Artist Alan Compo creates “Manidoo Bawating” for Downtown Grand Rapids

A monumental new sculpture honoring local Native American culture now stands in Ah-Nab-Awen Park. “Manidoo Bawating” (pronounced Ma-ni-doo Baa-wa-ting) is an 11-foot-tall steel sculpture custom-designed to represent and honor important symbols and unique traditions of the Native American community that thrived along the Grand River and throughout the Great Lakes region.

“Manidoo Bawating” in indigenous Anishinaabemowin language means “Spirit of the Rapids.” This original public art piece was designed by the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians and local artist Alan Compo in collaboration with the HYBYCOZO art initiative based in Oakland, CA.

Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians Chairman Ron Yob will support the introduction of the sculpture with storytelling events that share traditions of how local Native American culture tracked time and seasonality around Wolf Moon and Snow Moon, the full moons in January and February, respectively.

The new sculpture and storytelling events feature prominently in the World of Winter Festival kicking off January 15, 2021, in Downtown Grand Rapids.

“The Manidoo Bawating sculpture and our storytelling events serve to remind us of the rich human culture and community who originally settled this place we call Grand Rapids,” Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians Chairman Ron Yob said.

“A vital and active Native community continues to call this place home today. So this is more than an opportunity to reflect on our history. This is also a moment to continue raising the visibility and awareness of Native tradition while we work together to find new ways to honor the coexistence of all the people and cultures that give life to our community.”

“Manidoo Bawating” is the latest purposeful gesture to acknowledge and honor indigenous culture along the Grand River in Downtown.