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Dando-Collins Stephen. Standing Bear Is A Person: The True Story of a Native American’s Quest for Justice. Cambridge, MA. Da Capo, 2004.

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Standing Bear and his people live a fairly normal life in Niobrara, Nebraska. They live by farming, their children are going to school and everything is going well for them.

Quote #1

“...Standing Bear told of how he and his family had worked hard and lived well from their farming efforts. His children were going to school and everything was going nicely.” (108)

Online source: Learn about the early life Chief Standing Bear
https://www.nps.gov/mnrr/learn/historyculture/standingbear.htm#:~:text=Early%20Life%20And%20Movement%20To,Creek%20and%20the%20Niobrara%20River.

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In early January 1877, Edward C. Kemble arrived at the Ponca settlement. Kemble offered Standing Bear and other Ponca leaders to move their tribe to the new reservation that was in the Indian territory down in Oklahoma.

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Kemble stated that the new land where they are moving to is way better than the land they are currently living on. Chief Standing Bear and most of the other chiefs disagreed to move but they agreed to come down to the new reservation for a look and maybe it could change their mind.

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On February 2, 1877, Standing Bear and nine other clan chiefs went to see the new reservation like they had been appointed. Chief Standing Bear quickly realized that Kemble had lied to them about the Indian reservation.

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They declined to sell their land to the government and Kemble wasn’t about to give up so in April 1877, Kemble came back to see the Ponca leaders again. This time chief Standing Bear wasted no time declining them which led to his arrest along with his brother Big Snake and other Ponca men the next day. They both were taken to Fort Randall and were forced to start their trip to the Indian reservation.

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Standing Bear lost his sister, daughter, during the trip due to sickness and later on at the reservation his son would also pass away. The land at the Indian Reservation is not suitable for farming, the Poncas were left to their own with no rations for months.

Quote: #2

“By the end of that year, 158 Ponca men, women, and children had died since the tribe left Niobrara.” (39)

Online source: The trail map that shows their trip to the Indian reservation. Also known as the Ponca Trail of Tears.

https://chiefstandingbear.org/trail-map/

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Due to the harsh conditions at the reservation and the loss of his son, Standing Bear decided to plan an escape back to his homeland with his people on January 2, 1879.

Quote: #3

“The departing families made tearful last-minute farewells and, then, in the cold early cold early hours of the morning, of January 2, 1879, the escapees slipped away from the Arkansas River Ponca

And made for Kansas.” (45)

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The Standing Bear band arrived at the Omaha tribe at the end of February and they were welcome to stay as long as they wanted. On March 14, Standing Bear and all the members of the Poncas tribe were arrested because of their trip.

Online Source: More details about why Standing Bear was arrested.

https://nebraskastudies.org/en/1875-1899/the-trial-of-standing-bear/standing-bear-arrested/

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On March 30, 1879, Standing Bear and his people set up an interview with Tomas Henry Tibbles during his arrest. During the interview he talked about the journey going to the Indian Reservation, how they were left to himself and Poncas people were dying due to the harsh living environment.

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They also have another interview the next day, March 31, but this time there are General Crook and more newspapermen. After the interview the report was published the next day and caught everyone's attention. More people are in support of the Indians.

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After the interview, with the help from Tibbles, Standing Bear and his band was able to take their case to court with John Lee Webster representing them and Andrew Jackson Poppleten being his assistant. After a while of considering, Judge Dundy decided that all parties appear before him in the U.S. district court in Omaha on April 30 to present their argument.

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Due to some transportation issues with the attorney, the case had to move to the next day on May 1, 1879. During this trial, Standing Bear had to sit through without even understanding anything due to him not knowing any English and the interpreter was only translating for him when he was called to the stand to testify.

Quote #4

“There was an interpreter present, but not to keep the Poncas informer of what was being said in court. There was no provision in U.S. law for providing translation services to an Indian litigant because no tribal Indian had previously been accepted as a litigant.” (102)

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Standing Bear first got questions from his lawyer and then the attorney. Standing Bear handled questions from his lawyer and the attorney perfectly well. He answered their questions flawlessly and prevented the attorney from destroying any claims that he had been making throughout the questions that his lawyer had asked.

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Even though the first day of the trial was pretty smooth, Standing Bear was still pretty frustrated and not happy with it. Standing Bear was limited on what he could say in court therefore he couldn’t make the points that he wanted to. Also the evidence that was provided in court is not so reliable since it was somewhat biased and in favor of the U.S and could possibly be fraud.

Quote #5

“Standing Bear is not happy with the way things are going. When he testified he was not able to make the points he wanted.” (113)

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To end the second day of the trial, Standing Bear stood up to give his speech with Bright Eye being his interpreter. During his speech, Standing Bear talked about how the government illegally removed him and his people from their own land. He made it clear that 158 of his people died during the trip including his daughter and son. He wanted to come back to his land and bury his children there with all their ancestors. His speech had a great impact on everyone attending court that day.
Online Source: Standing Bear full speech in court on the second day of trial.

https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/annual-observances/standing-bears-courtroom-speech-native#:~:text='That%20hand%20is%20not%20the,I%20am%20a%20man.

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Judge Dundy gave his verdict on May 12, 1879. Judge Dundy first addressed the issue of whether Standing Bear has  the right under the law or not. Judge Dundy stated that Standing Bear is born on U.S. soil and he has all the rights as any man.

Quote #6

“Round 1 to Standing Bear. Judge Dundy ruled that Standing Bear was a human being and therefore legally entitled to sue for a writ of habeas corpus.” (134)

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Judge Dundy then ruled in favor of the Indian. The judge stated that trying to remove the Indians by force and relocate them at the Indian Reservation is illegal therefore Standing Bear has all the right to stay at their own land. The case of Standing Bear v. George Crook is close to the victory of Standing Bear.

Quote #7

“That no rightful authority exists for removing by force any of the relators to Indian Territory, as the resplendent has been directed to do.” (137)

Online source: The verdict of the judge.

https://www.c-span.org/video/?326464-1/standing-bear-v-crook

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Standing Bear and his band is not allowed on any Indian reservation. If they are found on any of it, they will be arrested and possibly imprisoned. After some time, General Crook decided to let them stay on one of the islands that split the Nibora River. The Poncas consider these islands as a part of their ancestral homeland so they agree to live on it, they just can’t cross the river.

Quote #8

“The surveyors had used the river as the southern boundary of the new Great Sioux reservation. The Poncas, however, considered these islands part of their ancestral homeland.” (151)

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A harsh news was delivered to Standing Bear on the 29th of October. Around noon yesterday, on 28th, Standing Bear’s brother, Big snake was shot and killed at the Ponca agency in the Indian Territory.

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Standing Bear never stopped fighting for his and his people right even after he won the case. His hard work was not a waste when he and 166 other Poncas males were each given back 320 acres of the old reservation which is their homeland in Niobrara in 1889.

Quote #9

“In 1889 a majority of the Sioux finally voted to restore the Niobrara land to the Poncas, and in 1890 Standing Bear and 166 other Ponca males who had returned to the old Reservation were each given 320 acres.” (229)

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On September 3 of 1908, Standing Bear took his last breath at home. His wish was granted and he was buried in his homeland in Niobrara, the land that he has fought for years. He was born on this land and he was gone to become one with the land.

Quote #10

“..., on September 3, 1908, Standing Bear died at home. He was buried on his little allotment beside the Niobrara, on his own land, the land of his father.” (231)