(This website documents the first phase of what is now called the Iⁿ ‘zhúje ‘waxóbe/Sacred Red Rock Project. Go to our new website, www.sacredredrock.com for current news and information.)

For decades, residents of Lawrence, Kansas have zoomed by Robinson Park and the “Pioneers” monument at its center. Our project, “Between the Rock and a Hard Place,” will open dialogue about its past and create a platform for imagining its future. Led by Pauline Sharp and Dave Loewenstein, citizens of the Kaw Nation will collaborate with researchers of geography, history and indigenous studies to explore the Park’s stories and engage residents in envisioning new ways of interpreting and understanding its significance.

In Lawrence, KS on the north end of Massachusetts St. just south of the bridge over the Kansas River is Robinson Park, named after the State’s first Governor and superintendent of Haskell Institute (now Haskell Indian Nations University). In 1929, a large pink quartzite rock was erected in the park as a monument to the town’s “Pioneers” and to celebrate Lawrence’s 75th anniversary. The City of Lawrence website states, ”In an article in the Topeka State Journal on September 7, 1929, it was suggested to move the rock to the Statehouse grounds in Topeka because of its geological importance and that it was held in spiritual reverence by the Kanza Indians. Before Topekans could act, a man from Lawrence, with the aid of the Santa Fe Railway 200-ton crane moved the rock by rail and placed it in Robinson Park.”

The importance of Iⁿ ‘zhúje ‘waxóbe ( the Sacred Red Rock) to the Kanza People has been confirmed in articles, books and by Kaw citizens. It is not a secret. Kaw citizens have been interviewed, in some cases demanding its return, in others asking that its history be acknowledged. But this has never happened. Iⁿ ‘zhúje ‘waxóbe sits there today exactly as it has, with the same bronze plaque and with no mention of the Kanza People.

Today, the park is almost inaccessible as it is bound by four lanes of fast-moving traffic on three sides, with the river bluff on the fourth side. This may account for lack of interest in the park and its monument. We want to change that.

In addition to gathering research, convening community forums, and creating a documentary film and book, our project will facilitate imagining workshops with groups throughout the city. These imaginings will provide participants with resources, time and support to create new ways of accessing, understanding, and using the Park. Creative works made in these workshops will be the focus of an exhibition at the Public Library and will help shape discussions with City leaders about potential changes at the Park.

As a team, we feel strongly that this is the time to engage in this effort. All around the Country, communities are thinking about how they are represented or misrepresented by local monuments. Now Lawrence has the opportunity to begin this process by reflecting on its founding monument and, if needed, redressing its faults and omissions.

Many people have shared their knowledge, skills and experience with this project including: James Pepper Henry, Curtis Kekahbah, Charles Curtis Kekahbah, Lauren Kekahbah, Charlee Huffman, Jay Johnson, Tai Edwards, Sara Gregg, Beth Schultz, Dennis Domer, Brett Ramey, Toni Wheeler, Dawn Buehler, Nicholas Ward and David Roediger. We are grateful to them all.

The first phase of this project was supported by Interchange, a program of the Mid-America Arts Alliance funded by The Mellon Foundation.