This week marks the 84th anniversary of the publication of complaints by the Cheyenne concerning the Edith Mahier mural in the Watonga United States Post Office.
The June 12, 1941 issue of the Watonga Republican leads with an article detailing concerns by Chief Red Bird, the successor to Chief Henry Roman Nose. The mural was commissioned as part of the Works Progress Administration Public Buildings Administration, section on fine arts. The program gave work to various kinds of artists during the depression. The newly opened (1938) Federal Building that houses the U.S. Post Office was chosen as a site. The Anadarko Post Office also received several mural paintings.
Any number of people come to Watonga to view the mural, which, along with the Federal Building, is on the National Registry of Historic Places in Watonga (one of six sites In Watonga on the Registry). They come to see the WPA era painting and architecture of the Post Office, to see the mural, and to better understand the controversy.
Miss Mahier of the University of Oklahoma had submitted and won a contest of design submitted to the national office in the Post Office Mural competition. Miss Mahier painted the mural which is executed in oil on canvas and received $560. It is 5 x 12 feet. It presents the Indians of Roman Nose Canyon at the time of the coming of the settlers. Chief Henry Roman Nose is shown as the central figure while his wife and small children grouped near the Big Spring. Other tribe members are coming down to the watering place on their ponies. The settlers, also in search of water, have stopped their covered wagon near the stream, while they scan the horizon envisaging the gypsum pits, the flourishing wheat fields, and their favorite city with its churches, schools, homes and businesses.
Chief Red Bird and his Cheyenne office say the artist has depicted Chief Roman Nose as a Navajo with short breech cloth. He contends that the mural is supposed to represent the Indians at Roman Nose Canyon at the time of the coming of the White settlers. The article states Red Bird contends Roman Nose wears his feather farther back on his head, not tied on with a store-bought string. The breech cloth is too short. He says the ponies the Indians are riding look like hobbyhorses with swan necks. Cheyenne like spotted ponies. Roman Nose’s baby looks like “a stumpy pig cornmeal bloated.” “Roman Nose had fine boys.”
The official interpreter, Joe Yellow Eyes, likewise expressed distaste for the image that future Cheynne will see. Chief Red Bird actually said, “It stinks.”
A boycott and protest were planned. A subsequent photo shows Chief Roman Nose’s widow sitting in protest on the steps of the post office. Mahier offered to change the painting, but it was not done.