A sculpture by Marilyn Wounded Head presents a bird atop a person to express the co-existence of people, animals, and the societal or physical environment, while other visual forms carry a message of reconciliation with nature. Oscar Howe, the eminent Yanktonai Sioux Indian artist, designed the Corn Palace Murals from 1948 to 1971, drawing inspiration from Sioux tradition, arts, and beliefs, and his pioneering work continues to influence new generations of artists and preserve the spirit of his people. Born and raised in Porcupine, South Dakota, a district on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Marilyn Wounded Head was shaped by stories her mother told of a time when people, animals, and the environment communicated with one another, and influenced by those stories and by Oscar Howe's work, she created the sculpture as a tribute to the need for reconciliation. Randy Higgins, originally from Wessington Springs, South Dakota, also left his impression on the sculpture and assisted with it.