Photo: U.S. Postal Service
(Lincoln, NE) -- A famous Nebraska Ponca Indian Chief is the face of a new U.S. Postage Stamp. Chief Standing Bear is credited with bringing personhood status for Native Americans under U.S. law.
In 1879, Standing Bear and more than two dozen other Ponca walked from Oklahoma to Nebraska to honor his son's dying wish to be buried in his native land. That’s a 500 mile walk, and it was winter.
Standing Bear was arrested and his court fight lead to the ruling that gave American Indians legal status as persons in the United States.
The new stamp was unveiled in Lincoln this week, near the statue of Ponca Chief Standing Bear at Centennial Mall.