On Friday, August 30, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the Government of Ireland unveiled a new sculpture called Eternal Heart on the Choctaw Nation Capitol Grounds in Tuskahoma, Oklahoma.
This momentous event was held to honor a lasting friendship that began nearly two centuries ago when the Choctow Nation helped the Irish during Ireland's deadly potato famine. As Irish Central pointed out, the ceremony paid "tribute to the two nations forever entwined because of an act of kindness."
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the Government of Ireland announced the creation of the Eternal Heart sculpture in May 2023. This meaningful project, jointly funded by both nations, was selected after a number of entries were submitted in 2022.
The winning design was created by Samuel Stitt of Spokane Valley, Washington. It beautifully represents the deep bond between the Choctaw Nation and the people of Ireland. Stitt, a member of the Choctaw Nation, designed Eternal Heart by cleverly interlacing a Celtic trinity shape with a heart, as Irish Central explained.
The incredible symbolism behind the design
“There is no beginning or end to the overall piece – thus, it is eternal,” Stitt explained when his design was initially chosen. His vision captures the enduring connection between these two nations, symbolizing a shared history that continues to grow stronger with time.
The orientation of the sculpture is also significant: the heart, representing the Choctaw Nation, faces toward Ireland, further emphasizing the lasting relationship forged by an extraordinary act of kindness.
Furthermore, the sculpture is accompanied by a display panel and a path that snakes up to the 8-foot-tall piece. The base of the sculpture is edged with diamond shapes, a Choctaw symbol honoring the diamondback snake, which holds deep cultural significance.
Even the placement of the sculpture has meaning. Sitting atop a mound, it connects the heritage of the Choctaw mound-builders to the ancient hill forts of Ireland. And finally, the snaking footpath also tells a story. It symbolizes the Trail of Tears, with its orientation exactly reflecting the Choctaw Nation's harrowing journey from Mississippi to Indian Country.
“All the elements are symbolic and created with specific references in mind,” Stitt shared, emphasizing the deep thought and intention behind every aspect of this artwork.
Last year Ireland's Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, congratulated Stitt upon being awarded the commission. He noted that the Eternal Heart sculpture is meant "to serve as a permanent legacy in Tuskahoma of the solidarity that exists between our peoples, just like the sculpture in Bailick Park, Midleton in Co Cork."
Further tributes
This unveiling follows another recent tribute to the enduring Choctaw-Irish connection. In June, a bronze sculpture, called The Gift, was unveiled outside the National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park in Co Roscommon.
These artistic tributes celebrate the bond between two peoples that stretches back to March 1847, when the Choctaw, despite enduring their own struggles, managed to raise $170 to aid the Irish during the Great Famine.
This act of compassion, carried out by a people who had recently completed their grueling trek along the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma, remains a powerful symbol of generosity and resilience. In 2015, the “Kindred Spirit” sculpture was unveiled in Co Cork, Ireland, as a token of gratitude from the Irish people to the Choctaw Nation.
That spirit of solidarity was reaffirmed in 2020, when Irish and Irish Americans joined together to raise over $8 million for Navajo and Hopi families during the height of the pandemic.
These shared acts of kindness reflect a deeper truth: that compassion knows no boundaries. Through hardship, across oceans, and over generations, the Choctaw and Irish peoples remain united by the eternal heart of friendship.
