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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Interpreting the images

Idaho will ask its state Indian Affairs Council, which includes leaders of the state's five Native American tribes, to propose wording for interpretive plaques to help viewers understand two controversial murals in a state-owned building that will house the next two legislative sessions. One of the murals, which date back to the 1930s, shows armed white settlers accosting a Native American man, and another shows the settlers preparing to hang the man, who's on his knees before a noose dangling from a tree. The Legislative Council voted unanimously Thursday to ask the Indian Affairs Council to draft interpretive language.

"Certainly, we don't want to offend people, but I'm not sure we can do anything without offending someone any more – even if we do anything from covering them to interpreting them, we may offend somebody," said Senate President Pro-Tem Bob Geddes, R-Soda Springs. Geddes noted that the interpretive plaques are in line with recommendations tribal leaders on the Indian Affairs Council made after viewing the murals. Read the full story here in today’s Spokesman-Review.



Eye On Boise

News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.