Les Indiens d'Amérique

Cette grande statue se trouve devant le Musée des Indiens américains et de l'Art de l'Ouest, à Indianapolis (Ville des Indiens), dans l'Etat d'Indiana (Pays Indien) aux Etats Unis. Elle représente un Grand Chef à l'air sérieux et respectable, un « medecine man » guérisseur ou un chamane puissant. Il s'appuie sur une longue lance et écarte les bras comme pour accueillir un visiteur ou protéger un malheureux qui vient à lui. C'est peut-être Hiawatha le sage ancêtre qui a organisé la paix entre des peuples en guerre, avant l'arrivée des Européens en Amérique. Mais le passant indifférent ne s'intéresse pas à son histoire.

This large bronze statue stands outside the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Indianapolis.

The name of the city and of the state of Indiana recall a time when this area was reserved as residual residence for the native population of the Americas. They were displaced from their Eastern homelands by European settlers. Numerous agreements, or « treaties » were signed between the English royal authority and the local Indian chieftains to set a fixed border. Most of the promises were never implemented fully. The settlers were simply uncontrollable in this vast country. As a result, the native population was pushed away further to the arid West and relocated and concentrated in designated « reservations ». The Indians were very angry ot the broken treaties and fought back. Resistance was broken by superior fire power.

The statue represents a man of power and authority, a traditional Indian medecine man or shaman, standing proudly and with a serious mien on a pedestal above the level of everyday life. He is holding a long staff, his social status as Big Man is expressed by his wide cloak (probably made of a full buffalo hide). It might be a representation of old wise man Hiawatha who designed a political organisation to help prevent conflicts in precolumbian America.

The Stars and Stripes flag seen here places the memorial in its modern context where Indians have become a tiny minority in their own home continent. America is a nation of immigrants from all over the world. The indifferent tourist seen walking past makes an unvolontary comment, he is not interested in the monument, and does not care for old Indians.