An NDN Man's Story

Dwight Howe, Cultural Presenter

2011-05-30T14:51:00.002-08:00

Dwight is of Omaha & Ponca Indian ancestry. His Ponca grandmother who raised him helped instill a real sense of who he was and pride in being a Native American. He attended Chilocco Indian School in Oklahoma and Haskell Junior College in Lawrence, Kansas. At the age of seventeen Dwight volunteered and served seven years active duty in the United States Marine Corps. He was Honorably Discharged in 1984 at the rank of Sergeant.

Living in Southern California for many years, Dwight worked with Southern California Indian Center's, Inc. in their Public Relations Department as an Outreach Specialist. He engaged in public speaking, large scale event coordinating and conducting cultural presentations at college & universities in So. California and for many state & civic organizations. Dwight worked with the Orange County Unified School District, giving classes in Cultural Awareness to 5th and 6th graders. He also reviewed the written teachers guide that was developed in conjunction with the programs pilot year, which taught over 2,500 students.While in California he was the founder and co-chairman of the 501c3 non-profit called the United Urban Indian Food Program, which was a food bank for urban Indians living in the greater Los Angeles area.

Dwight has worked as a Ponca Tribal Police Officer, Tribal Housing Superintendent and started a youth Boxing Club were he raised over $30,000 for a facility and equipment. Other interests involve being a native american dancer including the Ponca war dance and straight dance. He is an active member of the Omaha’s Strongheart Society and is a member of the Ponca Warrior Society of Oklahoma which he serves as a Whipman. Dwight was also involved with the American Legion Buffalo Post 38, the first and oldest All-Indian veterans American Legion Post in the United States. He was nominated and recieved a Presidential appointment by the Department of Defense to the Selective Service Draft Board, Okla. Region III for several years.

Dwight coordinated the giving of food baskets to over 100 Indian Elders 65 and older, from four tribes in North Central Oklahoma, website www.freewebs.com/iefp/., gives the details. He has also received training on archival research with the Smithsonian Institute American Indian Museum Studies Program and the National Museum of the American Indian and has served as a NAGPRA consultant. Dwight completed a three year project serving as native american cultural advisor for Marland's Grand Home in Ponca City; http://www.marlandgrandhome.com/ working on their Native American Collection of over1,200 artifacts that represented over 40 different tribes and continues to serve as their consultant today. Dwight has served as a cultural advisor for two State Parks in Iowa & in Nebr.. Dwight was actively involved with the Nat’l Park Service, Lewis & Clark Corps II Discovery project as a cultural presenter in their Tent of Many Voices; www.lewisandclarkgnet.org/index/.

Dwight Howe currently lives in Rosalie, Nebraska on the Omaha Indian reservation working for St Augustine Indian Mission in Winnebago, Nebraska.
Current projects include;
Prevention Program for At-Risk Youth utilizing competitive amateur boxing. Walthill Boxing Club
http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/news/vmix_3b55e03b-edc2-54f7-854e-4ff3d969b427.html
Working with the the Betty Strong Encounter Center on a Historical Overview Display of the Omaha Tribe http://www.siouxcitylcic.com/.
Elected board member of newly re-established Siouxland Diversity Coalition in Sioux City http://siouxlanddiversitycoalition.club.officelive.com/default.aspx.
Selected board member, Omaha Tribal Senior Citizens, 501c3 Non-Profit Organization.
Facilitating cultural awareness/sensitivity training at Boys & Girls Town of Omaha.

His email address: dhowe1@live.com

Original Nebraska Tribes honor small farmtown

2011-05-30T09:16:00.008-08:00

Original Nebraska Tribes honor the town of Neligh,

May 22nd 2011

http://www.norfolkdailynews.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&ArticleID=29809

White Buffalo Girl died May 23, 1877, on the fourth day of Ponca Tribes forced removal to Oklahoma. The parents of the child were not allowed to bury their daughter in a traditional manner, so they asked the local townspeople to help them. The father of White Buffalo girl asked that they take care of the grave as if it were their own and so the people of Neligh did just that, they have put flowers on her grave every year. In this day of treaties, contracts, legal forms Memorandum of Agreements and all, it is well worth noting that this was just a group of Nebraska settlers who simple gave their word and kept it for the past 134 years.

Now maybe for the first time on May 22nd, Tribal members of the Omaha Tribe, Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma, Ponca Tribe of Nebraska are all getting together to perform a Memorial Dinner to honor the townspeople of Neligh, remembering the past and hopefully, healing for the future. This is unprecedented to say the least, one for the record books. The Omaha Tribes, traditional social organization known as the Big Crazy Society will provide the meal and the two Ponca Tribes will have a giveaway, cedar ceremony and memorial singing, they will want to express themselves and say thank you to the descendants of the people who buried their relative all those years ago.

1877 was a sad and tragic time for the Ponca Indian, losing so many loved ones in such a short time. Having this ceremony hopefully will help heal and provide an opportunity to acknowledge something good were the Ponca had a hard time just thinking about. Imagine being uprooted from their ancestral homeland by force, going to a place they called the hot country, must have been devastating. The years that followed didn't get better, only through their faith in the Creator and perseverance did they survive. Today the Ponca tribe exists in two separate divisions but they share a common ancestry of the past.

At the park in Neligh, the meal starts at noon, once everybody has been fed, (we are cooking for at least 400) then the two Ponca Tribes will start their give away. I believe there is a plaque and a painting, a babies cradleboard, some Pendleton blankets maybe a shawl and such will be given away as a sign of respect and just to say thank you. Several tribal elders and family members are coming up from Oklahoma and Tribal Council Representatives from both tribes will be in attendance. Good words will be spoken, prayer and fellowship will mark the day. We will be having a traditional sweat lodge ceremony Saturday, at Niobrara hosted by members of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska. For some it will be their first time back up here to their ancestral homeland and hopefully it will bring the two Ponca tribes closer together. The nationally known Ponca drum group Yellowhammer is trying to come up as well.
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/netradio/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1806990

The weekend went well, some say at least 400 to 500 townspeople came together with the two Ponca Tribes and the Big Crazy Society of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska for the memorial dinner of White Buffalo Girl in Neligh Ne. I will add more to this as I go along. This painting was given to the town in memory of White Buffalo Girl and as a tribute to the town for keeping its word to a brokenhearted Ponca Indian man. So many tragic stories in the late 1800's it was good to remember something like this. Artist was Sid Armstrong of Ponca City Oklahoma donated the artwork to the town of Neligh Ne.

Weekend Mens Retreat in Norfolk NE

2011-04-06T18:17:00.000-08:00

Now this was a very unexpected but pleasant event. I was told by a close friend that I had been nominated to attend this retreat. I was then asked by my close friend Father Mike if I would attend, I agreed to do so. Man what a long weekend full of spiritual moments very touching personal stories and experiences. All in all it was a great weekend, one that I will remember for some time to come. If you notice there are only two people who are not white in this picture, my brother Calvin Harland and I are the only people of color. I wish it was more diverse but in the end color wasnt an issue, I guess that is just my hang up. Prayer, Fellowship, Spiritual awareness, Spritual growth was the plan of the day or should I say the weekend endeavor which started around 5:30a.m. and ended around 10:30 or 11:00 at night. I was spirit filled when I came home Sunday but physically exhausted. I would recommend anyone for something like this, I really enjoyed making new friends and confirming my faith in Wakonda. DeColores DeColores.

2011-01-23T16:55:00.006-09:00

Briar Cliff University, Sioux City, Iowa, Jan 25, 2011

Powerpoint presentation went well, over fifty people attended it was a full house. Real good publicity it was picked up by Sioux City Journal and the Winnebago Tribe's website Indianz.com which has a nation wide audience.

I keep getting positive feedback from students and others who attended, that makes me feel good.

