Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma
Encyclopedia
The Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, also known as the Ponca Nation, is a federally recognized tribe located in Oklahoma
. The Ponca
traditionally speak the Omaha-Ponca language
, part of the Souian language
family. Another portion of the people belong to the larger Ponca Tribe of Nebraska.
. Their tribal jurisdictional area includes parts of Kay
and Noble
counties. Of the 3,548 enrolled tribal members, 2,948 live within the state of Oklahoma. The tribe's Chairman is Douglas Rhodd, Sr., currently serving a three-year term. He was elected after Dan C. Jones.
The tribe operates its own housing authority and issues tribal vehicle tags. They own a smoke shop and a bingo hall. The Ponca Indian Tribe owns two casinos, Blue Star Gaming and Casino in Ponca City and Fancy Dance Casino in Chilocco, Oklahoma. The estimated annual economic impact of the Ponca Tribe in 2008 was $15 million.
An estimated 33 tribal members still speak the Ponca language.
Since 1876 the tribe hosts an annual homecoming powwow. It takes place in August in Ponca City.
and other introduced Eurasian diseases took a heavy toll of the tribe repeatedly in the 18th and 19th centuries, as they had no immunity
. The more powerful Sioux
encroached on their land base.
The Ponca never went to war with the United States. They signed their first peace treaty with the US in 1817. In the 1825 they signed a trade agreement. Treaties in 1858 and 1865 ceded lands. The 1860s and 1870s were a difficult time for the Ponca tribe, as the buffalo were disappearing, droughts destroyed crops, and warfare with the Sioux combined to threaten the Ponca with starvation. The US did not uphold their treaty obligations to the Ponca. They gave land reserved for the Ponca to the Sioux in 1868, as part of the Great Sioux Reservation
. The government relocated the Ponca to Indian Territory
in 1877.
The forced removal of the Ponca to Indian Territory was mismanaged; they arrived too late to plant crops, the government failed to provide them with adequate supplies, and their destination had chronic malaria. An estimated 158 Poncas died during the first year: almost a third of the entire tribe. Among them was the oldest son of Standing Bear
, a Ponca chief, whose body he returned to Nebraska for burial in traditional lands. There he was arrested by the Army for having left the reservation, but he gained the sympathy of Brigadier General Crook. With help from prominent attorneys working pro bono, Standing Bear filed a habeas corpus suit challenging his arrest. The US District Court judge's decision in Standing Bear v. Crook (1879) established the right of habeas corpus and the legal status as citizens under US law for Indian people.
White Eagle, a principal chief, settled on a 101000 acres (408.7 km²) reservation in what would become Kay and Noble counties. He leased much of the land to the 101 Ranch for pasture (and later, oil development). In the 1890s missionaries and government agents tried to make the tribe abandon their traditional tribal dances and lifeways.
In 1892, under the Dawes Allotment Act, the US government registered the members of the tribe, and allocated individual plots of land to each household. It declared the remaining reservation land as "surplus" and sold it to European-American settlers. This resulted in a great loss of communal land for the tribe and its descendants. After oil was discovered on their land in 1911, its exploitation, together with mining of other resources, created environmental problems for the tribe.
Peyote
religion was introduced in the 1910s. In 1918, two Poncas, Louis MacDonald and Frank Eagle, co-founded the Native American Church
. After many Ponca served in World War I
, returning Ponca veterans founded the American Legion
chapter Buffalo Post 38. They revived traditional war dances, such as the heluska dance.
Under the 1936 Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act
, the tribe reorganized their government. They ratified their constitution in 1950 and became federally recognized. Tribal headquarters were established in White Eagle
, located south of Ponca City.
Clyde Warrior
, a Ponca, cofounded the National Indian Youth Council. He promoted self-determination
and inspired many young Native activists during the 1960s and 1970s.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. The Ponca
Ponca
The Ponca are a Native American people of the Dhegihan branch of the Siouan-language group. There are two federally recognized Ponca tribes: the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and the Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma...
traditionally speak the Omaha-Ponca language
Omaha-Ponca language
Omaha–Ponca is a Siouan language spoken by the Omaha people of Nebraska and the Ponca people of Oklahoma and Nebraska. There are today only 60 speakers of Omaha, and 25 fluent speakers, all over 60; and a handful of semi-fluent speakers of Ponca...
, part of the Souian language
Siouan languages
The Western Siouan languages, also called Siouan proper or simply Siouan, are a Native American language family of North America, and the second largest indigenous language family in North America, after Algonquian...
family. Another portion of the people belong to the larger Ponca Tribe of Nebraska.
Today
The Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma conducts business from Ponca City, OklahomaPonca City, Oklahoma
Ponca City is a small city in Kay and Osage counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, which was named after the Ponca Tribe. Located in north central Oklahoma, it lies approximately south of the Kansas border, and approximately east of Interstate 35. 25,919 people called Ponca City home at the...
. Their tribal jurisdictional area includes parts of Kay
Kay County, Oklahoma
Kay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 48,080. Its county seat is Newkirk. The largest city in Kay County is Ponca City.-19th century:...
and Noble
Noble County, Oklahoma
Noble County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 11,561. Its county seat is Perry.-21st century:In 2010, the Keystone-Cushing Pipeline was constructed north to south through Noble County....
counties. Of the 3,548 enrolled tribal members, 2,948 live within the state of Oklahoma. The tribe's Chairman is Douglas Rhodd, Sr., currently serving a three-year term. He was elected after Dan C. Jones.
