Tribe hopes new trail will shine light on story of Ponca and Chief Standing Bear

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

By David Hendee

NIOBRARA, Neb. — Before the trial, there was the trail.

The story of Chief Standing Bear detoured through an Omaha courtroom more than 130 years ago. It started when the U.S. government uprooted the peaceful Ponca Tribe and forced it to move to Indian Territory.

Nine Ponca perished during the 1877 exodus across eastern Nebraska and Kansas. More than 100 others died of hunger and disease in their new homeland in present-day Oklahoma.

Now plans are in the works to mark this invisible trail of tears by the end of the decade in hopes of boosting awareness of the historic episode. The proposal calls for establishing and designating a nationally recognized Chief Standing Bear Trail that would span the Great Plains from Nebraska to Oklahoma.



Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20131203/NEWS/131209746/1685#tribe-hopes-new-trail-will-shine-light-on-story-of-ponca-and-chief-standing-bear

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FULL story and photo at link.

[mikekohr]

1. From the webpage "Heroes History Forgot."

THOMAS HENRY TIBBLES:
While employed as assistant editor of the Omaha Daily Herald, Tibbles learned of the plight of Ponca leader, Chief Standing Bear. The Ponca People had been moved forcibly by the U.S. government from their homeland in Nebraska to a reservation in Oklahoma. Standing Bear's son fell sick after the forced removal and died. His dying wish to his father was that his body be returned to the land of his birth. On the return to Nebraska, the U.S. Army intercepted and arrested Chief Standing Bear for the transgression of leaving his assigned reservation in Oklahoma.
Tibbles wrote of, and gave widely read coverage to the removal of the Ponca from their homeland and of the tragic and heartrending attempt by Standing Bear to bury his son in the homeland of the Ponca People. Tibbles gave aid and support to Chief Standing Bear in a lawsuit that resulted in the historic legal ruling of May 12th, 1879. that stated that American Indians have the same rights as other Americans. 62.)
Tibbles was a voice of compassion and reason in an arena that was soiled by sensationalism, outright ignorance and bigotry. He was among the people that recorded the slaughter of 405 Lakota People at Canke Opi Wakpala, the creek called Wounded Knee, on December 29th, 1890. His words, his witness, stand along-side the testimony of the survivors of the slaughter, so that we may never forget .
http://www.brotherhooddays.com/forgottenheroes.html

[heaven05]

2. Indian Territories

I wonder if the South Afrikkkaner dutch got their ideas for "homelands' from the forced separation(segregation) of the races from early amerikkkan policy like 'Indian Territories? I know they had their model for racist hate and segregation in the early amerikkkan models concerning the separation of the red and black peoples from 'polite society'. The treatment of Native Americans are a true example of amerikkkan genocide. And the use of 9th and tenth Calvary and 24th and 25th Infantry to help 'pacify' the Native American populations in the amerikan southwest is even more shameful and mind boggling to me. Sad and vicious history we have here. Sources for my statement: 'The black infantry in the west 1869-1891'--Arlen L. fowler, 'Strength for the fight, a history of black americans in the military'--Bernard c. nalty.

[Igel]

4. I always assumed it was from the USSR's

model, with "autonomous regions." Like the Jewish Autonomous Region on the Amur.

[heaven05]

6. that was 1930's, USSR

it's possible what you say, but amerikkan segregationist policy was 'admired' by many. I'd even believe Hitler was impressed and used that era's amerikkkan segregationist policy, partly, in his ideology and in his effort to exterminate the Jewish people. Just my hunch.That's all. South African apartheid(aparthate)seemed suspiciously like amerikkkan apartheid in the late 40's

[Enthusiast]

3. Kicked and Recommended!

This is very good.

[G_j]

5. K&R!