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HomeGovernmentOsage Congress approves $50K contribution for Chouteau fountain project in Kansas City

Osage Congress approves $50K contribution for Chouteau fountain project in Kansas City

By

Benny Polacca

Photo caption: Osage Congress approves $50,000 contribution for Chouteau fountain project in Kansas City. The fountain is located on the west side of Chouteau Parkway, south of Interstate 35, north of Parvin Road. Courtesy Photo/KC Perks

As the state of Missouri prepares to celebrate its 2021 bicentennial, construction work continues on the François Chouteau & Native American Heritage Fountain in Kansas City to commemorate French trader Chouteau and the Indigenous people who founded the city when a trading post was built there in 1821.

Kansas City – also known as the City of Fountains – is receiving its latest fountain located on the west side of Chouteau Parkway, south of Interstate 35, north of Parvin Road. A community volunteer group known as the Chouteau Fountain Founders spearheaded the project funded by public and private sources, including a $50,000 contribution from the Osage Nation, which has historic ties to the region along with other tribes. 

The Seventh Osage Nation Congress approved bill ONCA 21-34 (sponsored by Congressman John Maker) to appropriate the $50,000 contribution toward the project during the 2021 Hun-Kah Session from tribal funding in the Treasury.

Maker told the Congressional Government Operations Committee on April 16 the fountain project organizers and ON officials including Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear, Executive Branch advisor Johnny Williams and Congressman Scott BigHorse have been in contact as the project took shape during planning and construction phases. Maker, along with Vann Bighorse, ON Language Department director, went to Kansas City for the fountain project groundbreaking in November 2019 along with other city and area dignitaries.

“There’s a lot of history with the Chouteau family, the fur traders who made contact with the Osages way back … And we have a lot of descendants from the Chouteau brothers in our Nation now and (connections with) the City of Kansas City and they’ve gone to great lengths to honor the Osage people and our Nation… I think it’s something we can really be proud of,” Maker told the committee.

When completed, the François Chouteau & Native American Heritage Fountain will contain rock and water features along with three bronze statues in Northland Park.

According to the fountain project website: “As a young man venturing out on his own, François (Chouteau) and his bride, Berenice, spent their honeymoon traveling up the Missouri River by boat in search of a suitable site for a trading post. They found one just east of present-day Kansas City. By the spring of 1821, they had established a fur-trading post north of the river on Randolph Bluff—the first permanent European-American trading post in the area. After a flood in 1826, however, the post was rebuilt on higher ground near the intersection of the river and Troost and called Chouteau’s Landing … François traveled extensively in the Kansas Territory, encouraging tribes — such as the Osage, Kansa (Kaw), Shawnee, Missouria, and Otoe — to trap animals and sell their pelts at the Landing. Undoubtedly, François’ relationships with local tribes contributed greatly to his success.”

As for describing the fountain, the project website states: “The François Chouteau & Native American Heritage Fountain will offer a look into the past with authentic, period surroundings. Resembling the river bluffs where Rock Creek and the Missouri River converge, the fountain will spill water over limestone river rocks as mist jets create a gentle fog that hovers over the ‘river.’ Three majestic statues will perch atop the bluff depicting a trade encounter, while elsewhere, a Native American trapper stalks his prey. Plans also include an open plaza where groups and classes can gather as well as a bus drop-off for safe loading and unloading.”

In April 2020, Standing Bear issued a written endorsement for the fountain shared on the project website along with other endorsements and resolutions issued by other respective local governments, organizations, as well as the Kaw Nation. In his statement, Standing Bear wrote: “The Osage Nation wants to express their appreciation for your recognizing the Osage and other Native American Tribes and the important role they had in the settlement in the State of Missouri. I fully endorse this project and appreciate your portraying the French traders among the Native Americans and French explorers.”

During the Congressional committee consideration of the bill, Congresswoman Pam Shaw asked Maker if he contacted the Osage Foundation to see if there is any interest for them to assist in funding the contribution. Maker said he did not contact the Foundation, adding he believed the amount would be too high for them to fund. He also preferred the money to come from the Nation because the Nation will be acknowledged among other project donors on a plaque at the fountain.

In justifying the contribution, Maker said he believes it’s good for the Nation to build its connections with outside cities, especially those that “pay us homage and honor and I think this appropriation is very modest.” Maker said of other appropriations considered during session.

On April 27, the Congress voted 10-2 to pass ONCA 21-34 with “no” votes from Congresswoman Paula Stabler and Congressional Speaker Angela Pratt. Standing Bear later signed the bill to take effect.

For more information and to view project graphics on the François Chouteau & Native American Heritage Fountain, visit: www.chouteaufountain.org

According to the State Historical Society of Missouri, there is a bicentennial celebration scheduled July 24 at the fountain with plans including music and culture performances and booths set up showcasing Native American culture and fur trapping reenactments. Also, that day, there will be an unveiling for a fourth bronze statue at the fountain. For more information on the 2021 Missouri centennial celebration, visit: www.missouri2021.org/portfolio/chouteau-heritage-fountain/ 


Original Publish Date: 2021-07-06 00:00:00

Author

  • Benny Polacca

    Title: Senior Reporter

    Email: bpolacca@osagenation-nsn.gov

    Instagram: @bpolacca

    Topic Expertise: Government, Tribal Government, Community

    Languages spoken: English, basic knowledge of Spanish and French

    Benny Polacca (Hopi/ Havasupai/ Pima/ Tohono O’odham) started working at the Osage News in 2009 as a reporter in Pawhuska, Okla., where he’s covered various stories and events that impact the Osage Nation and Osage people. Those newspaper contributions cover a broad spectrum of topics and issues from tribal government matters to features. As a result, Polacca has gained an immeasurable amount of experience in covering Native American affairs, government issues and features so the Osage readership can be better informed about the tribal current affairs the newspaper covers.

    Polacca is part of the Osage News team that was awarded the Native American Journalists Association's Elias Boudinet Free Press Award in 2014 and has won numerous NAJA media awards, as well as awards from the Oklahoma Press Association and SPJ Oklahoma Pro Chapter, for storytelling coverage and photography.

    Polacca earned his bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and also participated in the former American Indian Journalism Institute at the University of South Dakota where he was introduced to the basics of journalism and worked with seasoned journalists there and later at The Forum daily newspaper covering the Fargo, N.D. area where he worked as the weeknight reporter.

Benny Polacca
Benny Polaccahttps://osagenews.org

Title: Senior Reporter

Email: bpolacca@osagenation-nsn.gov

Instagram: @bpolacca

Topic Expertise: Government, Tribal Government, Community

Languages spoken: English, basic knowledge of Spanish and French

Benny Polacca (Hopi/ Havasupai/ Pima/ Tohono O’odham) started working at the Osage News in 2009 as a reporter in Pawhuska, Okla., where he’s covered various stories and events that impact the Osage Nation and Osage people. Those newspaper contributions cover a broad spectrum of topics and issues from tribal government matters to features. As a result, Polacca has gained an immeasurable amount of experience in covering Native American affairs, government issues and features so the Osage readership can be better informed about the tribal current affairs the newspaper covers.

Polacca is part of the Osage News team that was awarded the Native American Journalists Association's Elias Boudinet Free Press Award in 2014 and has won numerous NAJA media awards, as well as awards from the Oklahoma Press Association and SPJ Oklahoma Pro Chapter, for storytelling coverage and photography.

Polacca earned his bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and also participated in the former American Indian Journalism Institute at the University of South Dakota where he was introduced to the basics of journalism and worked with seasoned journalists there and later at The Forum daily newspaper covering the Fargo, N.D. area where he worked as the weeknight reporter.

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