Idaho challenges Oregon over Chief Joseph statue

Them's fightin' words.

Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter this week suggested that Oregon lawmakers might want to back off a commission recommendation to place a statue of Chief Joseph in the National Statuary Hall Collection in Washington, D.C.

In a letter received by Senate President Peter Courtney on Wednesday, Otter politely suggested that the spud state has a more righteous claim than Oregon does to the leader of the Wallowa band of Nez Perce, a Native American tribe indigenous to the Wallowa Valley. The governor's and secretary of state's offices also received copies of the letter.

"Chief Joseph's story and legacy in the Northwest is indeed historically notable," Otter wrote. "But a close examination of history may indicate a more significant historical tie to Idaho than any other state in our region. I therefore would urge a careful analysis of the chief's history, and I will be grateful for your kind consideration of Idaho in this regard."

Courtney was commenting before the Senate Rules Committee following recommendations by the Oregon Statuary Hall Study Commission, which has been studying replacing the statues of the Rev. Jason Lee and Dr. John McLoughlin for more than a year. The commission, led by Dr. Jerry Hudson, former Willamette University president, was assisted by the Oregon Historical Society, which held a public vote on its website.

In early March, the commission held its final public hearing and announced the result of the OHS online voting. The nine-member commission, which included former state Sen. Margaret Carter and former Oregon Rep. Darlene Hooley, then cast seven votes among four finalists.

Seven votes went to Chief Joseph and six were cast for suffragette Abigail Scott Duniway. The late U.S. Sen. Mark Hatfield received five votes, and the late Gov. Tom McCall received none.

At the rules committee meeting, Kerry Tymchuk, executive director of Oregon Historical Society, shared ways the committee might pay for the creation and transportation of the two new statues and the return of the two existing ones.

He said federal law requires any request for replacement be adopted by the state's legislature and approved by the governor, and that the existing statues have been displayed for more than 10 years. The Lee and McLoughlin sculptures have been on display since 1953, Tymchuk said.

"Some states, such as Kansas and Ohio, have taken financial responsibility for replacing their statues, which was authorized by the U.S. Congress in 2000," Tymchuk said. "Might I suggest a working group to study ways to fund this effort, which might include creating license plates for Chief Joseph and Abigail Scott Duniway." He estimated the total replacement project might cost about $1 million.

Courtney was praising the commission and saying its work was "the Oregon way" when the committee's vice chairman, Senate Republican Leader Ted Ferrioli, asked him about the letter from the Idaho governor.

Looking chagrined, Courtney nodded to Ferrioli and reminded the audience that Ferrioli himself is a direct descendent on his mother's side of Chief Joseph the Elder and Joseph the Younger, seven and six generations removed, respectively. The men were known for leading the Nez Perce people, and the young Joseph's tribe was forced by the U.S. to leave its Oregon reservation in 1877.

Chief Joseph is perhaps best known for his surrender speech, which ends with the words, "Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever."

Ferrioli said it was ironic that Idaho wants to lay claim to Chief Joseph given that he, a direct descendant, sits on the Rules Committee next to Sen. Ginny Burdick, who is the half-sister of Mary Wood, a descendent of Lt. C.E.S. Wood, who was witness and scribe to Chief Joseph's surrender speech at Bears Paw Battle.

"The eyewitness and speaker's progeny sitting side by side," Ferrioli said. "It's incredibly ironic. I have no doubt we're making the right choice."

Courtney added: "perhaps there will be two statues of Chief Joseph in Washington, D.C."

The Idaho governor notes in his letter that Idaho "may or may not exercise its right" to rotate statues to the Statuary Hall for some time but he wants Oregon to be on notice "prior to any final legislative action."

The bill, SB-942, remains in the rules committee.

ccurrie@statesmanjournal.com; (503) 399-6746 or follow on Twitter at @CATMCurrie