Sneak Peek: Mother Camas

Finishing touches on the spirit totem: 'Mother Camas.' Crafted by Yakama Tribe artist Toma Villa, this beautiful sculpture draws inspiration from stories shared among indigenous tribes.

It tells the story of Grandmother Camas, who heard her grandchildren crying from hunger. Having nothing to give them, her sorrow led her to a hill, where she began to cry. As her tears fell, she started sinking into the ground. Her grandchildren began to wondered for their grandmother. When the came to the hill, they can sense that their grandmother was beneath the ground. As they began to dig, they found camas bulbs.

Out of profound love for her grandchildren, she had transformed into camas bulbs, saving her loved ones from starvation and putting an end to her grandchildren's tears. Camas bulbs have served as a primary food source for indigenous people of the Plateau region.

The artwork also symbolizes the connection between Fourth Plain Forward and the community we serve. Transformed with native plants, pollinator-friendly flora, and vibrant sculptures, this traffic island between St. John's and E. Fourth Plain Blvd. is flourishing into a space of unity and appreciation.