All-American Indian Days Memorial Dedicated

There was standing room only at the Dedication of the All-American Indian Days Memorial took place on Monday, October 9, at the Rotary Park in the Sheridan Historic Railroad District across from the Historic Sheridan Inn.

The memorial will be a visual public record honoring the extraordinary people of Sheridan and Johnson counties and Native Americans who created an inter-racial collaboration to eliminate racial discrimination against Native Americans from 1953-1984.

William Patton, All-American Indian Days Descendant and a member of the Honoring Project, welcomed the large crowd and talked about All-American Indian Days.

During All-American Indian Days, from 1953-1984, tribes from across the country gathered in Sheridan. The Miss Indian America Collective’s tribute began in July 1951 when two of the top three Sheridan Rodeo Queen finalists were young Crow women.

Lucy Yellowmule was the first Indian woman to be elected as Sheridan’s Rodeo Queen, but in spite of that there was an anti-Indian sentiment in Sheridan. One of the first local townspeople to recognize the need for corrective action was Howard Sinclair, also known as ‘Neck-Yoke Jones,’ who began a media campaign to change the culture of Sheridan at the time. Several other people jumped on the band wagon and All-American Indian Days was born.

Vivian Arviso (Diné), Miss Indian America VII (1960), speaking at the dedication, talked about some of the history of the event.

Included in the dedication was was a traditional pipe ceremony, which was also a part of All-American Indian Days each evening performed by Donald Deernose. On the memorial there is a pipe as a symbol of the friendship between the Native American’s and the people of Sheridan and Johnson counties.

In honor of the memorial and the day, a traditional Cheyenne Memorial honor song was performed.

Rhonda Holy Bear talked about how One Blesses the Other, and Amya Whispering Rain Whelan performed a traditional hoop dance.

The artist, Master sculptor, Jon DeCelles, a member of the Assiniboine Sioux and Gros Ventre tribes, talked about the sculpture Mitakuye Oyasin, “We Are All Related.”

The statue was unveiled, and Wallace Bearchum and Tom Yellowtail blessed the statue with a Native American blessing, and ownership of the sculpture was then transferred to the city of Sheridan with Mayor Rick Bridges accepting the gift on behalf of the city.

Ranchester Mayor Peter Clark, All-American Indian Days Descendant whose father, Raymond Clark was a pastor in Sheridan during the that time.

Closing prayer was the Lord’s Prayer sung by Harbee Tharaldson, Cantor, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church accompanied by Marajah Pease, and Guillauma Pease performing the prayer in Native American Sign Language.

“The story of All American Indian Days is one of Native and non-Native leaders and community members achieving shared leadership and building appreciation for Native American life,” said Vivian Arviso, President of the Honoring Project. “We expect that this memorial will become a visitor destination for Sheridan and the state of Wyoming. This site is a place to stir the memories and the pride of Sheridan residents, Wyoming residents, and Native Americans across the country.”