House Passes Resolution to Welcome Sarah Winnemucca into Statuary Hall
House Passes Resolution to Welcome Sarah Winnemucca into Statuary Hall
Winnemucca will be Nevada's Second Statue and only the eighth female in Capitol gallery
3/2/2005
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Washington, D.C .- Today, U.S. Congressman Jim Gibbons (R-Nev.) spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives in support of legislation introduced by the Nevada delegation to formally provide for the admittance of Sarah Winnemucca as Nevada's second statue in the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall. The Sarah Winnemucca Statue will soon join Nevada's other statue of Senator Patrick A. McCarran as the two statues contributed by the Silver State. The official unveiling ceremony is scheduled to occur next Wednesday in the Capitol Rotunda.
"Sarah Winnemucca is known for her tireless dedication to fighting for justice, peace, and equality for all. Her life story symbolizes the American spirit of acceptance of diversity," said Gibbons. "She served not only as a leader of her people but also as a selfless woman who risked her life to save others during war and went on to improve relations with the Native American community. She certainly deserves to be recognized as a distinguished citizen of Nevada. As the second statue contributed by our great state, Sarah Winnemucca will now take her rightful place in Statuary Hall, a gallery honoring great Americans."
"I am looking forward to installing the beautiful Sarah Winnemucca statue in the U.S. Capitol. I am proud she will represent our state in the U.S Capitol's National Statuary Hall Collection," said Reid. "The first native woman to publish a personal history, she embarked on a nationwide lecture series in 1879 to teach people about Native American culture and the difficult life her people experienced on reservations. Sarah Winnemucca and all of Nevada's native peoples have made unique contribution to our heritage and history."
"Sarah Winnemucca played an important role in shaping a part of Nevada's history and will soon be a notable fixture in our nation's Capitol," added Ensign. "She was a devoted educator, a noteworthy author, and a diligent activist for Native Americans. I anticipate swift passage through Congress so that we can celebrate this great American."
"It will be a proud day for all Nevadans when our beautiful new sculpture of Sarah Winnemucca is on display in the U.S. Capitol and the story of this remarkable woman and what she accomplished is shared with those who visit and preserved for future generations," stated Berkley.
"Today, I stand proudly with my Nevada colleagues in honoring a peacemaker and historic Nevadan, Sarah Winnemucca," said Porter. "Ms. Winnemucca worked tirelessly to improve relations between the settlers and Native Americans as an interpreter for the U.S. military. She is an appropriate tribute to the Silver State and I am proud to honor her memory as the second representative for Nevada in the National Statuary Hall Collection in our nation's Capitol Building, and only the eighth woman ever to be represented."
Each state is allowed two statues in the National Statuary Hall Collection. Nevada currently has only one, Senator Patrick A. McCarran. In 2001, the Nevada state legislature unanimously passed a bill designating Sarah Winnemucca as the state's second statue. Later, Benjamin Victor's depiction of Sarah Winnemucca was chosen to represent Nevada in Statuary Hall.
Born in 1844, Sarah Winnemucca was a Paiute activist, lecturer and author. She worked to improve communication between her people and the whites, and to defend tribal rights. In Victor's interpretation, Winnemucca holds a book in her left hand, representing education and the high moral values of American Indians.
http://wwwc.house.gov/gibbons/display-pr.asp?id=1651