This is a follow up to the October 22 Focus Group Meeting held at Briar Cliff University with representatives of the five tri-state Tribes (Omaha, Ponca, Santee Sioux, Winnebago, and Yankton Sioux); public child welfare agencies; private child welfare agencies; social work students; and social work faculty. This meeting is designed to develop a plan of action for producing recommendations for improved and new curriculum content and process for the development of Native foster homes.

The goal of the workgroup is to give feedback relative to Native American foster home preparation and selection processes, as well as recommendations for a hybrid preparation and selection program solely for prospective Native American foster families. The workgroup will present a report for this group on Monday, May 2, 2:30 – 4:30. (SAVE THE DATE!)

Boys & Girls Town, Omaha Nebr.

2010-12-02T15:55:00.003-09:00

Omaha Nebraska, Dec 2nd, 2010

This is exciting stuff, as it was a first in relationship to Boys Town. They invited us in to provide cultural sensitivity training to their staff that work with native American Indian youth. Note; over 50% of all their students that have come through their institution have been of Omaha ancestry. We now have plans of building a sweatlodge on campus this spring for the students to utilize. The first four sweats will be run by members of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska and then it will be given to the faculty to offer other tribes to use. Father Steven Boes has really opened the door for interaction and positive, pro-active dialog, which is a blessing in itself and unprecedented to say the least. We hope to do more similiar types of trainings in the future at Boys Town.

UPDATE: Well last weekend 7/23, we completed our project of building a sweatlodge down at BoysTown. As I said I believe this to be an unprecedented step for the Native American Indian students. Pierre Merrick leader of the Omaha Tribe's Big Crazy Society poured the water, Calvin Harland and I helped build the sweatlodge with the kids actually doing most of the work. I was impressed with their interest and respect for what we were trying to do. Father Steve of BoysTown has opened the doors for the Indian community in Omaha and surrounding area, I hope and pray they sieze the moment. Big Crazy will host the first four sweats and then it will be the responsibility of the students themselves to clean and maintain and use the site. Harley Upton the house parent for the Boys Town Indian Home has been a valuable asset to this whole process, without him I doubt it would of ever happened. Some might say that it is risky business building such a sacred thing at BoysTown. I myself firmly believe our children are worth the risk. Over the years, half the Indian students that have gone to Boy Town have been Omaha Indian children. We owe it to them to assist in anyway possible in their spiritual growth. We can only hope that it will be used in a good way for all of our relations. Anyway it was a good day and we feel we did something good for the people and only time will tell that story.

Seasons of Change 2010

2010-10-17T14:39:00.001-08:00

Betty Strong Encounter Center

Sioux City Iowa Oct 17, 2010

Pierre Merrick and I were asked to share our thoughts and concerns about the Native American Indian and our Tribal history. We produced a power point with Omaha tribal leaders starting in the 1800's with Chiefs then individuals. Two crew members with the Lewis & Clark expedition, the first Indian woman to become a physician, the first Indian lawyer to argue a case before the Supreme Court, nurses and others of notable accomplishments, all Omaha Indians We sang a few tribal songs and talked about Indian people today discussing racism and prejudice that both races have towards each other. It seemed to go well and we had quite a few questions in the end. Like; How important is ancestry to your people? How do you react to people that are openly prejudice? What is most important to native people today? We answered the best we could and they seemed satisfied. The doors are slowly opening for Omaha speakers here in Siouxland. Both Pierre and I look forward to doing even more.

Living In Two Worlds

2010-02-21T17:11:00.003-09:00

Sioux City, Iowa, Feb 21st. 2010

This was my first public speaking event in the Siouxland area since I came through with the Lewis & Clark Corps II, Tent of Many Voices some years ago and I really had fun with it. Marcia Poole the Director of the Betty Strong Encounter Center really impressed me with her dedication to the mission statement of the facility. We need more people like her and I'm sure there are in this city, I look forward to finding them. This town and others like it, that are close to Indian reservations all have their own problems with pre-conceived ideas and old prejudices about their Indian neighbors and the Indians carry theirs as well. The fact that this town won nationwide exposure in the Truman era, over not letting a veteran who was killed in action in Korea be buried in their cemetery because he was Native American doesn't help. Things can change and need to at times, but it is a slow wheel that turns, patience and perseverance are key.

Ponca Tribal Youth Program

2007-07-21T11:01:00.001-08:00

Ponca Tribal Youth Program receives regional recognition and national praise.

Ponca City, Oklahoma, July 19, 2007
Last June the Department of Justice sent a Technical Advisor to White Eagle to review and assess the tribes’ efforts with a $300,000.00 grant. In their subsequent report to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in Washington DC they sited with praise, some rather cutting edge approaches to the program. So much so, Tribal Youth Program’s Director, Dwight Howe was selected to do a presentation on the development of the youth program at the next Dept. of Justice mandatory training conference in Phoenix Arizona. Training will take place the end of this month and tribes from CA, NV, AZ, UT, CO, NM and OK will all be in attendance. Rebecca Murdock, Tribal Justice Programs Manager went on to say in her report “The tribal youth program plans to develop a culturally sensitive delinquency prevention program that will address two components of the community: Supervised activities for all tribal youth and Intervention activities for court involved or family referred youth to include mental health assessments, mentoring, community services, recreational activities and cultural immersion projects. Dwight has done an excellent job of explaining the program and its goals to FVTC and OJJDP and has brought together the necessary members of the advisory board to assure a successful program”.

Howe has also been approached by Teachermagazine.org to consider blogging weekly about the youth project that starts in October. This high profile, on-line magazine has national exposure and will undoubtedly put the Ponca Tribe’s efforts on the forefront in the field of education. It all seems to be falling into place and for that we are excited and thankful. Here are two concepts TYP plans’ on implementing;

IPod Podcasting Project, where the kids can make their own video/podcast. We want to promote 21st century technology using multimedia tools to engage the Ponca Indian youth in positive, constructive behaviors which develop academic, social and workplace skills while enhancing their own cultural awareness. This project is being headed up by Susan Powell, a TYP Advisory Board Member who works for the Ponca City School District, she says the school district will help as much as possible in any effort that keeps Ponca Indian kids in school. At the end of each cycle, every student that completes all the requirements of the program will receive a free IPod of their own. Apple Computers representative Orlando Aguilar, met with the program leaders and was excited to learn about the efforts being made and is earnestly looking at ways and means for Apple to actively be involved with the programs endeavors as well.

FIRST Lego League (FLL) is an approach the Ponca Tribe is planning to utilize in an effort at turning kids on to technology, science and math. Websites like http://www.usfirst.org/ and http://www.legoeducation/ are just two resources used in developing this project. A Lego’s team consists of three to ten kids’ ages 9-14 and at least one adult coach. The Ponca Tribe is currently networking closely with Po-Hi Robotics Coach, Tonya Scott, in the development of this project. FLL is designed to put children in control, teams mix curiosity and imagination with LEGO bricks, sensors, motors and gears to invent unique, autonomous robots capable of completing various missions. Howe says, “If we can just get them interested and build their self-confidence to try new things, maybe set new standards in their own lives, then we feel it is well worth the effort. Our goal is to have them graduate from high school, stay out of trouble and hopefully continue their educations. The Ponca Tribes overall view is; if our young people can succeed and be happy in their lives, then we as a nation succeed as well”. Dwight can be reached at dwight.howe@att.net.

