are still “disappointed” by the removal of the Columbus statue, but notes the goal is to try and honor as many people in the community as possible.
Cahill says the Columbus statue is being retained by the board, but is committed to the new sculpture at this time.
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