Joe Beeler

In 1990, the relationship between Native American peoples and the American government was shaped by an ongoing fight for sovereignty, rights, and recognition. This period saw a heightened awareness and activism surrounding Indigenous issues, a culmination of the movements that had gained momentum in the preceding decades. The passing of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), which aimed to protect Native American graves and cultural material and facilitate the return of such items to their tribes, was a significant milestone in 1990.
 
Chief Goes to Washington is Joe Beeler’s poignant and award-winning representation of the complex relationship between Native American leaders and the United States government. The sculpture captures a Native American chief in his traditional clothing, seated atop a podium, invoking the image the Lincoln memorial. He is an embodiment of dignity and resilience at a time when the voices of Native peoples often went unheard. Conceived the same year as the enactment of NAGPRA, this sculpture reflects Beeler's deep respect for Indigenous cultures and contextualizes the historical struggles faced by Native leaders as they navigated the politics of Washington D.C, often fraught with misunderstanding and conflict.