Governor Kathy Hochul Considers Removing Offensive Artwork of Native Americans in New York State Capitol
In a recent development, Governor Kathy Hochul has expressed her intention to remove artwork depicting Native Americans in the New York State Capitol building that is deemed offensive to tribal people. This move comes amidst the ongoing campaign to remove statues of Christopher Columbus from public spaces and government buildings due to his treatment of indigenous people.
The initiative to remove negative depictions of Native Americans in artwork follows a directive issued by New York education officials in 2022, which ordered school districts to eliminate the use of Native American mascots that are considered racist. Hochul’s proposal specifically targets offensive imagery and distasteful representations of populations in the Capitol’s art, aiming to create a welcoming and respectful environment for all visitors.
One particular area of concern is the governor’s reception room, also known as the “War Room,” where murals adorn the ceiling on the second floor. These murals depict New York’s early battles, the Five Nations of the Iroquois, and former President and Governor Theodore Roosevelt. However, some Native American activists have complained about the portrayal of indigenous Americans engaging in battle with Samuel de Champlain and the French during the 1600s. One frame even shows a Native American standing over a comrade who has been killed, with the statement “Champlain Killing First Indian” underneath another frame depicting a colonizer fighting a tribesman.
Hochul argues that these “offensive artistic representations of Indigenous peoples” are based on precedent that is more than eighty years old and calls for a reassessment. To address this issue, she plans to conduct a comprehensive review of artistic representation of Indigenous peoples in the Capitol, with input from representatives from each of the nine Indigenous Nations.
Tribal activists have praised Hochul for taking action against the negative portrayals of Native Americans. JC Seneca, a counselor with the Seneca Nation, expressed his disgust at the panel boasting about Champlain killing the first tribesman, emphasizing the historical violence and land theft suffered by Native peoples. Seneca also highlighted the need to reconsider Columbus’ presence in the state Capitol, given his history of rape and pillaging.
Hochul’s office has clarified that the review will specifically focus on portrayals of Native Americans. This step is seen as a positive move towards removing offensive artwork and addressing long-standing discussions surrounding these negative portrayals.
