Statue Of Native American Ballerina Stolen From Oklahoma Museum

TULSA, OK — A statue of a famous Native American ballerina was stolen from the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum, then vandalized and sold for scrap over the weekend, according to authorities.

The statue of Marjorie Tallchief was stolen Friday and was partially recovered by Tulsa police Monday at a recycling center in Catoosa, a suburb east of Tulsa. The statue had been cut into several pieces, according to authorities.

The statue was sold for scrap for around $250, according to a GoFundMe listing by Britni Worley, who is listed as the museum's operations manager. Some of the parts are missing, and the statue must be fully replaced.

The statue was one of five at the museum that made up the "Five Moons" — bronze depictions of Oklahoma’s renowned Native American ballerinas Yvonne Chouteau, Rosella Hightower, Moscelyne Larkin, Maria Tallchief, and Marjorie Tallchief.

"When these dancers began their careers, Europeans dominated ballet," Worley said in the listing. "These women, due to their talent, dedication and determination, went to the top of their field and brought recognition to Oklahoma and Native American artistry."

The five statues were created by Monte England, who worked on two of them before his death in 2005, and Gary Henson, who finished the project, according to the museum.

The museum is attempting to raise $15,000 to cover its $10,000 insurance deductible and increased security for the five statues. The GoFundMe has raised more than $8,000 as of Tuesday morning.

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Henson has told the museum that he can re-create the statue, and museum officials are optimistic a potential replacement will be covered by insurance.

Tulsa police are investigating the theft of the statue and request anyone with information to call Tulsa Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS.

Marjorie Tallchief was of Osage descent and was raised in Fairfax, Oklahoma. She was the first Native American to become premiere danseuse etoile, or star dancer, in the Paris Opera. She performed with various companies throughout her career and had notable roles in "Night Shadow" (1950), "Annabel Lee" (1951), "Idylle" (1954), "Romeo and Juliet" (1955) and "Giselle" (1957), according to the Oklahoma Historical Society. She performed throughout North American and Europe, and even performed for Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.

She went on to become director of dance at the Civic Ballet Academy in Dallas, Texas, the City Ballet in Chicago, Illinois, and for the Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida. She was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1991. She died in her Delray Beach, Florida, home in November 2021.