The tribe operates its own housing authority and issues tribal vehicle tags. They own a smoke shop and a bingo hall. The Ponca Indian Tribe owns two casinos, Blue Star Gaming and Casino in Ponca City and Fancy Dance Casino in Chilocco, Oklahoma. The estimated annual economic impact of the Ponca Tribe in 2008 was $15 million.
Government
The governing council of the Ponca Tribe is democratically elected for four-year terms. The current tribal administration includes:- Douglas G. Rhodd, Chairman
- Henry Rhodd, Vice-Chairman
- Paula Mendoza, Secretary/Treasurer
- Earl "Trey" Howe III, Business Committee Member
- Scotty Simpson Jr., Business Committee Member
- Oliver LittleCook, Business Committee Member
- Jimmie Sherron, Business Committee Member
An estimated 33 tribal members still speak the Ponca language.
Since 1876 the tribe hosts an annual homecoming powwow. It takes place in August in Ponca City.
History
The Ponca tribe separated from the Omaha tribe in the early 18th century. They settled in Nebraska and South Dakota. SmallpoxSmallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
and other introduced Eurasian diseases took a heavy toll of the tribe repeatedly in the 18th and 19th centuries, as they had no immunity
Immunity (medical)
Immunity is a biological term that describes a state of having sufficient biological defenses to avoid infection, disease, or other unwanted biological invasion. Immunity involves both specific and non-specific components. The non-specific components act either as barriers or as eliminators of wide...
. The more powerful Sioux
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
encroached on their land base.
The Ponca never went to war with the United States. They signed their first peace treaty with the US in 1817. In the 1825 they signed a trade agreement. Treaties in 1858 and 1865 ceded lands. The 1860s and 1870s were a difficult time for the Ponca tribe, as the buffalo were disappearing, droughts destroyed crops, and warfare with the Sioux combined to threaten the Ponca with starvation. The US did not uphold their treaty obligations to the Ponca. They gave land reserved for the Ponca to the Sioux in 1868, as part of the Great Sioux Reservation
Great Sioux reservation
The Great Sioux Reservation was established in the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868, and includes all of modern western South Dakota and modern Boyd County, Nebraska...
. The government relocated the Ponca to Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
in 1877.
The forced removal of the Ponca to Indian Territory was mismanaged; they arrived too late to plant crops, the government failed to provide them with adequate supplies, and their destination had chronic malaria. An estimated 158 Poncas died during the first year: almost a third of the entire tribe. Among them was the oldest son of Standing Bear
Standing Bear
Standing Bear was a Ponca Native American chief who successfully argued in U.S...
, a Ponca chief, whose body he returned to Nebraska for burial in traditional lands. There he was arrested by the Army for having left the reservation, but he gained the sympathy of Brigadier General Crook. With help from prominent attorneys working pro bono, Standing Bear filed a habeas corpus suit challenging his arrest. The US District Court judge's decision in Standing Bear v. Crook (1879) established the right of habeas corpus and the legal status as citizens under US law for Indian people.
White Eagle, a principal chief, settled on a 101000 acres (408.7 km²) reservation in what would become Kay and Noble counties. He leased much of the land to the 101 Ranch for pasture (and later, oil development). In the 1890s missionaries and government agents tried to make the tribe abandon their traditional tribal dances and lifeways.
In 1892, under the Dawes Allotment Act, the US government registered the members of the tribe, and allocated individual plots of land to each household. It declared the remaining reservation land as "surplus" and sold it to European-American settlers. This resulted in a great loss of communal land for the tribe and its descendants. After oil was discovered on their land in 1911, its exploitation, together with mining of other resources, created environmental problems for the tribe.
Peyote
Peyote
Lophophora williamsii , better known by its common name Peyote , is a small, spineless cactus with psychoactive alkaloids, particularly mescaline.It is native to southwestern Texas and Mexico...
religion was introduced in the 1910s. In 1918, two Poncas, Louis MacDonald and Frank Eagle, co-founded the Native American Church
Native American Church
Native American Church, a religious denomination which practices Peyotism or the Peyote religion, originated in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, and is the most widespread indigenous religion among Native Americans in the United States...
. After many Ponca served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, returning Ponca veterans founded the American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
chapter Buffalo Post 38. They revived traditional war dances, such as the heluska dance.
Under the 1936 Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act
Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act
The Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act of 1936, also known as the Thomas-Rogers Act, is a United States federal law that extended the US Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. It sought to return some form of tribal government to the many tribes in former Indian Territory...
, the tribe reorganized their government. They ratified their constitution in 1950 and became federally recognized. Tribal headquarters were established in White Eagle
White Eagle, Oklahoma
White Eagle is an unincorporated community in Kay County, Oklahoma, United States.White Eagle was named for the Ponca principal chief, White Eagle , who led the Ponca to their reservation in Indian Territory. Other names for the town are Ponca, White Eagle Agency, and Whiteagle.-Geography:White...
, located south of Ponca City.
Clyde Warrior
Clyde Warrior
Clyde Merton Warrior was a member of the Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma and raised according to their traditions. In the 1960s, he became an activist for Native American sovereignty and civil rights, seeking to improve conditions for his people....
, a Ponca, cofounded the National Indian Youth Council. He promoted self-determination
Native American self-determination
Native American self-determination refers to the social movements, legislation, and beliefs by which the tribes in the United States exercise self-governance and decision making on issues that affect their own people...
and inspired many young Native activists during the 1960s and 1970s.
External links
- Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma, official website
- Constitution of the Ponca Tribe of Indians
- "Ponca", Okahoma Historical Society's Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture