The Chief Buffalo Memorial murals were designed and painted collaboratively by a team of artists led by Moira Villiard (direct descendant; Fond du Lac Ojibwe and Moravian Band of the Thames Lenape), including Michelle Defoe (Red Cliff Band of Ojibwe), Awanigiizhik Bruce (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe), and Sylvia Houle (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe). The project received assistance from over 500 community members and artists, including extra help and design work from Waylon Lanham, Mana Bear Bolton, and Conor Fairbanks. Painted in Duluth, Minnesota, the walls feature both historical and contemporary depictions of Indigenous people connected to the region, maps of treaty territories and Chief Buffalo’s famous journey, Ojibwe stories and folklore, and traditional florals. ​The mural project was an idea rooted in the vision of Chief Buffalo's eldest descendants - namely, Robert (Bob) Buffalo (Red Cliff Tribe Hereditary Chief) and Henry Buffalo Jr. - and the Duluth Indigenous Commission. It grew from a 2019 pilot project initiated by Zeitgeist Arts Center to improve connections among Canal Park, the Lake Walk, Gichi-Ode’ Akiing Park, and downtown Duluth. 

 

Today, the original team behind the Chief Buffalo Memorial is working to build Aanjichigeng, an emerging Indigenous‑led organization that stewards the Chief Buffalo Memorial site and expands cultural programming in the arts, storytelling, education, and community engagement. Aanjichigeng is currently a registered nonprofit corporation that is fiscally sponsored by Springboard for the Arts.

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To inquire about tours, booking any of our team for speaking engagements, or collaborating to host artistic or cultural programming, please feel free to use our contact form. 

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Note: our site is currently under construction! Check back later for exciting updates and resources.

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