Dignity of Earth and Sky

Along the way to the Badlands, we stopped in Chamberlain, South Dakota, specifically to see Dignity of Earth and Sky, a soaring sculpture of a native woman standing high on a bluff above the Missouri River. The artwork is a powerful tribute to the courage and perseverance of a group that’s far too often overlooked, the women of the Lakota and Dakota Nations who are indigenous to South Dakota. Dignity stands 50 feet high, weighs 12 tons, and is made of hundreds of pieces of stainless steel.

The star quilt she holds is made of more than a hundred diamonds in the colors of the water and sky that surround her. Each diamond flutters when the wind blows, “like an Aspen leaf,” and give the beautiful statue a lifelike quality. Three different Native women were studied to define the face of Dignity. She is equally full of life and ageless.

“Standing at a crossroads, Dignity echoes the interaction of earth, sky, and people. She brings to light the beauty and promise of the indigenous peoples and cultures that still thrive on this land. My intent is to have the sculpture stand as an enduring symbol of our shared belief that all here are sacred, and in a sacred place.”

— Sculptor and South Dakota Artist Laureate Dale Claude Lamphere

Dignity was only just completed and installed in 2016, as a gift to the people of South Dakota to celebrate the 125 year anniversary of its statehood. We wish we could have seen Dignity with a more dramatic sky for photographs, but just seeing the enormous sculpture at all was awe-inspiring. It also would have been neat to also see her at night when the LED lights show off the pieces of her quilt that glimmer like stars.

Dignity leaves an impression on visitors. Her gaze will never break and her beauty – and message – will be celebrated for generations. We highly recommend a visit if you are anywhere near the area.