A new eagle statue now stands at Siena in Racine after a dedication and land acknowledgment ceremony on Oct. 20 hosted by the Racine Dominican Sisters and Associates.
Members of the Congregation of the Great Spirit, an Indigenous spiritual community from Milwaukee, took part in the ceremony. They shared a prayer in a Native language, a smudging ceremony using sacred medicinal plants, and a drum honor song.
The statue was a gift from an anonymous donor and was carved by a Native American artist. It sits on a marble base made from stone that originally formed part of a former wing at Siena.
The dedication came shortly before November, which is observed as Native American Heritage Month, giving the Racine site a permanent artwork tied to recognition of Indigenous histories and contributions.
