Mural honors Chief Moses

North Central Construction workers help extend painting into another dimension

MOSES LAKE — Two women shared a lingering hug in front of the Chief Moses mural at Sinkiuse Square Thursday, an embrace that was full of both joy and relief.

Patty Jensen and Colleen Trefz could finally see the end of a project both have been working on for more than three years.

The mural was spurred on by a visit from Colville tribal members three years ago. Trefz and Jensen were inspired to create a memorial to the area's first residents and original founding father, Chief Moses.

The women worked closely with members of local Native American tribes and decedents of Chief Moses to ensure the mural would be an accurate representation of the town's namesake and history.

Tilly George, whose ancestry includes both Okanogan and Wenatchee, was one of the experts Trefz and Jensen consulted. George says she pleased with the results.

"I think it's really something," George said. "Some of the colors she used — it looks so natural."

George's family had close ties with Chief Moses; one of her uncles was raised by the chief whose people used to camp, gather waterfowl eggs and roots, fish and hunt for sage hens in the Moses Lake area.

"That really looks like him," said George of the mural.

"I had it in my heart for three years," Jensen said as she watched North Central Construction workers set three large basalt columns into the ground around the mural Thursday afternoon. The 10-foot-tall, or taller, rocks are the finishing touches to Jensen's creation and extend the painting which features Chief Moses posed on a horse into a three-dimensional exhibition.

The basalt columns were donated by Pamp and Barbara Maiers, owners of North Central Construction, who are also supporting the labor costs to install and cement them into the ground. The mural space itself was donated by Jeff Foster who allowed for the artwork to decorate his building.

Other monetary donations have been made by local sponsors who will be recognized as part of the mural itself. Their names will be permanently applied to the basalt rocks on and around the Chief Moses mural. A sponsorship of $250 will be memorialized with the donor's name painted on a small rock, those who give $500 to the project will have their name painted on a larger rock.

Thus far, less than half of the mural has been paid for through sponsorships. It's one of the reasons the project took so long to complete.

Jensen, whose work can also be seen on the Adventure Park building and at the Grant County Fairgrounds, said she was often asked by passers-by why the endeavor was taking so long.

"Basically, I had to stop and work other jobs to support the mural, to buy paint and to support myself," Jensen said.

But Jensen remains undaunted. She and Trefz have plans to paint the town, so to speak, with murals representing Monte Holmes, the rodeo, Grand Coulee Dam and wheat harvesting using horse teams. A kids mural is also planned.

Jensen and Trefz have set up a nonprofit organization to receive funding to support their vision; donations can be made at American West Bank.

The Chief Moses mural will be be formally dedicated with a celebration Saturday, Oct. 16 at Sinkiuse Square on Third Avenue. Tribal members from Colville, Yakima, Okanogan, the Tri-Cities and other areas are expected to come, and elders such as Tilly George plan to speak at the occasion.

The celebration will begin with a potluck at 2 p.m. and a mural ceremony at 4 p.m.

"It's been a long journey," Jensen said. "I'm really exhilarated that it's coming to completion."