photo by: Contributed

A poster for of the documentary "Return of the Sacred Red Rock"

A public screening of the documentary “Return of the Sacred Red Rock” will take place next week in downtown Lawrence.

The film documents the cooperation between community and governmental stakeholders in Lawrence and Kaw citizens in rematriating Iⁿ’zhúje’waxóbe to the Kaw Nation. It follows the events leading up to and culmination of the rock’s relocation to Allegawaho Memorial Heritage Park in Council Grove.

The screening at 7 p.m. May 27 in Liberty Hall’s main theater, is free and open to the public and will be followed by a panel discussion. Seating will be available on a first come, first served basis. Light refreshments will also be available.

In 2022, the Mellon Foundation announced a $5 million grant to the Iⁿ’zhúje’waxóbe / Sacred Red Rock Project for the return of the 28-ton red Siouxan quartzite boulder, which sat in Robinson Park in downtown Lawrence for 93 years — with a plaque honoring Lawrence’s founders — until the City of Lawrence issued an apology to the Kaw and agreed to return the rock to the Kaw Nation.