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.