The Billy Frank Jr. (Nisqually) maquette, on tour throughout the United States, made a stop at the UW’s wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House. It was on display in the lobby of the longhouse from November 10 to December 2, 2024.
The maquette, which is a smaller replica of the statue that will be on display in Washington, D.C. and in Olympia, Washington, was created by renowned Chinese-American sculptor and UW alum, Haiying Wu. Wu’s completed clay statue will measure approximately nine feet in height before being cast in bronze. From the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA), “Once completed, Mr. Wu’s full-scale statue design will be sent to a Washington-based foundry to be cast in bronze—twice. One statue will be sent to National Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C., and the second will make its home at the State Capitol in Olympia, Washington.”
Frank was known is his life for his advocacy related to environmental issues, specifically salmon preservation, where he was dubbed “Salmon Warrior.” From ArtsWA, “When we send this statue to Washington [D.C.], we are going to give the best of Washington to our nation’s Capitol,” said Governor Jay Inslee. “Not only will it be the best of Washington, the salmon will be right there. Billy Frank Jr. is, was, and will always be salmon, and now he will send that message to Washington, D.C.”
“wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ was honored to host the Billy Frank Jr. maquette during its tour,” shared Chenoa Henry (Tulalip), director for wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House. “Billy Frank Jr.’s legacy reflects his lifelong service to Washington, his Tribe, and his unwavering commitment to Tribal sovereignty and rights. Having the maquette, carved by a fellow UW alum, stop here among other significant locations like Tulalip and Suquamish made this moment even more meaningful.”
Billy Frank Jr. was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015, the highest civilian award from the United States government. From the Obama Whitehouse archives, “Billy Frank, Jr. was a tireless advocate for Indian treaty rights and environmental stewardship, whose activism paved the way for the ‘Boldt decision,’ which reaffirmed tribal co-management of salmon resources in the state of Washington. Frank led effective ‘fish-ins,’ which were modeled after sit-ins of the civil rights movement, during the tribal ‘fish wars’ of the 1960s and 1970s. His magnetic personality and tireless advocacy over more than five decades made him a revered figure both domestically and abroad. Frank was the recipient of many awards, including the Martin Luther King, Jr. Distinguished Service Award for Humanitarian Achievement. Frank left in his wake an Indian Country strengthened by greater sovereignty and a nation fortified by his example of service to one’s community, his humility, and his dedication to the principles of human rights and environmental sustainability.”
ArtsWA has produced a three-part YouTube series of shorts about the Billy Frank Jr. Statue Project.