photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Workers reposition the prayer rock in Robinson Park Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, after it was removed from its base and laid on its side.

A public event to recognize the return of a red boulder that is sacred to the Kaw Nation is slated for Aug. 29 in Lawrence’s Watson Park.

The 28-ton rock, which had stood in Robinson Park for nearly a century as a monument to the Lawrence’s founders, is being returned to the Native American tribe. Known as Iⁿ’zhúje’waxóbe, the rock was removed from its base earlier this week, as the Journal-World reported, and will be taken to tribal land in Council Grove.

The Aug. 29 event will be the only public event in the return process, the city said in a news release Thursday.

“All other events are closed due to their sacred nature,” the release said.

The event at Watson Park will be led by Master of Ceremonies Sydney Pursel and will feature speeches by the Kaw Nation tribal chair, Lawrence Mayor Lisa Larsen, Jim Pepper Henry and others. It will include a drum honor song and a prayer by a Kaw Nation elder and will conclude with an invitation to move into the park for friendship dances. The event is expected to take about 45 minutes, the city told the Journal-World. The city provided a map of the park at 727 Kentucky St. and encouraged the public to use the Vermont Street Parking Garage, along with street parking in the area.