It also gave me the opportunity to meet up with a fellow Choctaw scholar attending another university in Ireland. We had never met before, but this sculpture brought us together, and its connection to our heritage had brought us to this country. The sheer size of the sculpture is very moving, and conveys the message that this is not just a token thank you for something which happened years ago. It is a true tribute to a lasting bond and celebration of the beauty that exists in humanity. It was an honor to stand in this place knowing that my ancestors had shared a bond with this country and its people without stepping foot on Irish soil. As this knowledge and a multitude of feelings settled within me, I really started to feel a sense of belonging that I too am part of a "kindred spirit".
