[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1043 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                        April 29, 2008.
Whereas Chief Standing Bear was born on Ponca land in what is now Nebraska;
Whereas Chief Standing Bear became chief of the Ponca Tribe at a young age 
        because of his leadership abilities;
Whereas, in 1878, Chief Standing Bear and the Ponca Tribe were forced by a 
        Federal treaty to leave their home for Indian Territory in what is now 
        Oklahoma;
Whereas the hardship of travel, illness, and the inhospitable conditions of 
        Indian Territory caused many members of the tribe to perish including 
        Chief Standing Bear's son;
Whereas Chief Standing Bear, determined to bury his son in his homeland, led 30 
        members of his tribe back to their home in Nebraska;
Whereas Chief Standing Bear and the 30 members of his tribe were arrested by the 
        Department of the Interior upon their return;
Whereas Chief Standing Bear enlisted the help of Thomas Tibbles of the 
        predecessor to the Omaha World-Herald and 2 attorneys to petition the 
        Federal court to rule on the Ponca Tribe's treatment by the Government;
Whereas, in 1879, the case came before Judge Elmer Dundy;
Whereas Chief Standing Bear, at the conclusion of the court proceedings, 
        extended his hand as he took the oath and said, ``That hand is not the 
        color of yours, but if I pierce it, I shall feel pain. If you pierce 
        your hand, you also feel pain. The blood that will flow from mine will 
        be the same color as yours. I am a man. God made us both'';
Whereas as Judge Dundy ultimately ruled that Native Americans were citizens with 
        all of the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution;
Whereas the Ponca won their freedom and eventually were able to return to their 
        home in Nebraska;
Whereas Chief Standing Bear would spend the next 4 years touring the Eastern 
        United States promoting Native American rights;
Whereas Chief Standing Bear demonstrated the highest level of courage and 
        determination;
Whereas Chief Standing Bear made a vital contribution to civil rights for Native 
        Americans; and
Whereas 2008 is the 100th anniversary of Chief Standing Bear's death: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors the life, legacy, and 
contributions to civil rights of Chief Standing Bear.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.