Visitors to Minooteeni Park in Vincennes will now be greeted by a unique new feature—a two-ton stone turtle installed and dedicated on Thursday.
The turtle has been a year in the making. Fernando Lozano and the local group Wabash Valley Progressives commissioned Sugarland Monuments to help design and build the new attraction. Sugarland’s Deb Cox said, “This is a green granite, turtle colored. We did some CAD files, designed it for him and got some approvals and had our AR artist carve it out. And so here we go. We’re pretty excited about it.”
Minooteeni Park is dedicated to honoring the Native American heritage of Vincennes and Knox County. According to Native-Languages.org, turtles play an important role in Native American folklore and culture. They are often seen as symbols of the earth, long life, protection, and wisdom. In some creation stories, the land was formed on the back of a giant turtle—leading to the name “Turtle Island” for North America.
Lozano says the sculpture serves as a tribute to these traditions and further connects the park to its purpose of honoring indigenous peoples.
