A sculpture of a Maidu family could be built in Nevada City soon, as representatives of the Indian tribe discuss the monument with artists and the city government.

The proposed sculpture, sketched by nationally renowned New Mexico sculptor Cliff Fragua, could appear in a number of downtown locations, including Calanan Park. Location and other aspects of the project remain to be decided, with the new "Arts in Public Places" committee chaired by Councilor David McKay expected to play a leading role for the government.

Tomas Streicher, advocate for the sculpture and president of the nonprofit "Divine Spark," hailed the project and city's support for it as a "huge starting point" for raising awareness of the history of the Maidu tribe, which inhabited western Nevada County for 10,000 years before miners arrived in the mid-1800s.

"It's the start of recognizing," Streicher said of what he hopes will begin a "focus on community healing" over treatment of the Maidu, who all but disappeared from the area by the dawn of the 20th century.

At least 2,000 Maidu Indians formed a settlement in what is now downtown Nevada City, Don Ryberg, chairman of Nevada County's Tsi-Akim Maidu tribe said, adding the area's overall Maidu population was probably close to 10,000.

"There was already a community here," Nevada City Mayor Steve Cottrell said. "It's part of our legacy that needs to be recognized."

During warmer months, Nevada City's Maidu settlement used to branch out into small groups to hunt and gather. Recognition of one of the tribe's traditions, a "Calling Back the Salmon" Ceremony, will take place the weekend of Oct. 7 in Bridgeport, Ryberg said.

Ryberg points to the sculpture as a way to show some respect to a people and culture that frequently receive little attention and were almost completely eliminated by miners, other pioneers and government policy. There are currently 64 members in the local Tsi-Akim Maidu tribe, according to his numbers.

"There are plenty of mining artifacts around," Ryberg said. "I thought it would be nice to have a Maidu Indian display."

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To contact staff writer Josh Singer e-mail joshs@theunion.com or call 4777-4234.