2007-07-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

ADVISORY BOARD members gather outside the freshly rehabilitated activity building for the Ponca Tribal Youth Program after a recent planning session. Called "We Thi Pi" (meaning "To Change") in the Ponca language, the program for at-risk youth is in the first (planning) year of a four-year, $300,000 grant funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention at the U.S. Department of Justice. From left, are board members: Ed Henderson, Boy Scouts; Susan Powell, Ponca City School District; Ruslyn Hermanson, AmeriCorps United Way; Vearl Caid, Northern Oklahoma Youth Services; technical advisor Rebecca Murdock, Fox Valley Technical College of Neenah, Wis.; Marilyn Epley, Ponca Tribe; Dwight Howe, Program Director; James LeClair, Police Chief, White Eagle Police Dept.; and, Clayton Johnson, Police Chief, Ponca City Police Dept. (News Photo by Rolf Clements)

2007-01-14T12:38:00.000-09:00

Ponca Elder Food Project 2003

Indian Elders Food Project

2007-01-13T19:11:00.000-09:00

2005 Food Program
Now the goals of this Indian Elders Food Project are disparate to say the least. We want to honor the elders but in doing so we want the different organizations and individual volunteers to work together, getting to know each other as well. We feel that in any community living together, should know a little bit about its neighbors. It is our sincere hope that tolerance and acceptance be the fruit of our labor in this endeavor. The more one person knows about another, there is less likely the opportunity of pre-conceived ideals to be prevalent. Racism and prejudice are rooted in misunderstanding and ignorance. We firmly believe those things can be dispelled through education and exposure. We also believe that if we look hard enough and long enough we will inevitability see that we are more alike than we are different.
So we want to provide food for Indian elders, food that is that is fresh and meets their special dietary needs as many are diabetic and/or have high blood pressure issues. We know too that many live in the extended family setting and some may be even the sole provider for those families. Receiving $100.00 worth of groceries at this time of the year just before the holidays is greatly appreciated by all. Getting people to come together who are from different walks in life with different perspectives is a blessing into itself. If you want to know more about our project or who we are, please feel free to go to our website at www.freewebs.com/iefp/. I do hope to hear from you.
In 2003 we delivered to fifty elders, we had maybe fifteen volunteers each came back with a story of their encounters. Each volunteer felt rewarded in some way and wanted to do it again. We encouraged each individual volunteer to not just drop off the basket but ask to come inside and take a few minutes to visit and we encouraged each of them to offer a prayer. Not one volunteer came back saying the Indian elder turned down prayer and/or the fellowship. Many were quite moved at the brief meeting with such personable, kind people as the Indian elder.

American Indians in Politics??

2006-01-10T11:38:00.000-09:00

There was a time many years ago, natural laws were respected and adhered to by the aboriginal people of this land called the Americas. Our leaders knew the almost sacred obligation of leading a group of people and conducted themselves accordingly. It would take a person many years of living a life that could be respected and admired, before he would even consider leading the people. Among my relatives, I am told he would have to have one hundred give aways before he would be eligible for leadership, that's just to be eligible, and they called that his count to One Hundred. He would initiate this process maybe around his late twenties to mid thirties making his intentions known by feeding the people, putting on a feast. At this feast he would give away to all the clan leaders, tribal leaders, important guests, and/or the needy, his family and friends would most likely have to help him in his endeavors. With each feast and give away it would be similar in his efforts and noted by the tribe.

From that time on the people would then watch and observe him in the following years. They would ask..did he show compassion when compassion was needed? Was he generous and kind to people? Was he a man that you could go to for help and/or advice? Did he help solve problems and show respect for the elders, was he good to the children? Was he a good hunter and provider for his family? Was he humble and a man of prayer with good spiritual being? Did he put the people first in all his affairs? Was he quick to anger or did he show restraint before acting? Those are just a few of the things the people looked for in him as a leader. If he did live his life in a good way the people would then follow him, they would camp around him and support him. If he was picked as a leader his decisions were respected and the people willing followed his advice, he would most likely be in his fifties. That was many, many years ago before the coming of todays dominant society.

Today it appears that a significant number of tribes tend to follow the dominant societies way of governing. It seems that they put themselves and their families and friends first and the people they are supposed to serve last. They come accross as having too much pride in their status as tribal leaders and develop egos that prevents them from relating to the common man. All too frequently many tribes commit wholly to following the path of todays form of government and fruad, greed and corruption is the end result for many. They learn quickly to say many good words and make long speeches about the need for change and are swift to place blame on others for todays problems. Tribal governments are now elected by the popular vote and not the qualified vote their ancestored endorsed. This means they could be totally unqualified for the position, unethical and/or corrupt, have no actual concept on how to effectively manage a entity as large as a tribe, but because they have a lot of relatives/friends they get voted in. They have ultimate control over thousands and thousands of dollars in program monies. Their jurisdiction covers the entire reservation some which are as large as some states or maybe as small as one square block, but yet they have very little knowledge of governmental/accounting procedures or operating experience. The tribe's that do emulate the dominant societies form of goverening tend to fall to the pressures of centrism, nepotism and political favors with bribes, embezzlement with the waste of resources not far behind them

At first the United States founding fathers admired the American Indians original forms of governing so much so, they wrote the U.S. Constitution modeling it after the Great Law of Peace that the eastern woodland Indians lived by for generations. Through the years they have managed to change, amend and/or twist that democratic process to fit their own needs and wants, leaving the poor and less fortunate out of the picture. Today we have a very corrupt and ineffective form of government. Just look at the B.I.A. and the Interior Department as an example of how they have handled their trust responsibilities to see the neglect and mismanagement running rampant among the tribes. Not all tribes are that way but there are it seems to be more than naught. Currently some tribe's are even trying to play in the big game of Washington politics and with lobbying efforts that has unfortunately blown up on them, with a social/political backlash that will go against all tribes probably for many years to come, putting us back even further in our efforts to advance as a people in todays society.

20 years of memories

2006-01-09T07:29:00.000-09:00

A Living Museum in Orange County.

In 1993-1994 I had the opportunity to work with some really dedicated people with vision. We buildt an brush arbor to make a classroom for middle school students. We brought in Native American speakers, performers and teachers from the So. Cal. area. Before this time I was speaking primarily at colleges and with civic organizations. This opened up a whole new way of thinking and communicating for me and it was to become a lifelong passion.

Large scale event in Santa Ana near the foothills.

In October of 1992, I was invited to participate with the City of Santa Ana in their 1st Annual Cultural Diversity Celebration. This was really a well thought out and well executed event in Southern California and I felt honored to be a part of it. Orange County has a very diverse population and it is growing, this sort of event was needed. Having a panel discussion about issues was thought provoking insightful and productive.

Los Angeles County Event.

In December 1992 this was a huge event and ran for two days. I was invited to do a cultural presentation on Native American Indian people. This was a lot of fun and I met numerous organization from all over. There were several city officials and civic leaders who attended and participated.

Golden West College, Huntington Beach, California.

In May 1992 I was involved with a group of young people in Huntington Beach, California. I served on a advisory board whose purpose was to create dialog and understanding between different races. These kids really put their hearts into this project, it was cool to see them work.

Archival Research Training, Washington D.C.

In Feb, 1995 I applied for a competitive grant from the National Museum of the American Indian. It was selected from over 300 tribal applicants, they picked only 35 participants. I really enjoyed the training it was designed to assist tribes with finding their resources when they came to Washington D.C. They were very effective and detailed in their training presentations. Since then I have worked with two National Park's one in Iowa and one in Nebraska, The Autry Southwest Museum in Los Angeles and Marlands Grand Home in Ponca City Oklahoma. I am now currently involved with the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Sioux City, Iowa on a tribal historic photo display.

Selective Service Draft Board, Region III, State of Oklahoma.

In 1998, I was nominated by the Governor to serve with the Selective Service System as a local board member for the State of Oklahoma. I was sent to Albuquerque, New Mexico for training and that was a blast, very informative and motivating. This was a presidential appointment and was truly a great honor for me to be able to serve my country again. Unfortunately a year and half later I became a tribal police officer and that made me ineligible to serve in this capacity. But it was fun and I learned a lot from the experience.

Teaching People to Read

In 1996 I took this training and I think it was one of them most rewarding experiences I ever had. I enjoyed working with people that wanted to learn how to read. I was surprised at the range of ages and backgrounds that the people came from. They were so thankful and appreciative and I made some lifelong friends in the process.

