The Honoring Project – All American Indian Days Memorial
Honoring Project
The All American Indian Days Memorial is dedicated to the memory of local volunteers, civic groups, churches and businesses in Sheridan County and the neighboring Native American people who invested in All-American Indian Days from 1953-1984. A significant feature of AAID was the focus on sharing the heritage, history, and lives of Native Americans in an effort to promote race relationships, good will, and cultural awareness.
The site for this Memorial is the Rotary Park next to the historic locomotive on Broadway Street in Sheridan, WY.
Artist Selection
In March 2022, The Honoring Project initiated a national search for a Native American artist to create a sculpture for this Memorial that incorporated the themes of unity and inter-racial harmony between non-Natives and Native Americans that was All American Indian Days.
An outstanding Wyoming review panel with both Native and non-Native panelists screened the applicants. In June 2022, The Honoring Project selected and invited two semifinalists to Sheridan for an Orientation, featuring the participants and descendants involved in All American Indian Days.
The Honoring Project selected Jon DeCelles, Assiniboine Sioux and Gros Ventre tribal member. Mitakuye Oyasin (We Are All Related) is the title of his artwork for the Memorial. A master sculptor, DeCelles has won major Indian art exhibition awards. His work was part of the Imago Mundi Project at the 2014 Venice Biennale and also Indigenous Brilliance 2012-2015 which traveled to venues throughout Europe. His sculptures in Daum Crystal are sold at boutiques worldwide.