Statue of Native American Ballerina in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Is Stolen and Sold to a Recycling Center

The statue of Ms. Tallchief, erected in 2007 along with four adjacent sculptures, paid homage to a group of Native American ballerinas from Oklahoma known as the Five Moons.

The base where a statue of Native American ballerina, Marjorie Tallchief, once stood at the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum on May 2, 2022, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Credit: AP Photo Credit: Getty Images
The base where a statue of Native American ballerina, Marjorie Tallchief, once stood at the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum on May 2, 2022, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Credit: AP Photo Credit: Getty Images

A bronze statue of Marjorie Tallchief, a lauded Native American ballerina, was stolen from its post on the grounds of the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum on Friday. Days later, employees at a local recycling center found pieces of the statue which were sold for $266, and notified local authorities.

The statue of Ms. Tallchief, erected in 2007 along with four adjacent sculptures, paid homage to a group of Native American ballerinas from Oklahoma known as the Five Moons. According to The New York Times, this group of women was notable for their prowess during the 20th century, a time in which many famous ballerinas were white. The Times also reported that the five sculptures were originally valued at $120,000.

Tulsa mayor G.T. Bynum (R) said in a statement that the statues are a “point of pride” for the city, calling the act “a disgrace.”

The other ballerinas featured as statues are Yvonne Chouteau, Rosella Hightower, Moscelyne Larkin, and Maria Tallchief, Marjorie Tallchief’s sister.