“Assiniboin Man – Winter 1804–1805” by Richard Vernon Greeves is a striking bronze bust that honors the fierce dignity of the Assiniboine people during one of the most unforgiving seasons in North American history. The figure is rendered with closed eyes, a symmetrical strength in his braids, and a sculpted calm that suggests endurance over expression.

The signature topknot and layered fur collar anchor the bust in cultural specificity, while the subject’s posture evokes internal fortitude. There is no performance here—just the quiet resilience of a man who’s faced storms both literal and historical.

The winter of 1804–1805 marked one of the Corps of Discovery’s most challenging periods, as they hunkered down in brutal conditions. Meanwhile, tribes like the Assiniboine thrived across that same landscape, adapted and unyielding. Greeves captures not just a face—but a philosophy: endurance, patience, and identity held tight under pressure.