To say that South Puget Sound leader and historic public figure Henry Sicade was an innovator is an understatement.

Highly regarded and respected, Sicade played instrumental roles within his own Puyallup Indian Tribe, the community of Fife, and the South Puget Sound region at large. A look back at his life and achievements tells the tale.

Born in 1866 in Pierce County, Sicade began taking on challenges at a young age. Orphaned at age 13, Sicade went to a trade boarding school in Oregon, where he excelled and continued on to a college education, military work and a later stint as a cowboy in which he travelled all over the country. Upon his return home, he embarked on the following accomplishments: longtime tribal leader, rancher, court clerk, chief of police, chief justice, founder of the Fife public schools with service in various roles in educational boards and scholarship programs, local politician and other important roles.

Now, a local artist is on a mission to pay homage to Sicade and his rich historical accomplishments in a unique way through the world of art. Japanese American artist and Fife resident Mizu Sugimura's project works in three parts: awareness, acknowledgement and as a catalyst for conversation amongst the generations.

The project inspiration came together initially as a result of relocating her home.

When the artist moved to Fife two years ago, she wanted to learn more about her new home town. With a deep interest in community, history, social justice and stories, Sugimura connected with the Fife History Museum and did some online research. Henry Charles Sicade was the name that prominently stood out to her, and after seeing his name as one of the two Puyallup tribal leaders whose name was engraved on a monument in front of Fife High School, Sugimura's art project took root.

"Puyallup Tribal Council member Henry Sicade merited mention at the Fife School District website primarily for his role as one of the founders of the district and a long-time member of the Fife School Board," explains Sugimura. "My attention would be immediately snagged by this accomplishment alone, but it turns out that service on the board was not even half of Mr. Sicade's eventual lifetime accomplishments."

Sugimura continues, "I had been brought up in Seattle hearing stories about how difficult it was for my non-white Japanese immigrant grandfather to obtain an education in the United States in the early 1900s due to the level of racism and discrimination which abounded in the State of California. He was the first college graduate in his family.

"It was not hard to conclude that Mr. Sicade, who was born two decades before my grandfather, would also have to put forth much effort in addition to trying to navigate as an orphan from age 13, the centuries altering change - social, political, cultural and economic, that was to transform the local Native American community forever. So from almost the get go, he already had my admiration and respect. But that's only the start."

And to start her artistic endeavors, Sugimura used handcut or handcarved images of Sicade to create artwork which she hopes will act as a vehicle to encourage fellow citizens to learn about Sicade; in this process, she hopes to start conversations about one of the very early local community heroes.

"In regards to Fife history and Henry Sicade, creating art is one way, as an outsider, that I can learn, grow and share some perspectives with my fellow members of the community. Through art, it is possible to address and to facilitate the integration of the past and present, with creativity, flexibility and in some instances, a certain level of subjective distance without words or in a single piece."

The handcut/handcarved images are incorporated into several mediums as Sugimura proudly describes.

"In tandem with chalk pastels, permanent inks, handmade collage papers and other tools I have produced in small quantities a variety of framed portraits, t-shirts, decorative shopping bags and more that explore the many interesting and admirable facets of this prominent, locally groundbreaking figure."

To Sigimura, Sicade's character and accomplishments resound today more than ever.

"Henry Sicade lived in a time of tremendous change," says Sugimura. "And he did so with the background of leadership skills with deep roots in his Native American background with honesty, integrity, and perserverence and character of which we could all be as proud.

"Sicade is a bridge from the past to the future. He is the kind of individual whose model never goes out of style and models the kind of qualities and vision that are worth passing on to our children's children."

To learn more about Sugimura's project and Henry Sicade, and to purchase artwork with images of Sicade, all are invited to contact the artist directly at mizusugi@yahoo.com. Other online resources include the following: Puyallup Tribe, Fife History Museum or the Tacoma Public Library.