Thank you Glenda.....

Why we need to work together

2005-08-06T05:14:00.000-08:00

There are many issues and concerns on both sides. Law enforcement, education, community development, civic duties, employment, social interaction, religious beliefs, on and on we can look at every aspect of day to day existence and find the need for better understanding. Ponca City like any small town does not like to look as though it doesn't care about its Indian neighbors. Towns all over the country like to be viewed as politically correct and culturally sensitive. Unfortunately there are real concerns in regards to pre-conceived ideals and/or perspectives about each other, longstanding resentments coupled with difficult situations even racial profiling is prevalent in this community. I was friends with the Director of the YMCA several years ago, I asked him why there were no afterschool projects in WhiteEagle. He said that's is a good question, he called in his program coordinator and asked if he knew how many kids were out in White Eagle. The young man said he really did not know, he admitted that he lived in Ponca City for over twelve years now but has never been out to the WhiteEagle community.

One businessman confided to me over ten years ago, in regards to how his fellow businessman viewed Indian efforts in economic development, they even had a saying about it among themselves. He said to me when he asked about one such effort by the Ponca tribe, he was told "Oh that's T.I.D. Typical Indian Deal, All F%$* Up." This seems to be the common perception by many businesses towards Indian efforts at improving their own economic and social status, only it is kepted close to the vest and not openly admitted. In the past there was real resentment when the tribe started selling cigarettes and gas close to town. Complaints about not having an even playing field in regards to competition with the tribe. One middle school teacher was reported to have said in their teachers break room, as far as Im concerned they are all either drunks, thieves or murderers in regards to his view of Indians today. It is becoming common knowledge among other Indian education organizations in the state that this town has issues.

The local Standing Bear Park was established by protest and unrest, many Indian leaders felt that the local Indians were not being properly acknowledged and/or respected. Now today it is being managed by a white bank owner and the park itself is run by a woman who has a Indian Card but no real connection to the community she represents. With 29,000 Indians from at least five tribes in and around Ponca City area and they were unable to find one person qualified from those tribes to represent the Indians in their own community? Many of the issues brought forth from that initial encounter between the two communities have still not been fully addressed, only superficial progress at best. It now seems tourism has the real interest of the City in regards to the Standing Bear Foundation/Park. For example, the drop out rate is still one of the highest in the state, our Ponca Indian boys average out at about an eighth grade education year after year and it goes without saying an unemployment rate that is just as high. Almost two decades later, there are no Native American Indians in city offices or very few in positions of leadership in the community, so one would have to ask just what good did the Standing Bear Foundation really do for our people.

Conversely, It seems that at times the Indians in the community have been their own worst enemy. Failure to work together inter-tribally, failure to be consistent within their own tribal structures when dealing with the city. The diversity within the tribal councils itself, keeps them from moving forward at times bogged down with political infighting. You can review volumes of newspaper articles that were written thru the years by local Indians filled with slander, mudslinging and open contempt for other tribal members who are in power. The City Manager once told me that they have tried time after time to meet with the Indians and build relationships. He said we talk to one tribal council and make plans, only to be stonewalled and/or rejected a year later by another council altogether different from the last. One minute there is an atmosphere of cooperation and good words are shared and the next time there is hostility and resentment. The Indians claimed the City is disingenuous and/or accuse the City of infringing on their tribal sovereignty/jurisdiction or they feel that they are just being used to fill the cities coffers. It becomes obvious at times the two communities just don't quite understand or trust each other.

There used to be a small community of Indians living in Ponca City on the south side of town on second and third street. Many Indian families lived there in the sixties and seventies, now most all of the homes are gone, having been condemned they were bulldozed and there are now open spaces where Indian homes once stood. I myself live on the corner of Third and Maple, the Salvation Army now occupies that space. I can remember feeling safe there when I was young and I identified with the community around me. Now today I see Indian kids playing in the school playgrounds their smiling faces are in the local newspaper when they are in kindergarten and/or elementary school, as time passes less and less of those faces are printed, less and less of them are smiling. When they reach the high school age they seem to have suddenly almost completely faded away. I see the many social clubs, band, cheerleaders, sports teams all without their presence. The same with the local government, school boards, committees, councils and civic organizational groups, very little or no Indian participation exists. It is as thou we are not there, living, working, growing old, raising our kids, serving our country in the military, dying. Many Indians find leadership roles elsewhere and are more readily accepted in other geographical settings.

Take this into consideration as well, for decades we have been portrayed as a villains, unintelligent, heathens without religion, for generations we have been told we are lesser and are in need of being governed. Now today many of our young people have bought into that concept and this has limited their own visions for the future. Now over half of the 2.5 million Indians from the over 500 some odd tribes today are under thirty years of age, that means we are a young race of people. The Indians in the Ponca City area are no exception to this fact. We are a changing people, all the more reason why we need to work together in our communities. We need to raise the level of tolerance and understanding of each other so in the future our people can live together in harmony and mutual respect, so all of our children can have hope and ambitions for a good clean life.

A Ponca Warrior Story

2004-09-21T13:16:00.000-08:00

A Ponca Warrior Story....

What I tell you now was told to me by my relatives many years ago. There was a time when the warrior was the center of our tribal ways. It was said in the old days that in order to be a leader for the people, you had to be able to count to one hundred. I don't mean one, two, three. I mean the warrior would have to bring one hundred willow sticks, each one would represent a good deed or charitable gesture for the people. Can you imagine a society of leaders whose numbers were at one time in the hundreds, each one of them doing one hundred good things for the people? That is the way the Ponca lived before the time of Columbus, they were good to each other.

It is a tradition that has lived on, our values and cultural ways have withstood the test of time and has endured many hardships along the way. We need to always look to the future, we need to give those same values to our children by our own examples in life, showing them our traditional ways by living in them. How right and creditable is it then that this young Ponca boy in Delaware would want to emulate such traditions as this? We are indeed humbled and honored by his thought and gesture. When this food project is all said and done this young boy can count this project as one to his journey of one hundred good deeds. I myself only wish that it is the start of a way of life for him on his way to becoming a Hethuska member.

To me to be a Ponca Warrior is to try to have a way of life that puts the needs of the people first with humilty and compassion, having God, the Creator involved in all that you do. It is not just twice a year at a dance, it is a way of life and for many that is the way it is. Those are very important concepts and perspectives to our Native American way of life, spirituality, generousity and compassion. In every aspect of Ponca traditions, the Creator is involved in it and acknowledged. Today the Ponca Hethuska pray and dance every year and give away food and gifts to the people, keeping the traditions alive.

Traditional ways still alive

2004-09-21T04:43:00.000-08:00

This summer has been a good one for me. I was honored to be able to witness the Dakota Wiping of the Tears Ceremony for a family in mourning, we had four sweats three at night and the last at sunrise. As I drove up to the lodge at 4:30 am. I found to my surprise and delight 6 young men watching the fire. These boys were in their late teens and early twenties laughing quitely about somebody or something, talking about sports and girlfriends the way young men do. But when the elders came out and it was time to go in, the mood of the young men changed they were serious and respectful. Two of the older boys started singing, I think they were brothers. They sang with perfect harmony their words were clear and heartfelt. Their father spoke to them in Dakota and they responded appropriately, even the youngest one who maybe was about thirteen knew what to do and did his part with dignity. We started the day in prayer in the afternoon we feasted and fed the poeple.The family gave a way many gifts, then we ended the ceremony with a celebration dance. I dressed in my ndn regalia and participated in the celebration supporting as best I could. I was so impressed and honored by this ceremony I cried. Later I told the young men that participated in the sweat that morning, one was grassdancing and the others were singing around the big drum, that I was proud of them. I told them that seeing them told me that our culture will live on through them. I told them that my heart was glad that our traditions will live on in the next generation. Earlier this summer I attended a sweatlodge ceremony were only the dakota language and songs were song the entire time. Even thou I am Omaha, my heart soared with compassion and prayers for the people, I cried with joy. I lefted there feeling drained and yet humbled and happy. I was happy and grateful because something sacred had been kepted alive. I was humbled because I was able to be apart of it.

