Painting dedicated at state Capitol

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- An Osage woman who lived in Oklahoma Indian Territory in the 1800s is depicted in a painting dedicated Wednesday at the state Capitol.<br/><br/>The woman, named Mahongo was taken

Thursday, May 20th 2004, 5:36 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- An Osage woman who lived in Oklahoma Indian Territory in the 1800s is depicted in a painting dedicated Wednesday at the state Capitol.

The woman, named Mahongo was taken to Europe under false pretenses after French adventurer David Dulauney falsely assumed the role of US representative and persuaded a group of Osages to accompany him to Washington DC to meet the president.

Instead the group was taken to Europe, where they were forced to perform native dances in a Wild West show before being abandoned and left homeless.

Their plight came to the attention of Marquis de Lafayette, who paid for their return to the United States.

Mahongo eventually met President Andrew Jackson, who gave her a peace medal.

The painting was a gift from Senator Charles Ford. It is the work of Mike Wimmer of Norman, a nationally renowned artist.