Following a successful effort to rematriate the Sacred Red Rock with the Kaw people, Lawrence’s Historic Resources Commission has recommended approval of markers for the park where the boulder was misappropriated for nearly a century.
Iⁿ‘zhúje‘waxóbe — the Sacred Red Rock — was held for nearly a century at Lawrence’s Robinson Park, where it had a plaque revering mostly white settlers attached to it. The massive red Siouxan quartzite boulder holds deep historical, cultural and spiritual meaning to the Kaw Nation.
The bronze plaque that had been affixed to it was removed in July 2023 and is now at Watkins Museum of History in Lawrence. The Sacred Red Rock was removed from Robinson Park last August and placed in storage until it was moved to its new home in March: on Kaw land at Allegawaho Memorial Heritage Park near Council Grove. About 400 people showed up to a rematriation ceremony in June.
James Pepper Henry, vice-chairman of the Kaw Nation, spoke to Lawrence city commissioners in 2022: “The last thing the Kaw Nation, the Kaw people want to do is to erase ourselves even further from the conversation in Lawrence, Kansas,” he said. “And so we would like to have a presence in some way or another, be recognized, along with the other Indigenous communities that have had occupation in that area for time immemorial, and be recognized at Robinson Park.”
The HRC on Thursday voted to recommend two markers to be placed in Robinson Park, which is near City Hall, where the boulder sat for about 95 years.
“One of the panels represents the story of In’zhúje’wáxobe’s move to Robinson Park and the creation of the Founders’ Monument, along with the request for the return of the Sacred Red Rock by Kaw Nation,” the meeting agenda summarizes. “The other panel provides a historic foundation regarding Kaw Nation’s connection to Lawrence and the State of Kansas, and other emigrant tribes who had reservations in Lawrence during the 19th century.”
Jay Johnson, KU professor and member of the project team, told the HRC Thursday that the project team has been talking to the public about this effort for the past five years. Next up, there will also be an open house at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 at the Carnegie Building, 200 W. Ninth St.
“We’re going to bring together what we’ve heard from the community over the last five years and really try to refine some of those things,” Johnson said.
The team plans to give another presentation to the Lawrence City Commission later this year, including possibly suggesting a new name for the park, he said.
Robinson park was named for Kansas’ first governor, Charles Robinson, who would later become superintendent of what was then called Haskell Institute. It was a boarding school where Indigenous children were forced to abandon their heritage, language and traditions, and assimilate.
Tai Edwards, a professor of history at Johnson County Community College and a member of the project team, said that Kaw Nation collaborators on Wednesday were very pleased with imagery selected for the markers that gives an accurate portrayal of their homes.
The markers will advance to the Lawrence City Commission for final approval. The cost is covered by the grant that funded the rematriation and associated community education and engagement.
Here’s a look at the full markers; click to zoom in:
See the full agenda item at this link.
If our local journalism matters to you, please help us keep doing this work.
Don’t miss a beat … Click here to sign up for our email newsletters
Click here to learn more about our newsletters first
Mackenzie Clark (she/her), reporter/founder of The Lawrence Times, can be reached at mclark@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
More coverage:
Lawrence’s Historic Resources Commission votes in favor of Sacred Red Rock markers
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Latest Lawrence news:
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Mark Potts/Lawrence Times