We are living in a time when being ndn is hard and the people are suffering in many ways. Tears, broken hearts and disappointments have been the legacy for many years now. So many things are complicating our lives, clouding the way for us as ndns to live. Alcohol & drugs have had devistating effects on our people. The long term effect of poverty, lack of education, poor economic development and inadequate health care has limited our growth. More importantly we have lost a part of the spiritual connection to the Creator that our ancestors had. We live in a time when even our own tribal members express jealousy resentment and talk disrespectfully about each other. Many tribal councils govern our people like the white man governs his and we suffer from this. At times the leaders take care only of themselves and their own, leaving many out of the loop. Our young people suffer the most, our elders are leaving us in great numbers everyday and with them goes many of our ways, beliefs, customs and songs. Nonetheless their is hope, always their is hope.

This summer I attended several annual Pow-Wows, my own in WhiteEagle Okla the home of the Ponca. I was grateful to see so many songs that were sung for individual families, clans & societies, honoring veterans past and present. In Flandrue South Dakota I witnessed veterans being honored with song and prayers. Always there are prayers. Our traditions live on resilient, they endure and overcome every obsticle. Living in the white mans world and keeping an ndn heart and ndn eyes can be difficult but not impossible. Every Pow-Wow I attended there was prayer, for that I was grateful.

This year among the Omaha in Macy Nebr. the Strong Heart Society gathered for its annual sundance, all went well. The spiritual leaders said that it was the best dance that they have ever had in the past nineteen years. A couple of Ponca's showed up and brought their pipes and asked if they could dance and they were welcomed. Twenty dancers prayed and danced the Omaha Sundance from sun-up to sundown the people danced, prayed and shed blood and tears for the people. Many prayers and humbling gestures were made by fasting, offering of flesh, dragging of buffalo skulls, or hanging from the tree everyday the people cried and prayed. So many prayers for the people, for the sick, the hungry, the homeless, those that were less fortunate, the elders and ndns suffering in the inner cities, prayers for the people in harms way, prayers for the leaders of the world. Prayers for the people, for all of the people, all over the world, prayers of peace, good health and spirtual well being. We all need prayers, we all need to beleive that something greater put us all here on this earth.

I am glad to report that the Indian People of North America are still here and will be here in the future, praying for the people of the world, for the four legged, for the winged sky animals and the animals that swim in the waters, for all living things. In the end of time I know their will be an ndn with one pipe offering our prayers for the people. Our ancestors knew that the Creator was a living God and that same God lived within each of us. For them every breath was a prayer, we need to as ndn people embrace that concept again and give our lives up to Gods will.

White Eagle Boxing Club circa 2001

2004-09-20T16:00:00.000-08:00

Boxing Program for At-Risk Youth

2004-09-20T14:39:00.002-08:00

Alcohol & Drug Prevention Program for At Risk Youth using Sanctioned Competitive Amateur Boxing

This program is designed to assist the Native American Indian youth in making good, positive choices in life. The objective would be to develop the whole individual, making the person a winner in life not just in the ring, this aspect makes it more than just another boxing program. Using physical fitness and proper conditioning for competitive amateur boxing as the primary focus.

However influencing the growth of the young person in a positive way would be the overall goal, by addressing the physical, mental, spiritual and emotional values of each individual. The requirements on the youth are, that they must agree to be alcohol & drug free, willing to have an intimate relationship with the Creator on a daily basis and want to get into the best physical shape through exercise, plus they must be willing to stay in school and stay out of trouble.

It can be viewed as a Community Based Self Improvement Project and can be funded through several sources. Alcohol & Drug Intervention is one of the primary sources but Law Enforcement, Health & Wellness, Cultural Preservation as well as an Educational enhancement programs are other options. The need for positive intervention for disadvantaged at-risk youth is greater than ever and can be easily justified.

Suggested….

Boxing Club Rules & Brief Implementation Plan

Be willing to talk to the Creator everyday through prayer... Young people face problems and situations everyday that are sometimes complex and hard to understand. Spiritual awareness is essential and having the Creator in their lives everyday will be encouraged. For some youth it is not the inability to grasp a concept of a higher power, it is the lack of role models around them that do sincerely pray. We want them to come to firmly believe that only the Creator can effectively solve those problems they encounter on a day to day basis. Religious tolerance can come through understanding; we want to expose them to concepts and ideals concerning the different types of religions.

Do Not Use Alcohol or Drugs or smoke cigarettes…
Prevention through education and intervention would be the cornerstone of this program. Classroom training, speakers, movies/films anything we can use to provide information about this very serious issue could be used. We need to take every opportunity we can to make them aware of the true dangers, when they make the choice to abuse alcohol or use drugs. Moreover all trainers, coaches and staff should be alcohol & drug free, setting the example for the youth to follow.

Attend School Daily; try your best in class… The need for education is vital and will be stressed at every chance. If we can help identify problem areas in academics then we can also connect them with tutors and/or mentoring. The program can be a source to help solve problems the young people face. If we can help in career development we should. Having a third party release formed signed by the parents so the staff can be made aware of any deficiencies the participant might have in school could be helpful.

Come to the Gym Daily, get into the best shape you can through exercise… We want to expose them to as many different types of physical fitness that is possible, getting them into the best shape we can. Good health, top conditioning are prerequisites to a positive attitude about themselves and are absolutely essential in becoming a winning competitive amateur boxer. Simply put, in order to be a champion in the ring you have to be in top shape. Strict serious guidelines must be enforced for personal safety and liability, when using any boxing equipment and/or when training, Absolutely No Horseplay would be tolerated.

Do Not Fight or get into trouble… Proper social behavior is going to be a must. Conflict resolution, self control and proper self discipline are all things the participants must be encouraged to strive for. We need to teach respect, respect for others and their opinions, but more importantly respect for themselves. We would want to build champions not bullies. We could take on different community projects from time to time, i.e. clean an elders yard, cut wood for elders, serve food at events, do something positive and helpful in our community. Helping with projects gives the participant a sense of self worth and self esteem allowing them to feel good about themselves.

Be willing to express yourself… The objective of this concept is to get them to open up and express their feelings or identify their concerns about problems they are facing today. The program can document, track and develop this information into a resource for other committees in the community to use. If we develop this right, we could create a web site and share with the Internet community who are dealing with similar issues. This could easily be one of the biggest assets of this program, dealing with problems that the Native American youth feel are important to them.

French Interview, gives hope for Indians

2004-09-17T05:46:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting with and talking to four very special people, three were from France the other from South Korea. For the past five years they have been traveling the world, taking photos, observing cultures recording and publishing several books along the way. Now they are on a new quest, this time in North America retracing by canoe no less the trek of Lewis & Clark up the Missouri river. They hope to have this experience published in France when completed. They are video taping this journey as well, meeting with the native people along the way. I was fortunate and honored to be one of their documented, they questioned me about my ancestry, my cultural beliefs, customs and values. They wanted to know how I felt about the impact that Lewis & Clark made and what did my ancestors think of it as well. I did the best I could to respond and I introduced them to an Omaha Tribal Council member to be interviewed.

