COMMEMORATING NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH BY HONORING THE PONCA TRIBE; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 164
(House of Representatives - September 22, 2020)
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[Pages H4647-H4648]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMEMORATING NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH BY HONORING THE PONCA
TRIBE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Nebraska (Mr. Bacon) for 5 minutes.
Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Native American
Heritage Month by honoring the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska on their 30th
anniversary of restoration as a federally recognized Tribe.
The Ponca Tribe was originally part of the Omaha Tribe and settled
near the Niobrara River of Nebraska in 1793. In 1877, the Ponca Tribe
was forcibly removed from their beloved Niobrara River homeland and
sent to Indian territory in central Oklahoma.
During their first year in Oklahoma, 25 percent of the Ponca Tribe
died from malaria and starvation. Among the dead was Chief Standing
Bear's eldest son Bear Shield, who had pleaded to be laid to rest in
their sacred burial grounds. A few weeks later, in January of 1879,
Chief Standing Bear began the 600-mile trek to their Niobrara homeland.
Just 2 days shy of their homeland, during a brief stop at the Omaha
reservation, the group was stopped and arrested for leaving Oklahoma.
The arrest led to the landmark case of Standing Bear v. Crook, which
established the precedent of recognizing ``Indian'' as an equal person
under the law, including the constitutional guarantee of fair treatment
during trial.
At the end of the trial, Chief Standing Bear delivered a speech
demanding equality, with the famous words: ``That hand is not the color
of yours, but if I prick it, the blood will flow, and I shall feel
pain. The blood is the same color as yours. God made me, and I am a
man.'' After the trial, Chief Standing Bear and his companions were
allowed to return to their Niobrara homeland.
However, in 1962, Congress decided the Ponca Tribe would be among the
Tribes no longer recognized. Two decades later, in 1986, the Northern
Ponca Restoration Committee was created by Fred LeRoy, a veteran and a
Ponca himself. Within 2 years, LeRoy drafted the petition for
restoration, and the Ponca Tribe met the requirements of the Bureau of
Indian Affairs for Federal recognition.
On October 31, 1990, the legislation was signed into law, and the
Ponca were once again recognized by the Federal Government. Fred LeRoy
was then named chairman of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska.
Although the Ponca Tribe will still be without a reservation, they
have established service delivery areas throughout Nebraska, Iowa, and
South Dakota. These areas have centers offering health, social,
domestic violence, and education services. One such center was aptly
named the Fred LeRoy Health and Wellness Center.
Through the tremendous efforts of Chairman LeRoy and subsequent
leaders, the Ponca have not only preserved but further cultivated their
heritage. Current Chairman Larry Wright, Jr., considers his proudest
accomplishments to be the purchase of 1,800 acres of the original
homeland, including Chief Standing Bear's burial site.
Chairman Wright, Jr., illustrated the belief that because their
ancestors are buried in the Niobrara River Valley, Ponca DNA is infused
within the land, water, animals, and everything that grows there,
completing the circle of life.
Today, three different statues pay tribute to the fearless leader
Chief Standing Bear. One statue resides in Centennial Mall of Lincoln,
Nebraska, and another overlooks the Niobrara homeland. Finally, a
bronze statue of Chief Standing Bear stands in its rightful place in
Statuary Hall in the U.S.
[[Page H4648]]
Capitol, representing the State of Nebraska. With these three
monuments, thousands of Nebraskans and millions from around the world
will come now to know the Poncas and their story.
Unfortunately, social disconnects of racial disparity and basic human
rights still exist in our country. In recognizing the Ponca Tribe's
abundant history, we highlight a story of oppression, despair,
struggle, and perseverance.
Today, we honor and celebrate the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and every
Native American once considered a half person. American author and
civil rights activist Audre Lorde once said: ``It is not our
differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept,
and celebrate those differences.'' Now more than ever, we must unite as
Americans and celebrate our diversity to heal the wounds of social
injustice.
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