Ponca Tribe of Nebraska facts for kids
Flag of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 3,895 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( Nebraska) |
|
| Languages | |
| English, Ponca | |
| Religion | |
| traditional tribal religion, Christianity, Native American Church | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Ponca people, Omaha, other Dhegihan peoples |
The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska is one of two Native American tribes officially recognized by the United States government. This means the government has a special relationship with them. The other recognized Ponca tribe is the Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.
Every August, the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska holds a yearly powwow. A powwow is a special gathering where Native American people celebrate their culture through dancing, singing, and socializing.
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Ponca Lands: Where the Tribe Lives
The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska has bought back some of their original lands. These lands, called a "trust landbase," are now 819 acres in size. After a law called the Ponca Restoration Act was passed, the tribe also gained the right to do business in Iowa.
How the Ponca Tribe is Governed
The main office for the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska is in Niobrara, Nebraska. The tribe is led by a council that is chosen by the people through elections. This means the members vote for who they want to represent them. Currently, Larry Wright Jr. is the tribal chairperson, which is like being the president of the tribe.
The Journey of the Ponca People
Historians believe the Ponca people originally moved to the Great Plains from the area around the Ohio River. In the mid-1500s, the Ponca traveled north along the Mississippi River with other tribes like the Kansa, Omaha, and Osage.
They separated from the Omaha tribe in the mid-1600s. However, they met up again near the Niobrara River in Nebraska in 1793. By 1804, when the Lewis and Clark Expedition explored their lands, many Ponca people had died from European diseases. About 90% of the tribe was lost.
Important Moments in Ponca History
The Ponca people signed their first agreement with the United States in 1817. In this agreement, they gave up about two million acres of their land. By 1858, their reservation was much smaller, only 100,000 acres.
Later, the Poncas were forced to move to a place called Indian Territory. Sadly, in just one year, 25% of the tribe died from sickness and hunger. A brave leader named Chief Standing Bear led a group on a 500-mile walk back to their homelands in Nebraska. They wanted to bury their loved ones there.
This journey led to a famous court case called Standing Bear v. Crook. This case was very important because it was the first time that Native Americans were given the right of habeas corpus. This legal right means that a person cannot be held in prison without a good reason. The court case also allowed the Poncas to get some of their lands back in Nebraska. Niobrara Island was part of their original reservation.
Discovering Ancient Ponca Life
In the 1930s, experts started studying the Ponca/Niobrara Reservation. They wanted to find and save ancient objects before farming destroyed them. The University of Nebraska and the Smithsonian Institution worked together on this project.
They dug up an ancient Ponca village. The village had large, round homes up to sixty feet wide. These homes stretched for almost two miles along the south bank of the Niobrara River.
Reclaiming Recognition and Land
In the 1950s, the United States government stopped recognizing the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska. This was a difficult time for the tribe. However, since 1990, the tribe has bought back 413 acres of their lost lands. The U.S. government officially recognized the tribe again in 1990.
In 2018, a special event happened. Farmers Helen and Art Tanderup gave 1.6 acres of their land back to the tribe. This land near Neligh, Nebraska had been in their family for 137 years. This was the first time such a gift had been made. The land is also on the path of the historic Trail of Tears and the Keystone XL Pipeline.
Well-Known Ponca Tribal Members
- Standing Bear, a famous chief
- Verdell Primeaux, a singer and songwriter for the Native American Church
- Bobby "The Bully" Mills, a noted hunting trainer
- Debbie "Laughing Buffalo" Robinette, the great-great-granddaughter of Standing Bear
- Kyle Hansen, Founder of Bitwit