I told them several stories that were told to me, then I gave them this example of what I felt about what Lewis & Clark meant to me and what I felt as to how my ancestors might have felt about this meeting. I said: " It would be like if I came to your house one early morning knocked on the door politely introduced myself and promptly told you that I just came by to look at my new house and to let you know where to now send your rent payments. Your response might be but we didn't sell our house and have no plans on doing so. I would say Oh but I didn't buy it from you I bought it from your neighbor on the other end of the block for a very good price I might add." that's how I would of looked at it and that's probably how my ancestors looked at it as well. Im sure they wondered, how can someone else that I don't know sell the land under my feet that my ancestors fought and died for, hunted gathered and lived on for hundred of years without my knowledge? Now I am invited to participate in a flag raising ceremony that proclaims ownership of the land and tells me that I now have a new grandfather to take care of me and my family. That I am to follow without questions, my new grandfathers wishes and wants in regards to the land and all the things that are on it. I told them that my ancestors gathered several times to ponder about this situation they now found themselves in. Prayer and ceremonies revealed to them the future in it was dark hard times and the elders shed tear for the people that were coming. They said it will be hard to be Indian one day and many of our ways will be lost and we as a people will suffer greatly.

Now today alcohol & drugs are smothering our communities, economic development and personal growth are almost non-existent on some reservations. Un-employment is higher than the national average on most reservations, all of the social ills like suicide we have the highest rate among teenagers, poor health care, not to mention political tribal infighting are prevalent as well. The dominant society limits its contact with us and governs us still today as incompetents. Nonetheless there is hope, we are a resilient people, our faith in the Creator prevails and allows us to endure these hardships. Our ancestors' were right about the future, but they left us a way to survive as well. Our traditional ways have kepted many good things for us as a people to hang onto. In fact their are people growing stronger in their faith because of these hardships. Satellite's and tepees for prayer meetings are going up all over Indian country, allowing for prayers and spiritual growth to continue. Our communities are still havens for our people, they go out to the white mans world but they come home in the end, so the people are still alive, the people are still praying.

If these four young explorers complete this task, I hope it will gain a new light for the native American Indian in regards to who we were but more importantly who we are today. Maybe we can even rekindle a new relationship with the country of France and the Omaha Indian in Nebraska. After all there are many who have French ancestory that are Native American Indian. If we look hard enough, I think we will find that we are more alike than we are different.

Virtual Classroom Field Trip with Lewis & Clark

2004-09-15T16:14:00.000-08:00

The Lewis & Clark Corp of Discovery setup a virtual classroom, made up of middle school students from the Omaha Nation in Macy, Nebraska and middle school students in Clayton, Missouri. The students in Macy gave presentations on the Omaha language and the social hand game played by the Omahas. The Omaha tribe realized the importance of maintaining the language and promoting the culture. One effort in maintaining and preserving the culture is by offering an Omaha language class as part of the school's curriculum. The success of this effort is evident in the Omaha Nation student's ability to speak their language.

Also participating in the demonstration were Dwight Howe, Doran Morris, and Pierre Merrick of the Omaha Nation. The history, traditions, culture, and contributions of the Omaha Nation was an important aspect of this endeavor. Their goal was to share information with the middle school students in Clayton, Missouri the geographical locations of the Omaha tribe, then and now; the lifestyle of the tribe at the time of the expedition 200 years ago; the political structure of the tribe then and now; actions of important Chiefs; agricultural practices of the tribe; the tribe's clan structure and social order; and the importance of the buffalo hunt to the tribe. The importance of keeping the language alive and functional was also discussed. The panel talked about the current government status and demographics of the Omaha Tribe in Macy, Nebraska.

I thought this was a very good way of reaching other students in another state. It helped to put a face on us as Indians and we were able to have direct dialogue via a satellite hook-up. Instead of just reading about the Omaha they got to see and hear from kids much like themselves and we as Omaha men were able to give our opinions and perspectives as to our history and cultural values. I am impressed with the Lewis & Clarks Corps of Discovery II project goals and objectives in regards to the Native American Indians' own history. They seem to really want to hear our side of the story as told by Indians about Indians. History has volumes of literature about the Native American Indian, unfortunately most of it has been written by non-Indians. All in all it was quite an enjoyable experience.

Click on the title to view the video.

Prejudice. Where does it come from?

2004-08-04T04:16:00.000-08:00

I once did a paper at Haskell Jr. College about racism on or near Indian reservations. I came to the conclusion that is was a result in a large part by generational prejudice. Handed down from grandfather to father to son to grandson. Conversly on the Indians side it too is handed down with preconceived ideas about the white man, his motives and what he has done to our people, this perpetuates negative stereotypes from both perspectives.

I have seen records from the late 1800's that reflect time after time, misinformation, prevarications and outright lies when it came to the mineral resources, the land, its jurisdictional boundries or more importantly who owned it. The FBI and its first case was on Oklahoma Indian land investigating why so many Osage Indian children were being murdered or were missing. It was for their Osage headrights to the Indian allottments, they owned the land and there was oil under that land. Many Osage children where taken from their homes and placed in foster Boarding Homes which were run by a board of trustees who took guardianship over the Indian children, thus giving them legal right as stewards and legal guardians to handle the mineral resources. Many a white man's family today are quite wealthy because of incredulous acts of this nature. During the Indian wars even before that murders, and deceptions were all justified by whites for the killing of Indians and the swindling of their lands. In Minnesota there was the hanging of the 38 Santee Sioux Indians which is today the largest mass execution ever authorized by a President of the United States, Wounded Knee Massacre in South Dakota, Sand Creek and others, story after story of justified killings and out right murders, abductions and rapes.

My grandmother told of a time that her grandmother remembered along the banks of the Missouri river. The early French would entice the young Ponca girls to get into the small bull boats and take them back to the keel boat. The parents would be at the banks crying while their daughters were being defiled and raped. The same sort of thing happened when they were forced to relocate to Oklahoma from Nebraska, the women were seperated from the men and the young girls from the women. Being that the Indians were so conservative back then, these types of stories were seldom told to anyone outside the tribe. It was view as a shameful secret. Those sort of things were common all over Indian country and are still being told today, perpetuating the resentment and suspicion towards any whites coming onto the reservations and/or Indian communities.

With that concept in mind think of the white man today on or near an Indian reservation. If this sort of thing was true, of course the old grandpa would most likely say, in reference to the Indians, "They are liars and thieves and cannot be trusted, we bought this land far & square and we worked hard to get what we have." My dad said when he was young man right after the depressions, when he went to the Indian school and every year they would put red stuff in his hair to kill the lice and bugs. He said some people lived in tents year round and being outdoors all the time bugs would make there way into your hair. And in my generation there has been the obvious long term effects of the plague of alcohol and drugs. So, if a young white boy whose is ten years old today inquires about Indians because he is playing with one at school. His father could easily say, "They are drunks, liars and thieves, who are a violent, dirty & filty people that cannot be trusted nor should you play with them." Thus handing down that generational prejudice and keeping suspicion, resentment and fear alive for another generation.

Howe Family

2004-07-04T08:40:00.000-08:00

ORATIO HOWE FAMILY
submitted by Dwight Howe, Grandson of Oliver Howe

Name and birth date
Oratio (father) Howe Vermont * 2-13-1800
Polly (mother) Varga Pennsylvania 10-27-1806
*was told by my father Copenhagen Denmark was Oratio Howe’s birthplace, came to America as a stowaway when he was real young maybe 12 yrs old..

seven children of Oratio and Polly
Hiram F. Howe Pennsylvania 6-8-1831
Edward P. Howe Pennsylvania 7-30-1833
George W. Howe Pennsylvania 10-15-1835
Uriah Howe Pennsylvania 7-8-18836
Hannah Howe Pennsylvania 6-20-1841
Charles Howe Pennsylvania 10-1-1843
Francis Howe Pennsylvania 10-30-1845

George W. Howe Pennsylvania 10-15-1835
Lucille LeClair Nebraska 5-18-1845
twelve children of George and Lucille

Elizabeth Frazier Nebraska 11-9-1866
Alice Frazier Nebraska 3-26-1868
Hannah H. Frazier Nebraska 3-22-1869
Edward Howe Nebraska 1-27-1872
Alice Howe Nebraska 1-26-1874
Arnold Howe Nebraska 10-23-1875
Ida May Howe Nebraska 12-15-1877
Benjamin Howe Nebraska 4-21-1879
Oliver Howe Nebraska 7-19-1881
George W. Howe, Jr. Nebraska 4-16-1883
John Joseph Howe Nebraska 11-1-1885
Rebecca Ducker Nebraska 4-8-1887

MaryAnn Papin Frazier---Albert Frazier’s first wife 4-16-1864

Mary Ann was the daughter of Lucille LeClair Pappan whose mother was Ponca Indian Shots through the Breast, whose mother was White Woman, who was a captive as a young girl who ran away to back to the Ponca’s. At the time she was wearing a beautiful buckskin thus being named white woman. She returned back to the tribe at the same time as her father a chief was dying. The Poncas looked at that as being significant, I was told she was to become a Warrior Woman and held a leadership position among the Ponca.

