Chief Standing Bear was a man of care, compassion, and courage. How does one encompass the essence of a man as great as Ponca Chief Standing Bear? My goal was to create a representation worthy of the man who stood strong against tragedy, mistreatment, and injustice.

As the viewer stands in front of the bronze sculpture, they are drawn in by the strong lines along the weighty blanket. As I worked on the blanket, I thought about the long, cold walk when the Ponca were forced at gunpoint to leave their home in Nebraska and march to Oklahoma. I thought of the suffering and the tragic deaths they saw along the way. I visited the grave site of White Buffalo Girl, the young Ponca girl who died along the tragic Ponca Trail of Tears. When I stood in front of her grave, I thought of Standing Bear’s warning to the government agents that many would die if they were forced to take this journey. I stared silently, moved beyond words at the thought of the poor girl who perished because of the horrible inhumanity of the enforcement of morally incomprehensible government orders. Standing Bear’s composure throughout the horrific circumstances is moving beyond words.

The detailed eagle feathers that adorn his hair are not just ornamental; they signify his status as a warrior. These feathers might have been passed down from an elder or a family member, adding a layer of spiritual and familial significance that transcends their physical beauty. They represent the wisdom, bravery, and continuity of the tribe's warrior lineage.

He wears an elaborately beaded choker, each bead meticulously placed, reflecting the intricate craftsmanship of his people. Right below this choker rests a spectacular bear claw necklace. Among the Ponca, the bear is a sacred animal, symbolizing strength and the power to heal. The necklace is a testament to Standing Bear’s significant role as a strong leader within the tribe.

Just beneath the sacred bear claw necklace lies his intricate breastplate. This protective shield, fashioned from animal bones, served to deflect arrows from the heart and other vital organs during the pre-rifle era on the Plains. It stands as a testament to the resourcefulness and survival skills of his ancestors, who lived in harmony with nature and turned its gifts into lifesaving armor.

Hanging just below the breastplate, you see two peace medals—one depicting President James Buchanan and the other President Ulysses Grant. Chiefs were often awarded such medals when visiting Washington, D.C., or to commemorate significant events, like treaty signings. Chief Standing Bear often wore his medals as a testament to his unwavering integrity and commitment to his word, even when others failed to honor theirs. The medals are sculpted in a loose, impressionistic style, the presidents and text on them is not decipherable which keeps the focus on Chief Standing Bear.

His deerskin moccasins, adorned with bead patterns, speak of a tradition of intertribal trade and friendship. These moccasins, perhaps received in trade or as a gift, symbolize the interconnectedness of the Plains tribes and their shared cultural heritage.

The blanket, likely a precious gift, symbolizes life and sustenance. It is adorned with beadwork representing the four sacred directions, a powerful symbol of the Creator at the center of all things. This blanket not only provided physical warmth but also enveloped the wearer in the spiritual and cultural embrace of the tribe.

In his hand, Chief Standing Bear carries a pipe-ax, a potent symbol of duality—the pipe symbolizing peace and the ax symbolizing war. This pipe-ax, frequently seen in photographs of him, epitomizes the era in which he lived, a time of profound cultural convergence and conflict. It represents his role as a leader who navigated both peace and conflict with wisdom and strength.

Finally, as the viewer looks at his face with its leathery, sun-worn skin, we see a man who embodies fortitude. His intense eyes captivate us, leading to his mighty, outstretched hand. This hand reaches out as a metaphor for the challenge Standing Bear faced in the groundbreaking court case. When I think of what it must have been like for him to lose his 16-year-old son, Bear Shield, who died upon their arrival in Oklahoma “Indian Territory,” it moves me to tears. While I was creating the sculpture, my own son was about 16 years old. As a father, I can’t help but think of the strength it must have taken for the great Chief Standing Bear to lead on as he mourned the tragedy of his son and so many others.

As Bear Shield was dying, he made a request to his father to be buried with his ancestors in their homeland in Nebraska. It is hard for any non-native person to truly understand the depth of this request. It was more than a mere gravesite request to the Ponca. For the Ponca, the land is a part of their spirit. The Ponca believe that their ancestors who have gone before them become a part of the earth. They believe that the insects, animals, plants, and even the land itself are a part of them and that they are an inseparable part of the land. The spirit of the Ponca is tied to the land, the environment, and the animals. By being ripped away from their homeland, they were ripped away from their heritage, their memories, their ancestors, their land, and their animals. They were being ripped away from their very spirit. But the spirit of Standing Bear and the Ponca was strong. He kept his promise to his son and returned to their homeland. The media in Standing Bear’s day told his story. It is a story of love, trust, and strength beyond adversity. His story moved the public at the time, and it is as powerful today as it was then.

We can’t help but sympathize with the man who kept a promise to his son and walked over 700 miles to honor his word. We can’t help but feel for his plight as he reached out his hand in that courtroom and stated that he was a man, deserving of the human rights that all of creation should be afforded.

We all have the responsibility to stand up, reach out, and lead. The sculpture of Chief Standing Bear serves as a reminder that we must do what is right, no matter the cost. It is a monument to the triumph of the spirit of Standing Bear. It is an expressive and meaningful monument for all people to experience. Standing Bear is an example of the strength of the Native American people, and when young Native children look up to him in the United States Capitol building, they will see a strong, moral Native leader who stood fearlessly, led courageously, and walked victoriously. It is a fitting testament to the legacy of Chief Standing Bear permanently installed in the United States Capitol Building.

Sincerely,

Benjamin Victor
Sculptor of the Ponca Chief Standing Bear Statue