Dear John,

Last Wednesday, the Nebraska delegation joined members of the Ponca Nation, House Leadership, Nebraska dignitaries and others to witness the unveiling of the Chief Standing Bear Statue in Statutory Hall. In 2000, Congress authorized states to replace their current statues.

Chief Standing Bear is known for his fight for equality. In April 1879, he sued the federal government after he had been arrested for returning to Nebraska. At the time, the Ponca Nation had been forcibly relocated to Indian Territory in Oklahoma. When Chief Standing Bear's son was dying, he asked his father to bring his body home to Nebraska to be buried there. 

During the trial he was allowed to make a speech, and some of the most famous words from it were repeated many times during the unveiling ceremony:

"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 of the same color as yours. God made me, and I am a man."

The landmark case was found in Chief Standing Bear's favor, with the judge ruling that "an Indian is a person" under the law.

It is long overdue that Chief Standing Bear hold a prominent place in our Nation's Capitol, representing all Nebraskans. 

Please enjoy this video highlighting the ceremony.