Note: George Washington Howe born in 1835 in Vermont or Penn.. The 1880 Dakota Census (age 45) notes the Howes living at Running Water, Dakota Territory, that George was 43 and his occupation was farmer, and that he was born in Pennsylvania. George operated a trading post at Running Water on what is now the South Dakota side of the Missouri River. Later the Howes moved to the Nebraska side where George helped found the town of Niobrara. George was a young man who came to Nebr. Territory in 1852 on a surveying crew, married & lived among and fought along side of the Ponca, given an Indian name of Thum Bay Ska, Scar Hand. I was told he brought the first repeating rifles to the Ponca chiefs after killing two Sioux.

eight children of Oliver and Mattie Howe
Amelia Howe
Wiley John Howe
Male baby died at birth
Earl Sanford Howe
Blanche Marie Howe
Oliver Howe Jr.
Eugene Howe

Note: My Grandfather was Oliver Howe he died before I was born. He was a enrolled Northern Ponca from Niobrara Nebraska who later moved down to Oklahoma. I was told by my father Eugene Howe that he served in WW I and married my Grandmother Mattie Headman Howe. He courted her in the Ponca traditional way with gifts and a chaperone, he gave Matties father a horse and buggy as well. Since Headman was a Clan Chief, he gavehis daughter away in marriage with all the ceremonial rites and they were married for life. Oliver made his living as a farmer was known as an early riser who loved to hunt and fish and had a pleasant nature, he liked to tease and joke. Every year he would plant a huge garden and made and sold homebrew as well.

La Flesche Family

2004-07-04T08:39:00.000-08:00

Margarite La Flesche’s father was Frank La Flesche, his father was Cary LaFlesche, his father was Joseph La Fleshe, Jr., or Iron Eyes his father was Joseph La Fleshe (1822-1889) who was a french fur trader from Canada. Joseph La Flesche Jr or (IstaMaza - Iron Eyes), who was the last hereditary Chief of the UMONHON (Omaha) under the age-old rites and rituals, was the adopted son of Big Elk who gave him that right as Chief of the Omaha's. Cary’s sister was Dr. Susan La Fleshe who was the first Indian woman to become a physican, another sister Suzette LaFleshe (Bright Eyes) served as an interpreter and teacher for the Omaha, she wrote several books that were published as well.. Cary's older brother was Dr. Francis LaFleshe was educated in the East who later wrote several books, one book was the 27th Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology 1905, another was called the "Middle Five" life at a mission boarding school. The Omaha never waged war against the U.S., Iron Eyes was considered a progressive by many in the tribe. As Chief of the Omahas Iron Eyes wanted them to adopt the ways of the white man and encouraged them to educate their children in the dominant society's ways sending his own kids to schools in the east. He was quoted as saying "I have been to where the white man lives and at night the lights where they live, they are as many as the stars in the sky. They are coming this way like a flood and there is no stopping it. We must learn and adapt if we are to survive as a people." One of the most notable things he accomplished while he was the Omaha chief was that he banned the use and trading of any and all alcohol, for several decades this law was obeyed and anyone who violated it was whipped.
Note: My mother is Margarite La Flesche she is the Great Grand Daughter of Iron Eyes a Chief of the Omaha's. She had two other children that I know of, I am the youngest My sister is Christine Springer who married Frank Sansoci over twenty years ago they have one daughter Teresa Sonsoci she has two daughters. My older brothers name is Leland La Flesche, he was a Springer as well but took his mothers last name Both of them were raised by their grandmothers as well.

Headman Family

2004-07-04T08:35:00.000-08:00

Eugene Howe, youngest son of Mattie Headman Howe, daughter of HeadMan, a heriditary Chief of the Poncas, son of We'ga sapi. His father was Tai ke waho. Mattie was one of five children of Headman, he had a son Kenneth, four daughters Lula, Mattie, Agnes & Nellie. Although Mattie was a daughter of a chief she was very conservative in her social standing, even thou she had certain rights within the tribe. She did not take an active part in the tribal social dances and was considered shy. When her son Earl Howe came home from the navy after WWII, the tribe honored him at a pow-wow, her younger sister danced by his side for her. She was very quite yet was the leader of the family for many years, holding a monthly gathering at her house for all her relatives. She married Oliver Howe a Northen Ponca observing the Ponca traditions of courting and gifting the brides parents. When they were married it was for life, even after his death for over twenty years, she never remarried. She gave birth to seven children, two died as infants while raising four boys and one girl in a small two room house on the Ponca Indian Reservation in Oklahoma. She helped raise several of her grandchildren as well, Dwight being the last one, in fact she was his legal guardian. Mattie Headman Howe died in 1968.

Lewis & Clark

2004-07-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

Dwight will be at Kaw Point in Kansas City from Monday, June 28-30 delivering a presentation along with his brother, Pierre Merrick, on the Ponca and Omaha Culture, a sometimes forgotten aspect of the Lewis & Clark legacy. The focus of their presentations relates the history of the Ponca and Omaha and their place in today's society.

Kansas City Star - American Indian voices will be heard

2004-07-04T06:43:00.000-08:00

By BRIAN BURNES The Kansas City Star

There's more than one side to the Lewis and Clark story.

With that in mind, the Kansas City bicentennial expedition commemoration, which begins Saturday morning with an opening ceremony at Berkley Riverfront Park, will include members of at least eight regional American Indian tribes who will participate in a Native American flag processional.

Leaders of the Kaw and Osage tribes, both of which once included the Kansas City area within their historic homelands, will speak.

Among those invited to attend are the governors of Missouri and Kansas.

Forums like this do not come along often for American Indian tribes, said Amy Mossett, a Mandan-Hidatsa tribal historian from North Dakota who is a member of the Circle of Tribal Advisors, an advisory board to the National Council of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial.

“For the tribes, this is a brief window of opportunity,” said Mossett, who has traveled the country advising tribes on the bicentennial. “I have asked the tribe members that if they have perhaps five days during this three-year commemoration, what would be their most important message?”

The “Journey Fourth” commemoration this weekend is the sixth “signature,” or sanctioned, Lewis and Clark bicentennial event, and many tribes so far have participated, Mossett said.

“The basic message presented so far is, ‘We are still here; we have survived everything; and our cultures are still intact,' ” she said.

Inclusivity amid assimilation

On Saturday in Berkley Riverfront Park, American Indian artisans will be present in the Native American Arts and Crafts Tent. Cultural presentations will be delivered by American Indian tribal representatives in the Tent of Many Voices, the portable auditorium operated by the National Park Service that will be stationed at Kaw Point, in Kansas City, Kan., through Sunday.

Behind this pageantry and cultural instruction lies a shared desire on two parties. First, there is the wish of organizers of “Heart of America: A Journey Fourth” to be inclusive. For years they have been careful to describe the events in Kansas City, Leavenworth and Atchison not as a celebration of the expedition but a commemoration.

