Indian Memorial Theme PEACE THROUGH UNITY

Respected elders Enos Poor Bear and Austin Two Moons identified the theme of "Peace Through Unity." This theme was recommended by consensus of the Indian Memorial Committee on May 3, 1989.

Proposed Theme Statement

The theme of peace is expressed by the actions and words of Austin Two Moons in his prayers for world peace. Though located on a historic battlefield, the theme of peace should be prevalent.

Unity can be expressed by the following:

During the time of our elders, things were better for our Indians than they are today. The way that our elders made things better was through unity. Unity of purpose; unity of dedication; and unity of effort. When we look back over the pages of time, we observe that all major accomplishments of Indian people were brought about when unity was present. The major victory which our people enjoyed here at this very battlefield was the result of a unified effort among Indian people.

Major progress among Indian people will come about only when there is unity of effort. The failures that we Indian people have experienced have come about when we were not united, and when divisiveness was the order of the day.

If this Indian Memorial is to serve its total purpose, it must not only be a tribute to the dead; it must contain a message for the living. I earnestly suggest to you that power through unity would serve us well as an interpretative theme for this Memorial.

5 February 1998, lrb