08/02/2025
Isn't she lovely?
I stood in awe, along with many other travelers who stopped off of I-90, just outside of Chamberlain, South Dakota to take a moment to marvel.
An inspiration for all, representing beauty, strength, and overcoming the trials of life. She stands tall, enjoying the scenery and weather around her.
"The Dignity statue, a magnificent sculpture that’s a beautiful tribute to the Native Nations of the Great Plains region, sits high above the Missouri River in South Dakota. The 50-foot-tall artwork — officially named Dignity of Earth and Sky, but often shortened to just the Dignity statue — is in honor of Native American women.
Artist Dale Claude Lamphere created the beloved monument. To perfect the woman’s portrait, he referred to three Native American models — ages 14, 29, and 55 — while studying the rich traditions of the Lakota and Dakota cultures.
The quilt on her back depicts motion and changing light in the quilt, with more than 100 blue diamond shapes that move with the wind, fluttering “like an aspen leaf,” Lamphere explains."
When I think about my own style journey, it is also a combination of me at ages 14, 29, and currently 51. As our tastes in fashion evolve over time, some things are always just me. Where I come from, hobbies, interests, lifestyle, textures and colors that I am drawn to. These all collectively collaborate to make my style.
Fabrics and accessories that reflect and absorb light add an extra layer of personality to an outfit. This is truly the case with that of Dignity.
I didnt want to take my eyes off of her. It was a spiritual moment for me. I would have liked to sit and ponder the many women who stood, and still stand, in the gaps for their family, their culture, their own rights.
ASSIGNMENT: Girls, no matter your age, your culture, or your background, today, you have to get dressed and show up. How will you do it? What you wear reflects your heart. How will you be remembered regarding your personal style? Think about it for a moment. Who is someone you admire or aspire to be like? Take a step in front of the mirror. Do you reflect your strengths? Or your creativity?
Clothing doesnt just cover your body, it reflects who you are inside.
