Billboard makes a point

Monument to the futureThe next time you're in northeastern Oregon, keep an eye out for the billboards along Interstate 84 that are part of the institute's current marketing campaign. Actually, you won't have to work very hard to see them--depictions of Chief Wahoo, the logo of Major League Baseball's Cleveland Indians, Tonto of "Lone Ranger" fame and a cigar store Indian that comes with the words, "Close, but no cigar store Indian," are hard to miss.

The billboards' stereotypes are intentionally evocative, Conner says. "They're also intended to make people curious. We want them to consider coming here and do some critical thinking."