WILLY THE WARRIOR

Washington High School, here in Sioux Falls, S.D, has traditionally had a mascot called "Willy the Warrior". Amid the recent focus and pressure by anti-mascot opponents, Washington High School found a quick fix, pay someone to paint "positive Indian Imagery". The call was put out by American Indian Services here in Sioux Falls for an Indian to paint murals at WHS, an offer of $500.00 was given. Of course, there were no takers, not for that low and disrespectful amount of money. So a non-Lakota, non-local artist was hired for reportedly the incredible sum of $15,000.00 to paint the murals, hmmmm, makes you wonder who's fingers are in who's pie, doesn't it? Believe it or not, a couple weeks after the debacle, January- February, 2002,WHS asked me to DONATE a piece to help fund their choir, so was born the sculpture "WILLY THE WARRIOR"

WILLY THE WARRIOR

by JAMES STARKEY

(Poem included with Piece)

HIDE NOT WILLY THE WARRIOR

RUN NOT FROM YOUR PAST

DECRY NOT WILLY THE WARRIOR

AND SCURRY TO CHANGE HIM FAST

INSTEAD, FOCUS UPON HOW HE CAME HERE

LOOK, THEREFORE, WITHIN

RATHER THAN REACTING TO YOUR OWN FEAR

ALLOW DIALOGUE TO BEGIN

TROT NOT OUT THE PROGRESSIVES

TO SMITE BACK THE HOSTILES

THOUGH TIMES MAY BE OPPRESSIVE

HISTORY WATCHES ALL THE WHILE...

WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL ASKED ME TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR ANNUAL AUCTION, TO BE HELD FEB.12. SEEING HOW THEY HAVE DECIDED TO WHITEWASH HISTORY AND DISAVOW THEMSELVES FROM THEIR INFAMOUS "WILLY THE WARRIOR", I HAVE DECIDED TO DONATE MY OWN VERSION OF WILLY. COMPLETE WITH GILDED CAGE... HOPEFULLY THIS ART PIECE WILL GENERATE DISCUSSION AT SIOUX FALLS WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL, HOME OF THE "WARRIORS"... JAMES STARKEY

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