Chief Kno-Tah

Toth selected Shute Park in Hillsboro for his first sculpture of a Native American head in Oregon in July 1987.

[1] He wanted a location in the Portland metropolitan area to allow easy access for a large population to see the statue that would include features drawn from Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe in northeastern Oregon.

[6] On August 13, the partly carved log was lifted onto its base at the park along Tualatin Valley Highway by J. L. Craigg Construction.

[7] On September 25, 1987, the sculpture was dedicated as Chief Kno-Tah in a ceremony featuring Native American singing and dancing.

[7] Students at the Chemawa Indian School in Salem, Oregon, selected the name from submissions from local residents.

[13] In February 2017, the top of the carving was damaged when a wind storm blew an adjacent tree into the front side, shearing off part of the head and causing the entire statue to lean.

Front of the sculpture along with city park sign