Kindred Spirits
The sculpture Kindred Spirits ( German literally: Kindred Souls. Transfer: Like-minded people ) in Midleton , Ireland is a commemoration of the generosity of the North American Indian people, the Choctaw . Although the tribe suffered from displacement, death, and disease, relatives raised a US $ 170 donation in 1847 to help alleviate the great famine in Ireland.
place
The sculpture is located in Bailick Park in the city of Midleton in County Cork, Ireland . Historically, there is no direct connection between the donation and the town of Midleton. Rather, the memorial represents the importance that the donation has for all Irish people.
Object description
The artwork was commissioned by the city council in 2013. The City of Midleton approved the investment in the Kindred Spirits sculpture with a view to promoting local history, cultural heritage and, last but not least, tourism.
The work was created by the local artist Alex Pentek. Pentek involved students from Crawford College of Art Design. It took a year to complete.
"For me it was very important to be hand-tool finished, to give a human element to the work."
"It was very important for me to finish it by hand to give the work a human element."
The object had to be assembled in its location because it was too big to be assembled in the studio.
The sculpture consists of nine six meter high stainless steel springs . They represent eagle feathers used in Choctaw ceremonies. Each of the springs is uniquely designed. The detailed work required more than 20,000 welds . The feathers stand in a circle, on the tip of their keels , " towards the sky", as it is generally described. The round arrangement creates the shape of a bowl, an empty or filled bowl, which symbolizes the famine.
Historical background
The Great Famine raged in Ireland between 1845 and 1849 . The potato blight repeatedly destroyed the staple food, potatoes. The British government that ruled the island did not provide effective assistance. A million people died and another two million fled their homes. It was one of the first humanitarian crises to be reported globally.
The North American Indian people, the Choctaw , originally lived in what is now the US states of Mississippi , Alabama and Louisiana . 16 years before the Great Famine in Ireland, the Choctaw were forcibly evicted from their land. Properties had to be left behind. They were the first of many peoples to walk over 1600 km on the so-called path of tears . Four thousand of them died of starvation and disease. When they found out about the famine in Ireland afterwards, they were able to put themselves in the shoes of the Irish. "We felt so compassionate that we wanted to help." ( Tribal member and historian Julie Allen : BBC)
The Choctaws began to raise money while richer nations ignored the disaster in Ireland. Finally, in 1847, the Choctaw sent US $ 170 food aid to Ireland. (The current value of this sum varies widely. It varies from about $ 4,400 to $ 5,000, up to tens of thousands of dollars.) Another source states that the money donated was distributed in Ireland by Quakers who played a leading role in famine relief.
revelation
The ceremonial unveiling of the sculpture took place on Sunday, June 18, 2017 . About 300 guests came. The Native American leaders were present. In total, almost 20 representatives of the people attended the public ceremony.
Chief Batton said in his panel speech:
Kindred Spirits is such an appropriate name for this relationship.
" Kindred spirits is such a fitting name for this relationship."
The celebrations included prayers of the two cultures and the national anthem , with the American one being performed in Choctaw . There was also traditional Choctaw and Irish music and dances as well as activities related to sculpture and history. At the end of the event, an oak tree was planted to underline the longevity of the bond between the two cultures.
importance
The Choctaw chief Gary Batton described the sculpture as "a tribute to our Choctaw ancestors". He named perseverance as a common feature of both peoples:
"We have endured - the Choctaw people and the people of Ireland."
"We survived - the Choctaw people and the Irish people."
The Mayor Seamus McGrath called this kindness of strangers an extraordinary story. It is a sign of solidarity , despite the difficulties the Choctaw had to overcome themselves. He now sees this act of generosity honored in Cork.
A representative from Cork City Council said the memorial is not only aimed at the Irish, but also for humanity in general. The meaning of the monument is a demonstration of love that hopefully will encourage the Irish people to act as the Choctaw people did at the time.
International relations
The chief emphasized the strong bonds that the generosity of his ancestors had forged between his people and the Irish people. Relations between Ireland and the Choctaws have intensified over the past few decades.
In 1990 Choctaw tribesmen took part in a hunger march in County Mayo , Ireland . Two years later, Irish politicians traveled to the United States on a Choctaw trek . The former State President of Ireland , Mary Robinson , as the former Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar alike, visited the Choctaws in Oklahoma to speak to her thanks. Mary Robinson was made honorary Choctaw chief .
In 2020, a scholarship program was created at University College Cork to further strengthen the relationship between the two peoples.
When the Navajo nation was hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, including the Irish donated hundreds of thousands of dollars due to their miserable health and housing situations. Chief Gary Batton is "pleased - and perhaps not at all surprised."
"We have become kindred spirits with the Irish in the years since the Irish potato famine."
"We have become kindred spirits to the Irish in the years since the Great Famine."
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k Olivia Kelleher: Irish and Native American Choctaw nation bonded with sculpture unveiling in Midleton. In: irishexaminer.com. Irish Examiner, 2017, accessed April 14, 2021 .
- ↑ a b c d e f Sculpture marks Choctaw generosity to Irish famine victims. In: bbc.com. BBC, June 18, 2017, accessed April 14, 2021 .
- ↑ a b c d e f g Sculpture in Ireland Honors Choctaw Nation. In: choctawnation.com. The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, July 3, 2017, accessed April 15, 2021 (American English).
- ^ Cliodhna Russell: Choctaw Chief to visit sculpture that commemorates his nation's generosity during Irish famine. In: thejournal.ie. TheJournal.ie, June 18, 2017, accessed April 16, 2021 .
- ↑ a b c d e f g Ed O'Loughlin, Mihir Zaveri: Irish Return an Old Favor, Helping Native Americans Battling the Virus . May 5, 2020 (English, nytimes.com [accessed April 14, 2021]).
- ↑ Ralph Riegel: Giant eagle feathers mark tribe's Famine help. In: independent.ie. Independent.ie digital network, June 19, 2017, accessed April 16, 2021 .
- ↑ a b c Barry Roche: Cork sculpture recalls generosity of Choctaw Nation during Famine. In: irishtimes.com. The Irish Times, June 13, 2017, accessed April 14, 2021 .
- ↑ The word endured used in the original has several meanings. First, it implies that the root path of the tears endured has that they have endured. On the other hand, it implies that the tribe itself has survived and is not extinct. It could be casually translated as: "We have endured everything and we cannot be killed."
- ^ Bill Browne: Choctaw chief welcomes UCC scholarship award. In: independent.ie. Independent.ie digital network, July 25, 2020, accessed April 16, 2021 .