After the Ponca’s were forced to move from their home by the Niobrara to Indian Territory in Oklahoma, Chief Standing Bear's son Bear Shield died of Malaria. Bear Shield’s dying wish was for his father to bury his body in the old Ponca burying ground by the Niobrara, 500 miles away. Standing Bear’s journey to keep his promise to Bear Shield brought him to places he could have never imagined.
In 1879, Standing Bear fought for his right to be recognized as a person by the US Government, not by bows and arrows but with his words, in a court room.
“This hand is not the color of yours. But if I pierce it, I’ll feel pain and the blood that flows from it will be the same color as yours because I am a man."
-Standing Bear, 1879
As each year goes by, the legend of Chief Standing Bear grows. His odyssey has inspired an opera (Wakonda’s Dream); a trilogy of plays by New York writer Christopher Cartmill; a park and a museum in Ponca City, Oklahoma; and the critically acclaimed I Am a Man by Joe Starita. The University of Nebraska Press will soon publish a children's book about Standing Bear written by Lakota author Virgina Driving Hawk Sneve.
NET Television is currently in production on a documentary titled Standing Bear's Journey. I am currently working with Producer Christine Lesiak on the documentary as Associate Producer. Expected to premier in the spring of 2011.
The spirit of Standing Bear lives on today. Be a part of the 2010 Chief Standing Bear Commemoration Events in Lincoln, NE.
2010 Chief Standing Bear Play "Waaxe's Law" at the Lied Center for Performing Arts' Johnny Carson Theater
When: Thursday, May 13, 2010
Where: Johnny Carson Theater
Time: 7:30 p.m.
2010 Sixth Annual Chief Standing Bear Noon Commemoration
When: Friday, May 14, 2010
Where: The Rotunda at the Nebraska State Capitol
Time: 12:00 p.m.
2010 Fifth Annual Chief Standing Bear Breakfast
When: Friday, May 21, 2010
Where: Cornhusker Hotel in downtown Lincoln, NE
Time: 7:30 a.m.
Activist, environmentalist, economist and author Winona LaDuke will be the Keynote Speaker for the Commemoration Breakfast. An enrolled member of the Mississippi Band of Anishinaabeg, LaDuke founded "Honor the Earth" in 1993 with the Indigo Girls. The organization aims to create awareness and support for Native environmental issues. The organization also aids in the development of financial and political resources to support sustainable Native communities.
LaDuke was named one of Time Magazine's fifty most promising leaders under 40 in 1994. She went on to win "Woman of the Year" in 1998 from Ms. Magazine, and in 2007 she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.
LaDuke will also be featured in the Native Daughter's Magazine by the UNL's college of journalism. The magazine is about Native American women. Stay tuned for more information about the Native Daughter's magazine, website and multimedia projects coming soon.
Click below for PDF for Save the Date Standing Bear Events
For more information regarding the Chief Standing Bear events and to register to attend, please visit: www.indianaffairs.state.ne.us
For more information about Chief Standing Bear please visit: www.nebraskastudies.org/0600/frameset.html
The Crazy Horse Memorial, a 563-foot stature of Lakota warrior Crazy Horse, located outside of Custer, South Dakota, is the ideal setting to introduce the fundamentals of journalism to Native American youth. Not only are the Black Hills of South Dakota inspiring and beautiful but standing next to the 87.5 foot-tall face of Crazy House is magical. I’ve been going to the Crazy Horse Journalism Workshop for 5 years now and I can only imagine what the first time students must have thought and felt.