But there was also the wish of American Indian tribes who perceived the bicentennial as a historic chance to tell their stories — not only to the rest of America but to their own younger members, as well.

“This is offering an opportunity to educate our young people in tribal history,” said Betty Durkee, historic preservation director for the Kaw tribe, today based in northern Oklahoma. “Because tribes were moved and members assimilated over 150 years, much of the culture has been lost.”

“We need to make way for our children,” added Dwight Howe, an Omaha and Ponca from South Dakota who was delivering cultural presentations this week in the Tent of Many Voices. “They need to know what happened from a Native American perspective.”

American Indian involvement is wired into the commemoration financing. Each “signature” event receives money from the National Park Service, and one of the criteria for the grants is significant American Indian involvement.

Still, executing such involvement has proved complicated on occasion.

Last autumn, leaders of Shawnee groups in Oklahoma announced they were not attending a “signature” event in Louisville, Ky., in part because of a misunderstanding over why a separate Shawnee group in Ohio had been invited long before.

Ultimately Shawnee representatives from both states attended.

In St. Charles, Mo., in May, another protocol issue surfaced. Among the various historical re-enactors on site in the city's Frontier Park were several who were not American Indians but were nevertheless portraying them.

These re-enactors were careful to explain they were portraying white men who had been abducted long before and had been reared according to Indian tribal culture.

Still, their presence concerned Leonard Maker, an Osage elder who was presenting programs nearby in the Tent of Many Voices.

“That's an issue with us,” Maker said. “Why can't we tell our own story?”

One of the same re-enactors also interacted with members of the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, the official Lewis and Clark bicentennial re-enactors, during a mock court-martial proceeding. Larry McClain, the expedition's executive director, said that the interaction had not been planned and that the expedition works hard to respect the wishes of the Circle of Tribal Advisors, which has developed a list of protocol guidelines.

“That wasn't a scripted or scheduled thing,” McClain said. “We are very careful about that. There are a lot of people out there who are into Native American history, culture and spirituality. While that is wonderful, you will find people who will take it to extremes and who want to portray themselves as Native Americans.

“And you either are or you are not.”

Helping handbook

Such issues are not restricted to re-enactors. Chris Howell, a Pawnee who is chairman of the Native American subcommittee of the Kansas Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission, often receives requests for guidance from teachers considering theatrical plays or pageants featuring American Indian characters.

Howell always advises against non-American Indians portraying American Indians.

“If they have a native child who would like to do that, that is one thing, as long as the dialogue isn't demeaning,” Howell said. “But the particular issue of having one ethnic group portray another is really something we need to rethink. That just does not go over very well with many tribal folks.”

It is such issues that helped convince Howell and others to produce a “Native American Resource Handbook.” Part of state grant funds received by the Kansas bicentennial commission was dedicated to its production. State officials took about 1,500 copies to the first Lewis and Clark “signature” event, in Virginia, in 2003.

“We made a real splash with that,” Howell said.

The success of the handbook convinced Howell and others to expand it, sell advertising and order a press run of 38,000. Today the free handbook includes histories of those tribes either in residence in Kansas or those who had significant histories in the state.

Berkley Park Kansas

2004-07-01T04:00:00.000-08:00

July 3rd & 4th Dwight & Pierre will have cultural demonstrations all day as part of the Lewis & Clark Event in Kansas City.

Leavenworth Kansas

2004-07-01T03:57:00.000-08:00

July 2, 2004

Dwight Howe & Pierre Merrick will be part of a Flag Presentation Cermony at Landing Park in Leavenworth Kansas. They will be singing the Omaha Flag Song and a Veterans Honor Song.

A Personal Perspective on the Lewis & Clark Journey 2004

2004-07-01T02:22:00.000-08:00

For the past four years I have been involved with the legacy of Lewis & Clark. I have been participating with two Lewis & Clark State Parks, one in Onawa, Iowa and the other in Ponca, Nebraska. I have been advising them because of either the visible lack of Native American Indian involvement or obvious lack of cultural sensativity.

In Onawa, Iowa they have a Lewis & Clark Festival, I believe it is their 11th annual. Although the crews at Onawa mean well, they continue to perpetuate negative stereotypes in regards to the Native American Indian. The Omaha Tribe is the closest of four tribes in the Nebraska, unfortunately they have little or no involvement with the Park as a whole. We have tried to share our thoughts & concerns with very little impact. The park says it is because of lack of financial resources, thats why they have such a poor portrayal of the American Indian. During their fesitval year after year they make every effort to be historically correct when it comes to Lewis & Clark right down to the hat and shoes. On the other hand when portraying the Native American Indian, little effort is made to have them involved. The involvement that is Indian is generic and stereotipical, some women wear buckskins and broadcloth dresses wearing war paint and feathers. Vendors exploit the crafts, even food vendors get into the act, all at the expense of the Native American Indian. It is no wonder why most local indians do not get involved with them. The real irony is that this park could be highlighting and promoting the fact that two of the Corps of Discovery members on Lewis & Clarks crew were half Omaha Indian, Pierre Cruzatte and Fancois Labiche.

There is very little involvement in Ponca, Nebraska even thou there are two tribes close by, the Santee Sioux and the Northern Ponca Tribe of Nebraska. When they did get monies they purchased artifacts with no counsel, one of the things they purchased was a Peace Pipe.... This is probably one of the last things they should of had on their inventory if they at all. The Pipe to tribes of the plains is sacred and is full of tradition, ceremony and is a religion unto itself. It can be a way of life for those who believe in it. It is something very intimate, personal, spiritual and profound. It is something that is hard to explain and should be displayed with the deepest respect if displayed at all.

The next thing was a leather War Shirt another tourist favorite; unfortunately it perpetuates negative stereotypes that all Indians waged war and that they are all violent, barbaric and cruel in nature. These sort of statements have a duel effect both for the general public and the young Indian as well. It sends a negative image for the youth with Native American Indian heritage. It can confuse our youth to think that we are violent and cruel when in fact true native cultures are based on prayer, compassion, humilty, sincerity and generosity.

Part of the problem I believe it is the park's inability to effectively communicate with these tribes either on a one on one basis and/or government to government, conversely the tribes themselves have failed to see the importance of postive public relationships. The parks lack knowledge of our culture; lack the fundamental understanding of our values, beliefs and/or traditions. The parks have been reluctant to create close relationships primarily because of pre-conceived ideals they have about Indians in general. Funding for projects have been limited but when obtained not used as effectively as they could be. Festivals that allow negative steroetypes create year after year a wall of resentment and suspicion from the local tribes. Tribes look at the Park Service as one group representing Lewis & Clark legacy, failing to realize that the States and Federal Park projects are funded differently and all have their own plan of operation and separate agendas/goals. To make matters worse most of the small town parks are in great need of economic development "Tourism" and unfortunately care little about the message they send in regards to the native peoples of the area both historically and/or contemporarily.

I point these things out, urging different organizations to take the time to gain an understanding of the spirituality and diversity of Native American Indian people. The Native American Indian is complex yet compassionate, humble, generous and resilient in nature. I always try to convey a sense of who we are as a people both in a historical perspective and in the contempory settings today. The more we understand about each other from both sides, the Indian and non-Indian, hopefully the more tolerance we will have for each other while making a better life for the future generations.

The Lewis & Clark Tent of Many Voices a project of the National Park Service has it hands full. As they go upstream and retrace the trek, they want to hear the Indians story from the Indian perspective, they want Indian involvement and they are trying their best to be culturally sensative and respectful to the Tribes and/or Tribal members. It is just that there has been years of exclusion, explotation, insensativity and obvious contempt in some cases. For the native people to really get involved it will take prayer, perserverance, honesty and tolerance. As Indians and non-Indians we need to co-exist, history cannot be changed, but we do have a say in regards to the future. Together we can make a difference and in time that too will become a part of history.